'Rembrandt Pussyhorse' and 'PCPPEP' among the first remasters to emerge.
Matador is reissuing a number of key releases by the legendary Butthole Surfers, bringing their strange and grotesque world to a new generation.
The Texas band were formed by singer Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary in 1981 and incorporated elements of psychedelia, noise rock, and punk as well as their use of sound manipulation and tape editing. The band also included second drummer Teresa Nervosa, who passed away last year.
A brief San Francisco performance was witnessed by Jello Biafra and the Dead Kennedys frontman and Alternative Tentacles overseer invited the Butthole Surfers to open for Dead Kennedys and T.S.O.L. at Los Angeles’ Whisky a Go Go. Biafra subsequently put out their debut EP.
Forced Exposure writer and critic Byron Coley said: “The early-mid ’80s had their share of insane combos – The Birthday Party, Black Flag and Minor Threat had the raw power to melt your mind in seconds. SWANS, Einsturzende Neubauten and Big Black created enough overwhelming sonic pressure their sounds might actually flatten you.
“And Sonic Youth displayed such a dizzyingly unpredictable mix of art, pop culture and violence you’d sometimes leave their shows drooling. The Buttholes shared elements with all of these groups, but added a wild psychedelic edge and a propensity for bizarre spectacle.”
Matador’s remastered reissues begin with ‘Psychic…Powerless…Another Man’s Sac’, ‘Rembrandt Pussyhorse’, and ‘PCPPEP’, which have already hit streaming services with vinyl to follow on March 22.
Then, in addition to 1983’s ‘Butthole Surfers’ EP (plus PCPpep), ‘Pioughd’ + ‘Widowermaker!’, ‘Humpty Dumpty LSD’, ‘Hairway To Steven’, and ‘Locust Abortion Technician’ will follow.
In addition to the reissue campaign, a feature length documentary about the band is scheduled to premiere later this year.
Main Photo Credit: Pat Blashill
Follow Butthole Surfers on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Live review: Disorder at Reading Facebar – 11th Oct 2025
Disorder, Healthy Junkies, and local punks Tape It Shut and Skinhawk brought the generations together at Reading Facebar. Disorder are still angry and all the
Book review: ‘Early Days, a conversation about art, punk & otherness’ by Penelope Houston with Maria Elena Buszek
‘Early Days, a conversation about art, punk & otherness’ by Penelope Houston of The Avengers with Maria Elena Buszek was recently published in the USA
Rats With Wings Records 5th Anniversary, The Prince Albert, Brighton 05.10.25
The Stereotypes (UK), Family Of Strangers, Noir Mates and Thee Derelique put on a punk party at Brighton’s Prince Albert to celebrate Rats With Wings
Album Review: The Menstrual Cramps say ‘We’re Not Ovaryacting’
Formed and based in Bristol, UK, The Menstrual Cramps have applaudingly never held back with their righteous manifesto. They are proudly, self described as a
Album Review: Omega Tribe prove ‘Power Pop Punk Rock’ has a future!
A particularly big fixture in the anarcho-punk scene of the early 80’s, Omega Tribe were much more tuneful than many of their peers, which made
Undercover Festival makes its unforgettable debut in Essex – Day Two review!
The second day at Undercover Festival 2025 saw even more of the best bands and artists playing, including The Stereotypes, Wyrd Sisters, Hinge, The Fanzines,
An occasional writer on punk rock.
Click on Dom’s photo for more of his articles
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
