• 1980-

  Curt KirkwoodVocals, guitar

  Cris KirkwoodBass

  Derrick BostromDrums1980-1996

  Shandon SahmDrums1999-
• The Meat Puppets originally formed in 1980. Singer/guitarist Curt Kirkwood first met drummer Derrick Bostrom at a party in Paradise Valley, Arizona. In the book Too High to Die: Meet the Meat Puppets, Kirkwood recalls, "It was a party of all his friends from the church that he went to - they were all pretty eccentric people already, listening to a lot of different stuff."
• The Meat Puppets' 1982 self-titled album was recorded in just three days (at Unicorn Studios on Santa Monica Boulevard) and under the influence. As bassist Cris Kirkwood recalled in the book Too High to Die, "We dosed for three days in a row and recorded that thing."
• Although Meat Puppets II is an all-time favorite of Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, it wasn't until many years later that he actually owned a copy of the album. At the time of the album's release (1984), a friend dubbed Thayil a cassette - one side comprised of early material from Blue Cheer, the other side featuring Meat Puppets II.
• Curt Kirkwood once broke his finger (when it was accidentally slammed in a van door), which was one of the reasons that the 1986 release, Out My Way, was only an EP.
• After the break up of the short-lived supergroup Eyes Adrift (which saw Curt joined by ex-Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and ex-Sublime drummer Bud Gaugh), Curt and Bud joined forces in the band Volcano. Like Eyes Adrift, Volcano only managed to issue a single self-titled album before breaking up.
• Meat Puppets drummer Shandon Sahm is the son of Doug Sahm, who was a solo artist as well as a member of the Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornados, and the Bottle Rockets.

Comments

More Songfacts:

DowntownPetula Clark

When Petula Clark reached #1 in the US with "Downtown" in 1965, she became the first female singer from England to hit #1 in the US during the Rock Era (after 1955).

Don't You (Forget About Me)Simple Minds

The prom scene in Pretty in Pink was shot to "Don't You (Forget About Me)," but "If You Leave" was used in the film. That's why the dancers are out of time with the music.

BoombasticShaggy

Shaggy wrote his swaggering hit "Boombastic" after learning what "shag" means in the UK.

All About That BassMeghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor and her producer Kevin Kadish wrote "All About That Bass" for another artist to record, but after Epic Records boss LA Reid heard Meghan play a demo of the song on a ukulele, he signed her to his label and told her she should sing it.

Islands In The StreamKenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

"Islands in the Stream" was originally written by The Bee Gees as an R&B song. It was originally written by the brothers for Marvin Gaye, however it was recorded instead as a duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton with the Gibb Brothers also contributing vocals.

Video Killed The Radio StarBuggles

"Video Killed The Radio Star" by Buggles was the first video to air on MTV when the network started broadcasting on August 1, 1981.

Editor's Picks

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.