NTS aired an episode dedicated to the music of Mr. Bungle on 14 June 2024. Mr. Bungle has been played on NTS over 20 times, featured on 19 episodes and was first played on 30 October 2015.

Mr. Bungle are an avant-garde metal group from Eureka, California, United States. The band was formed in 1985 while the members were still in high school and was named after a children educational film. Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s before being signed to Warner Bros. Records and releasing three full-length studio albums between 1991 and 1999. The band toured in 2000 to support their last album but as of 2004 were considered disbanded.

On August 13, 2019, it was announced Mr. Bungle would reunite as a thrash metal band for a series of shows in February 2020, which saw them performing their 1986 demo album The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny with Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. The following month, it was announced that the band had returned to the studio to re-record the demo as a professional album, which is expected for release on October 30, 2020.

Although Mr. Bungle went through several line up changes early in their career, the longest serving members were vocalist Mike Patton, guitarist Trey Spruance, bassist Trevor Dunn, drummer Danny Heifetz, and Clinton McKinnon on saxophone and woodwinds.

Mr. Bungle was known for its distinctive musical traits, often cycling through several musical genres within the course of a single song. Many of its songs had an unconventional structure and utilized a wide array of instruments and samples. Live shows often featured members dressing up and an array of cover songs. An ongoing feud with Red Hot Chili Peppers front man Anthony Kiedis escalated in the late 1990s, with Kiedis removing Mr. Bungle from a number of large music festivals in Europe and Australasia.

Despite the fact that they were signed to a major record label, the band never experienced significant commercial success during its lifetime and only released one music video. Nevertheless, Mr. Bungle were critically acclaimed with All music referring to them as "among the most talented rock instrumentalists". They achieved a degree of worldwide popularity due to a large cult following.

Early days (1985–1990)

Mr. Bungle formed in 1985 in Eureka, California while the members were still in high school. The band initially consisted of Trevor Dunn, Mike Patton, Trey Spruance, Theo Lengyel, and Jed Watts. Watts was subsequently replaced by Hans Wagner, and he by Danny Heifetz, while Clinton "Bär" McKinnon joined in 1989. The band's name was taken from Lunchroom Manners, a 1960s children's educational film which was featured in a Pee Wee Herman HBO special in the early 1980s. A puppet named Mr. Bungle was the main character and was used to teach children good manners and hygiene.

Soon after forming, the band's first demo, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny, was recorded during Easter of 1986. It featured a fast, low-fi, death metal style, though it also utilized a train whistle, a saxophone, bongos, and a kazoo. The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny was followed by the demo Bowel of Chiley in 1987; this recording featured a different style incorporating the sounds of ska, swing, and funk. Bradley Torreano noted in Allmusic that the recording was "essentially the sound of some very talented teenagers trying to make their love of jazz and ska come together in whatever way they can." In 1988 Mr. Bungle released their third demo, Goddammit I Love America!, which was musically similar to Bowel of Chiley. Their final demo tape was OU818, released in 1989; this recording was the first to feature tenor sax player Clinton "Bär" McKinnon and drummer Danny Heifetz. OU818 combined songs from the earlier demos along with some new tracks having a heavier overall sound than the previous releases. In 1989 Mike Patton became the lead vocalist for San Francisco's Faith No More, getting the job after Jim Martin of Faith No More heard him on a Mr. Bungle demo. Patton continued to be a member of both bands simultaneously. Having established a following in Northern California, Mr. Bungle was signed to Warner Bros., who released their self-titled debut album in 1991.

Self titled debut (1991–1994)

Their debut album, Mr. Bungle, was produced by jazz experimentalist John Zorn and was released on August 13, 1991. The record mixed metal, funk, ska, carnival music, and free jazz, but was normally described as "funk metal" by music critics. It received mostly positive reviews with journalist Bill Pahnelas calling it "an incredible musical tour de force, and hands down the best alternative rock record of the year so far". On the style of the album, critic Steve Huey wrote in Allmusic "Mr. Bungle is a dizzying, disconcerting, schizophrenic tour through just about any rock style the group can think of, hopping from genre to genre without any apparent rhyme or reason, and sometimes doing so several times in the same song." His criticism of the album included commenting that it was "unfocused" and "a difficult, not very accessible record".

The first track was originally called "Travolta", however the actor John Travolta took issue with this title and threatened legal action. The song name was changed and on later pressings of the album was called "Quote Unquote". The band created a music video for "Quote Unquote". However, MTV refused to air the video because of images of bodies dangling on meat hooks. The album sold well despite MTV refusing to air their video and a lack of radio airplay. Almost all the members went by obscure aliases in the album credits. To promote the album in some stores, a Mr. Bungle bubble bath was given away with copies of the record sold. Following the release of the album the band toured North America.

Disco Volante (1995–1998)

Due to artwork delays and the band members' many side-projects, it was 4 years before Disco Volante was released in October 1995. The new album displayed musical development, and a shift in tone from

their earlier recordings. While the self-titled album was described as "funk metal", with Disco Volante this label was replaced with "avant-garde" or "experimental."

The music was complex and unpredictable with the band continuing with their shifts of musical style. Some of the tracks were in foreign languages and would radically change genres mid-song. Featuring lyrics about death, suicide, and child abuse, along with death metal, children's songs, and a Middle Eastern techno number, music critic Greg Prato described the album as having "a totally original and new musical style that sounds like nothing that currently exists". Not all critics were impressed with the album, with The Washington Post describing it as "an album of cheesy synthesizers, mangled disco beats, virtuosic playing and juvenile noises", calling it "self-indulgent" and adding that "Mr. Bungle's musicians like to show off their classical, jazz and world-beat influences in fast, difficult passages which are technically impressive but never seem to go anywhere". Additionally, writer Scott McGaughey described it as "difficult" and was critical of its "lack of actual songs". Disco Volante included influences from contemporary classical music, avant-garde jazz, electronic music pioneer Pierre Henry, Edgar Allan Poe, John Zorn, Frank Zappa, Penderecki, and European film music of the 1960s and 1970s such as those composed by Ennio Morricone and Peter Thomas.

The album notes also contained an invitation to participate in an "unusual scam" - if $2 was sent to the band's address, participants would receive additional artwork, lyrics to the songs "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" and "Chemical Marriage", and some stickers. The vinyl release of this album shipped with a 7" by the then-unknown Secret Chiefs 3. Mr. Bungle supported this record with tours through the United States, Europe, and Australia during 1995 and 1996. In 1996 Theo Lengyel retired as Bungle's original sax player and keyboardist due to creative differences.

Mr. Bungle's End

Following the California tour the band again went on hiatus. In 2003 Patton alluded to the fact that the band would probably not record any more albums stating in an interview "I think it is over. The guys are spread all over the world and we don't talk to each other. I have not spoken to a couple of the guys since the last tour, years ago." While no official break-up announcement ever materialized, a 2004 Rolling Stone interview confirmed Mr. Bungle had disbanded with Patton revealing “We could have probably squeezed out a couple more records but the collective personality of this group became so dysfunctional, this band was poisoned by one person's petty jealousy and insecurity, and it led us to a slow, unnatural death. And I'm at peace with that, because I know I tried all I could." When asked about a possible reunion, Mike Patton said, "It could happen, but I won’t be singing. Some bridges have definitely been burned. It was a fun time and sometimes you just have to move on. I’ve got a lot on my plate now." Trevor Dunn adds, on his website, "Bungle is dead and I'm happy about it" and that "the members of Mr. Bungle will never work together as such again". Spruance, Heifetz, and McKinnon have been more optimistic regarding a possible reunion.

After the dissolution of Mr. Bungle the members have gone on to numerous different projects. Mike Patton co-founded the record label Ipecac Recordings and is involved with several other ventures, including various works with composer John Zorn, and most notably the bands Fantômas, Tomahawk, and Peeping Tom. He acted in the motion picture Firecracker and did voice work in the movie I Am Legend, performing the infected creatures screams and howls. Trey Spruance is involved with various bands, including Secret Chiefs 3 and Faxed Head. Trevor Dunn joined Patton in Fantômas as well as forming his own jazz band, Trevor Dunn's Trio Convulsant; he also occasionally played bass with Secret Chiefs 3. Danny Heifetz’s projects included playing with Secret Chiefs 3 and in a country/punk band called Dieselhed; he now resides in Sydney, Australia, and plays in outfits such as The Tango Saloon and The Fantastic Terrific Munkle. Clinton McKinnon also played with Secret Chiefs 3; he now lives in Melbourne, Australia, and plays with The Ribbon Device and UMLäUT.

Discography

Demo albums

* The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny (1986), Ladd-Frith Productions * Bowel of Chiley (1987), Playhouse Productions; Rastacore Records * Goddammit I Love America! (1988), The Works * OU818 (1989), "B" Productions

The four early pre-Warner Bros. cassettes are not part of the band's official catalogue. However, one track, "Raping Your Mind", was released by Warner Bros. on a 1994 promo titled "Trademark Of Quality". Bowel of Chiley, mistakenly titled "Bowl of Chiley", was re-released as a bootleg cassette in 1991 by Playhouse Productions and as a CD in 1997 by Rastacore Records without the band's permission.

Studio albums

* Mr. Bungle (1991), Warner Bros. Records * Disco Volante (1995), Warner Bros. * California (1999), Warner Bros.

Members (1985-1987)

* Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples * Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards * Trevor Dunn - bass * Jed Watts - drums * Theo Lengyel - saxophone, keyboards

(1987-1989)

* Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples * Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards * Trevor Dunn - bass * Hans Wagner - drums * Luke Miller - horns * Theo Lengyel - saxophone, keyboards

(1989-1996)

* Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples * Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards * Trevor Dunn - bass * Danny Heifetz - drums * Clinton "Bär" McKinnon - reeds * Theo Lengyel - saxophone, keyboards

(1996-2000)

* Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples * Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards * Trevor Dunn - bass * Danny Heifetz - drums * Clinton "Bär" McKinnon - reeds

(2019-2020)

* Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples * Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards * Trevor Dunn - bass * Scott Ian - guitar * Dave Lombardo - drums

Martin Fosnaugh and Scott Fritz made brief appearances as Jew's harpist and trumpet player on the first demo tape; Scott Fritz also played trumpet on Bowel of Chiley. Additional musicians often performed and recorded with them. Percussionist William Winant toured with Mr. Bungle in 1995 and 1996 and again in support of California, in 1999. Ches Smith filled in for William Winant at a few shows. The first leg of the California tour also included keyboardist Jeff Attridge, who was later replaced by James Rotundi. Ches and James toured with the band full-time for Sno-Core 2000 and the Australian tour in support of California.