Candlebox frontman on hate from Courtney Love; Seattle grunge scene at Pointfest

Candlebox frontman, Kevin Martin stopped by the Point Lounge backstage at Pointfest on May 12, 2018 to chat with Donny Fandango. Kevin talks about getting started in the Seattle grunge scene, working with Madonna, and Courtney Love's hate for the band.

[@monickalynn4365]

Florida to Houston Texas in 95,first road trip alone and someone stole ALL my cd's at the gas station-the best part? My cassette,(yes,cassette lol) of Candlebox's breakthrough album was under my seat.Listened to it over and over and over 12 hours each way.It's supremely underrated and STILL SO KICKASS

[@7729298cm]

FUCKIN AYE RIGHT !! 🕯📦🔥🤘

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

Kevin Martin🎤and Candlebox still ROCK!🎸🎧

[@a.mnmemories4289]

It's so funny to me the Courtney Love was talking shit about Candlebox riding Nirvana's coat tails, when she only ever had any sort of career due to who she married. Talk about riding coat tails, Kurt is the ONLY reason Hole was ever signed and had moderate success. Nirvana is by far my favorite band too, their music helped me immensely. For her to be so unbelievably hypocritical is amazing to me. Candlebox got signed and yeah they had a little help getting to the majors due to their scene blowing up, but they got signed cause they're an amazing fucking band and Kevin has amazing vocals. I'll never understand the hate they got from other fans. Those fans aren't real fans of music to me because if they were, they'd see how good candlebox really is.

[@patrickstar6247]

Well said man!!!

[@LordStanley94]

Very well stated.

[@marilynmantis5409]

Why isn't that bitch in prison for murdering her husband?

[@ccjones813]

Kevin is straight up Bad Ass one cool dude ! For so many reasons! I’ve loved Candlebox for all of their 25 years! I to this very day listen to at least one song if theirs everyday !! Today’s choice has been-Understanding ! 💃💜

[@stephfromearth3607]

Kevin kicks ass 💕 I love that he remembers Andy ❤️

[@raedavis1697]

Love hearing him talk about Andrew, he was a true showman and so unique. Love him so much 💗💗

[@michaelpal5807]

STILL LISTENING 2020 LOVE CANDLE BOX SUCH A TIGHT GROUP OF GIFTED MUSICIANS ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@Cowgirlfrom_Hell]

Far behind is a song I always sing at the top of my lungs 🫁 because of the emotion behind it

[@lmactapout]

So many great singers in Seattle in that period. Unreal the concentration of talent that was there.

[@JdoubleU1222]

And just look at it now. antifa (no I'll not do them the honor of capitalizing their name) burning it to the ground. What a bunch of brainwashed fools.

[@55shocked55]

I will be flying 1,799 to see their 25th anniversary show

[@nebraskahusker247]

Candlebox, still relevant after all these years. 🤘

[@Principessa180]

This kevin makes me smile! Good video. Thank you.

[@rdgurule]

Courtney Love thumbed this down 4 times.

[@davidhattonmusic]

6 times now lol

[@jimcamp2423]

@@davidhattonmusic Yep, she came back last night and gave it another thumbs down. Just my theory on it, but Cobain's only way out was what he did to get away from her. He tried drug addiction first, that didn't work.

[@violetviolent7980]

Well, what else is new with this grade A succubus having beef with everyone in the 90"s, Kurt stuck his penis is crazy, and the world had to tolerate this damaged individual.

[@Wilders53]

Absolutely one great band!! Been jammin to em since day one 🤘

[@paulobermeyer2638]

Great kevin , I listen to you guys alot , i relate to youir lyrics so deep man

[@HellcatCustoms]

Does anyone have a link to Candlebox's cover photo on The Rocket magazine?

[@luciangel]

Actually, the history is interesting, the history, not Courtney. Still glad I found this. It should be called Kevin Martin talks about Andrew Wood. Also, if there's a chance KM might read this... please, please record your older songs acoustic. Say unplugged without MTV.

[@suburbandweller]

Kurt went to see Andy Wood and passed out while Andrew sang to him, Andrew was amazing. Mother Love Bone didn't personify grunge, they were unique, more Glam looks wise but not corny. It's like they dropped out of the late 60s early 70s. Chris said Andy could write 12 songs to his 2! Love them all. Seen Candlebox many times great band. I can hear a bit of Andy's influence. Love Pearl Jam Eddie's lyrics and voice. Liked Kurt. I met Chris, what a sweetheart. No need to choose. All great bands all different. Hole, L7. It was a creative era much better then the crap on the radio now.

[@marknoble5495]

Their music meant more to me than words can describe. Helped me through some tough emotional times in the mid 90’s and beyond. Remember just putting their discs in and reading lyrics for hours and hours at a time. Just something indescribable about them that always made them my favorites. Slightly ahead of Alice. They are the one group that has really kept on keepin on.

[@tinabailey3170]

Agreed, changes is the song that got me through several times❤

[@marknoble5495]

@Jack Ophelott really haven’t listened to it very much in decades, but one thing I really like about his writing is how open ended the lyrics are. You can apply the meaning and emotion of the song/music to numerous situations. But back then, for whatever reason, the song felt like turning to drugs to escape a painful and toxic relationship and losing some motivation for life in the process.

[@marknoble5495]

@Jack Ophelott what are you getting at? That the song has no meaning?

[@marknoble5495]

@Jack Ophelott ok, but you asked what it meant to me. And the song obviously has meaning. The author may not even know or understand it, but it has meaning. It came from somewhere inside him when he wrote it. Perhaps he had a lot of different emotions along with denial that makes it appear to not make any sense, but it has meaning. Phil Collins can’t tell you what “in the air tonight” means, but he can describe what he was going through when he wrote the song.

[@marknoble5495]

@@tinabailey3170 same here. It’s my favorite.

[@drea1976]

Bahahaha Seattle bands were always supportive of one another. 😂 Kurt and Eddie had their beef, but they did eventually squash it, kind of.

[@orbit1894]

kurt was the spoiled kid, he thought himself as the best and couldnt handle eddie's sudden rise to fame. He wasnt cooperative with other bands of that time while AIC, Soundgarden and PJ all toured together and supported each other, kurt only cared about his "rebel" image. So yeah Seattle bands were always supportive but nirvana was not one of them.

[@craigcampbell1843]

Arda Aksoy Kurt’s actions weren’t an act and he and Nirvana WERE the best. I’m sorry but Pearl Jam is a boring band. Nothing special or exciting about their music. Also as nice as Eddie is, he’s a horrible singer.

[@electricpsycho8986]

@@orbit1894 Shows what little you know spreading your bullshit lies around. Kurt actually had a rough childhood and was far from being spoiled. He was a damn fine artist, One of the very best whether you like it or not.

[@tickedoffnow]

Kurt and Eddie's rivalry was only because of courtney But they ended up Loving each other

[@user-ju6zx3rm8d]

@brokeutopian there was nothing "plain" about Soundgarden. Lmao. Get an education.

[@dlvox5222]

Talk about coat tails. The definition of coat tails and the image of the term would be Courtney Love in Webster’s.

[@JdoubleU1222]

I honestly couldn't tell you the name of a single song the bitch sang but I just listened to my Candlebox CD again today!

[@blancaharrison7375]

Great interview , good job .

[@angelanewell7259]

I LOVE YOU KEVIN MARTIN !!! ALWAYS HAVE ALWAYS WILL !!! 😘💖💕❤💖💕❤💖💕❤

[@Dcat75thunder]

Happy Pills is a great album as well.

[@Vidboy42]

Still listen to Sweet Water all the time and agree they should have been bigger. I was very lucky to have seen Mother Love Bone

[@johnnyappleseed856]

Great band. Good stuff!

[@terryalan4590]

If Courtney love hates you , it’s a compliment, it’s like oj hating you….

[@homefront3162]

I just bought it on Itunes... $

[@jtoland2333]

I need that t shirt in my life.

[@ryan1usu]

Andy Wood. of course, Because Kevin has soul just like Andy does

[@atravelerofbothtimespace4172]

Love the " has been" shirt but not true

[@rodschermerhorn6996]

Awesome

[@benallmark9671]

Can you see me on the balcony ? gotta love and miss Andy Wood and friends.

[@craigcampbell1843]

You can play bars in Seattle when you’re underage. You’re just not allowed to be in the bar except when your band is actually playing.

[@ala2121]

When did they change that?

[@craigcampbell1843]

@@ala2121 idk. I was in bands there from about 2000-2010. I wasn’t underage but that’s how they did it for people that were at that time. At least that’s what happened when I’d play with bands that had members who were underage. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@ala2121]

@@craigcampbell1843 Must have changed it in between there at some point. Probably smart decision for the venues.

[@craigcampbell1843]

@@ala2121 well my stint in the Seattle music scene was later on than when this video took place. I’m also not even sure if that was the law in Seattle at that time or if that’s just what the venues I played at chose to do assuming they wouldn’t get in trouble for it. I was just always told that’s how it was done the few times we played with bands that had members who were underage.

[@craigcampbell1843]

@@ala2121 I wrote this comment over a year ago. I don’t even remember what they said about it in the video now and don’t have time to go back to see.

[@philipthomas6808]

Candlebox Rocks! Saw them in 2007 at a small venue with maybe 200-300 people in OKC and they played flawless, never missed a beat...

[@mikeparker6696]

Met everyone but Cobain. That sucks!!

[@WrathUponEden]

he's so awesome

[@tickedoffnow]

Happy to see them still going at it Grunge is the Love of my life next to Jesus lol

[@richardvalens7989]

Grunge was never a thing, moron. They never labeled themselves that.

[@stephanieredden8861]

His tee shirt shows his sense of humor. He's far from a has been and his 2021 songs are really good.

[@jankompos2330]

thats the 90s era person

[@rosimere_mo0709]

I love...i Love🌹💚🌹💚

[@adrianlee3497]

"Riding Nirvana's coattails"...🤨🤨🤨 Wth did she mean by that??? Smh. I love Candlebox that first album was and still is awesome. Classic 90's. Only You, Far Behind, Cover Me, Change, didn't sound like Nirvana at all.

[@HappyHermitt]

The shirt. Lol

[@gerrett108]

Royalty.... Royalties....

[@AmericanSpyFox]

06:25 "Courtney Love hated us."

[@MikeCANN]

That’s a badge of honor

[@jacks7461]

So they did a cover of Rocket magazine dressed like her titled “ Boys with the most cake “... Genuis.

[@JdoubleU1222]

Kevin, you'll never be a "has been", lol. Courtney who?

[@dlvox5222]

Artists are so screwed economically.

[@richardvalens7989]

Fat Behind, is about WOOD!? Wow...

[@tonyadurst-scarlett1542]

To hell with Courtney Love.

[@aWomanFreed]

No worries there

[@tickedoffnow]

If courtney died tomorrow I'd be so happy

[@TheElrocker]

Has been lol

[@Scotty_Does_Know]

Would love to see kevin and eddie get together for a song.