My collection of band memorabilia contains a staggering amount of press. The Meat Puppets released quite a few albums, but all the interviews that appeared over the years could fill twice as many thick tomes.
We did a lot of radio interviews over the years as well, including a sweet handful of live-in-the-studio performaces. But once we got involved with Polygram, these became fairly regular occurances. After we mastered the “unplugged” approach, we were able to do even more of them. “Radio Meat,” which can be found at the Wohlers archive is the best example of these. Originally broadcast on WBAI-FM in New York City, Polygram released the entire show on a promotional cassette.
I recently found a small cache of nationally syndicated shows on CD, some of which revealed some real treasures. They vary in length in quality; some of them are funny, some of them are grumpy, but some of them are as good as anything we released. One thing that strikes me about these shows is how odd “alternative” content sounds in such a mainstream format. While I hesitate to question the sincerity of anyone invovled (Yours Truly excepted, of course), to my ears the entire effort comes off as craven, clueless and condescending.
Whatever; it’s still cool stuff. Special thanks to Tom Quitasol for sending me the disk with “It’s A Small World,” which I don’t remember at all.
(Note: Please be advised that this is a large file, and some ‘net connections will be unable to handle it. The file has been tested on both Macintosh and Windows platforms and it 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 (68 mg)
Best Of College Radio – 1991: “It’s A Small World”
TDK New Music Report – 1991: “Charles In Charge,” guest deejays, interview, “That’s How It Goes”
Brave New Radio – July 1994: Why,” “Oh Me,” “Confusion Fog,” interview
Spin Radio – 1994: Interview w/ Cris & Curt
Concrete – Oct 1995: Tour anecdote by Curt
Static – Fall 1995: “Predator,” interview
Thing is that by this time you guys WERE mainstream, or at least the stream had caught up. Dezo used to give these interviews in the 90′s where he would talk about how HE liked ‘alternative music.’ Then he would list Hendrix, ZZ, Mountain et al. His point being that if Nirvana is the ‘new’ mainstream, then ZZ BECOMES alternative.
Ya’ gotta admit, Nirvana being ‘alternative’ is a complete joke if their CD is emblazoned with 5 MTV logos.
Just a thought.
Left by Tom Troccoli on May 16th, 2006
The interviews are incredible! please give us more your all hilarious!
Left by PhishSucks2625 on May 18th, 2006
Oh, man… before I even knew what an MP3 was, I downloaded a clip of Curt saying “There is no everyone. There’s only my greymatter and the things that it imagines.”
That was like 12 years ago and I’ve been searching for it ever sense! Thanks, Derrick!
Left by Dace on May 21st, 2006
Yeah, that sound byte on this site back in 1995. It was a glorious mono, uncompressed, AIFF file.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on May 21st, 2006
“Radio Meat” is my favorite show from Wohlers archive, aside from the 1/2 unplugged “Slim’s” show which is so amazingly fantastically good that it stays I have a copy in every room of the house.
There is something direct about a good meat pupps show, no middlemen (or even middlewomen) involved, perhaps a few mermen, but no middlemen, while listening I attain true Telefunken Reverbration Booginess.
The best part of Radio meat is that it introduced me to my best friend, Evander Dandoe!! (with a pig-iron on his hip).
I hope more of these radio shows get posted. THX again………
I also have some Cris artwork on a letter he sent me….some of which is going on my arm as a super swell tattoo next week.
I also wrote way too much here.
Left by Rufus_theHound on May 30th, 2006
Does anyone have a copy of the radio interview with the Meat Pupets live via phone from David Notarius’s late night KPFT – Houston Texas radio show circa 1981? This interview was mention in an interview with David & members of the Romanian gysy brass group “Fanfare Ciocarlia” on Radio Zaiko Langa – Langa in Zaire back in 2001. The show was called “Call from the West” and was a weekly show in Zaire featuring music & stories of alt. western music, recorded in the Radio Zaiko Langa – Langa studio in Brixton, London, UK. David mention that the Meat Pupets did a 5 hour interview featuring a live performace of a couple of songs . This was one of his first radio interviews when he started radio at KPFT, which was a public Pacifica station in Houston Texas back in the 70′s & 80′s.
Left by Shlomo Patel on June 20th, 2006
I remember a couple of KPFK interviews from fall of 1982. I remember one of them being a phoner. I don’t remember either of them being five hours long.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on June 20th, 2006
fact: the meat puppets dont ususaly drink mountain dew,
they prefer strawberry milk and charleston chew candy bars
Left by tuna melt on June 20th, 2006
Hi, OK confession time, I’m 36 years old been listening to Alternative rock and punk since I was 14 and i’ve only just discovered Meat Puppets…..I know, how did that happen? I guess I just never knew anyone who said “here listen to this” like they did with so many other bands. Anyway, I knew the name and was looking at cd’s on ebay and saw ‘no joke’ for 99p (that’s about 60 cents, to you) and thought “i’ll give them a go”……as soon as I put it on, I fell in love with it. Since that I’ve been downloading stuff off here and I rushed out and bought ‘too high to die’ and ‘II’ I’m such a fan now, you are without a doubt one of the most amazing bands I have ever heard. next payday i’ll get a couple more cds!
Left by Simon on June 29th, 2006
Hey Derrick, I was hoping you could tell me who was present during the Radio Meat recording ?
Left by Nigel on August 6th, 2006
The only folks in the room (that I recall) were the three prinicpal Puppets, Troy Meiss on second guitar, and the deejay (who identifies himself on the tape, I believe) and perhaps Steve, who was our radio promo guy at Polygram.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on August 6th, 2006
I remember a show you guys did live on KXLU and Tom Troccoli was in the studio with you. I had a cassette of that I loved but I wore it out. I think you guys did a highly altered version of Zep’s No Quarter about Tom. Great stuff.
Left by Dale on May 8th, 2007
Music is made, and music is sold. Let’s hear it for the flesh and blood. [apologz for the hit and run]
Left by agent on February 5th, 2008
Keep up all the good work! Troy says hello, call him some time. We are now jammin in Peoria, Il. Jeremy Isbell and the Troy Meiss Duo!
Left by jeremy isbell on February 21st, 2008
Nice to know that somebody still remembers the old days at KPFT besides me…..haven’t seen Dave Notarius…aka Doc Ben Wa…in years….but some of us are still alive and kicking
Left by Lord Locksley on March 13th, 2009
Dave Notarius is at South Hackney School of Art London
KDIL tapes are available for downloading at kdil.com
Where is Gary Russell?
Left by Dave Rickmers on April 24th, 2010