Soon, the Melvins could become known for much more than just being Kurt Cobain’s favorite band.
They could hold a Guinness World Record.
The veteran stoner-rock band Melvins will attempt to become the Guinness World Record holders for the first band to tour the full United States and D.C. in 51 days.
The trio — usually a quartet, but this time as trio — kicked off the tour on Sept. 5 in Anchorage, Alaska, and if all goes well, will wrap up Oct. 25 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
On Sept. 10, the band will hit Utah after playing the previous night in Montana and scheduled to perform the next day in Wyoming.
"I don’t really want to do 51 shows in a row," said the Melvins’ singer and guitarist Buzz Osbourne. "But [the record] looks really cool."
What’s interesting is that the record attempt doesn’t differ that much from the usual touring schedule for the band, which began in 1983 in Washington State and has been touring the world, virtually non-stop, since. The band regularly does tour legs that consists of 30 shows in 30 nights.
But 51 shows in 51 days requires all of the travel in their tour van to go off without a hitch. "Hopefully we won’t get arrested, or I won’t kill anyone," Osbourne said. This tour will consist of the band’s first shows in Alaska, New Hampshire, Delaware and Hawaii,
Osborne will be accompanied by long-time band Dale Crover (once Nirvana’s drummer) and Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle, filling in on bass. Because the band is a trio, they have adopted the nickname of Melvins Lite.
In an odd twist, the other two members of the Melvins, Jared Warren and Coady Willis, will be in Salt Lake City the night before in their project Big Business. Warren and Willis have been members of the Melvins since 2006, but are allowed time to perform with their prior rock band, Big Business. Big Business had already planned a tour this fall when Osborne and Crover came up the idea to break a world record.
"The only thing I am bummed about is that they’re ending that tour in Hawaii," said Willis.
The decision to break a record doesn’t surprise Willis. "They’ve made a career of doing things others don’t do, and things others wouldn’t do," he said.
Big Business
When • Sunday, Sept. 9 at 9 p.m.
Where • Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $10 at SmithsTix
Melvins Lite with Tweak Bird
When • Monday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m.
Where • In The Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $15 at SmithsTix
