Mudhoney Aren't Mourning the 'Glory Days of Grunge'

Seattle's Mudhoney have survived rain, flannel, Mother Love Bone and major labels to become one of the longest-lived bands of their era. After 22 years, eight albums and little commercial success -- despite a loyal following -- the band remains active and will play a pair of shows as part of NXNE. Somewhat hard at work on the follow-up to 2008's 'The Lucky Ones,' singer/guitarist Mark Arm spoke with Spinner about grunge fallacies, day jobs and working with his heroes.

What questions do you get asked a lot?

One of the most common things people ask me about are the "glory days of grunge" and all that kind of stuff.

Does it get tiring?

Well yeah, and there's a sort of belief that isn't quite based in fact. Bands like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam and Nirvana were all part of the same scene before 'grunge' broke, but bands like Alice in Chains were actually more a part of the glam and metal scene and had nothing to do with us.

So I take it you don't talk to [former Alice in Chains bassist/Celeb Rehab patient] Mike Starr very often?

[Laughs] No. 'Hi I'm Mike Starr from Alice in Chains -- Layne was my best friend!' Dude, if Layne Staley was your best friend, why did he kick you out of the band?

What's the band up to these days?

We're just touring and very, very slowly writing a new album. One of us moved to Oregon, so that makes rehearsing even harder to organize.

How often did you practice before he moved?

Not very much, really.

My favourite Mudhoney songs tend to come in two styles: punchy, garage-punk blasts and more psychedelic, lengthier stuff.

[The psychedelic] stuff is us trying to be Blue Cheer or Hawkwind but then giving up after about four or five minutes. We're too lazy to do real psychedelia.

Was it hard parting ways with [original bassist and Melvins co-founder] Matt Lukin?

Well, Matt made it clear in the years leading up to his departure that he was losing interest. He used to add a lot to all of the songs, but during the recording of Tomorrow Hit Today he just kind of showed up. When he left, we thought about it and realized we still wanted to do stuff, so we kept going.

You're currently a manager at the Sub Pop warehouse. When did you the band start looking for other work?

In the late 1990s, when we started getting families and that kind of thing.

When should a band decide to get day jobs?

When they can't pay the rent. When they start mooching off their friends all the time.

Do you have nice memories of your time touring as a vocalist for the reunited MC5?

It was amazing. Do you know about that thing 'The Secret?' Well let me spoil it for you -- basically it says that if you really wish for something, it'll happen. I spent my youth just worshiping the Stooges and the MC5, and eventually we wound up opening for the Stooges, and I got to sing with the MC5. The MC5 times were great. Playing with Marshall Crenshaw and Deniz Tek in the Fred "Sonic" Smith role was awesome. Once, Deniz Tek had to leave tour for a couple of days and entrusted his guitar to me -- that's the Epiphone Crestwood that's on the cover of [Radio Birdman album] 'Radios Appear.' In the hotel, there was a full length mirror -- I stood in front of it and posed a lot. Pictures were taken.

What is your least favorite Mudhoney album title?

'Five Dollar Bob's Mock Cooter Stew,' by a long shot.

Mudhoney play Thurs. June 17 at Yonge-Dundas Square and Fri, June 18 at the Horseshoe Tavern as part of NXNE.