Mike Watt

b. 20 March 1957, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. Watt’s bass contributions to hardcore experimentalists Minutemen and Firehose have passed into US indie rock legend, but it was not until 1994 that he recorded as a solo artist. As soon as he did, the array of alternative rock stars willing to help out was proof of his and his bands’ influence. Participants included Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Evan Dando (the Lemonheads), Chris and Curt Kirkwood (Meat Puppets), Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic (Nirvana), Gary Lee Connor and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), Pat Smear (Germs), Flea (the Red Hot Chili Peppers), Henry Rollins, Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum), Zander Schloss (Circle Jerks / Weirdos), Epic Soundtracks (Swell Maps), Adam Horovitz and Mike D. (Beastie Boys), Frank Black and J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr). One track, ‘Intense Song For Madonna To Sing’, which failed to secure that particular star’s input, was an obscure reference to an ancient Minutemen song, ‘Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing’. Although by its very nature a mixed bag, which occasionally lapsed into an unfocused celebrity jam session, the album did have several strong moments, notably Vedder’s vocals on ‘Against The 70s’ and the electric jazz flourish of ‘Sidemouse Advice’. Following the album’s release, Watt joined Perry Farrell’s Porno For Pyros in the studio before embarking on recording sessions for his second album, Contemplating The Engine Room. Based around the lives of his father, a chief in the navy, and former Minutmen colleague D. Boon, the album received polite reviews. He also appeared with the alt rock supergroups Banyan and the Wylde Rattz. Watt fell seriously ill with an intestinal abscess in 2000 but made a speedy recovery. The illness delayed the release of his third solo album, The Secondman’s Middle Stand, which finally saw the light of day in autumn 2004. Watt continues to play live with a multitude of other artists, most notably alongside Iggy Pop in the reunited Stooges, in addition to touring with his own group the Secondmen. He also hosts his own web radio program, The Watt From Pedro Show.