Biography
Mr. Bungle forged a singular blend of experimental impulses, abstract textures, and outright absurdity. Emerging in 1985 as a neck-snapping death metal outfit from Northern California, the band underwent a total sonic overhaul during the following decade, drawing simultaneously from ska, heavy metal, disco, thrash, funk, and avant-garde jazz within individual tracks. That period yielded three distinctive, widely praised albums—Mr. Bungle, Disco Volante, and California—before the group disbanded in 1999. They resurfaced in 2020 for a brief run of concerts and issued a fresh recording of their 1986 demo The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny.
The story began that same year in the modest town of Eureka. High-school friends bassist Trevor Dunn, drummer Danny Heifetz, alto saxophonist Theo Lengyel, tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Clinton McKinnon, vocalist Mike Patton, and guitarist Trey Spruance adopted their name from a notoriously earnest educational short about personal vices that had appeared in an early-’80s Pee Wee Herman HBO broadcast. Their initial demo, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny, appeared around then, followed by Bowl of Chiley, Goddammit I Love America!, and OU818. With each successive release the music grew increasingly warped, dissolving conventional lines between metal, funk, experimental forms, jazz, ska, and techno.
Patton secured Faith No More’s lead-vocal position in 1988 after a Mr. Bungle tape reached the band, yet he chose to maintain both projects in tandem. Warner Bros. signed Mr. Bungle on the strength of Faith No More’s 1989 album The Real Thing and issued the self-titled debut in 1991, its personnel credited under cryptic pseudonyms. Extensive touring behind the record cultivated a devoted cult audience; the musicians concealed their identities behind masks and inserted incongruous covers such as Billy Squier’s “The Stroke,” “The Star Wars Theme,” and John Sebastian’s “Welcome Back.” When the road schedule concluded in 1992, Patton rejoined Faith No More while Spruance launched Faxed Head, Heifetz formed Dieselhed and Zip Code Rapists, and Spruance, Dunn, and Heifetz established Secret Chiefs 3. Spruance also contributed briefly to Faith No More’s 1995 release King for a Day.
Four years after their debut, the band delivered Disco Volante in 1995 and embarked on a lengthy international tour that expanded their following. Early 1997 found them assembling a collection of eclectic covers, though the project stalled when Patton toured with Faith No More and the remaining members resumed outside work. The group reassembled in 1999 to issue California and disbanded once the subsequent tour ended.
After many years devoted to separate endeavors, Mr. Bungle reconvened in early 2020 for a short series of performances. Patton, Dunn, and Spruance were joined by Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. This configuration entered the studio to revisit material from the original demo tape. The resulting album, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo, appeared in October 2020 and peaked at number 30 on the Billboard 200. Later that year the lineup also released the live-stream concert recording The Night They Came Home.
The story began that same year in the modest town of Eureka. High-school friends bassist Trevor Dunn, drummer Danny Heifetz, alto saxophonist Theo Lengyel, tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Clinton McKinnon, vocalist Mike Patton, and guitarist Trey Spruance adopted their name from a notoriously earnest educational short about personal vices that had appeared in an early-’80s Pee Wee Herman HBO broadcast. Their initial demo, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny, appeared around then, followed by Bowl of Chiley, Goddammit I Love America!, and OU818. With each successive release the music grew increasingly warped, dissolving conventional lines between metal, funk, experimental forms, jazz, ska, and techno.
Patton secured Faith No More’s lead-vocal position in 1988 after a Mr. Bungle tape reached the band, yet he chose to maintain both projects in tandem. Warner Bros. signed Mr. Bungle on the strength of Faith No More’s 1989 album The Real Thing and issued the self-titled debut in 1991, its personnel credited under cryptic pseudonyms. Extensive touring behind the record cultivated a devoted cult audience; the musicians concealed their identities behind masks and inserted incongruous covers such as Billy Squier’s “The Stroke,” “The Star Wars Theme,” and John Sebastian’s “Welcome Back.” When the road schedule concluded in 1992, Patton rejoined Faith No More while Spruance launched Faxed Head, Heifetz formed Dieselhed and Zip Code Rapists, and Spruance, Dunn, and Heifetz established Secret Chiefs 3. Spruance also contributed briefly to Faith No More’s 1995 release King for a Day.
Four years after their debut, the band delivered Disco Volante in 1995 and embarked on a lengthy international tour that expanded their following. Early 1997 found them assembling a collection of eclectic covers, though the project stalled when Patton toured with Faith No More and the remaining members resumed outside work. The group reassembled in 1999 to issue California and disbanded once the subsequent tour ended.
After many years devoted to separate endeavors, Mr. Bungle reconvened in early 2020 for a short series of performances. Patton, Dunn, and Spruance were joined by Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. This configuration entered the studio to revisit material from the original demo tape. The resulting album, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo, appeared in October 2020 and peaked at number 30 on the Billboard 200. Later that year the lineup also released the live-stream concert recording The Night They Came Home.
Albums
The Night They Came Home
2021
The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny Demo
2020
The Studio Album Collection
2013
California
1999
Disco Volante
1995
Mr. Bungle
1991
Singles
Live
