Trevor Dunn

Early life and career

After four years of studying the clarinet, Dunn began playing electric bass at the age of 13. His earliest musical influences included the Beach Boys, Blondie, Cheap Trick, and Kiss.

Dunn studied double bass and music in college.

Mr. Bungle

In 1983, Dunn formed the cover band Gemini, which included vocalist Mike Patton. When Gemini split in early 1985, Dunn and Patton both went on to Mr. Bungle with guitarist Trey Spruance. Mr. Bungle's early compositions mixed thrash metal, hard rock, death metal, ska and funk with an air of adolescent humor and vulgarity. With a background in metal, Dunn branched out his musical abilities playing jazz around San Francisco while immersing himself in different music.

Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s before being signed to Warner Bros. Records and releasing three full-length studio albums between 1991 and 1999. The band split in 2000.

Like the other members of Mr. Bungle, Trevor Dunn is reluctant to talk about what exactly caused their break-up (Dunn is especially hesitant about the subject). For that matter, Dunn is reluctant to talk about Mr. Bungle in general, though he claims to have enough material for a book about the band (and enough unreleased songs for a companion album). He initially stated that he was going to release a book, but the "book concept is FAR from being a reality. It's just a hazy thought in my mind at this point. Part of that haze includes demos, rehearsals, prank phone calls, unused photos, etc. The amount of unseen/unheard material I have collected over the years is somewhat baffling. Believe me, it's not going to happen anytime soon."^{reference needed}

Secret Chiefs 3

Trey Spruance formed Secret Chiefs 3 with fellow Mr. Bungle members Dunn and Danny Heifetz in the mid-nineties. Trevor has not been actively involved in Secret Chiefs 3 for some time.

Fantômas

In 1999, Mike Patton formed the supergroup Fantômas with Dunn on bass, Buzz Osborne of the Melvins on guitar, and Dave Lombardo of Slayer on the drums. Fantômas has released several albums of eclectic avante-garde, ambient, and heavy metal compositions.

Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant

In 1998, Dunn formed his Trio-Convulsant. Their first release, Debutantes & Centipedes, features Dunn on bass, Adam Levy on guitar, and Kenny Wollesen on drums. The album Sister Phantom Owl Fish on Ipecac (2004) includes Ches Smith on percussion and Mary Halvorson on guitar.

MadLove

Citing his long hiatus from writing rock music, Dunn formed the band MadLove with Sunny Kim on lead vocals, Ches Smith on drums, Hilmar Jensson on guitar, and Erik Deutch on keyboard. They recorded their debut album, White with Foam, during 2008, and it was released on Ipecac Records in September 2009.

Tomahawk

Trevor has recently joined the band Tomahawk, replacing Kevin Rutmanis.

Melvins (Lite)

Trevor joined the Melvins as an on-and-off touring bassist starting in 2005, initially to play on their 1993 album Houdini in its entirety for All Tomorrow's Parties' "Don't Look Back" series. In 2011, he joined the band full-time playing standup bass for a side lineup known as "Melvins Lite". They at first toured in 2011 which led to the 2012 album Freak Puke and 2012 tour in which they performed in all 50 states (plus Washington, D.C.) in 51 days. Dunn later appeared on three songs included on the bands all-covers album Everybody Loves Sausages in 2013. A new song with Dunn, entitled "Planet Destructo", was released on the 2016 album Basses Loaded.

Other works

Dunn has participated in dozens of other recordings, both as a main collaborator and a guest musician. He is part of Mike Pride's MPThree, David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness, and the Nels Cline Singers. He has contributed to or played with: Afro-Mystic, Ben Goldberg, Brian "Head" Welch, Graham Connah's Sour Note Seven, Jess Jones Quartet, Junk Genius, Laplante/Dunn/Smith, John Zorn's Electric Masada, Matisyahu, Rova Saxophone Quartet, Sean Lennon, Suit of Lights, Rob Price Quartet, Tin Hat Trio, and Tipsy.

Gear

Bass guitars

As Leader / co-leader

With Phillip Greenlief

With Trio-Convulsant

With Shelley Burgon

Solo album (with guest musicians)

With MadLove

As band member

With Mr. Bungle

With Secret Chiefs 3

With Fantômas

With Melvins (Lite)

With The Nels Cline Singers

With Tomahawk

As sideman

With Erik Friedlander

With Eyvind Kang

With Jamie Saft

With John Zorn

With the Rob Price Quartet

Album collaborations

Guest appearances