Interview with Paul Leary of Butthole Surfers (2021)

Music has been edited out of the interview due to KZbin copyright rules
Originally aired 07/16/2021 on KUZU 92.9FM in Denton, TX
My Favorite Things streams every Friday 10pm-11pm CT at Kuzu.fm
www.kuzu.fm/programs/my-favor...
Photo by Jordan Schwartz

[@wraithstrongopark]

i met him at a new york show in 2008 and gave him a ring. a couple days ago, after i wrote to him on twitter, he wrote me back telling me that he remembered me and wore the ring all the time, until he lost it. that made my entire month. the time that i met him and the rest of the band was one of the best days of my life. i met them all and they were super cool. gibby even invited me upstairs to a get together after the show. . . . yup, best day of my life and i've had some good ones.

[@dailyflash]

My friends and I had some similar experiences in California. We were (are) huge fans, and discovered they were very approachable. I've hung with them a few times and even smoked out with them a couple times. People are afraid to approach The Butthole Surfers, but they are pussycats. The scariest thing about them is that sometimes Gibby is in a grumpy mood.

[@PaulJMotard]

Cool interview! Paul Leary is the kind of guitarist that anyone familiar with his style would instantly recognize when hearing him play. God bless the Butthole Surfers and their kin. Baby Jesus can bless them too.

[@insin5905]

What a great guitar player. I only saw the Surfers once but they blew me away. I play a Firebird because of him.

[@morgellon7877]

I'd forgot he produced Too High to Die. That album was my best friend many years ago when I was working and living at a middle-of-nowhere truck stop in New Mexico called Clines Corners. Other friends included Throbbing Gristle's 20 Jazz Funk Greats, L7's Hungry For Stink and a Johnny Cash compilation album. Oh, and beer; lots and lots of beer. But that Meat Puppets album stands out the most from that time. The production on that was so good. I eventually gave it to this old yippie drifter friend of mine (RIP), and he absolutely loved it, played it incessantly just like I did.

[@user-uo1qr6vn1q]

As a guy who worked in radio for a period of time, I miss stuff like this. I’m glad at least a little of it is still going. Imagine driving across Texas one weekend, scanning the radio dial and running across music by SPK, Dead Kennedys and the Buttholes, and then hearing an interview with Paul. You’d feel like you struck gold. Now everything’s available all the time. I guess that’s great, but it also makes things feel a little less special. Ok, old man rant over. Thanks for the upload. Oh shit, I wrote that while listening and had to come back and edit to mention that AM station out of Phoenix that Paul mentioned listening to was where I spent part of my time working in radio. What are the chances lol?! It was KUKQ 1060 AM, and it was actually the second version of it which lasted a little over a year (94-95). Those years were really the beginning of the consolidation of a lot of radio thanks to large media corporations like Clear Channel (IHeartRadio) buying up the stations and changing formats to the music that they could get most ad revenue for. Basically removing the unique stations and their content for just another Starbucks, WalMart or Amazon version of radio. Capitalism at its best, apparently. Again, I’m glad the Denton/Dallas area still has KUZU. Anyway, 2nd old man rant over. Thanks again for the upload!!!

[@reiniergamboa]

thank you for sharing that old man... I'm on my way to being old myself, see you there!

[@b.alexander6200]

Been a fan of the surfers since the first time I listened. Imagine my pleasure to click on the interview and find out it's hosted on my hometown radio station! Much love from little d, texas 🤘

[@shandonsahm3343]

Such an awesome guitar player....

[@LyonsLover]

He just sounds like a good human.

[@Zkex]

I swear they all are so down to earth and interesting. My favorite band for sure.

[@dailyflash]

He is! Paul's my favorite member and I've been fortunate to meet them a few times. A really nice guy.

[@jeffdude6088]

Love the BHS. I hope they are all doing well. Love to see them again.

[@robbieseahagmangano897]

Thanks for that

[@GRedit1000]

BS live in Hamburg 87 was jaw dropping and will stay with me forever.

[@BushyHairedStranger]

Theres a Video of that show here on KZbin. I have it in my catalogue.

[@GRedit1000]

@@BushyHairedStranger Couldn't find the Hamburg show, but rollick is also nice. THX - great collection.

[@JKParmer]

I had never heard about the Buttholes being influenced by S.P.K. Their album "Leichenschrei" is probably my favorite industrial album of all time.

[@loserbabysowhydontyo]

Nice mixes during the music breaks

[@hinteregions]

An extraordinary guitar player and what a treat.

[@stephenprimrose63]

Rocking the Fender Lead II. 😄

[@lumpygasinavacuum8449]

I wondered how piouhgd was named

[@AppleOno]

Paul and his band warm my heart! Long may you run, Mr. Leary! Has anyone ever asked him if he's related to Timothy? Also, "Blind Eye Sees All" was a wonderful live video of their first couple records and an epically insane interview with the band - have they got good quality footage of their later indie-era live shows (1985-88) that could be released as a followup DVD/blu ray? Will they ever "re-master" and re-release their legendary "Entering Texas" AKA "BBQ Movie" short film that appeared on Alex Winter's "Impact" VHS video fanzine? Will the world see this made into a full-length feature film, helmed by Peter Jackson and Sam Raimi?? So many questions!

[@loserbabysowhydontyo]

Leary is his middle name so no relation to Tim

[@AppleOno]

@@loserbabysowhydontyo No kidding! I wonder whether Leary is a middle name or is Leary dad's surname and Walthall mom's? Either way, even if he isn't related to Timothy, he may as well be, lol

[@hunterdavis3003]

Hey Paul if you see this we want a solo record with long solos and heavy riffs! That’s what made locust, and hair way such classics! Your guitar skills are legendary and we want THAT more than funny lyrics and drum machines

[@jlobiafra]

He released one not that long ago, it's great

[@paddlefaster]

The history of dogs. I have an unopened copy of it that he wants me to send him. I'll definitely do it

[@crazyjimheath]

Love The Surfers and Paul's guitar playing !!

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

I have an unopened "Gratuitous Red" Born Stupid lol

[@thelonious-dx9vi]

Take me back to Detroit Paul. Not just a musical/guitar hero, but alongside Gibby in the first rank of the very greatest Americans.

[@WebHubbleTelescope]

Car coasting down a hill reminder of Licorice Pizza

[@Michael-jr1dc]

Good movie!

[@johnwrickel]

❤

[@samuelhumphrey5908]

I'm only listening to this because of Paul Leary.

[@MrOctober44]

You're only listening to a Paul Leary interview for Paul Leary? That's pretty fucked up man. 😮

[@samuelhumphrey5908]

@@MrOctober44 thanks Brother x

[@pacocalimari]

I hear a lot of Mr. Peppermint tones in the B.H.S. music

[@kenlieck7756]

One time Gibby was at my house and sang an a capella medley of Wooden Song and Big Eye Rabbit from the Mr. Peppermint record!

[@angelaatwood46]

Wasn't Mr. Peppermint Gibby's father?

[@drew-horst]

Does anybody know what the chord running from his guitar to the microphone is for?

[@jfowler9293]

That’s just the pick guard I think

[@drew-horst]

@@jfowler9293 dude now that you say it I feel dumb 😂

[@robbieseahagmangano897]

Hero

[@distantyahoo]

love Paul

[@sloburnjo]

BUTTHOLE SURFERS BONGWATER WEEN

[@dcxxx6850]

Interview sucks because the music is edited out! This is an interview about music !!

[@MO-314]

Agreed. Nice to hear the interview but the music was part of it so wtf

[@mattclemens2181]

I think Paul leary is an amazing guitarist right up there with Hendrix. I saw some you tube video today where this gen zer was talking shit about the butthole surfers. I was like whatever . He probably didn't take enough acid

[@cm.talkington]

🖐️🔥🤚

[@peepeepoopoo8006]

I wonder why The butthole surfers album didn't happen but Paul still finished the album? Did Gibby lose interest or something? I don't get it man.

[@curthennecke954]

Interesting to hear the new songs were meant for the BHS’s record. Had heard one was in the making few years ago but I guess the technician aborted that low cost.

[@stuartmack8769]

Great response Curt... Whoever you are... Ya know your stuff... but still laughing a whole lot 🤗👍👍👍☮️✌️

[@dreamlynx3]

WOOOOHOOOO

[@user-jv9gx9dh9k]

Surfers never really had just one bass player over the years of their career, right?

[@gorelordzskate-racing-videos]

Well they went through 7 or 8 bassists before Jeff pinkus joined in 86.

[@CellTechAdv]

Wow.... Not even 10min in and I have to shut it off.. One of the things I'll never miss about radio is the constant script of what we're listening to on what station...

[@Truckdriverdivorcee]

Perfect example of the lack of attention span because of the internet. FF and RW have existed for quite awhile btw…

[@TheWinston7777]

The interviewer should forget his own boring thing and get into the guest.

[@r0landleaf370]

Must've been west Texas, as dry as he sounded😴

[@bomshankar4414]

Interviewer talks too much

[@thomashumphrey7395]

Not to be nitpicking but you would think that someone interviewing someone else about his band could get the band's name correct. The name of the band is Butthole Surfers not "The" Butthole Surfers. He does this throughout the entire interview and it's annoying as hell, sophomoric and stupid, and kills any credibility as a "journalist" or DJ. I guess Paul Leary is too polite to correct him or maybe doesn't really give a shit. They used to do this with Talking Heads and numerous other bands all the time. Come on, man, the least you can do is do your research, pay attention, and get a group's name right.

[@glenbellefonte9620]

I dig what you're saying. But I am 52 and have been listening to Talking Heads for years and usually say THE. They don't care. I don't care. No one I know cares. Just be cool. Godamn.

[@jfowler9293]

If you listened to the interview , Paul says the butthole surfers himself around 11:30

[@MrOctober44]

​@@jfowler9293 lol.

[@MrOctober44]

Kills any credibility? Pretty harsh. BTW, I've heard them refer to themselves as THE Butthole Surfers many times

[@spikejonzelover420]

Thomas you pull no bitches