Clinton McKinnon

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For the U.S. politician, see Clinton D. McKinnon.
Clinton McKinnon

Background information
Birth name Clinton McKinnon
Also known as Bär
Born December 24, 1969
Genre(s) Experimental music
Experimental rock
Avant-garde,
Pop.
Occupation(s) Musician
Instrument(s) Saxophone, keyboards, various woodwind instruments and vocals.
Years active 21 years
Label(s) Amphead (Distribution)
Associated acts Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3, Eyvind Kang, Barefoot Hockey Goalie,and Umläut.
Website www.myspace.com/umlautbarmckinnon, www.myspace.com/clintonbarmckinnon
Notable instrument(s)
saxophone, flute, keyboard.

Clinton "Bär" McKinnon (born December 24, 1969) is an American musician, perhaps best known playing saxophone in seminal San Francisco based band Mr. Bungle.

Bär, pronounced 'bear', is a childhood nickname, given to him by his older sisters. In 1989 Bär joined Mr. Bungle and studied music and Humboldt State University. His primary instrument is the saxophone, but he plays a number of other instruments including flute, keyboards, guitar, drums, percussion, bass and other assorted woodwinds. He was a member of Mr. Bungle from 1989 to their disbandment in 2000, and has written and performed with Secret Chiefs 3 and Dieselhed. He has also appeared on the Melt Banana album Charlie, on the Carl Hancock Rux album Rux Revue, on the Ray's Vast Basement album On the Banks of the Time, on the Eyvind Kang's album The Story of Iceland and on the Barefoot Hockey Goalie album One Part Thomas Edison.Bär McKinnon is currently gigging around Melbourne with a band called Umläut.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

Bär grew up in Crecent City, Northern California and was the middle child in a family of nine.In 1989 Bär joined seminal San Francisco based band Mr. Bungle and studied music and Humboldt State University. He was a member of Mr. Bungle from 1989 to their disbandment in 2000. Towards the end of the 80's Bär appeared on Mr. Bungle's cassette-only demo OU818 (featuring tracks that would appear on their first Warner Brothers album), and as a result, the band earned a small local following.

[edit] Bär and Mr. Bungle

Bungle's lead singer Mike Patton had by the start of the '90's achieved success in mainstream rock and metal with his other band Faith No More, which ultimately helped secure Mr. Bungle a record deal with Warner Bros. The band released a self-titled album (produced by John Zorn) in 1991, followed by the highly surreal Disco Volante in 1995. Their final album was California. Bär's contribution to Mr Bungle is undeniable. As a multi-instrumentalist, Bär provided a distinct style both as a player and songwriter, most notably on Mr. Bungle's final album, California. The album takes inspiration from Burt Bacharach and The Beach Boys, influences close to Bär's heart. The album allowed more freedom for all members of Bungle in the songwriting process. California blended lounge, pop, jazz, funk, thrash-metal, Hawaiian, Middle Eastern, kecak, and avant-garde music.[1] The band did 5 tours to support this record. For the most part, perhaps with the exception of the Sno-Core 2000 tour where they were often booed, the band did have success attracting an audience.[2][3]

[edit] Umläut

Clinton's brainchild Umläut are currently recording an album slated for release in September 2008. Mike Patton has contributed vocals to one of the tracks entitled Atlas Face. Umläut is the culmination of years of work for McKinnon, after moving to Melbourne, Australia. The current lineup includes vibraphone, keyboards as well as Bär on saxophone and flute.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Mr. Bungle

[edit] Secret Chiefs 3

[edit] Songwriting credits

    1. Untitled[4]
  2. "After School Special" (words: Dunn/McKinnon/Patton, music: McKinnon) – 2:47
  3. "The Bends" (music: Patton/McKinnon/Spruance) - 10:28
    1. "Man Overboard"
    2. "The Drowning Flute"
    3. "Aqua Swing"
    4. "Follow the Bubbles"
    5. "Duet for Guitar and Oxygen Tank"
    6. "Nerve Damage"
    7. "Screaming Bends"
    8. "Panic in Blue"
    9. "Love on the Event Horizon"
    10. "Re-Entry"
  1. "The Air-Conditioned Nightmare" (words: Patton music: Patton/McKinnon) - 3:55
  2. "Goodbye Sober Day" (words: Patton music: Patton/McKinnon) - 4:29

[edit] Guest Appearances

Ray's Vast Basement- On the Banks of the Time (1998)

Carl Hancock Rux- Rux Revue (1998)

Melt-Banana - Charlie(1998) (with Mr. Bungle)

Eyvind Kang - The Story of Iceland [Tzadik] (2000)

Barefoot Hockey Goalie- One Part Thomas Edison

[edit] References

  1. ^ Paluzzi, Nick (27 April 2004). California Review. Ground and Sky. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  2. ^ Fernandez, Roger. Mr. Bungle Biography. Bungle Grind. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
  3. ^ Fong, Erik (July 1-14 2003). Trey Spruance Interview. Perfect Pitch Online. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  4. ^ This song is often titled "The Secret Song" (the working title of the song) or "Spy" (the title that appears on various concert setlists). Credits: words: Dunn, music: Uncredited (but assumed to be Patton/McKinnon/Spruance). Bungle Fever FAQ

[edit] External links

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