The annual Mosswood Meltdown outdoor festival is returning July 6th and 7th to the East Bay for two special, fun-filled days. Featured Saturday acts include B-52’s, Redd Kross, Hunx & His Punx, Peaches Christ Drag Show, Pansy Division, Go Sailor, Wifey, Trap Girl, and Hot Laundry while Sunday’s festivities showcase The Mummies, Pure Hell, Big Freedia, Egyptian Lover, Gibby Haynes & the Paul Green Rock Academy, Bush Tetras, Die Spitz, Space Lady, and Gumby’s Junk.
And while all of the acts on this year’s docket bring something to the table, Gibby Haynes’ set with the Paul Green Rock Academy is sure to be the gathering’s highlight. Butthole Surfers’ fans will remember Gibby Haynes’ young backing band participated in a highly successful (but short) West Coast tour with Victims Family back in 2022 playing small clubs and mid-sized venues including Oakland’s very own Thee Stork Club.
For those not paying attention, music teacher and tour curator Paul Green runs a school dubbed the Paul Green Rock Academy for budding young musicians. To date, his young prodigies and disciples have toured with the likes of Jon Anderson (YES), Fred Armison, Adrian Belew, Alice Cooper, Stewart Copeland, Gail Ann Dorsey, Dr. Know, Donald Fagan, Perry Farrell, Peter Frampton, Gibby Haynes, Scott Ian, Ed Mann, John Medeski, Kate Pierson, Marky Ramone, Vernon Reid, LeAnn Rimes, John Sebastian, Slash Brendon Small, Sister Sparrow, Ronnie Spector, Eddie Vedder, Denny Walley, Gene Ween, John Wettom, Ike Willis, and Ann Wilson.
Formed in San Antonio, Texas by vocalist Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary some 43 years ago, The Butthole Surfers were an anomaly on the touring circuit. Known for their crazy shock and awe stage antics, it would only take them another two years to finally issue their first self-titled and seven-song EP on Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles in 1983.
With a moniker that always brought curious new fans into the fold, Butthole Surfers was a fitting and much less offensive choice than some of the earlier band ideas which included Ashtray Babyheads, Ed Asner Is Gay, and The Inalienable Right to Eat Fred Astaire’s Asshole.
Butthole Surfers would later issue eight full-lengths, four extended plays, two live albums, three compilations, and a handful of singles. Starting with the awkwardly titled ‘Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s Sac’ (1984), Gibby Haynes and company would inevitably release some of the most mind-bending and offensive musical fare ever recorded as evidenced by songs such as “Concubine,” “Cherub,” “Negro Observer,” “Lady Sniff,” and “Mexican Caravan,” to name but a few.
Their run on the Touch and Go indie label was legendary as far as independent record labels go, but was later marred by years of legal disputes. The group would eventually end up winning their lawsuit in 1999 and soon re-issued ‘Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s Sac, ‘Rembrandt Pussyhorse (plus the Cream Corn… EP),’ ‘Locust Abortion Technician,’ and ‘Hairway to Steven’ on Butthole Surfers’ very own Latino Buggerveil label.
Signed to Capitol Records in the early 90’s during one of the strangest and most unsuccessful signing frenzies in recent memory (insert one awfully-named ‘grunge’ era), their run was short and sweet. With Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain professing his love for the band and name-dropping whenever he could, the band landed a coveted record deal and received a much-needed injection of signing bonus cash and full tour support.
The band’s ‘piouhgd’ (1992) album, originally issued on Rough Trade in 1991, was the band’s first offering for the major label followed by ‘Independent Worm Saloon’ (1993) and ‘Electriclarryland’ (1996). The latter would feature the band’s biggest commercial hit with “Pepper” and was eventually awarded RIAA Gold status (500,000 sales).
Although reunited a couple of times since initially ending the band, they have been on an indefinite break since 2016 with the exception of a sole festival date in Houston, Texas on December 17 and 18. With the Butthole Surfers on hiatus due to Paul Leary’s hatred of touring and the wait time in between shows, Gibby Haynes & the Paul Green Rock Academy’s live set is most certainly the next best thing.
Said emcee John Waters about the punk-influenced soiree, “It’s musical mayhem time for multiple maniacs in Oakland once again, and I’m proud to be hosting from the gutter for the tenth time! Mosswood Meltdown — our days to shine in the punk grime.”
Gibby Haynes plays The Mosswood Meltdown at Mosswood Park located at 3612 Webster Street in Oakland. General admission Tier 3 weekend passes start at $199 and can be purchased at https://mosswoodmeltdown.com. Single day options and special VIP weekend passes are available as well. Saturday shenanigans kick off at 11:30am and the Sunday sermon starts at 12pm. All ages are welcome.
(Capital Chaos TV)