The Crew of the Flying Saucer

Last updated

The Crew Of The Flying Saucer was former The Minutemen/Firehose bassist Mike Watt's second touring band, formed to continue touring behind his first solo album, 1995's Ball-Hog or Tugboat? . The band consisted of, along with Watt on bass and vocals, guitarist Nels Cline and two drummers, Vince Meghrouni and Michael Preussner. [1] Meghrouni also doubled on saxophone. All three had played on various cuts on Ball-Hog....

It is the first and only touring unit in which Watt used two drummers. Watt believed at the time that when devising musical arrangements, he was giving too much for one drummer to do, so he decided to try two drummers. While the experiment worked sonically (as evidenced by a fan-traded live recording of a show from the tour's Charlottesville, VA stop), after two tour legs personal tensions between the two drummers were beginning to mount. Those two tour legs were the last ones he had scheduled at the time, so there was no question of having to cancel any shows due to a personnel change or breakup.

The Crew Of The Flying Saucer appeared on the Rock for Choice album O Come All Ye Faithful: Rock for Choice performing a cover of "The Little Drummer Boy" entitled "The Little Drummer Boys". [2]

Watt did work with both Cline and Meghrouni again after the Crew Of The Flying Saucer had completed its run; Cline was the sole guitarist on Watt's second solo album Contemplating The Engine Room , and has toured and recorded with him as part of both another Watt project band, The Black Gang, and in the jazz/punk group Banyan. Meghrouni would participate in another Watt project band, The Pair Of Pliers, in 1999 and 2000.

See also

Related Research Articles

Mike Watt Musician, songwriter

Michael David Watt is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter.

Steve Shelley American drummer (born 1962)

Steven Jay Shelley is an American drummer. He is best known as a member of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth.

Nels Cline American guitarist and composer

Nels Courtney Cline is an American guitarist and composer. He has been the guitarist for the band Wilco since 2004.

Banyan (band) Musical artist

Banyan is an art rock/alternative rock band with heavy jazz and funk influence based in Los Angeles, California.

J Mascis + The Fog

J Mascis + The Fog was formed by J Mascis after the break up of Dinosaur Jr. The project released two albums; 2000's More Light and 2002's Free So Free.

<i>Ball-Hog or Tugboat?</i> 1995 studio album by Mike Watt

Ball-Hog or Tugboat? is the debut solo album by former Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist, songwriter and vocalist Mike Watt. It was recorded in 1994, and came at a personal and professional career crossroads for Watt. fIREHOSE had broken up after eight years and six releases earlier in 1994, and his marriage to former Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler had ended in divorce.

The Black Gang was the trio Mike Watt formed in 1997 to record and tour behind his second solo album, Contemplating The Engine Room. Of all of the "project" (semi-temporary) bands that he has formed since the disbanding of Firehose in 1994, The Black Gang has gone through the most permutations of any of Watt's backing groups.

dos is an American rock group composed of Mike Watt and Kira Roessler, who both sing and play bass guitar. Critic Greg Prato describes their unusual instrumentation as "a haunting yet intriguing and original sound."

The Real Oh My is an American side project band featuring Minutemen/Firehose bassist Mike Watt, Geraldine Fibbers/Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, and Circle Jerks drummer Kevin Fitzgerald. The trio, which plays occasional club gigs in the Los Angeles area, plays their own interpretations of Iggy & The Stooges and other classics.

The Missingmen are a punk rock trio fronted by Minutemen/Firehose/Stooges bassist Mike Watt. The band features Watt, guitarist Tom Watson, and drummer Raul Morales.

The Pair Of Pliers is Mike Watt's second-longest running project band. It consisted of former Slovenly and current Red Krayola guitarist Tom Watson and drummer/saxophonist/harpist Vince Meghrouni as well was Watt himself. All three members shared vocal duties. Watson would also double on drums when Meghrouni would disembark from his drum kit to play saxophone and sing.

<i>Contemplating the Engine Room</i> 1997 studio album by Mike Watt

Contemplating the Engine Room is a punk rock opera by Minutemen veteran Mike Watt. Released in 1997, the album is a punk rock song cycle that uses navy life as an extended metaphor for both Watt's family history and his first band, the Minutemen. The album was critically well-received, though not universally. The cover art features a picture of Watt's father in his Navy uniform.

<i>Anytime at All</i> 1999 studio album by Banyan

Anytime at All is the second album by American rock band Banyan, founded by Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros fame, and David Turin. It is a unique record in that it features nearly two dozens players, half of which are well-known. Like their first album, this one is dedicated to Perkins' deceased brother, Marc. The album is more upbeat and organic-sounding than the band's previous work and the songs are much more varied.

Joe Baiza is a punk rock and jazz guitarist whom Eugene Chadbourne cites as one of the most noteworthy guitarists to emerge from the Southern California punk rock milieu.

Minutemen (band) Punk rock band from San Pedro, California

Minutemen were an American punk rock band formed in San Pedro, California, in 1980. Composed of guitarist/vocalist D. Boon, bassist/vocalist Mike Watt, and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in 1985; after Boon's death, the band broke up. They were noted in the California punk community for a philosophy of "jamming econo"—a sense of thriftiness reflected in their touring and presentation—while their eclectic and experimental attitude was instrumental in pioneering alternative rock and post-hardcore.

Floored by Four was an American rock band from New York City. The group consisted of bassist and singer Mike Watt, guitarist Nels Cline, keyboardist Yuka Honda and drummer Dougie Bowne. They were inspired by Sun Ra, Miles Davis, Captain Beefheart and Sonic Youth among others. Their eponymous debut album was released in September 2010 on Chimera Records.

Big Walnuts Yonder is an American indie rock supergroup formed in 2008. The band consists of bassist/vocalist Mike Watt from Minutemen, guitarist Nels Cline from Wilco, drummer Greg Saunier from Deerhoof, and guitarist/vocalist Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos. Big Walnuts Yonder's self-titled debut album was released on May 5, 2017 via Sargent House.

<i>"Ring Spiel" Tour 95</i> 2016 live album by Mike Watt

"Ring Spiel" Tour '95 is a live album by former Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist, songwriter and vocalist Mike Watt. The album material is from the tour to accompany Watt's first solo album, Ball-Hog or Tugboat?.

<i>Justamente tres</i> 1996 studio album by dos

justamente tres is an experimental indie album, the third by the band dos featuring Mike Watt (Minutemen) and Kira Roessler.

mssv is an American band featuring Mike Baggetta, Mike Watt (Minutemen) and Stephen Hodges.

References

  1. Cline, Nels. "nels cline's tour spiel: mike watt and the crew of the flying saucer". Mike Watt's Hoot Page. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  2. Watt, Mike. "watt and the crew of the flying saucer on the rock for choice benefit release "oh come all ye faithful"". Mike Watt's Hoot Page. Retrieved May 5, 2021.