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| Mudhoney (left to right: Steve Turner, Guy Maddison, Mark Arm, Dan Peters) Photo credit: Shawn Brackbill |
by
Francesca McCaffery
Mudhoney are probably one of the most defining and significant bands of the early Seattle underground music scene in the early nineties, which of course became horrifically termed “grunge” forever after. With wailing lead singer and guitarist Mark Arm, drummer Dan Peters, guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Matt Lutkin (present bassist, Guy Maddison), Mudhoney’s roaring, nostalgia-free punk sound both inspired and paved the way for
Soundgarden and
Nirvana’s astonishing commercial success. Mudhoney continue to play their wonderfully searing and sonic punk rock today. Singer Mark Arm recently spoke with us about the band’s early success, his favorite bands as a kid, Mudhoney’s upcoming album, and that damn callous in his throat.
Francesca McCaffery: I wanted to start out and ask about your very, very beginnings-how you actually got to be a real, authentic rock star without selling out for a second. We’re particularly interested in your beginnings with one of your first bands: Green River. (Half of the band, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament went on to form Pearl Jam.)
Mark Arm: I really at this point don’t remember all the facts, necessarily. It’s so long ago! I kind of remember…but when things happen so long ago, it’s kind of hard to remember what was real, after telling the story so many times. I’m not sure how far away from the truth they are, if that makes any sense? But when we got together for the Sub Pop 20th anniversary in 2008, you know, I had to go back and listen to
Green River records. And it really just became apparent to me, the way the music was, the way it was produced… it was kind of, much lighter than the shit that I was bringing to it.
