This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Melvins are an important band being pioneers of Sludge Metal. Since the earliest recordings has been the founder, guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne and drummer (and at one time bassist) Dale Crover. Bassists have not been that consistent. The vast majority of music has been written by Buzz, but occasionally writing was more collaborative. During the 90’s albums became more collaborative with Buzz sharing writing with Dale and bassist Mark Deutrom. The following decades would see other bassists that would be more collaborative as well. Contributions will be noted below.

Miles Davis

Maurice Jarre

David Bowie took rock to new places. Buzz named him as a huge influence.

The Rolling Stones are rock legends with a bluesy swagger. Buzz named them as an influence and said the album Sticky Fingers is the epitome of what makes rock & roll cool. Dale named Charlie Watts as an influence. — The Rolling Stones are rock legends with a bluesy swagger. Buzz named them as an influence and said the album *Sticky Fingers* is the epitome of what makes rock & roll cool. Dale named Charlie Watts as an influence.

Pete Townsend

Neil Young

Jimi Hendrix is one of the most influential guitar players. Buzz named him as an early influence and Dale named Mitch Mitchell as an influence.

The Monkees were a rock / pop band put together for a TV show. Dale said his first rock album as a kid was a Monkees album and it had a big impact on him.

Creedence Clearwater Revival or CCR played folky/country style of rock often called roots rock. Buzz is a huge fan and named Bayou Country as one of the best rock albums. Jared also named them as a big influence. — Creedence Clearwater Revival or CCR played folky/country style of rock often called roots rock. Buzz is a huge fan and named *Bayou Country* as one of the best rock albums. Jared also named them as a big influence.

Deep Purple were hugely influential to many. When asked about Black Sabbath, Buzz said he was just as much into Deep Purple if not more so. Dale named Ian Pace as an influence. Jared said they were a band played a lot in the house when he was grow… — Deep Purple were hugely influential to many. When asked about Black Sabbath, Buzz said he was just as much into Deep Purple if not more so. Dale named Ian Pace as an influence. Jared said they were a band played a lot in the house when he was growing up.

Blue Cheer were a hard psychedelic blues based band. Buzz at one time mentions them being some of the only hippies he liked.

Jeff Beck is considered one of the guitar greats of his time. Dale named Jeff Beck Group drummer Mickey Waller as an influence.

Alice Cooper is one of the original shock rockers rooted in hard rock but has dabbled in several styles. Buzz on several occasions mentions being a fan. Dale named Neal Smith as an influence.

The Stooges are considered proto-punk. They had a big influence on the early punk bands. Dale named them as an influence, particularly he named Scott Asheton.

Led Zeppelin can be considered the fathers of hard rock and are one of the biggest bands of any time. Dale named John Bonham as an influence.

Mountain were an influential hard blues rock band. Dale named Corky Laing as an influence.

Black Sabbath are the fathers of heavy metal and doom. Buzz named them as an influence but often down plays how much of an influence they were on the band and says they were but one of a thousand influences. He named their first album as his favor… — Black Sabbath are the fathers of heavy metal and doom. Buzz named them as an influence but often down plays how much of an influence they were on the band and says they were but one of a thousand influences. He named their first album as his favorite from them. He also says he is a fan of the Dio era and *Heaven & Hell* is probably the Sabbath album he listens to the most. Dale named Vinnie Appice as an influence.

Cactus was a bluesy hard rock band formed by members of Vanilla Fudge. Dale named Carmine Appice as an influence.

ZZ Top are a blues based rock / hard rock band. Buzz named them has an influence.

The sweet were an influential hard/glam rock band. Dale named Mick Tucker as an influence.

Tom Waits

Aerosmith are an American rock classic. Buzz named them as one of the band he listened to when he was young and still.

Judas Priest are often called the metal gods for good reason. They may just be the most quintessential heavy metal band. Buzz is a fan and named Unleashed In The East as probably the best metal album of all time. Dale also named that album as a big influence and named Les Binks as a big influence on him. Coady named Judas Priest as an influence.

Kiss are one of the biggest American rock / hard rock bands. Buzz named them as a band he listened when he was younger but not so much anymore. They have covered Kiss and released EP’s emulating the solo albums released by KIss. Dale named them as… — Kiss are one of the biggest American rock / hard rock bands. Buzz named them as a band he listened when he was younger but not so much anymore. They have covered Kiss and released EP’s emulating the solo albums released by KIss. Dale named them as a big influence as a kid and was the first band that made him want to play drums after first seeing them at the age of 9. Coady named Peter Chris as and influence, also naming Alive II as having a big impact on him. Trevor also named them as an influence.

Ramones are pioneers and legends of punk. Buzz named them as an early influence. He says they are a band he likes but a band he would never want to emulate.

Sex Pistols are pioneers and legends of punk. Buzz was a fan.

Blondie started as a rock/pop band and is best well known for their new wave punk hits. Dale named Clem Burke as an influence. Trevor also named them as an influence.

The Clash are super important pioneers of punk and helped shape some of the evolution it would take. Buzz was a fan.

Public Image Limited or PiL was a post-punk band Buzz was into. He says he was listening to Flowers of Romance a lot when making the first album. Dale also named the same album as a big influence. — Public Image Limited or PiL was a post-punk band Buzz was into. He says he was listening to *Flowers of Romance* a lot when making the first album. Dale also named the same album as a big influence.

X were a an influential LA Punk band. Buzz was a fan.

Gang of Four are a post-punk band that Buzz said he was into. He mentions listening to Solid Gold a lot when making the first album. Dale named Hugo Burnham as an influence. — Gang of Four are a post-punk band that Buzz said he was into. He mentions listening to *Solid Gold* a lot when making the first album. Dale named Hugo Burnham as an influence.

Flipper was a punk band with a low end and slower sound compared to other punk bands. Buzz named them as an influence.

Iron Maiden has been one of the most influential metal bands. Dale named Clive Burr as an influence.

Black Flag are one of the most important hardcore punk bands. Buzz named them as an influence and has said that in the early days they were more of an influence than Black Sabbath. Dale named Bill Stevenson as an influence.

Venom are the fathers of traditional black metal and a huge influence on all extreme forms of metal that would come after them. Buzz said they were really into Venom in the early days.

T.S.O.L are mostly known as a hardcore punk band. They also were doing horror punk, goth and other styles. Buzz was a fan.

Meat Puppets started has a hardcore punk band but experimented with adding some country into the mix and later when to a more alternative rock sound. Buzz said he was listening to Meat Puppets II when recording their first album.

Butthole Surfers were based in hardcore punk but were experimental and their sound varied a lot. Buzz named them as a big influence and two of their members would perform on Hold it In. — Butthole Surfers were based in hardcore punk but were experimental and their sound varied a lot. Buzz named them as a big influence and two of their members would perform on *Hold it In.*

Swans were an experimental rock band. Buzz says they were a band he was listening to a lot when recording the first album.

Pussy Galore were a garage/noise rock band. Buzz became a big fan after tour with them in the late 80’s. He talks about Jon Spencer being a very underrated guitar player.

Buzz said skinhead punk was big when they started and that they hated it. He said they wanted to do something totally opposite.

Besides musical influences, Buzz also named painter Francis Bacon, director John Huston, writer Flannery O’Connor and Thomas Sowell as influences.

Buzz, in another interview, said he is a fan of The Beach Boys.

Buzz and Dale are both big fans of Red Kross who’s bassist would join the band in 2015. They used to listen to their cover album in their early touring days.

In recent years Buzz has said “my attitude has been I want to be Captain Beefheart, George Clinton and Tom Waits going through a Mixmaster playing heavy metal.”

Bassist/guitarist Mark Deutrom played and wrote with the band through the 90’s. I’ve seen him talk about being part of the LA punk scene and some had rock bands he liked, but I haven’t found him directly giving and answer to the influence question. He says he first got into music after seeing The Beatles on TV as a kid.

Bassist Kevin Rutmanis was on several album but only has co-writing credits for one song.

The album PIgs of the Roman Empire is a collaborative album between Melvens and Lustmord. Following that There were to collaborative albums done with Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys.

I’m unsure of the writing credits on (A) Senile Animal and Nude with Boots

Drummer Coady Willis and bassist Jared Warren were both formally in the band Big Business before joining Melvins. They both were with the band from 2005-2016 and collaborated with writing during that time.

Coady Willis’s influences include Kiss, Judas Priest, Twisted Sister, and Ratt. He also is influenced by Dale.

Jared Warren’s influences include Cheap Trick and Creedence Clear Water Revival.

Trevor Dunn played bass and collaborated on writing on Freak Puke and a few songs on following albums. He names influences as Kiss, Blondie, Cheap Trick, Van Halen, college radio and the Dr. Demento show. He also names Mercyful Fate, Exodus, Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, composer Vincent Persichetti, Rush and Stanley Clarke of Return to Forever.

Paul Leary wrote and played three songs on Hold It In. I’m not sure of his influences but his overall contribution to the Melven’s sound is relatively small.

Three Men and a Baby was a collaborative album done with Mike Kunka.

Basses Loaded features a bunch of bass players both former members of the band guests and new player Steven McDonald.

Steven McDonald stayed with the band after playing on Basses Loaded and continued to play and collaborate in writing on following albums. His influences include James Jamerson, Joe Osborn.

Bands influenced by Melvins!

As this project advances, bands will be added here…

More Family Trees

Sources:

https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/buzz-osbornes-top-5-influences/
https://www.revolvermag.com/music/melvins-buzz-osborne-10-albums-made-me#neil-young-%E2%80%93-zuma-1975
https://www.revolvermag.com/music/melvins-buzz-osborne-10-albums-made-me#lawrence-arabia-original-soundtrack-recording-1962
https://15questions.net/interview/fifteen-questions-interview-buzz-osborne-melvins/page-1/
https://music.avclub.com/melvins-buzz-osborne-picks-songs-by-bands-that-were-g-1798265299
https://www.westword.com/music/buzz-osborne-of-the-melvins-on-how-the-beastie-boys-were-warlock-pinchers-for-dummies-5707943
https://originalfuzz.com/blogs/magazine/buzz-osborne-the-greatest-minority-of-all
https://homeofmetal.com/why-i-love-black-sabbath-king-buzzo/
http://www.markprindle.com/kingbuzzo-i.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPmgpvZKwys
https://tidal.com/magazine/article/dale-crover-5-albums-that-changed-my-life/1-44373
https://echoesanddust.com/2018/10/dale-crover-of-the-melvins/
https://www.the-dowsers.com/playlist/dale-crovers-favorite-drummers/
https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2014/08/mark-deutrom-interview.html
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/big-business-time-and-heat/
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/big-business-time-and-heat/
http://utahpodcastnetwork.com/2017/06/22/stupid-questions-048-coady-willis-big-business/
https://15questions.net/interview/fifteen-questions-trevor-dunn/page-1/
https://www.invisibleoranges.com/heavy-metal-be-bop-3-interview-with-trevor-dunn/
https://bassmagazine.com/artists/bass-magazine-lockdown-check-in-with-steven-mcdonald-of-the-melvins