Mr. Bungle

Long before Slipknot donned their masks and jumpsuits, a group of high-school teenagers from Eureka, California decided to form a band fusing death metal, jazz, carnival music and ska. Naming themselves Mr Bungle after a children’s instructional video, they developed a reputation for an eclectic and exciting live show.

They recorded four demos between 1986 and 1989 (The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny (1986), Bowel of Chiley (1987) Goddammit I Love America! (1988) and 0U818 in (1989)), but it wasn’t until vocalist Mike Patton was asked to join Faith No More that Mr Bungle were signed by Warner Bros..

The band subsequently released their self-titled debut album in 1991, which was produced by experimental jazz saxophonist John Zorn. Two more albums followed: the avant-garde Disco Volante and the more accessible (but by no means conventional) California.

The band split up in 2000, and have no current plans of reforming, however:

Who knows? It certainly doesn’t seem like it’s on the tip of anyone’s lips, but I could have said the same thing – and in fact, I did say the same thing – about Faith No More, and that happened. And I think it happened for the better
- Mike Patton

LINEUP:
Mike Patton: Vocals, Keyboards, Samples (1985 – 2000)
Trey Spruance: Guitars, Keyboards (1985 – 2000)
Trevor Dunn: Bass (1985 – 2000)
Danny Heifetz: Drums (1989 – 2000)
Clinton ‘Bar’ McKinnon: Reeds (1989 – 2000)

Theo Lengyel: Saxophone, Keyboards (1985 – 1996)
Jed Watts: Drums (1985 – 1987)
Hans Wagner: Drums (1985 – 1987)
Luke Miller: Horns (1987 – 1989)