This is a tape of a show from about midway through our first tour for the Mirage album.
We rehearsed costantly in preparation for this tour. We bought lots of new gear, followed a regimen of diet and exercise, and even took herbal “performance enhancers” like ma huong and ginseng before the shows. (These probably bolstered our confidence more than our stamina.)
We were determined to put on a “professional show.” You can hear it in the rather subdued, almost polite stage patter in between songs. You can tell we’re concentrating, trying hard to “recreate” the “Mirage” material. Even such elusive live rarities as “Beauty’” “The Mighty Zero” and “A Hundred Miles” are still in the set list. They would be dropped by the end of the year.
As you can tell from the recording, we’re comporting ourselves reasonably well, valiantly attempting all the difficult parts and tricky time changes from both “Mirage” and “Out My Way.” Attention is paid to pacing, and though it never actually happens, an effort is made to offer up solid vocal performances. We’re still pretty sloppy, but consistantly so. You can even hear us attempt three part harmony on “Mirage,” The Wind And The Rain” and “I Am A Machine.” Yours Truly even has a solo lead vocal on “Bad Boy.”
It was also our first tour with Dave Claassen behind the sound desk. From this point on, we managed to record just about every show, either getting board tapes, air tapes or both. Unfortunately, on this tour, we had not yet seen the wisdom of procuring decent media, so the recordings are a little murky.
By the end of the tour, however, we pretty much decided that doing this sort of material night after night was a drag. We jettisoned the stuff we didn’t enjoy playing, and began woodshedding a set of comparative “barn burners,” which became the “Huevos” album. We focused on creating more energy on stage, got looser still, and started breaking our songs open into extended jams and medleys. The party was just beginning.
(Note: It seems this file was too big for some people to download, so I’ve broken it into two smaller pieces. Please be advised that they are still pretty large, and some ‘net connections will still be unable to handle them. They’ve been tested on both Macintosh and Windows platforms and they work fine. Files on this site are presented “as is.” I can’t offer tech support, nor can I mail them to folks unable to download them. Let the browser beware.)
Download Part ONE (63 mg)
Download Part TWO (67 mg)
Not Swimming Ground
Lake Of Fire
Quit It
Leaves
Get On Down
Beauty
Mirage
Love Our Children Forever
Out My Way
Plateau
Swimming Ground
A Hundred Miles
The Mighty Zero
The Wind & The Rain
I Am A Machine
She’s Hot
Liquified
Bad Boy
Lost/See See Rider
Burn The Honky Tonk Down
Baby What Do You Want Me to Do
Up On The Sun
I’m Bad I’m Nationwide
White Lightning
Maidens Milk
derrick it’s not working, can’t open says it’s corrupted
Left by jaime on August 11th, 2006
You guys had magic in a time of tragic styles. These songs are all so colorful. And who else played Elvis & Country covers so proudly?
I sure would like to see a DVD of MP live in the ’80’s. I like how Curt used to do that frantic shaking. Like in all those live clips featured in the “Get On Down” video. I guess I’m out of luck, barring becoming friends with some of the tapers. I have been unable to find any 1980’s video, besides the 1985 SST Tour film. Maybe it’s selfish to enjoy that stuff. To me, it’s a bygone era that I like to get lost in. I was 9 in 1987, so I have a more nostalgic feeling for your 1980’s tours. It’s what the 60’s may have seemed like to you, back in the 80’s.
Thanks for the show!
Left by adam on August 11th, 2006
The file works fine for me.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on August 11th, 2006
I was at this show, so thanks very much for this offering Derrick – a permanent record of a hazy 20-year old memory. My band opened for you guys at your City Gardens stop on the “Huevos” tour, whereby the Meat Puppets set the club record for most amount of encores, which was something crazy like seven or thereabouts (“More Meat! More Meat!”). I remember a lot of extended jams during that set, like you mention above. I also remember the club being well over 100 degrees inside on that fine August day. I was wondering what your experiences with the booking guy, Randy “Now” Ellis, were like – professional or otherwise. Very curious about that.
Left by PRK on August 11th, 2006
Yup: I’ve got the “record five encors” show as well, but since we played so long, it isn’t complete.
I think this 1987 show was the one when the band that opened for us featured Abadon, Chronos and another name which I cannot remember. They are the ones Curt is quoting when he says “it is good that you are evil,” which is a line he used a lot after that.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on August 11th, 2006
Sounds like maybe you’re talking about GWAR, and nope, they didn’t open the ‘87 gig…it was a Philly band called Electric Love Muffin.
Left by PRK on August 11th, 2006
I must have it wrong. Mantas, Kronos and Abadon comprised the original lineup of Venom. It’s unlikely they ever opened for us.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on August 11th, 2006
I was wondering about a Live 85 recording, I used to have.My friend from WFMU gave me a copy. It turned me into a compleet MeatHead!
It starts out with someone saying ” All the Way from Pheonix…The Meat Puppets!”
And The first song I beleive was “Magic Toy Missing”. At one point Curt started saying something about “Dairy Queen , Burger King and Tastey But Licks”.
Do you know the live tape I’m talking about?
Some woman , whom I think was Curt and Cris’s Mom started to sing “You are my sunshine” into the microphone, then Curt said : ” That was lovely Mam , what’s your name?-Oh solo act, sorry”.
There was a Zeppelin cover of “Rock and Roll” on it, I havent heard it in 20 years but it was my favorite.
That tape got around and converted alot of Puppet fans.
Do you have that for down load?
Thanks, TJK
Left by Thomas on August 11th, 2006
I think that show was Dallas TX, Feb 1985, but I never had the whole show, just excerpts. The tape you remember may have been a compilation. It definitely wasn’t Mrs. Kirkwood.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on August 12th, 2006
hey, good to see this show up! this was show #4 of the 5 in a row a rotating handful of us caught. (2 shows in 85 and 1 show in 86) weren’t enough i thought this one was definitely the most “professional” of the bunch – the previous ones at bard and hamilton college were, by comparison weird and festive, respectively. and our opening nite in boston at the paradise was quite rollicking (seemed the boston shows back then had the most energetic crowds – sometimes even moreso than NYC, where crowds can be more jaded) – though the show at the world in NYC on the out my way tour was insane. (my own state of mind(lessness) contributed, but i remember cris and curt each falling on their asses at least once, and cris breaking bottles on the stage)
funny you mention the herbal stimulants! i remember curt and cris speaking the praises of chi (they pronounced it ch-eye)…instead of the other herb. i remember the first time i was able to find “chi power” at a health food store on the cape. a kind of meat puppets moment for me months later. i ended up doing them myself for gigs (playing drums) and son got my bandmembers on board…we’d scramble around before gigs trying to score these or stronger versions of ma haung/ephedra stimulants…but alas, word got around that these could cause heart attack, so usage waned…some time later an overweight major league pitcher died during spring training, and these natural stimulants were blamed.
good times…
cheers and thanks for putting up the show!
Left by mikEL on August 12th, 2006
Much thanks for this. Ive oft wondered if you guys did any shows for ‘Mirage’. I heard it was a laborous affair to recreate but im glad it was attempted a few times. Thankyou MeatPuppets!
Left by meat man on August 13th, 2006
Thank you for making this available. Judging from the setlist and the date, I believe this show occurred a short time after a show I caught at Hamilton College in upstate, NY (the post above suggests this to be true). That was a grand time, and this set is reminiscent of that particular evening.
As I recall, it was a balmy spring night in central NY (this means high 50’s) but, because the show was outdoors on the Union patio, the Puppets were freezing their Arizonan asses off.
Left by Peter N. on August 14th, 2006
first of all, great website, and great band! Im a fan of both sides, Meat Puppets & Bostworld. I have tried to download this file from two different computers, neither one worked. Keep up the great work!!
Dan Shulstad
Left by Dan Shulstad on August 19th, 2006
Wow! You guys were tight. I always wondered why you guys never did new gods.
Left by smokey on August 23rd, 2006
What a delightful gig. I love the setlist (though I can imagine it’s quite challenging to play casually). In fact, I think the sound quality is quite all right. I’ve downloaded all the shows you’ve put on here, and the sound here is at least far better than the early stuff (I suppose you can call that weak praise, but at least it doesn’t hurt the listening experience).
Thanks for helping me through an otherwise tedious dishwashing session.
take care,
-Shade
Left by Shade on August 27th, 2006
Im a fan from Chile and i like a lot this website, thanks for this great file, Mirage is one of my favorite albums…thanks for all.
Left by Renz on September 3rd, 2006
Hey Derrick,
This is Tarah’s son Shawn, you might remember me from when I was little. Just wanted to say that this is great. My mom introduced me to you guys and I’m single handedly bringing you guys back. I’ve introduced you to a couple of my friends and they love the music, especially the song, “Sam”. My mom made a comment on the Meat Puppets shirt article, go take a look.
Thanks,
Shawn
Left by Shawn on September 6th, 2006
I saw that comment! Your mother is very proud of you, naturally!
Left by Derrick Bostrom on September 7th, 2006
Derrick, you dont seem to have any live videos… I have only one and if it wouldnt be a problem i would like you to help me determine the origin of the tape… The name is SST Tour Live ‘85
It lasts 17 minutes and the tracklist goes:
1. Sea Of Love
2. Up On The Sun
3.Little Wing
4. Midnight Rider
here you guys go ofthe stage throwing instruments and then come back for
5.Paralyzed
6.Good Golly Miss Molly
Any idea of where it was taken?
Anyway, if you agree i could upload it somewhere so you can have and (if you want so) share it with the fans… its 175MB…
Left by Maleshevic on October 6th, 2006
“The Tour” was released by SST in 1986. It featured us, the Huskers and the Minutemen (and others). Highly collectable, its roster of bands no longer working with SST makes it unlikely to be rereleased any time soon. I don’t even have a copy of it, though I have a dub. I’ve seen it on eBay though.
One of the tracks, “Little Wing,” is available on the “Out My Way” reissue as a bonus video.
If you choose to upload this video, be sure to send me the URL. However, its size makes it a better candidate for sharing via http://www.dimeadozen.org/.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on October 6th, 2006
I dont have an account at dimeadozen.org i’ve been trying to make one but they dont allow more than 100000 accounts so as soon as i get one i’ll share…
anyway, you didnt tell me where (what town, state) was it recorded…
Left by Maleshevic on October 8th, 2006
I think the “The Tour” footage is from 2/29/85 — The Stone — SF, CA.
The Minutemen’s portion is already up on YouTube:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4614281408864032204
Left by Derrick Bostrom on October 8th, 2006
Here it goes:
http://rapidshare.de/files/36123191/Meat_Puppets_-_SST_Tour_live_85_DivX_5.part1.rar.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/36375116/Meat_Puppets_-_SST_Tour_live_85_DivX_5.part2.rar.html
due to size (175mb) i had to split archive the video, because rapidshare.de allows only 100mb per file… thanks for the information on its origin…
Left by Maleshevic on October 11th, 2006
Too bad that those rapidshare links aren’t up anymore. Is there any chance that they could be posted again, thx
Left by Jethro on November 2nd, 2006
Hey, what program do you play it on? I can’t semm to figure out!
Left by James on November 18th, 2006
I was fortuante enough to be a friend of Curt and here Curt play back in the late 70’s when he was going to the UofA. We used to hang out at an off campus friends house on the corner of 9th and Cherry in Tucson. We would get trashed on anything that happend our way and stay up all night jamming and just raising hell. It was just a few year after that things start coming together for him and the Pup’s
I wished we would have recorded some of that.
Left by Gary Taylor on November 30th, 2006
I was not at this show, but I saw you guys on this tour — in Chicago. Still one of the best things I’ve ever seen. I’ll never forget the image of Cris and Kurt running into each other and falling down in a giggling heap before Cris picked up his “Fucker” bass and ya’ll tore into the encore set.
Thanks for all the music. I’m looking forward to hearing this set.
Left by Todd on April 10th, 2007
I was there as well. I met Curt outside a small trailor in the parking lot. There was a dog with Curt and i said hello. I was 17. It was very cool. I still live in the area. Thanks
Left by Brett on June 22nd, 2007
thanks a–a-aa-alot derrick for sharing. great show.
Left by mork on June 23rd, 2007
Hi Derrick
Firstly, great band & great website. Thanks for sharing your many Meat Puppets gems with us, especially the live shows.
I think the Trenton, New Jersey 87 gig is the best original line-up Meat Puppets show iv’e heard, the musicianship is fantastic. Mindblowing versions of “She’s Hot” & “Liquified”. I think each of you pulled out all the stops on this one.
My other favorite gig is Curt Kirkwoods’ reformed Puppets ‘Live at Maxwell’s’, New Jersey from 2001.
Did you ever perform “On The Move” live? If you did and have any rockin’ versions in your achives would you post them on your website for download, would much appreciate it.
Thanks again & all the best.
Colin.
Left by Colin on September 7th, 2007
We never did “On The Move” live. We never actually finished it. Maybe you can talk Meat Puppets V.3 to start doing it.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on September 7th, 2007
Too bad mirage is a little underated! You can find really good songs!!! Is there any demo of the song mirage around?
Left by Andres on May 21st, 2009
This is a fantastic recording. I’d love to hear ALL the shows from this era actually. I saw the Pups at CBGB in 1988, was standing 2 feet from the stage and had one of the absolute best times of my life at a music show. I was so blown away by how incredible the band sounded. Derrick, you guys had it going on, I must say. My biggest regret was not quitting my life to follow you guys around just to see and hear the shows. Thank you for giving so much to the fans, for those who never got to see you guys play, and for those of us who did and will never forget ….. please post more shows from the Mirage-Huevos era if you can … also, I remember someone video-taping the CBGB’s show and I’d give anything to have a copy of that video. You don’t happen to have that, do you? Thanks again.
Left by Ted Vee on June 3rd, 2009
ALL of them, ayy?
Ouch. Tall order.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on June 3rd, 2009