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Melvins’ Buzz Osborne and Butthole Surfers’ JD Pinkus Unveil New Supergroup Gatta Morta
Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne and Butthole Surfers bassist JD Pinkus have formed a new supergroup called Gatta Morta, joined by Clinton Jacob of Mr. Phylzzz on guitar and Coady Willis of Big Business on drums, with all four contributing vocals. The band has surprise-released a debut EP, marking a fresh collaboration between veteran figures of the heavy and alternative rock scenes at a moment when the Melvins are already active on the road, giving fans a bonus release alongside their touring schedule.
The EP, titled Burn Witch Burn, contains four tracks: "Taco Bellboy," "Victims of the Universe," "Black Hall," and "Clear Smoke," and arrived with a visualiser for lead single "Black Hall," which draws comparisons to the Melvins' doom-laden Lysol era and Big Business's heavier moments. Osborne said the idea came to him while touring last autumn and felt like "a no brainer," while Pinkus described it as his first chance in a long time to write a heavy album from scratch with such complementary players. The announcement coincides with the Melvins' ongoing North American tour alongside Tomahawk.
In short
- Buzz Osborne and JD Pinkus launch new supergroup Gatta Morta
- Debut EP Burn Witch Burn surprise-released with four tracks
- Coincides with Melvins' current North American tour with Tomahawk
Explained simply
Buzz Osborne is best known as the singer and guitarist in the Melvins, a long-running American band whose heavy, unconventional rock has influenced later alternative music. JD Pinkus played bass in Butthole Surfers, another influential American group known for its experimental approach. Their careers overlap with a wider network of musicians who have worked across heavy and alternative rock.
The other members are guitarist Clinton Jacob, from Mr. Phylzzz, and drummer Coady Willis, from Big Business; all four members sing. Gatta Morta brings together musicians from different bands to make music as a separate project. Its release comes while the Melvins are touring North America with Tomahawk, giving the collaboration wider attention among fans of those groups.