Buzz Osborne

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Osborne founded the Melvins in the early 1980s with Matt Lukin and Mike Dillard, all of whom attended Montesano High School, where Osborne graduated in 1982. The band began playing fast hardcore punk after Osborne was introduced to bands like Black Flag, Flipper, and MDC by a friend. When Dillard left in 1984, Dale Crover was recruited, and rehearsals moved to a back room of Crover's parents' house in Aberdeen, Washington, where they began playing slower and 'heavier' songs. In 1986, the band released their Six Songs EP on C/Z Records, recorded live to a two-track. In October 1986, they recorded their first full album, Gluey Porch Treatments, at Studio D in Sausalito, California, released in 1987 on Alchemy Records. In 1988, Osborne and Crover relocated to San Francisco, California, where the band recorded their next album, Ozma, in May 1989, released later that year.

In Their Own Story

Osborne's connection to Nirvana came through his long-standing friendship with the band members. When Dave Grohl's previous band Scream disbanded, Grohl approached Osborne for advice. Osborne, in response, introduced Grohl to Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. This introduction was a pivotal moment that helped complete Nirvana's lineup. Osborne has expressed deep negativity toward the 'Seattle sound' scene, calling it a 'horrendous nightmare' and denouncing the romanticization of it. He was a childhood friend of Kurt Cobain and remained close to Chris Cornell of Soundgarden until both singers committed suicide. Osborne stated in a 2018 interview: 'It's totally tainted. Absolutely. I'll never get over that stuff, ever... It's a horrible, horrendous nightmare, ending in tragedy and I honestly I wish none of it would have ever happened and [they] would be still alive.'

Reader's Guide

Osborne's role in the Nirvana story is defined by his direct personal connection: he introduced Dave Grohl to Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic after Grohl's previous band Scream disbanded. Beyond this, Osborne's band the Melvins provided a sonic blueprint that influenced the grunge movement. From their earlier slow metal style, the Melvins have been attributed with providing the framework for what would become grunge, sludge metal, and drone doom genres. Osborne has been dubbed the 'Godfather of Grunge' and has been named a key influence by guitarists such as Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Adam Jones (Tool), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), and Kim Thayil (Soundgarden). Osborne has constantly expressed negativity toward the Seattle scene, describing it as a 'horrendous nightmare' and stating he wishes none of it would have happened so his friends would still be alive.

Did You Know?

• Osborne introduced Dave Grohl to Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic after Grohl's previous band Scream disbanded.
• Osborne appeared in the 1994 video for Beck's song 'Beercan', which samples the Melvins' song 'Hog Leg'.
• Osborne appeared in the 1997 promo video for The Offspring's 'All I Want' as a masked pianist.
• Osborne has been married to graphic designer Mackie Osborne since 1993, and they decided not to have children.
• Osborne considers American economist Thomas Sowell 'the greatest philosopher of all time' and a major influence on his career.