The Obelisk Questionnaire: Mike Patton of 3 Parts Dead
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
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The Obelisk Questionnaire: Mike Patton of 3 Parts Dead
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
Yikes, first question and I’m not sure how to answer. I guess I’ll stick to what’s relevant and just say I’m a musician, with the assumption that that encompasses playing, creating, listening, and generally experiencing it. It came about pretty organically – some of my first memories are around listening to music, some of my best memories growing up are around playing it… Can’t imagine ever not surrounding myself with it.
Describe your first musical memory.
The Beach Boys at the Compaq company picnic when I was 5 years old. First live show, big outdoor shindig with a bordering on festival vibe (at least to a 5 year old), and I loved every second of it. Right up until some glowsticks I had exploded in my eyes and sent me to the ER. Good times.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Another doozy of a question… Haha, it’d be so easy to go with the “cool” memories (neat shows we’ve played, meeting idols), or the funny memories (road stories, spinal tap moments)… But those really just make for fun stories or brags. I guess really it was one particular rehearsal. We had recently gone from a four-piece to our current three-piece, and that first jam with the three of us… it was so fucking freeing. I knew there was interpersonal tension and conflict, but it wasn’t something I had really fully realized was hanging over the band before that – like we’d show up, do our jobs (play), and then pick the drama back up.
But we started to play, and the lack of stress and tension and WEIGHT, and just the way we were able to jam and have the creative juices flow again… I don’t even remember what we jammed on (I think at least one of the tracks from our 2nd EP Master was written then). But I distinctly remember that feeling of relief, and being able to breathe and just enjoy playing with my brothers in a way I had forgotten. I had always idealized the “a band is a gang” mentality, and it got replaced along the way with the “a band is a business/marriage/collective endeavor” mentality of you suck it up and ignore differences and just endure because of whatever… and that jam, I got back to just doing something I love with some dudes that I love.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Fuck man. I’ve read these things many times before, but I guess I completely forgot what you asked when I volunteered myself. I don’t know, I’m not really sure I have many firmly held beliefs, or that any of those have been tested. I don’t have any real spiritual or religious beliefs, I don’t have any faith in politics or people… I was going to follow that up with saying that I believed in my friends and family, but I guess that’s actually probably a valid answer to this question. Without getting into specifics, I’ll just say there have been plenty of let downs there. Part of me says that’s my fault for forgetting they’re people too (which I’ve already established I have no faith in), and part of me says sometimes it’s worth keeping the faith.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
I guess that depends on the artist? Some artists progress in a circle, some meander through different climes and times, some grow, some evolve, and some don’t progress at all. I also think it’s a question that can be answered completely differently depending on how you experience the artist’s journey – if you like the Use Your Illusion (or Chinese Democracy), your answer is probably pretty different from someone that is stuck on Appetite. Speaking for myself and my progression… I have no idea. I can barely tell you where I’m at today, much less where I’m going. Let me know if you know where I’m heading!
How do you define success?
For me, at least artistically, I think it’s the moments where something I’ve helped to create is able to connect me with someone else. That can be moments where we’re on stage or rehearsing or in the studio and connecting with each other, moments where the crowd is into it and connecting with us, or moments when someone takes the time to say I dig something you’ve put out there. Commercial success is just the financial ramification of connecting with more people (that would be nice too).
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
Haha, fuck man, again? I don’t know… Too many friends die too young, the opioid/fentanyl/mental health crisis (which have all contributed to that first point), 2 girls one cup, the most recent Mötley Crüe tour, the cultural takeover of social media and cell phones… The world is a dark place. But hey, I’ve avoided the Kardashians so far!
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I’d love to write a novel. I’ve spent so many hours transported to the most amazing places, taken on the most incredible journeys, by books. When I was a bored and lonely kid in a new school (we moved a good amount growing up) I would sit at my desk and just escape. To this day a good book provides a break from whatever I need a break from, even if it’s my own head. I wrote a few questions ago about my artistic success lying in being able to create connections – that is a kind of connection that I would love to explore someday.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Haha, I’m sensing a theme in my answers here…. Connecting with people. I could also (and many other people have) describe it as moving people, transporting them, making them think or feel or experience or forget or remember. From the artists perspective, maybe it’s putting yourself out there, exposing yourself, risking yourself, expressing yourself. But really I think those are all facets of just creating a connection. And I think that’s something we desperately need in a world that feels increasingly isolated.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
I’m planning on heading to France for the Rugby World Cup with my family and some friends next year as an early birthday celebration. That should be pretty awesome.
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