Butthole Surfers on the Scott and Gary Show (video)

Forget Bono's profanities, Janet's nipple, and the CBS teenage sex orgy. The real fun takes place on public access cable TV, free from FCC censorship, commercial pressures, unencumbered by professionalism and decorum. After bringing you the cursing preacher from LA, today it is time for tripped-out Texans with musical instruments.

In 1984, the Butthole Surfers visited New York for the first time, and among others they appeared on the now legendary Scott and Gary Show. On their cable access show, Scott Lewis and Gary Winter featured lots of great then-unknown musicians like the Beastie Boys (when they were still a punk band, with drummer Kate Schellenbach), Half Japanese, R. Stevie Moore, and many more. The Butthole Surfers had just released their first EP, now commonly known as Brown Reason To Live, and they turned up in the TV studio well-prepared, i.e. they had loaded up on acid and brought some rolls of toilet paper.

Enjoy the madness, admire the mad skills of guitarist Paul Leary, especially during the interview: Part 1 (38 meg MP4, Too Parter and Tornadoes) | Interview (37 meg MP4) | Part 2 (27 meg Quicktime, Mexican Caravan)

These clips were taken from The Scott and Gary Show Tribute VHS, and with some luck you might be able to obtain a copy. (When Amazon says "usually ships within 4 to 6 weeks", it means they don't have it, and they'll unsuccessfully try to get it.)

By the way, Butthole Surfers singer Gibby Haynes joined a band of aging rock stars (Al Jourgensen of Ministry, Jello Biafra, some guys from ZZ Top and Cheap Trick) on the new Revolting Cocks CD. It isn't even that bad. However, for the really great stuff, get all Butthole Surfers albums up to and including Hairway to Steven. But you knew that anyway, didn't you?

Comments

[fatty]

excellent! I once saw some of this on a really bad 20th generation VHS copy and was blown away. thanks!

[MarcM.]

don't forget, the Scott and Gary tribute VHS is the work of Jeff Krulik, http://www.planetkrulik.com - you can probably still order copies straight from Jeff by clicking on the email address at the top of his page and dropping him a line!

[sean]

wow. this has got to be the best post in all of wfmu blog. thank you.

[Jim]

The interviewer looks VERY uncomfortable, like he's sitting on a train with a bunch of homeless people. It's as good as the shocked silence after the Ramones set on Musikladen(whose studio audience appreciated Al Stewart much more)

[Tom]

Am I the only one that can't see the second part? I tried on two computers without any luck.

[Lukas]

Tom, have you tried playing it with VLC? Here it also plays with Quicktime, but I might have some additional codecs installed.

[Rich]

Woah, what an amazing post. Really nice quality vid and I've certainly never seen this before! Many thank yous!

[Steve PMX]

"Next time you see your mother, tell her I said SATAN! satan satan satan satan..."

[Scott Lewis]

Hey, it is good to know that my work is still geting attention!
Funny note: the Buttholes wanted me to go with them to MTV the next day to show them the tape!

Scott (of the Scott and gary Show)

[Gary]

After we did the Butthole show I balled Scott out for inviting them on because they almost wrecked the studio. Shows how much I knew.

Gary (Director of Scott and Gary Show)

[Maskatron]

"However, for the really great stuff, get all Butthole Surfers albums up to and including Hairway to Steven. But you knew that anyway, didn't you?"

QUOTED FOR TRUTH.

[autosam]

R. Stevie Moore on The Scott & Gary Show - featuring Jim Price and Frank Balesteri:
Show Biz is Dead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhsN_QmMi9g
Interview/Goin' Down the Way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-sTtpURjYY
Copy Me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8IgWvrJ7Ac

a.sam