Butthole Surfers (Paul Leary): Behind the Gear (Effects and Pedals Arena Corner)

Billy Cardigan went on the Zoom. program to talk to Paul Leary, Guitarist of the Butthole Surfers Band.
Throughout his career, Paul has used many pedals (such as Tube Screamer, Boss Delay, Rackmount DM1100, Big Muff and Super FUzz) to acheive the Butthole Surfer rock sound. In addition to the pedals he used, Paul also produced many famous band such as Sublime and Meat Puppets, which created many hits and success for the Paul Leary.
In the interview Billy and Paul discussed many topics related to rock music, such as working with John Paul Jones, the guy from Led Zeppelin band. They also discussed eating cat feces, drinking champagne, drinking urine and eating human feces.
Paul just put out a new album called Born Stupid.

[@DANnuclearrabbitDAN]

This interviewer is broken

[@NMOBrien]

Dear Paul, you have my sympathies for enduring this.

[@seancarryon9438]

Paul's continuous straight answers to the ridiculous questions are hilarious

[@LAYG0]

The fact that Paul played the straight guy in an interview is a sign of the changing times ... otherwise it would look like Paul was interviewing himself ...

[@JustifiedMusicOfficial]

It's really something to look up to and to learn. I'd get offended by this kind of interview quickly.

[@HistoryGarden]

Decades of conversing with Gibby probably made this interview easier for Paul to do than we might think

[@kookadams85]

@@LAYG0 changing times meaning SHIT times. This current era is 💩

[@LyonsLover]

Imagine getting to interview Paul Leary, and these are the questions you ask?

[@augustrains7544]

I know right

[@jeffreyhughes7107]

I don't have to imagine it... I just suffered through it. I almost think this is a prank.

[@lukewand]

Paul Leary saying "I'm not a drug guy" is like Santa Claus saying "I'm not a Christmas guy"

[@DougHell]

He isn't. He was always a drunk. The others were the big druggies.

[@murderc27]

@@DougHell are you fkking with us?

[@DougHell]

@@murderc27 No.

[@bubbalovesoatmealadventure108]

weed must not be a drug

[@colin6603]

@@DougHell in some of the clips of their live performances he seems like he’s definitely on acid

[@senorfrio]

What a sweet person to sit through this interview, Leary is a class act.

[@stuartgray2440]

I love Paul he really was patient with this incredibly unfunny interviewer.

[@wraithstrongopark]

butthole surfers is my favorite band! a while back i gave paul leary a sterling silver pot leaf ring after a show and he said to me, "i'll treasure this." i swear, i melted like a little girl.

[@arinross523]

This guy, trying to outweird Paul Leary. Not gonna happen.

[@subclangor]

That's fuckin great!

[@maxwilliams2149]

yeah. I think i've been that guy before (not with Paul Leary) where I think i'm hilarious and then you listen back and it's painful af.

[@Obrian81]

Got that right bro!

[@tonyelliott2413]

Just when I thought that Paul Leary couldn't be any more badass he gets older and looks like Hank Hill now lol.. This man is the definition of genius! Such an underrated guitarist 🤘

[@goatshoes3804]

What a gentle and kind way to answer such absurd unnecessary questioning.

[@ponkmedia]

This interviewer is totally unprepared. Paul was being extremely nice by not calling him out. A little show prep goes a long way. Wow

[@blandoworthlessness]

It was good of Mr. Leary to allow this handicapped man to interview him. Actually very interesting and informative!

[@metabeard3788]

"Once again, I have never eaten feces." -Paul Leary

[@maskedman1337]

ONCE AGAIN

[@LAYG0]

So it has been said, so it has been written.

[@maskedman1337]

@@LAYG0 A familiar name from the old msg boards!

[@LAYG0]

We're still on the forum, just not as active.

[@yonicsoothe]

¿remember Mr. PurpLe?

[@mikesaull6094]

The longest 20 minutes of my life. The interviewer was grossly disrespectful and if given a clue, wouldn’t know what to do with it.

[@SHYBOYZ]

Mike, we apologize you didn't enjoy this episode of Behind the Gear, but thanks for sticking it out for the full 20 minutes. We appreciate your intellectual honesty and dedication to seeing things through until the end.

[@blindlemon9]

The interviewer is massively annoying (intentionally, which makes him even more annoying), but Paul’s deadpan answers add true hilarity.

[@Checkofoto]

"You never have cat feces when you need it. It's always there when you don' need it". - Paul Leary, Philosopher and Deranged Poet

[@alexanderbrown4250]

That's beautiful!

[@theoneleggedchef]

This is the worst interviewer ever...Paul handled this like a champion.

[@cici7333]

I love Paul. I watched every minute of this interview, but I'll never watch this interviewer again. Omg.

[@FreeDanielLarson2025]

This video killed this mans youtube career

[@squiresquiffy3728]

Paul Leary is a very patient and gracious gentleman.

[@timtinsley9887]

I started playing guitar because of billy gibbons, then I heard this dude play. Blew me away.

[@FreeBrunoPowroznik]

Billy Cardidan? Yeah, me too

[@kylechase7369]

Paul was too nice. Had this been 30 years ago? Oof!! This guy brings up eating feces in an interview, twice!

[@AtacamaHumanoid]

I'm thinking of that interview on the Scott and Gary show when the camera panned to Paul and he gave a Jack Nicholson from The Shining look and said, "don't look at me, friend."

[@kylechase7369]

@@AtacamaHumanoid I dunno watch the Nardwuar vid with Jeff and King. That one looked like a troll off between the 3. Which the BH Surfers took that one..

[@AtacamaHumanoid]

@@kylechase7369 The Scott and Gary clip is actually played at the beginning of this video, so that's probably why I thought of it. Paul was looking pretty antisocial :) I'll see if I can find that Nardwuar clip you mentioned. Btw, I saw Jeff by the bar at a Melvins show and the moment he saw me seeing him he was giving me a super unfriendly look like he thought maybe I was going to fuck with him or he just didn't want to be bothered. Maybe I had an angry look on my face, I don't know. I was waiting in line to take a piss.

[@strictlydubwise]

@@AtacamaHumanoid The "Don't look at me friend" clip is from a British show from the late '80s where the Butts (minus King) were interviewed at their Driftwood house -- it ends with that wild version of "Jimi".

[@AtacamaHumanoid]

@@strictlydubwise Oh yeah, you're right! It was Snub TV. If anyone wants to see it, just search KZbin for "The Butthole Surfers BBC Snub TV 1989" and Paul says it at 1:58.

[@JamesWilson-cb2dw]

Lone Star beer. Yes. What with little strips of paper floating in them.

[@manbugfranknbeans8755]

What a tragically wasted interview with one of the greats. Yeah yeah I get that it’s funny blah blah. Paul Leary is a LEGEND. This is a bummer.

[@yonicsoothe]

smoke some weed and try again.

[@ignatprokhoropchyuck4652]

Smoke my skin tube

[@cleftturnip7774]

Paul seemed to like it

[@matthewrogers9750]

@@cleftturnip7774 yeah. Seems like a nice guy. I would of got pissed off with the stupid questions

[@mopacwestgate]

I would have enjoyed a semi serious interview.. It's cool to mess around but,what a waste..

[@jacobsamano9761]

I absolutely love Leary’s guitar playing on the song “Sea-Ferring” by the Butthole Surfers. Put on headphones and turn it up loud and just zone out, it’s amazing. Totally underrated band and guitar player.

[@mopacwestgate]

That's always been one of my favorite tracks, I love the waltz tempo,almost makes you feel like your at sea

[@ric9759]

Leary deserves a better interview than this...

[@peteormond3565]

Yeah really, the Butthole Surfers band. Come on, this guy/those guys are legends.

[@jasonjason124]

Yeah, and he never asked him to sign his C-pap machine!

[@knux5796]

holy shit paul has the patience of a saint

[@lowcostiqchasm3226]

Buttholes is easily the loudest concert I've ever been to. Normally I'd act tough and tolerate it but it was torture. Hairway To Steven is a masterpiece, especially on acid.

[@mopacwestgate]

Same,I saw one show on the side in front of PA...My ears were ringing for 3 days..

[@thelonious-dx9vi]

A great American. And what patience. It's eerily reminiscent of Chris Farley interviewing McCartney.

[@CS-sf1rz]

Paul Leary is a God 😻😻💯💯😻🥰🥰👍👍👍👍☝️🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌nice to see him!!!! Come to Toronto please !!!! Love BH surfers 🏄‍♂️😍😍😍

[@jaysonpfaff5566]

The circle of life. This was amazing.

[@xray323]

I immediately bought Paul's album born stupid after seeing that. I loved his other album "The history of dogs".

[@mrjon75]

At 1st this interview annoyed me but it's pretty good. I heard Paul talk more than normal. And I always wished to see the Meat Puppets and Butthole Surfers in the same show but it never happened in my area or time. I love them both. Meat Puppets still tour.

[@johnspence9718]

Thanks for posting, I remember seeing Paul and the BS open for the DK in '84. He was awesome as a tuba player too. Though I think they need to rename this episode of the show, "Behind the Men's Room in the Infantile Fecal Freak Nightclub." Maybe I'm just old and drug-addled, but I know who the BS are. I even know who John Paul Jones is. But I will have to find out who Billy Cardigan is & show him a clip of how we use to roll back then. He might like to reword his questions, because Paul kind of had that serial killer, don't fk with us sort of psychotic look back then. Man, I miss the days when you just didn't care, wtf people thought of us. HAHA !! Thanks again, I hope all involved kind of knew this was a joke of an interview.

[@GuitFiddlerOntheR00F]

You should've asked if he's ever played a blue guitar into a black amp.

[@psychomafia]

this is a great interview

[@kobediahmiller5008]

Great interview!!! ❤

[@jubstons32X]

this was such a legitimately great series and i hope we get to see another installment one day, i hope that whatever the members of this group do in the future brings them success, especially billy, he's like the anti-nardwaur.

[@Lameeeeeeeeeeeee]

Absolutely blown away by this video. I struggled through this. Paul’s patience is amazing.

[@mariovega2099]

Paul Leary is a national treasure. Mostly for getting through this interview.

[@Jamesjimjimmy]

Cool rock guy

[@mrscientificterms]

"The History of Dogs" is one of the most underrated records ever.

[@patdisaster8543]

Little sparky ignited the Oxygen!

[@richarddunk5140]

From an underrated band. :)

[@DaveAnchovies]

@Boo underrated? they were charging $17 in 1987 and packed a huge university gym

[@DaveAnchovies]

it was worth twice that, and thats well before the hits and mtv. they earned it.

[@brianwilliams7757]

Human cannonball , best song ever!

[@alexanderbrown4250]

Ladysniff.... hwak thoo!

[@mopacwestgate]

Cherub!! I love the signature megaphone 📣

[@craigstevens3619]

I guess this is your shtick. Its super painful to listen to your questions. Paul is an AMAZING guitarist and recording artist, ask him about that, you make me want to put my head through a wall 😂

[@havefunbesafe]

Paul is great…Hey, have a little respect for this legend.

[@DjREVERENDSCAR]

This is comedy gold. I haven’t laughed this much in awhile.

[@joehuiras4955]

Thanks for the insight on Butthole Surfers gear!

[@PurpleVR111]

Also produced Fun by Daniel Johnston

[@mola55e5]

Not a lot of drugs. Just alcohol. Sure, Paul.

[@gorelordzskate-racing-videos]

He always says that

[@kingme79]

Mind your own business. TF you care?

[@farginicehole513]

Very tiny amounts of drugs. Measured in micrograms!

[@mrjon75]

I can see the.... ALCOHOL in his dilated pupils in the early recordings.

[@Microtonal_Cats]

Leary "I'm not a drug guy." I saw Butthole Surfers in Charlottesville Virginia at a big cowboy bar called Trax, in 1984 or 1985. I went down the sound check and chatted them up. Nice guys and gals. Great show too. After sound check Paul, Gibby and I talked for about a half hour. Gibby just seemed happy to not be in the van, was getting cabin fever from the constant touring. At one point I asked them if they did drugs. Gibby just made grunting noises. Paul Leary told me that in the past 48 hours he had done "pot, hash, heroin, PCP, LSD, mescaline, speed, coke, beer, coffee, and cigarettes." Maybe he was fibbing to try to impress me, but he certainly looked like, at the very least, he hadn't slept much in a very long time. 10,000 yard stare.

[@adammoravek1785]

The interviewer should’ve done more research... it’s great to see/hear from Paul today, however, this interview was kind of 🤢

[@pytheus]

Kudos to Paul for putting up with such a horrible interviewer. Begs to ask why he agreed to talk with such a dim wit.

[@blindlemon9]

Derek P. You do realize that being an annoying idiot is the interviewer’s shtick, right? Not that it makes him any less annoying.

[@InfiniteRhombus]

@@blindlemon9 that actually makes it worse because he's trying to use a tired gimmick that faded out years ago instead of developing something new

[@evaldas_vaitonis]

@@blindlemon9 how does one realise that? First time seeing this just becasue of Leary? I mean there are plenty of youtubers who are naturally this dumb, so how does one tells a difference? dumb is dumb, it's not funny

[@SubPablum]

When did Paul get all nice and tolerant? He used to scare the crap out of me. It's cool though. I too may have mellowed with age.

[@HowDoesITWorkOnYT]

a minute 30 in and my head is killing me. TIS DORK!

[@briteboy6131]

Cool rock.....guy.

[@LAYG0]

MARK FARNER SAVES THE DAY!

[@badscrutinizer7336]

Does the interviewer really think he's funny? The fact that he asks about shit eating is of course due to his own experiences, which he really wants to share. Something must have happened during the potty training.

[@craig265]

Paul Leary wrote some of the best guitar riffs. And if I could make sense of most of it I'd played at least three of their songs a day. It would be totally slamming cool if he actually showed us on KZbin some of his riffs and how to do them. Like some dispute over t-shirt sales. Yeah that would be cool

[@carvinblack]

I remember reading a great article I believe in Thrasher back in the late 80's. They were tripping on acid and the show was done, yet Paul proceeded to do a long guitar solo for like 20 minutes by himself. Hahaha.

[@markferguson3745]

Saw them twice in NYC, including one of the Locust Abortion Tech tours.By far the best live show I've seen; at the time, I was thinking about losing the guitar in my own band, but seeing them with Paul, - and maybe a Swans show at CBGB's with Norman Westberg, - convinced me that it wasnt an obsolete instrument. Einsturzende Neubauten was also key in that education, -and Sonic Youth for alt tunings.

[@jofusjosephj9897]

We should all hang out and drink Champaign someday yo

[@petrirantanen]

I love Paul Leary!

[@ghostface_grilla1155]

Took me a bit but this cat is hilarious 🤣

[@NuevaRomay]

"YOU KNOW, IN ALL MY YEARS I NEVER ENCOUNTERED THAT..."

[@BADupree]

Imma' go listen to Paul's new album " Born Stupid " and think about things.

[@DURecords]

Yeah I had to stop this video. Thank you Paul but this interview BLOWS.

[@jasonbatteiger2421]

you know it's high quality stuff being made when it starts with a clip that's just called "old performance"; lot of effort put into this right here.

[@jasonbatteiger2421]

and whatever drugs the "interviewer" is on, or has done in the past, remind me to not do those.

[@jasonbatteiger2421]

ok, some props to any interviewer who can get that goat story out of anybody he's interviewing.

[@Teabonesteak]

Take a drink every time Paul mentions his wife.

[@mheberling5939]

Damn, so many good opportunities to ask great questions and are completely wasted.

[@arinross523]

Paul is so dam cool. Dam dude

[@yonicsoothe]

Dams hoLd water. buy an N.

[@johnnymoesgaardlarsen2279]

Fuck this is horrible! But love Paul for being the straight guy.

[@stevenimeson902]

cool to know it was the big boys bassit who named them officially!

[@uclux765]

This isn't awkward at all

[@crypttonite]

Paul rules on guitar

[@JKParmer]

yikes. awkward interview. Hmmm. How did the kid land that one? geez...

[@JKParmer]

Does this kid pretend to be mentally challenged as an act? I doubt it. Ughhh, so fucking idiotic!

[@ambionica]

anyone else want to smack the dude interviewing Paul Leary?

[@shvinehoond]

Hey gang, just checking in. It's been a lil bit... hope you're all doing well.

[@jamesivy7879]

Mans the definition of underrated

[@Juicypoops]

Respect that man... wtf...

[@candicemorland2939]

You talk about one funny cool person… Absolutely impressive just like the other three…

[@candicemorland2939]

Why can’t we get a worthwhile interviewer in here

[@boboloko]

I like the conversation about keto. Makes sense to just write books about it

[@heheh69420]

this is how interviews should be done

[@atomicdruid]

8 minutes in, Im still waiting to talk about gear.

[@mattclemens2181]

When my kid was really young, he would go to his moms for the weekend, I loved playing sweetoaf before she picked him up.

[@Waferdicing]

💜

[@nursodacom]

christmas songs

[@BryanDraffen]

Paul's shimmy disc videos are getting more views than this video, did he use better pedals on those?

[@kyledavidson8712]

God bless Paul Leary for tolerating this interview. Go listen to Born Stupid.

[@randystout5259]

mark farner's a hero

[@pedrojosee6898]

THIS was actually a cool dialogue. Greetings from Tijuana, worlds murder capital !

[@Music_depot_ny]

why cant we just get one good interview with Paul Leary. This guy is from space mountain or something. jeez he’s not asking anything relevant

[@Robebabu]

OMG, this is so stupid, it's brilliant. @SHYBOYZ should interview @JosephGenaro next.

[@shandonsahm3343]

Paul is awesome 👍

[@HiGlowie]

Paul Leary is the man. The interviewer is trying to be the man. The takeaway is don’t be a tryhard.

[@randystout5259]

this interview is good

[@lukewand]

No it isn't...

[@joelstanger1266]

Man you really gotta work on your interviewing skills. Try to be a little more genuine and listen to what people have to say. And these questions are just stupid bro, almost ruining the interview. Other than that, really enjoyed hearing these things from Mr.Leary. Pretty fascinating guy. And classy for not tearing the interviewer apart. Never thought he would have been so professional.

[@NikCarterNYC]

This..... this is a tremendous level of awkward.

[@uclux765]

Do you sleep with your guitar? Would you give your dog cat facies? How do you sing and play guitar... SERIOUSLY??

[@crisdalesio6374]

For decades I have been wondering about Paul Leary’s sound set-up. And after watching this unfortunately I am still wondering. Some nuggets, but as uncomfortable watching this as Paul was answering.