Mike Patton on Wolfmother

Pearl Jam and toast

Okay, he just said "i'm doing a sixties italian record with an orchestra" right before asking what year is it.

Anyone who disses a band for sounding like they belong in another decade is a loser.

Plus, for christ's sake, would you rather sound like a sabbath/zeppelin rip off or fucking nickelback?

No offense to Mike Patton cuz i actually kind of dig him, but he needs to shut the fuck up. Make fun of them for the singer's whiney robert plant rip off voice or something, not because they play older style music.

lame.

transplant

hendrix78 wrote:

I'm just saying it's my opinion that it's low class for a musician to disparage other musicians publicly. Every one is entitled to like or dislike any band, but what purpose does it serve to publicly trash another band except to inflate your own ego?

couldn't agree more. lame.

enharmonic

Half of Patton's shit is unlistenable. It's not art...it's fucking unlistenable garbage...and I don't even like wolfmother that much.

methinks Patton needs to get off of his own dick for a minute.

Todd76

Patton is a genius - most of the time (some of the vocal noise albums he does dont do much for me) - BUT Faith No More, Fantomas, Tomahawk, Mr Bungle, Lovage, Peeping Tom are all AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND he is obviously completely on the ball in this case - Wolfmother stink (2nd rate Zeppelin rip-off....BORING)

Preach on Mike, Preach on

hendrix78

Just for the record, I've only heard a couple of Wolfmother songs, and I find them to be "ok". If there's nothing better on the radio, I'll listen to it, but I don't see myself buying the album. That said, if you're ripping off Zeppelin and Sabbath, at least you have good taste.

shiraz

hendrix78 wrote:

I'm just saying it's my opinion that it's low class for a musician to disparage other musicians publicly. Every one is entitled to like or dislike any band, but what purpose does it serve to publicly trash another band except to inflate your own ego? Obviously he has the right to do it, but why bother? If you don't like another band's music, or the current state of popular music (and I don't like the state of current popular music), just make good music to comabt the deluge of crap out there.

I really don't get your point, why would someone who has an opinion need to keep it to himself? And what about a possitive opinion, what makes it more right to have that one "in loud"?

The way I see it, it is very importent for someone to share a none-popular opinion with the public, especially if he really believes in it and not just saying it for the sake of self-attention. It seems like everybody in the music world is in favor of Wolfmother in public, and the same thing goes with Coldplay (best band in the world, what is wrong with everybody?!?). I'm glad someone finally said "the king is nude".

hendrix78 wrote:

As for the Chili Peppers, I could not disagree with you more. Again, it all comes down to opinion and personal taste, but to me, the music they are making now is on a much higher artistic level than their old stuff, and I love their old stuff. I regularly listen to Freaky Styley and Uplift Mofo Party Plan, but I think Stadium Arcadium is a much more solid album. I think the music on it is timeless and covers a very broad stylistic range while still feeling cohesive as a whole. There are poppy tunes like Make You Feel Better and Tell Me Baby, but those songs stand along side straight up funk like Warlocks, slamming hard rock like Readymade, post punk influenced tunes like So Much I, and epic rock like Turn It Again. I've hijacked this thread enough now, but I had to offer a counterpoint to your assessment of the Peppers' newer music.

I don't want them to make the same music they used to. I want them to to dare and innovate like they used to. I'm sorry but they stoped doing that, and their new cd proves (to me) they chose to walk on the easy way than on the more challenging one.

lalalalaaaaaaaa

Patton is just a music snob. He's pissed off that his stuff doesn't sell that well, and he's pissed that Faith No More is generally remembered as a one-hit-wonder. He's got a big chip on his shoulder about that, and it shows.

hendrix78

I guess for me it's the difference between saying "I don't like this band" and implying that no one else should like them. By making fun of a band in a snarky tone like that, it seems you're basically ridiculing anyone who likes them. I'm saying, who the fuck is Patton, or any one else for that matter, to tell people what to like. I guess I'm just not a fan of critics in general becuase I think it's a useless job. I don't believe art or entertainment can be defined in objective terms, so trying to claim yourself to be an expert on it is bullshit in my opinion.

I'll use our different takes on the Chili peppers as an example. You think they have taken the easy road and are doing the same thing over again. I think they are building on the past, honing their craft, and creating something new. What makes one of our opinions more valid than the other? I'd argue both of our opinions are equally valid because we obviously hear the music differently.

Todd76

Saturnal wrote:

Patton is just a music snob. He's pissed off that his stuff doesn't sell that well, and he's pissed that Faith No More is generally remembered as a one-hit-wonder. He's got a big chip on his shoulder about that, and it shows.

If you had ever heard any of Pattons music post FNM you would definitely realize hes NOT pissed about record sales or FNM's "one hit wonder" status....if ever there was a guy who was just into it for the love of making new and original music its Mr Patton.

Would a guy whos about to make an album of 60's Italian music, or record albums with John Zorn, or cover songs by Ennio Morricone really be worried about record sales - just listen to Fantomas....that aint about record sales or writing hits

lalalalaaaaaaaa

Todd76 wrote:

If you had ever heard any of Pattons music post FNM you would definitely realize hes NOT pissed about record sales or FNM's "one hit wonder" status....if ever there was a guy who was just into it for the love of making new and original music its Mr Patton.

Would a guy whos about to make an album of 60's Italian music, or record albums with John Zorn, or cover songs by Ennio Morricone really be worried about record sales - just listen to Fantomas....that aint about record sales or writing hits

Yes, I know he doesn't try to write hits. I do think he wants more recognition and respect than he gets though (record sales are just an indicator of recognition). And I think it pisses him off that bands like Wolfmother get more recognition, so he has to not only attack them, but call their fans stupid in addition.

tomdelonge

Mike Patton?? who is that guy?

Todd76

Saturnal wrote:

Yes, I know he doesn't try to write hits. I do think he wants more recognition and respect than he gets though (record sales are just an indicator of recognition). And I think it pisses him off that bands like Wolfmother get more recognition, so he has to not only attack them, but call their fans stupid in addition.

he has a HUGE and dedicated following, in some circles he's seen as a "god"....i've seen Lovage, Mr Bungle, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom and Fantomas in concert and every show was a a large venue and sold out in minutes

lalalalaaaaaaaa

Todd76 wrote:

he has a HUGE and dedicated following, in some circles he's seen as a "god"....i've seen Lovage, Mr Bungle, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom and Fantomas in concert and every show was a a large venue and sold out in minutes

Come on man, he has a very dedicated following but it's not huge. Peeping Tom headlines in clubs, and they're only playing in huge arenas because they're opening for The Who. Same with Tomahawk and Fantomas for Tool. Mike Patton doesn't regularly sell out big arenas like some of the bands he shits on (RHCP for one).

bharQ

i've read enough.. basically this thread has 2 kinds of people.. people that are informed of who patton is and can form a valid opinion based on this.. and people who have NO CLUE who he is and are just going by what they see on tv..ie: Faith no more being a one hit wonder WTF..if all you follow is MTV and the radio then yes I guess they are.. and so is Blind Melon i guess.. listen to the albums and turn your damn TV off.. there is a wealth of patton music you haven't even heard.. Wolfmother are still children.

Todd76

Saturnal wrote:

Come on man, he has a very dedicated following but it's not huge. Peeping Tom headlines in clubs, and they're only playing in huge arenas because they're opening for The Who. Same with Tomahawk and Fantomas for Tool. Mike Patton doesn't regularly sell out big arenas like some of the bands he shits on (RHCP for one).

The venues he played in T.O. were some of the biggest we have to offer other than arenas....and based on the fact they sold out so quickly he probably could have upsized (obviously not to arena levels)

....I really dont think hes the type of musician that gives two shits if hes playing a club or an arena - i'm sure his dissappointment (if there is any) stems from the fact he wishes good/original music received more support/recognition and that people were more willing to challenge themselves musically rather then listening to what boils down to boring second rate cover bands...and dont we all wish that were true

lalalalaaaaaaaa

bharQ wrote:

i've read enough.. basically this thread has 2 kinds of people.. people that are informed of who patton is and can form a valid opinion based on this.. and people who have NO CLUE who he is and are just going by what they see on tv..ie: Faith no more being a one hit wonder WTF..if all you follow is MTV and the radio then yes I guess they are.. and so is Blind Melon i guess.. listen to the albums and turn your damn TV off.. there is a wealth of patton music you haven't even heard.. Wolfmother are still children.

You didn't mention me specifically, but I'd say you lump me into the group who doesn't know Patton enough and can't form a valid opinion based on that. I think that's wrong, because I'm very familiar with Patton's projects. I don't like most of them, but I respect his originality. I'm not going by what I see on TV.

However, most people don't know who he is, and he doesn't regularly sell out large arenas like a lot of bands who he feels aren't progressive enough or original enough in his eyes. That bothers him, and I think that's mainly why he shits on them.

lalalalaaaaaaaa

Todd76 wrote:

The venues he played in T.O. were some of the biggest we have to offer other than arenas....and based on the fact they sold out so quickly he probably could have upsized (obviously not to arena levels)

....I really dont think hes the type of musician that gives two shits if hes playing a club or an arena - i'm sure his dissappointment (if there is any) stems from the fact he wishes good/original music received more support/recognition and that people were more willing to challenge themselves musically rather then listening to what boils down to boring second rate cover bands...and dont we all wish that were true

I'm not sure what T.O. is, but in Boston and New York he played in clubs. We have larger venues here, but he can't sell enough seats for those. That's the point.

Regardless, I think we generally agree that he's pissed because music that he sees as "good" and original isn't popular. I just worded it differently before. The problem is, not everyone has the same definition of "good". Music snobs, however, think their definition should be applied to everyone. I think that's stupid.

And on top of that, it's a bullshit definition anyways, because anyone who's watched bands get more and more popular know that the same people (music snobs) always like them less and less. It has nothing to do with their originality, it has to do with people feeling like they know better than most of the "mindless sheep" who listen to Wolfmother or RHCP.

Todd76

Saturnal wrote:

I'm not sure what T.O. is

Toronto...some of the venues he played here have capacities around 2500 - 3000 (not too shabby.....the same places i've seen Sonic Youth, Spiritualized, Yo La Tengo, Stereolab, Mogwai, Broken Social Scene, the Verve, Belle And Sebastian, A Perfect Circle, Doves....shit even the mighty Nickelback played there, fortunately i missed that one - OUCH)

nightfly107

Most of his stuff with the exception of Faith no more and Peeping Tom is more ambient/ avant garde i think you really have to be into it to get it. Or be in a certain mood depending on which project you listen to. My two recent favs of his has been Fantomas and the General patton vs Xecutioners album some very different sounding music.