Editing Mike Watt

{{short description|American musician}}
{{About|the bassist|other people named Mike Watt|Mike Watt (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Mike Watt
| background      = solo_singer
| image           = Mike watt march 16 2009.jpg
| caption         = Watt in 2009
| birth_name      = Michael David Watt
| alias           =
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1957|12|20}}
| birth_place     = [[Portsmouth, Virginia]], U.S.
| genre           = {{flatlist|
* [[Punk rock]]
* [[hardcore punk]]
* [[post-punk]]
* [[alternative rock]]
* [[art rock]]}}
| occupation      = Musician
| instrument      = Bass guitar, vocals
| years_active    = 1978–present
| label           = {{flatlist|
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* [[SST Records|SST]]
* [[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]]
* [[Kill Rock Stars]]
* Clenchedwrench
}}
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Dos (band)|Dos]]
* [[Banyan (band)|Banyan]]
* [[Hellride]]
* [[Big Walnuts Yonder]]
* [[Porno for Pyros]]
* [[The Black Gang]]
* [[Mike Watt + The Missingmen]]
* [[The Secondmen]]
* [[Unknown Instructors]]
* [[Anywhere (band)|Anywhere]]
* [[Il Sogno del Marinaio]]
* Funanori
* Floored By Four
* [[Flipper (band)|Flipper]]
* [[mssv]]
}}
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]]
* [[Firehose (band)|Firehose]]
* [[The Reactionaries]]
* [[Bootstrappers (band)|Bootstrappers]]
* [[J Mascis + The Fog]]
* [[The Stooges]]
}}
| associated_acts = [[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]], [[Firehose (band)|Firehose]], [[Ciccone Youth]], [[Dos (band)|Dos]], [[Banyan (band)|Banyan]], [[The Reactionaries]], [[Bootstrappers (band)|Bootstrappers]], [[Hellride]], [[Big Walnuts Yonder]], [[J Mascis + The Fog]], [[The Stooges]], [[Porno for Pyros]], [[The Black Gang]], [[Mike Watt + The Missingmen]], [[The Secondmen]], [[Unknown Instructors]], [[Anywhere (band)|Anywhere]], [[Il Sogno del Marinaio]], Funanori, The Clubber Lang Gang, Floored By Four, [[Sonic Youth]], [[Foo Fighters]], [[Flipper (band)|Flipper]], [[mssv]]
| website      = {{URL|mikewatt.com}}
}}

'''Michael David Watt''' (born December 20, 1957)<ref name="sutherland">{{cite magazine|last=Sutherland|first=Sam|title=Mike Watt on What's Watt|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_on_what|magazine=[[Exclaim!]]|date=March 24, 2007|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212213053/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_on_what|url-status=live}}</ref> is an American bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded and played bass guitar for the rock bands [[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]] (1980–1985), [[Dos (band)|Dos]] (1985–present), and [[Firehose (band)|Firehose]] (1986–1994).  He began a solo career with the 1995 album ''[[Ball-Hog or Tugboat?]]'' and has since released three additional solo albums, most recently in 2010 with ''[[Hyphenated-man]]''.  He is also the frontman for the supergroup [[Big Walnuts Yonder]] (2008–present), a member of the [[art rock]] group [[Banyan (band)|Banyan]] (1997–present) and is involved with several other musical projects. From 2003 until 2013, he was the bass guitarist for [[The Stooges]].

Watt has been called "one of the greatest bassists on the planet".<ref>{{cite news|last=Seitzer|first=Mike|title=Legendary punk bassist Mike Watt reflects on making music his way|url=http://www.sungazette.com/life/showcase/2019/05/legendary-punk-bassist-mike-watt-reflects-on-making-music-his-way/|newspaper=[[Williamsport Sun-Gazette]]|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=May 24, 2019|archive-date=May 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527151205/http://www.sungazette.com/life/showcase/2019/05/legendary-punk-bassist-mike-watt-reflects-on-making-music-his-way/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[CMJ New Music]]'' called Watt a "seminal [[post-punk]] bass player".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GC0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA5|title=Rev. of Mike Watt, ''Ball-Hog or Tugboat?''|date=December 1994|work=[[CMJ New Music]]|page=5|access-date=March 26, 2010}}</ref> Readers of ''[[NME]]'' voted Mike Watt one of the "40 Greatest Bassists of All Time"<ref>{{cite web|last=Barker|first=Emily|title=40 Of The Greatest Bassists Of All Time – Picked By NME Readers|website=[[NME]]|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/40-of-the-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-picked-by-nme-readers-1412783|date=July 25, 2014|access-date=March 8, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023151743/https://www.nme.com/photos/40-of-the-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-picked-by-nme-readers-1412783|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[LA Weekly]]'' awarded him the number six spot in "The 20 Best Bassists of All Time".<ref>{{cite news|title=The 20 Best Bassists of All Time|url=https://www.laweekly.com/music/the-20-best-bassists-of-all-time-5505433/2|newspaper=[[LA Weekly]]|date=May 13, 2015|access-date=March 8, 2019|archive-date=March 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304030220/https://www.laweekly.com/music/the-20-best-bassists-of-all-time-5505433/2|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2008, Watt received the ''Bass Player Magazine'' lifetime achievement award, presented by [[Flea (musician)|Flea]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Leigh|first=Bill|title=Welcome to Bass Player LIVE!|publisher=Bass Player Magazine|year=2008}}</ref> The [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] dedicated their best-selling album, 1991's ''[[Blood Sugar Sex Magik]]'', to Watt.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shootin' The Breeze with Mike Watt|url=http://www.smashmagazine.com/oldsite/is5_mikewatt.html|newspaper=Smash Mag|access-date=May 10, 2022|archive-date=October 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003213813/http://www.smashmagazine.com/oldsite/is5_mikewatt.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Biography==
===Early career===
Watt was born in [[Portsmouth, Virginia]].<ref name="sutherland"/> His father was a [[machinist's mate]] in the Navy<ref name="chonin">{{cite magazine|last=Chonin|first=Neva|title=Q&A: Mike Watt|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-mike-watt-101362/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=November 27, 1997|access-date=May 3, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023152448/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-mike-watt-101362/|url-status=live}}</ref> and when he was young, Watt's family moved to [[San Pedro, Los Angeles, California|San Pedro, California]], where he became good friends with [[D. Boon]].<ref name="sutherland"/> Watt and Boon picked up bass and guitar, respectively.<ref name="sutherland"/> Watt was a fan of [[T.Rex (band)|T. Rex]]<ref name="calvert">{{cite magazine|last=Calvert|first=John|title="The Spirit": Mike Watt Of The Missingmen's Favourite Albums |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/14671-mike-watt-minutemen-the-missingmen-favourite-albums?page=6|magazine=[[The Quietus]]|date=March 6, 2014|access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> and [[Blue Öyster Cult]],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rice|first=Barbara|title=The Minutemen|url=http://www.dementlieu.com/users/obik/arc/other/mmen_tn10.html|journal=Truly Needy|volume=1|issue=10|date=1986|access-date=March 27, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023152820/http://www.dementlieu.com/users/obik/arc/other/mmen_tn10.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while Boon's exposure to rock music was limited to [[Creedence Clearwater Revival]], another Watt favorite.<ref name="calvert"/>

===The Minutemen===
{{Main| Minutemen (band)}}
[[File:Mike watt 1982.jpg|upright|left|thumb|Watt in 1982]]
In 1978, Watt and Boon formed a band called [[The Reactionaries (band)|The Reactionaries]] with drummer [[George Hurley]] and vocalist [[Martin Tamburovich]].<ref name="sutherland"/> The band later became [[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]] with another drummer named [[Frank Tonche]], who only lasted two shows with the group;<ref name="gnerre">{{cite news|last=Gnerre|first=Sam|title=30 years later, D. Boon of the Minutemen remains a San Pedro legend|url=http://blogs.dailybreeze.com/history/2015/12/19/30-years-later-d-boon-of-the-minutemen-remains-a-san-pedro-legend/|newspaper=[[Daily Breeze]]|date=December 19, 2015|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=March 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316082828/http://blogs.dailybreeze.com/history/2015/12/19/30-years-later-d-boon-of-the-minutemen-remains-a-san-pedro-legend/|url-status=live}}</ref> Hurley, who had been in the short-lived [[New wave music|new wave]] group Hey Taxi! at the time Minutemen first formed, rejoined Watt and Boon.<ref name="gnerre"/> After signing with [[SST Records]] in 1980, Minutemen began touring constantly, releasing a number of albums along the way. Their music was based on the speed, brevity, and intensity of punk, but included elements of [[jazz]], [[folk music|folk]], and [[funk]].

Born with [[Osgood–Schlatter disease]],<ref name="ibarra106">{{cite book|last=Ibarra|first=Craig|author-link=Craig Ibarra|title=[[A Wailing of a Town|A Wailing Of A Town: An Oral History of Early San Pedro Punk And More 1977–1985]]|publisher=END FWY|year=2015|pages=106–107|isbn=978-0-9860971-0-2}}</ref> Watt had surgeries on both knees in the early 1980s which limited touring in 1981.<ref name="ibarra106"/> Watt wrote all of the music for ''[[What Makes a Man Start Fires?]]'' as he was laid up after one of his knee surgeries, living with his mother at the time and needed to keep himself occupied.<ref name="ibarra106"/>

In 1984, Watt met [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] bassist [[Kira Roessler]] during a Black Flag/Minutemen tour. They soon became romantically involved, and subsequently began collaborating on songs, including material on Minutemen's final album ''[[3-Way Tie (For Last)]]''. They also formed a two-bass duo, [[Dos (band)|Dos]], and have since recorded and released three records.

Minutemen ended tragically on December 22, 1985, when Boon was killed in an automobile crash at the [[27 Club|age of 27]] while driving to [[Arizona]] with his girlfriend. Their fifth full-length album, ''3-Way Tie (For Last)'', had already been scheduled for release at the time of the accident. In the documentary film ''[[We Jam Econo]]'', Watt mentioned that the last time he saw Boon, he had received lyrics for 10 songs from critic and songwriter [[Richard Meltzer]] for a planned collaboration with Minutemen. Minutemen were also planning to record a triple album with the working title ''3 Dudes, 6 Sides, 3 Studio, 3 Live'' as way to counteract [[bootleg recording|bootleggers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.earpollution.com/vol2/aug00/profiles/mikewatt/mikewatt2.html |title=Earpollution profiles – mike watt [page 2&#93; – issue 2.Ø8, august 2ØØØ |publisher=Earpollution.com |access-date=September 14, 2011 |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319214907/http://www.earpollution.com/vol2/aug00/profiles/mikewatt/mikewatt2.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Firehose===
{{Main|Firehose (band)}}
After Boon's death, Watt was profoundly [[clinical depression|depressed]]; he and Hurley initially intended to quit music altogether. [[Sonic Youth]] invited Watt to hang out with them in [[New York City]] in 1986; they recorded a cover of [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]'s "Burnin' Up" (with additional guitars by Greg Ginn) on the first [[Ciccone Youth]] [[EP (format)|EP]], and Watt played bass for two songs on the Sonic Youth album ''[[Evol (Sonic Youth album)|Evol]]''.<ref name="adams">{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Owen|title=Louder Than War Exclusive Interview: Mike Watt – Stooges / Minutemen Bass Genius|url=https://louderthanwar.com/mike-watt-stoogesminutemen-bass-genius-exclusive-interview/|publisher=[[Louder Than War]]|date=June 27, 2011|access-date=April 3, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023160337/https://louderthanwar.com/mike-watt-stoogesminutemen-bass-genius-exclusive-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wright|first=Craig|title=Bass, flannel and 'jamming econo' to the end: Pioneering punk rocker Mike Watt to perform in Eugene Thursday|url=https://www.dailyemerald.com/arts-culture/bass-flannel-and-jamming-econo-to-the-end-pioneering-punk/article_96e3560b-a141-52f4-b1f5-9daba169d909.html|newspaper=[[Daily Emerald]]|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=April 3, 2019|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403145934/https://www.dailyemerald.com/arts-culture/bass-flannel-and-jamming-econo-to-the-end-pioneering-punk/article_96e3560b-a141-52f4-b1f5-9daba169d909.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Watt cites this period as critical in inspiring his post-Minutemen career saying, "The first thing I did was Thurston asked me to play bass on ''Evol''. That was a big highlight, man. Like, 'What, you want me to play without D. Boon?'"<ref name="Mike Watt Interview">{{cite web |url=http://crasierfrane.com/interviews/mike-watt |title=Mike Watt interview on Crasier Frane |publisher=Crasierfrane.com |date=June 14, 2010 |access-date=September 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013102620/http://crasierfrane.com/interviews/mike-watt |archive-date=October 13, 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Subsequently, [[Ed Crawford]], a Minutemen fan who drove to [[San Pedro, Los Angeles, California|San Pedro]] from [[Ohio]], persuaded the Watt/Hurley [[rhythm section]] to continue playing music.<ref name="adams"/> Firehose was formed soon after. Following three releases on [[SST Records|SST]], Firehose was signed to [[Columbia Records]] by A&R man Jim Dunbar. Shortly after the release of 1993's ''Mr. Machinery Operator'', the band decided to call it quits.

Watt and Kira married in 1987, but their marriage ended not long after Firehose's break-up. However, both their friendship and Dos have remained intact; they even recorded their third album, ''[[Justamente Tres]]'', not long after their [[divorce]].

===Solo career===
After working with Firehose, Watt began a solo career. His first album, ''[[Ball-Hog or Tugboat?]]'', featured appearances from dozens of musicians (many were Watt's peers from the 1980s SST era), including [[Henry Rollins]], [[Eddie Vedder]], [[J Mascis]], [[Carla Bozulich]], [[Evan Dando]], members of [[Sonic Youth]], [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]], [[Frank Black]], [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], [[Soul Asylum]], [[Jane's Addiction]], the [[Beastie Boys]] and the [[Screaming Trees]]. The album and its supporting tour were Watt's first taste of mainstream fame, when Vedder and [[Dave Grohl]] of [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] were part of his touring group. After Vedder returned to his [[Pearl Jam]] commitments and Grohl began working with his new band [[Foo Fighters]], Watt formed his only four-piece touring group to date, [[The Crew Of The Flying Saucer]], featuring guitarist [[Nels Cline]] and two drummers.

In 1996, Watt contributed bass guitar on two songs for [[Porno for Pyros]]' second album, ''[[Good God's Urge]]'', filling in for [[Martyn LeNoble]] who quit the band during recording sessions. Watt subsequently ended up being the bassist for the band's tour that followed the release of the album.

He made an appearance in an episode of [[Cartoon Network]]'s ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]''.

In 1997, Watt released ''[[Contemplating the Engine Room]]'', a punk rock [[song cycle]] using naval life as an extended [[metaphor]] for both Watt's family history (the album has a picture of his father in his Navy uniform on the cover) and the Minutemen. The album, which was critically well received, features the trio of musicians [[Nels Cline]] on guitar, [[Stephen Hodges]] on drums, and Watt as the only singer.

Watt went on to play in such groups as [[Banyan (band)|Banyan]] (with [[Stephen Perkins]] and Nels Cline) and [[Hellride]], a sometime live outfit that plays cover versions of [[The Stooges|Stooges]] songs. He also played in [[Wylde Ratttz]] with Sonic Youth's [[Thurston Moore]] and The Stooges' [[Ron Asheton]], recording a song for the film ''[[Velvet Goldmine]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bennett|first=James|title=Becoming a Stooge: an Interview with Mike Watt|url=https://www.slugmag.com/music-features/becoming-a-stooge-an-interview-with-mike-watt/|publisher=[[SLUG Magazine]]|date=February 28, 2007|access-date=March 23, 2019|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323180817/https://www.slugmag.com/music-features/becoming-a-stooge-an-interview-with-mike-watt/|url-status=live}}</ref> Watt also recorded a bass line to send to the [[Pennsylvania]] space-folk band The Clubber Lang Gang for their record ''Now Here This'', on the track "For the Broken People". Starting in mid-2011, Watt began playing bass for a psychedelic/progressive rock band called [[Anywhere (band)|Anywhere]] with the [[Mars Volta]]'s [[Cedric Bixler-Zavala]] and Christian Eric Beaulieu of [[Triclops (band)|Triclops!]] In 2015 Mike Watt joined the [[Waywords and Meansigns]] project, a collaborative project setting James Joyce's [[Finnegans Wake]] to music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/57550/mike-watt-part-of-project-setting-finnegans-wake-to-music|title=Press release at Punk News|date=April 10, 2015|access-date=April 10, 2015|archive-date=April 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416004451/http://www.punknews.org/article/57550/mike-watt-part-of-project-setting-finnegans-wake-to-music|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Mike Watt |user=wattfrompedro |number=585929337909579777 |date=April 8, 2015 |title=RT @waywrdsmeansgns: '...M Watt... S Underwood (The Pop Group) both join our 2nd ed.: Finnegans Wake set to music' glad to be on board!" |access-date=April 28, 2015}}</ref>

===Illness, recovery and The Stooges===
[[File:Mike Watt, The Stooges, ATP Festival, May 2010.jpg|alt=Watt performing with Iggy and the Stooges in 2010|thumb|upright|Watt performing with Iggy and the Stooges at an [[All Tomorrow's Parties (festival)|ATP Festival]] in [[Minehead]] in 2010.]]
In January 2000, Watt fell ill with an infection of his [[perineum]],<ref name=splendid>{{cite web|title=Mike Watt: To Hell and Back|author=Kelly, Jennifer|year=2004|url=http://www.splendidezine.com/features/watt/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214090804/http://www.splendidezine.com/features/watt/|access-date=January 18, 2011|archive-date=February 14, 2009|publisher=Splendid}}</ref> forcing him into emergency surgery and nine weeks of bedrest in his San Pedro apartment. Initially unable to play his bass, he rebuilt his strength with intense practice as well as live club gigs where he performed sets of Stooges covers with Hellride in [[California]] and with [[J Mascis]] and [[Dinosaur Jr.]] drummer [[Murph (drummer)|Murph]] in [[New York City]] under the name Hellride East.

In 2000, Mascis asked Watt to participate in a world tour behind Mascis' first post-Dinosaur Jr. release, [[J Mascis and the Fog]]'s ''More Light''. At several of the shows, [[Ron Asheton]] formerly of The Stooges joined Mascis and Watt onstage, wherein the group would play entire sets of Stooges songs. Watt and Mascis later joined Asheton and his brother, Stooges drummer [[Scott Asheton]], for a one-time-only performance at a Belgian festival under the name '''Asheton, Asheton, Mascis & Watt'''. In 2001, Watt was one of several bassists invited to participate in the sessions for [[Gov't Mule]]'s ''[[The Deep End, Volume 1|The Deep End]]'', partly on the recommendation of [[Primus (band)|Primus]]' [[Les Claypool]]. Watt and Gov't Mule recorded a cover version of [[Creedence Clearwater Revival]]'s "Effigy" for the album. The sessions were immortalized in the documentary feature film ''[[Rising Low]]''.

In 2002, Watt, along with [[Pete Yorn]] and members of [[The Hives]], backed [[Iggy Pop]] for a short set of Stooges songs at that year's [[Shortlist Music Prize]] ceremony, after which Watt was asked to play bass in the reunited Stooges lineup in 2003.  The reunited Stooges played their first show in almost 20 years at the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]] in May 2003.

===''The Secondman's Middle Stand''===
{{Main|The Secondman's Middle Stand}}

Watt's third solo album ''[[The Secondman's Middle Stand]]'', inspired by both his 2000 illness and one of his favorite books, [[Dante]]'s ''[[The Divine Comedy]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Thrill|first=Scott|title=Punk Prophet|url=http://www.alternet.org/story/19257/punk_prophet|publisher=[[AlterNet]]|access-date=May 29, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019004056/http://www.alternet.org/story/19257/punk_prophet|url-status=dead}}</ref> was released in 2004; one reviewer writes that the album is a "harrowing, funny, and genuinely moving stuff from a true American original".<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r704380/review|pure_url=yes}} allmusic ((( The Secondman's Middle Stand > Review )))<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  For the first time since the Minutemen, Watt recorded the album with an "all-Pedro band", [[Mike Watt and the Secondmen]], consisting of organist Pete Mazich and drummer Jerry Trebotic, along with former [[that dog.]] vocalist [[Petra Haden]].

While promoting and touring behind ''The Secondman's Middle Stand'', Watt announced plans for future recordings, stating that he intended to record as frequently as he did in the Minutemen days for as long as he could.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.bassplayer.com/article/econo-101/Apr-07/26360 |title=Econo 101 |publisher=Bassplayer.com |access-date=September 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608154720/http://www.bassplayer.com/article/econo-101/apr-07/26360 |archive-date=June 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Watt would part amicably with Columbia/[[Sony BMG]] in 2005, after 14 years as both a solo artist and as one-third of Firehose.

===Unknown Instructors===
{{Main|Unknown Instructors}}
In 2005, another side project featuring Watt came to light with the announced September 20 release of ''[[The Way Things Work (album)|The Way Things Work]]'', an album of [[musical improvisation|improvised music]] under the group name, [[Unknown Instructors]] with George Hurley, [[Saccharine Trust]]'s Joe Baiza and [[Jack Brewer (musician)|Jack Brewer]], and [[poetry|poet]]/[[saxophone|saxophonist]] Dan McGuire. A month after the album's release, the Unknown Instructors recorded a second album, ''[[The Master's Voice]]'', with [[Pere Ubu (band)|Pere Ubu]] frontman [[David Thomas (musician)|David Thomas]] and artist [[Raymond Pettibon]] joining the core quartet of Watt, Hurley, McGuire and Baiza. A third album with the same lineup, ''Funland'', was released in 2009 and features a semi-cover version (the original lyrics over new music) of [[Captain Beefheart]]'s "Frownland" (from the ''[[Trout Mask Replica]]'' album). Basic tracks have already been laid down for the fourth Unknown Instructors album at Secondmen organist [[Pete Mazich]]'s Casa Hanzo studio in San Pedro.

Watt would further his interest in improvised music by forming a trio, Los Pumpkinheads, with former [[Beastie Boys]] keyboardist [[Money Mark]] and Caroline Bermudez.

On December 14, 2005, the McNally-Smith College of Music in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]] announced the formation of the Mike Watt Bass Guitar Scholarship, which is to be awarded annually to a bass major starting in the Fall of 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mcnallysmith.edu/mikewatt.html |title=Bass Guitar Scholarship Programs at McNally Smith College of Music &#124; Mike Watt Scholarship |publisher=Mcnallysmith.edu |access-date=September 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907203317/http://www.mcnallysmith.edu/mikewatt.html |archive-date=September 7, 2006 }}</ref>

In March 2006, Watt took part in the performance at [[Disney Hall]], [[Los Angeles]], of [[Glenn Branca]]'s "Hallucination City" Symphony #13.

===''The Weirdness''===
{{Main|The Weirdness}}
In October 2006, Watt joined the rest of The Stooges at recording engineer [[Steve Albini]]'s [[Electrical Audio]] Studio in [[Chicago, Illinois]] to record ''[[The Weirdness]]'', the first Stooges studio album since 1973's ''[[Raw Power]]''. The album was released on March 6, 2007, and much of Watt's 2007 was devoted to Stooges duties, including the band's first full-length U.S. tour since the band's reformation.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mike Watt |url=http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_stoogestourdiary2007b.html |title=Iggy + The Stooges on tour in the US – April 2007 |publisher=Hootpage.com |access-date=September 14, 2011 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927185349/http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_stoogestourdiary2007b.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Watt also worked on two other projects during this time period: Funanori, a musical collaboration with Kaori Tsuchida, guitarist of [[The Go! Team]], on [[shamisen]]  and other instruments, and Pelicanman (named after the closing track on ''The Secondman's Middle Stand'') with Petra Haden.<ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42582-mike-watt-collab-fever-petra-haden-go-teams-kaori Pitchfork: Mike Watt Collab Fever: Petra Haden, Go! Team's Kaori] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209094114/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42582-mike-watt-collab-fever-petra-haden-go-teams-kaori |date=February 9, 2009 }}</ref> The first three songs recorded by Watt and Tsuchida as Funanori were released on a split EP with [[Tokyo]] band LITE in the summer of 2007 by Transduction Records. Watt also contributed a cover of [[Blue Öyster Cult]]'s "Burning For You", recorded with Haden, Nels Cline, Money Mark Nishita, and [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] drummer [[Chad Smith]], to the all-star compilation album ''[[Guilt by Association Vol. 1|Guilt by Association]]'', released in August by the independent label [[Engine Room Recordings]].

On June 9, 2007, Watt was the live narrator for the [[silent movie]] ''[[Brand Upon the Brain!]]'' at the [[Egyptian Theatre]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood, California]].

===Big Walnuts Yonder===
{{Main|Big Walnuts Yonder}}

Big Walnuts Yonder is an American [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] formed in 2008 consisting of bassist/vocalist Watt, guitarist [[Nels Cline]] from [[Wilco]], drummer [[Greg Saunier]] from [[Deerhoof]], and guitarist/vocalist Nick Reinhart from [[Tera Melos]].<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/71974-minutemen-wilco-deerhoof-members-announce-album-from-new-band-big-walnuts-yonder/|title=Minutemen, Wilco, Deerhoof Members Announce Album From New Band Big Walnuts Yonder|last=Pearce|first=Sheldon|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=March 1, 2017|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|archive-date=March 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307001610/http://pitchfork.com/news/71974-minutemen-wilco-deerhoof-members-announce-album-from-new-band-big-walnuts-yonder/|url-status=live}}</ref> They released their debut album in March 2017 through [[Sargent House]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Rose|first=Willie|title=Web Exclusive: Greg Saunier on Big Walnuts Yonder|url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2017/05/web-exclusive-greg-saunier-big-walnuts-yonder/|magazine=[[Modern Drummer]]|access-date=June 3, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050919/https://www.moderndrummer.com/2017/05/web-exclusive-greg-saunier-big-walnuts-yonder/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Clenchedwrench label, Floored by Four, and Firehose reunion===
[[File:Mike Watt 2013.jpg|thumb|Mike Watt, 2013.]]
Watt reunited with the final Black Gang lineup of Nels Cline and Bob Lee to record a new album, tentatively titled ''My Shibun No Hi'', in 2008. No release date has yet been set for the album.<ref name="shibun">{{cite web |url=http://idiot-dog.com/music/minutemen/indexr.html#z8 |title=Minutemen Discography: Rumoured Releases and Future Projects |publisher=Idiot-dog.com |date=August 27, 2011 |access-date=September 14, 2011 |archive-date=September 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926212209/http://idiot-dog.com/music/minutemen/indexr.html#z8 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Continuing his exploration of both improvised music and the Japanese independent music scene, Watt, along with Nels Cline and producer Kramer, formed Brother's Sister's Daughter with mi-gu members Shimizu "Shimmy" Hirotaka and Yuko Araki to do a two-week tour of the country in late 2008 and record an album afterward. The album was mixed down by Hirotake but has not lined up a label or release date yet. Since then, two more albums by the band have been recorded but have yet

Watt and Cline teamed up in New York to form [[Floored by Four]] with ex-Cibo Matto keyboardist [[Yuka Honda]] and [[Lounge Lizards]] drummer Dougie Bowne. The group debuted at Central Park Summerstage on August 1, and recorded their first self-titled album right afterward.<ref name="fbf_wsj">{{citation | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703859204575526452687024886 | author=Jim Fusilli | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=With Floored by Four, Rock Nomads Unite for a Fleeting Tune | date=October 5, 2010 | access-date=January 25, 2011 | archive-date=December 24, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224003156/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703859204575526452687024886 | url-status=live }}</ref> The album was released in late September 2010 on [[Sean Lennon]]'s Chimera Music label. Honda would later rejoin Watt and Cline for a second Brother's Sister's Daughter tour and album session in Japan
<ref name="verbicide">{{citation | url=http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2010/12/21/interview-mike-watt/ | author=Mark Huddle | work=Verbicide | title=Interview: Mike Watt | date=December 21, 2010 | access-date=January 25, 2011 | archive-date=October 24, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024173258/http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2010/12/21/interview-mike-watt/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> (Cline and Honda became romantically involved – and subsequently engaged to be married – during the course of these projects<ref name="fbf_wsj" />).

Watt is interviewed in the 2009 documentary film [[Live House]], about the underground music scene in Japan.

Watt is using his clenchedwrench label to put out some other long-awaited recording projects from the stockpile he has accumulated over the past few years, starting with the fourth Dos album (''Dos y Dos'', released July 16, 2011), followed by the Spielgusher project with [[Richard Meltzer]] and mi-gu's Shimizu "Shimmy" Hirotaka and Yuko Araki (''Spielgusher'', released January 17, 2012) and two Il Sogno del Marinaio albums. Watt chose to start clenchedwrench after returning from his Japanese ''Hyphenated-man'' tour because "I've got so many proj[ect]s in the pipeline... and I want no hiccups with getting them out, so up goes my own freak flag flying."<ref name="clenchedwrench">{{citation|url=http://www.mikewatt.com/hoot_stooges-wattdiary2011a.html |author=Mike Watt |work=Mike Watt's Hoot Page |title=Iggy & The Stooges in New Zealand and Australia January & February 2011 (tour diary) |date=January 21, 2011 |access-date=January 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714093935/http://www.mikewatt.com/hoot_stooges-wattdiary2011a.html |archive-date=July 14, 2011 }}</ref>

Firehose's reunion was formally announced as part of the lineup of the 2012 [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Festival]]. The band underwent a short tour in April centered around both Coachella dates.

===Il Sogno del Marinaio===
{{Main|Il Sogno del Marinaio}}

In late November 2009, Watt traveled to Italy to tour and record at the invitation of Italian guitarist Stefano Pilia. The project band, Il Sogno Del Marinaio,(the name is [[Italian language|Italian]] for ''The Sailor's Dream'')<ref name="sogno">{{cite web|url=http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_ilsogno-d-m-labustagialla.html|title="la busta gialla" il sogno del marinaio|last=Watt|first=Mike|publisher=Il Sogno del Marinaio at HootPress|date=February 25, 2012|access-date=March 11, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308105051/http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_ilsogno-d-m-labustagialla.html|url-status=live}}</ref> did a short six-date tour, after which recording for an album (later entitled ''La Busta Gialla'') took place.

The band is an [[experimental music]] trio consisting of Watt on vocals and bass guitar, Stefano Pilla on guitar and vocals, and [[Andrea Belfi]] on drums and vocals.<ref name="sogno"/> The band has released two studio albums on [[clenchedwrench]]: ''La busta gialla'' (2013) and ''Canto Secondo'' (2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/il-sogno-del-marinaio-mn0003042138/discography|title=Marinaio: Album Discography: AllMusic|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309071900/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/il-sogno-del-marinaio-mn0003042138/discography|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Hyphenated-Man''===
{{Main|Hyphenated-man}}

Watt recorded his first post-Columbia solo album, ''[[Hyphenated-man]]'', in two sessions 13 months apart, with The Missingmen at Studio G, the New York studio of former [[Pere Ubu]] bassist [[Tony Maimone]]. ''Hypnenated-man'' consists of 30 short songs inspired by the paintings of [[Hieronymus Bosch]].<ref name="autogenerated1" /> The first session for the album took place during a planned break in Watt's Spring 2009 tour, during which, in a deliberate move, only the drum and guitar tracks were completed. Watt overdubbed his vocal and bass tracks with Maimone in June 2010. The album was released in [[Japan]] by [https://web.archive.org/web/20130727000052/http://parabolic.jp/ Parabolic Records] on October 6, 2010, and Watt undertook his first tour of the country as a solo artist in support of it (before his work with Brother's Sister's Daughter, he previously toured there as a sideman with J Mascis and as one-fifth of The Stooges). A release of the album for the rest of the world took place on Watt's newly established clenchedwrench label on March 1, 2011, with an accompanying 51-date US/Canadian tour occurring between March 10 and April 30.<ref name="2011tour">{{citation | url=http://www.mikewatt.com/hoot_hyphenated-man-na2011.html | author=Mike Watt | work=Mike Watt's Hoot Page | title=North American Hyphenated-Man Tour | date=December 28, 2010 | access-date=January 25, 2011 | archive-date=February 11, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211230711/http://www.mikewatt.com/hoot_hyphenated-man-na2011.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

===CUZ===
{{main|CUZ (band)}}

In 2006, Watt met Sam Dook of [[The Go! Team]] at [[Big Day Out]].<ref name="pollard">{{cite magazine|last=Pollard|first=Vincent|title=Mike Watt Explains the Origins of His CUZ Collaboration with the Go! Team's Sam Dook|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_explains_origins_of_his_cuz_collaboration_with_go_teams_sam_dook|magazine=[[Exclaim!]]|date=May 12, 2014|access-date=April 12, 2019|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412162931/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_explains_origins_of_his_cuz_collaboration_with_go_teams_sam_dook|url-status=live}}</ref> The two continued emailing and decided to form a band. They recorded some sessions in 2008 while Watt was touring Europe and finished the album over email.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stires|first=Bob|title=cuz: tamatebako|url=http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_bobstirescuztamatebakoessay.html|publisher=Mike Watt's Hoot Page|date=September 8, 2014|access-date=April 12, 2019|archive-date=December 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231000805/http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_bobstirescuztamatebakoessay.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The album, entitled ''Tamatebako'', was released in 2014 under the band name [[CUZ (band)|CUZ]]<ref name="pollard"/> and features guest vocals by [[Charles Plymell]], [[DJ Scotch Egg]], and fellow Go! Team member [[Kaori Tsuchida]].<ref name="pollard"/> The album title references [[Tamatebako|the mysterious box of Japanese legend]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hudson|first=Alex|title=Mike Watt and the Go! Team's Sam Dook Team Up as CUZ|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_go_teams_sam_dook_team_up_as_cuz|magazine=[[Exclaim!]]|date=March 5, 2014|access-date=April 12, 2019|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412162936/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_go_teams_sam_dook_team_up_as_cuz|url-status=live}}</ref>
A tour in 2015 followed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Watt|first=Mike|title=cuz 2015 tour|url=http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_cuz2015tourdiary.html|publisher=Mike Watt's Hoot Page|access-date=April 12, 2019|archive-date=February 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212202456/http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_cuz2015tourdiary.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===The Hand to Man Band===
{{main|The Hand to Man Band}}

In 2010, [[Thollem McDonas]], [[Deerhoof|John Dieterich]], Tim Barnes, and Watt formed an experimental improvisational supergroup.<ref>{{cite web|last=Manchester|first=Guy|title=Louder Than War Interview: The Hand To Man Band – supergroup featuring Mike Watt and John Dieterich amongst others|url=https://louderthanwar.com/the-hand-to-man-band-an-interview/|publisher=[[Louder Than War]]|date=May 14, 2012|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412040138/https://louderthanwar.com/the-hand-to-man-band-an-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> Their debut album, ''You Are Always On Our Minds'', was released in 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Adams|first=Gregory|title=Mike Watt and Deerhoof's John Dietrich Team Up as the Hand to Man Band|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_deerhoofs_john_dietrich_team_up_as_hand_to_man_band|magazine=[[Exclaim!]]|date=April 5, 2012|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-date=June 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617015413/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_deerhoofs_john_dietrich_team_up_as_hand_to_man_band|url-status=live}}</ref>

===The Island===
Watt and S. Howe of the band Schooner formed an [[experimental music]] project called The Island<ref>{{cite web|title=Lamia by The Island|url=https://kingfisherbluez.bandcamp.com/album/lamia|publisher=[[Bandcamp]]|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-date=May 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510155630/https://kingfisherbluez.bandcamp.com/album/lamia|url-status=live}}</ref> and released ''Listening to the Warning'' in 2011 and ''Lamia'' in 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hughes|first=Josiah|title=Mike Watt and S. Howe Announce New Release as the Island|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_and_s_howe_announce_new_ep_as_the_island|magazine=[[Exclaim!]]|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-date=May 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510155627/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_watt_and_s_howe_announce_new_ep_as_the_island|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Hidden Rifles===
In 2014,<ref name="hiddenrifles"/> Watt joined with Mark Shippy ([[U.S. Maple]]), Jim Sykes (Invisible Things), Matthew Wascovich ([[Scarcity Of Tanks]]), and [[Norman Westberg]] ([[Swans (band)|Swans]]) to form the [[art rock]] project band Hidden Rifles.<ref>{{cite web|title=HIDDEN RIFLES: Across the Neighborhoods: CD|url=http://razorcake.org/hidden-rifles-across-the-neighborhoods-cd-2/|publisher=[[Razorcake]]|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427194545/http://razorcake.org/hidden-rifles-across-the-neighborhoods-cd-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> Their debut album, ''Across The Neighborhoods'', was released in October 2017.<ref name="hiddenrifles">{{cite web|title=New Hidden Rifles' album out now|date=August 2017|url=https://hiddenrifles.tumblr.com/post/164611551614/new-hidden-rifles-album-out-now|publisher=Hidden Rifles|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427194545/https://hiddenrifles.tumblr.com/post/164611551614/new-hidden-rifles-album-out-now|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Afternoon Freak===
Along with keyboardist Matt Mottel and percussionist Danny Frankel, Watt formed the trio Afternoon Freak and released the album ''The Blind Strut'' in 2018.<ref name="joyful">{{cite web|title=May 2018 White Label|url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/blogs/news/may-2018-white-label|publisher=[[Joyful Noise Recordings]]|access-date=April 11, 2019|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411153133/https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/blogs/news/may-2018-white-label|url-status=live}}</ref> The album was recorded in one day on January 14, 2017, at [[Chris Schlarb|BIG EGO]] studios.<ref name="joyful"/>

===Tone Scientists===
In 2018, Watt joined with [[Tar Babies|Bucky Pope]], [[John Herndon]], [[Bazooka (band)|Vince Meghrouni]], and [[Pete Mazich]] to form the project band Tone Scientists.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gordon|first=Scott|title=Madison's Bucky Pope collaborates with Mike Watt on two new tracks|date=October 23, 2018|url=https://www.tonemadison.com/articles/madisons-bucky-pope-collaborates-with-mike-watt-on-two-new-tracks|publisher=Tone Madison|access-date=May 7, 2019|archive-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507180605/https://www.tonemadison.com/articles/madisons-bucky-pope-collaborates-with-mike-watt-on-two-new-tracks|url-status=live}}</ref> A 7-inch consisting of a Bucky Pope original entitled "Nuts" and a cover of [[Sun Ra]]'s "[[Angels and Demons at Play|Tiny Pyramids]]" was released on Record Store Day 2018<ref>{{cite web|last=Watt|first=Mike|title=out TODAY is tone scientists debut "nuts" and "tiny pyramids" seven inch vinyl!|url=https://twitter.com/wattfrompedro/status/1065968112246243328?lang=en|publisher=[[Twitter]]|date=November 23, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref> by Org Music.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tone Scientists – Nuts b/w Tiny Pyramids|url=https://orgmusic.com/releases/tone-scientists-nuts-b-w-tiny-pyramids/|publisher=Org Music|access-date=May 7, 2019|archive-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507180606/https://orgmusic.com/releases/tone-scientists-nuts-b-w-tiny-pyramids/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Jumpstarted Plowhards===
{{main|Jumpstarted Plowhards}}
In 2019, Watt joined [[Todd Congelliere]] to form Jumpstarted Plowhards.<ref name="plowhards">{{cite web|last=Gentile|first=John|title=Mike Watt and Todd Congelliere form Jumpstarted Plowhards|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/70686/mike-watt-and-todd-congelliere-form-jumpstarted-plowhards|website=Punknews.org|date=August 30, 2019|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-date=November 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111154805/https://www.punknews.org/article/70686/mike-watt-and-todd-congelliere-form-jumpstarted-plowhards|url-status=live}}</ref> Their debut album, ''Round One'', was recorded for release on October 4, 2019, with [[Recess Records]].<ref name="plowhards"/> Drums are handled by a rotating roster including former Minutemen and fIREHOSE bandmate George Hurley, [[Hole (band)|Hole]] drummer [[Patty Schemel]], [[The Secondmen]]'s [[Jerry Trebotic]] and [[The Missingmen]]'s [[Raul Morales]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Kevin|title=Mike Watt Announces New Project with Todd Congelliere|url=https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2019/08/13/mike-watt-announces-new-project-with-todd-congelliere/|website=No Treble|date=August 13, 2019|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110004249/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2019/08/13/mike-watt-announces-new-project-with-todd-congelliere/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The band plans to record five LPs before playing live.<ref>{{cite web|last=Silver|first=Paul|title=The Silver Lining|url=http://www.jerseybeat.com/paulsilver.html|website=JerseyBeat.com|access-date=October 11, 2019|archive-date=April 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401062236/http://www.jerseybeat.com/paulsilver.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Fitted===
{{main|Fitted}}

Initially formed as a one-off group for [[Wire (band)|Wire]]'s Drill festival in Los Angeles,<ref name="pearis">{{cite web|last=Pearis|first=Bill|title=FITTED, ft. Mike Watt & members of Wire, share first single from debut LP|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/fitted-ft-mike-watt-members-of-wire-share-first-single-from-debut-lp/|work=[[Brooklyn Vegan]]|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=November 9, 2019|archive-date=November 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105155630/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/fitted-ft-mike-watt-members-of-wire-share-first-single-from-debut-lp/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="helman">{{cite web|last=Helman|first=Peter|title=FITTED – "Training Pit Bulls For The Navy"|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2055499/fitted-training-pit-bulls-for-the-navy/premiere/|work=[[Stereogum]]|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=November 9, 2019|archive-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211205402/https://www.stereogum.com/2055499/fitted-training-pit-bulls-for-the-navy/premiere/|url-status=live}}</ref> Watt, [[Graham Lewis]] ([[Wire (band)|Wire]]), [[Matthew Simms]] (Wire), and [[Bob Lee (drummer)|Bob Lee]] ([[The Black Gang]]) formed Fitted and decided to stay together and record.<ref>{{cite web|last=Watt|first=Mike|author-link=Mike Watt|title=I got to be in FITTED...|url=https://www.facebook.com/wattfrompedromusic/photos/a.406615476276/10154245497116277/?type=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/283656556276/10154245497116277 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|work=[[Facebook]]|date=April 7, 2017|access-date=November 9, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The debut album, ''[[First Fits]]'', was released in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web|last=Phillips|first=Marc|title=Fitted, First Fits – The Vinyl Anachronist|url=https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2019/10/23/fitted-first-fits-the-vinyl-anachronist/|work=Part-Time Audiophile|date=October 23, 2019|access-date=November 9, 2019|archive-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109235735/https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2019/10/23/fitted-first-fits-the-vinyl-anachronist/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===mssv===
{{main|mssv}}
Watt played bass with guitarist [[Mike Baggetta]] and drummer [[Jim Keltner]] for Baggetta's ''[[Wall of Flowers]]'' album in March 2019.<ref name="maiuri">{{cite news|last=Maiuri|first=Ken|title=Ken Maiuri's Clubland: Guitarist Mike Baggetta records and debuts a new album|url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Ken-Maiuri-s-Clubland-Guitar-man-Mike-Baggetta-24105072|newspaper=[[Daily Hampshire Gazette]]|date=March 3, 2019|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=April 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401191947/https://www.gazettenet.com/Ken-Maiuri-s-Clubland-Guitar-man-Mike-Baggetta-24105072|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Wall Of Flowers by Mike Baggetta|url=https://mikebaggetta.bandcamp.com/album/wall-of-flowers|publisher=[[Bandcamp]]|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=April 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401203337/https://mikebaggetta.bandcamp.com/album/wall-of-flowers|url-status=live}}</ref> Watt joined Baggetta for a ten date March tour with Stephen Hodges substituting for Keltner.<ref name="maiuri"/>

The resulting trio named themselves mssv and recorded a live album entitled ''Live Flowers''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=JT Track Premiere: "The Pink Room" by mssv (Mike Baggetta, Stephen Hodges, Mike Watt)|url=https://jazztimes.com/audio-video/premieres/jt-track-premiere-the-pink-room-by-mssv-mike-baggetta-stephen-hodges-mike-watt/|work=[[Jazz Times]]|date=November 19, 2019|access-date=February 4, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204213223/https://jazztimes.com/audio-video/premieres/jt-track-premiere-the-pink-room-by-mssv-mike-baggetta-stephen-hodges-mike-watt/|url-status=live}}</ref> A studio album entitled ''Main Steam Stop Valve'' followed in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Drozdowski|first=Ted|title=If Mike Baggetta's Music Was a Superhero, It Would Be Mr. Fantastic|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/if-mike-baggettas-music-was-a-superhero-it-would-be-mr-fantastic|work=[[Premier Guitar]]|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=May 5, 2021|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505141048/https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/if-mike-baggettas-music-was-a-superhero-it-would-be-mr-fantastic|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Three-Layer Cake===

In 2021, Watt with percussionist [[Mike Pride (musician)|Mike Pride]] and guitarist Brandon Seabrook formed Three-Layer Cake<ref>{{cite web|title=Three-Layer Cake, "Stove Top", Produced by Mike Pride & Mike Watt…|url=https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2021/04/three-layer-cake-stove-top-featuring-mike-watt-on-bass/|work=[[Bass Musician]]|date=April 9, 2021|access-date=May 17, 2021|archive-date=May 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517213004/https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2021/04/three-layer-cake-stove-top-featuring-mike-watt-on-bass/|url-status=live}}</ref> and released an album, ''Stove Top'', on [[RareNoiseRecords]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Three-Layer Cake|url=https://www.rarenoiserecords.com/artists/three-layer-cake/|work=[[RareNoiseRecords]]|access-date=May 17, 2021|archive-date=May 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517213005/https://www.rarenoiserecords.com/artists/three-layer-cake/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Flipper===
{{main|Flipper (band)}}

Mike Watt was recruited by Flipper's Ted Falconi and Stephen DePace to play bass for a 2019 summer European tour with [[David Yow]] ([[The Jesus Lizard]], [[Scratch Acid]]) substituting for the retired Bruce Loose and the otherwise engaged then-current Flipper bassist, Rachel Theole. The shows were billed as '''Flipper with Yow and Watt'''.

In 2022, Flipper announced that they would tour again, with Watt returning on both bass and lead vocals. A European tour was announced, but cancelled due to [[COVID-19]] concerns. The band then quickly booked an autumn US tour with the same lineup.

===Guest appearances===
[[File:Iggy Pop (5).jpg|thumb|Mike Watt and Iggy Pop at Sziget, 2006]]
In November 2006, Watt revealed to [[Pitchfork Media]] that he recorded for an album by singer [[Kelly Clarkson]], a studio assignment that he took at the invitation of his "old friend", producer/engineer [[David Kahne]].<ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39773/Mike_Watt_Guests_on_Kelly_Clarkson_Record Mike Watt Guests on Kelly Clarkson Record | Pitchfork] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516144134/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39773/Mike_Watt_Guests_on_Kelly_Clarkson_Record |date=May 16, 2008 }}</ref> Clarkson's ''[[My December]]'' album was released in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tartan|first=Suzannah|title=Watt's going on — a punk at 50|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2008/02/08/music/watts-going-on-a-punk-at-50/|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|access-date=March 28, 2019|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328192322/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2008/02/08/music/watts-going-on-a-punk-at-50/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Woodbury|first=Jason|title=Bassist Mike Watt Reps Blue-Collar Ethos|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/bassist-mike-watt-reps-blue-collar-ethos-6456158|website=[[Phoenix New Times]]|date=November 1, 2012|access-date=March 28, 2019|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328184416/https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/bassist-mike-watt-reps-blue-collar-ethos-6456158|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watt and drummer [[Stephen Hodges]] joined violinist [[Chris Murphy (violinist)|Chris Murphy]] for "Blues for Bukowski" on his Murphy's album ''Luminous''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Corey|title=Chris Murphy: Blues for Bukowski, with Mike Watt|url=https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/08/30/chris-murphy-blues-for-bukowski-with-mike-watt/|publisher=No Treble|date=August 30, 2011|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=March 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318075323/http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/08/30/chris-murphy-blues-for-bukowski-with-mike-watt/|url-status=live}}</ref> Hodges had previously worked with Watt on ''Contemplating the Engine Room''.<ref name="maiuri"/>

Watt appeared on the track "Moon Burnt Mountain" on ''Anywhere II'' by [[Anywhere (band)|Anywhere]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cush|first=Andy|title=Krist Novoselic, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, and Mike Watt All Play on the Same New Album|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/05/cedric-bixler-zavala-krist-novoselic-mike-watt-new-album/|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=May 3, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2019|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323174534/https://www.spin.com/2018/05/cedric-bixler-zavala-krist-novoselic-mike-watt-new-album/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watt played bass on two tracks for the [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] tribute album ''[[Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie: Reinterpreting Black Flag]]'' alongside [[Dez Cadena]] and [[Keith Morris]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ham|first=Robert|title=Various Artists – Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie: Reinterpreting Black Flag|url=https://www.altpress.com/reviews/gimmiegimmiegimmie/|work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=May 8, 2010|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107212012/https://www.altpress.com/reviews/gimmiegimmiegimmie/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, [[Black Moth Super Rainbow]] released a [[7-inch]] for [[Record Store Day]] with Watt and [[Flea (musician)|Flea]] covering "[[Dandelion Gum|Drippy Eye]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Roberts|first=Christopher|title=Black Moth Super Rainbow Shares Video for New Song "Backwash"|url=http://undertheradarmag.com/news/black_moth_super_rainbow_shares_video_for_new_song_backwash|magazine=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]]|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422000638/http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/black_moth_super_rainbow_shares_video_for_new_song_backwash/|url-status=live}}</ref> Watt had earlier appeared on the song "Black Yogurt" on Black Moth Super Rainbow's ''Drippers'' EP in 2008.<ref name="colly">{{cite web|last=Colly|first=Joe|title=Black Moth Super Rainbow: Drippers EP|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12459-drippers-ep/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=November 25, 2008|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803171417/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12459-drippers-ep/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Black Yogurt (with Mike Watt)|url=https://blackmothsuperrainbow.bandcamp.com/track/black-yogurt-with-mike-watt|publisher=[[Bandcamp]]|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424045146/https://blackmothsuperrainbow.bandcamp.com/track/black-yogurt-with-mike-watt|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year Watt appeared on Macedonia's Bernays Propaganda song "Ništo Nema da ne Razdeli" for the ''Songs From Under the Floorboard, Vol. 1'' compilation album put out by [[KXRY|DJ Dave Cantrell]].<ref name="floorboard">{{Cite web|last=Sacher|first=Andrew|title=Mike Watt guests on Bernays Propaganda song for Planned Parenthood comp|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/mike-watt-guests-on-bernays-propaganda-song-for-planned-parenthood-comp/|work=[[Brooklyn Vegan]]|date=February 19, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326211304/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/mike-watt-guests-on-bernays-propaganda-song-for-planned-parenthood-comp/|url-status=live}}</ref> The album is a charitable compilation with proceeds going to [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref name="floorboard"/>

Watt also appeared on a split 7-inch with MB Jones playing on the song "Jail for Trees" in April 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=MB Jones, Mike Watt – Jail for Trees/ Smart City, Dumb People|date=April 25, 2018|url=https://www.discogs.com/MB-Jones-Mike-Watt-Jail-for-Trees-Smart-City-Dumb-People/release/11917815|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930185605/https://www.discogs.com/MB-Jones-Mike-Watt-Jail-for-Trees-Smart-City-Dumb-People/release/11917815|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2018, Watt joined [[Abby Travis]], [[Keith Morris]], [[Flea (musician)|Flea]], [[Jennifer Finch]], [[The Dils|Chip Kinman]] and others for a spoken word engagement at the [[Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood)|Roxy Theatre]] entitled ''War Stories: Tales of 70's & 80's Punk Mayhem Told By The Perpetrators Themselves''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gentile|first=John|title=Keith Morris, Mike Watt, Flea, Chip Kinman, more announce massive spoken word show|date=September 4, 2018|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/67873/keith-morris-mike-watt-flea-chip-kinman-more-announce-massive-spoken-word-show|publisher=Punknews.org|access-date=March 23, 2019|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323181505/https://www.punknews.org/article/67873/keith-morris-mike-watt-flea-chip-kinman-more-announce-massive-spoken-word-show|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, Watt appeared with Macedonian jazz guitarist [[Toni Kitanovski]] on the track "Nisto nema da ne' razdeli" for [[Bernays Propaganda]]'s 2019 release, ''Vtora mladost, treta svetska vojna'' (''2nd Youth, 3rd World War'')<ref name="foster"/> The track was also donated to ''Songs From Under the Floorboard, Vol. 1'', proceeds of which go to [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sacher|first=Andrew|title=Mike Watt guests on Bernays Propaganda song for Planned Parenthood comp|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/mike-watt-guests-on-bernays-propaganda-song-for-planned-parenthood-comp/|work=[[Brooklyn Vegan]]|date=February 19, 2018|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326211304/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/mike-watt-guests-on-bernays-propaganda-song-for-planned-parenthood-comp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watt has said he generally charges no fee to play on somebody's album saying "All payment is not in the coin...Anytime you play, you're investing in the next time you play."<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Christian|title=Mike Watt Interview|date=July 7, 2014|url=https://blacksunshinemedia.com/words/christian-adams/mike-watt-interview/|publisher=Black Sunshine Media|access-date=March 17, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327092837/https://blacksunshinemedia.com/words/christian-adams/mike-watt-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Literary endeavors===
In 2003, Watt's first book, ''Spiels Of A Minuteman'', was released by the [[Quebec]] book publisher [[:en:L'Oie de Cravan|L'Oie De Cravan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Spiels d'un minuteman / Spiels of a minuteman|url=http://www.oiedecravan.com/cat/catalogue.php?v=a&id=30&lang=en|publisher=[[:en:L'Oie de Cravan|L'Oie De Cravan]]|access-date=March 12, 2019|archive-date=March 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326112223/http://www.oiedecravan.com/cat/catalogue.php?v=a&id=30&lang=en|url-status=dead}}</ref> The book, printed in both [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]], contains all of Watt's song [[lyrics]] from the Minutemen era as well as the tour journal he wrote during the Minutemen's only [[Europe]]an tour with [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Vass|first=Michael|title=Mike Watt: Musician, Author|url=http://www.therustytoque.com/rusty-talk/mike-watt-musician-author|publisher=The Rusty Toque|date=June 8, 2015|access-date=March 12, 2019|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927231625/http://www.therustytoque.com/rusty-talk/mike-watt-musician-author|url-status=live}}</ref> essays by former SST co-owner [[Joe Carducci]], Sonic Youth's [[Thurston Moore]], and [[Blue Öyster Cult]] lyricist and longtime Watt hero [[Richard Meltzer]], and illustrations by [[Raymond Pettibon]] that had been used in all of the Minutemen's album artwork.

Watt published his second book in 2012. Entitled ''Mike Watt: On and Off Bass'', the book is a photo memoir<ref>{{cite web|title=Soundcheck – Mike Watt: On and Off Bass|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/205506-mike-watt-and-bass/|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2019|archive-date=June 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608162322/https://www.wnyc.org/story/205506-mike-watt-and-bass/|url-status=live}}</ref> featuring photos taken by Watt coupled with excerpts from Watt's Stooges tour diaries mixed with [[Free verse|free verse poems]].<ref>{{cite news|last=McDonnell|first=Evelyn|title=Mike Watt shows different frame of mind in 'On and Off Bass'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-may-05-la-et-0505-mike-watt-20120505-story.html|newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 5, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2012|archive-date=June 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609061343/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-may-05-la-et-0505-mike-watt-20120505-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Watt contributed a chapter to [[John Doe (musician)|John Doe's]] memoir ''[[Under the Big Black Sun (book)|Under The Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Larsen|first=Peter|title=What happened when LA punk splintered apart? John Doe and friends tell tales in 'More Fun in the New World'|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2019/06/07/what-happened-when-la-punk-splintered-apart-john-doe-and-friends-tell-tales-in-more-fun-in-the-new-world/|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]|date=June 7, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2019|archive-date=June 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608161713/https://www.dailynews.com/2019/06/07/what-happened-when-la-punk-splintered-apart-john-doe-and-friends-tell-tales-in-more-fun-in-the-new-world/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===James Joyce===
Watt has long been a fan of [[James Joyce]] having first discovered ''[[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]]'' while playing with Minutemen on a European tour with [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]].<ref name="perfectsound">{{cite web|last=Wang|first=Andy|title=Mike Watt Meets James Joyce|url=http://www.furious.com/perfect/wattjoyce.html|publisher=Perfect Sound Forever|date=August 2018|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101120/http://www.furious.com/perfect/wattjoyce.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He credits reading Joyce with helping him process the loss of D. Boon<ref name="norecess"/> and he used it as inspiration when writing ''[[Contemplating the Engine Room]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Curtin|first=Kevin|title=Q&A: Mike Watt – Econo-jamming bass man headlines an alternate ACL|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2015-10-01/qa-mike-watt/|newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|date=October 1, 2015|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101325/https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2015-10-01/qa-mike-watt/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watt has said that Joyce's [[stream-of-consciousness]] style directly influenced ''[[Double Nickels on the Dime]]''<ref name="perfectsound"/> with songs like "June 16th", which is the date of [[Bloomsday]].<ref name="wired">{{cite magazine|last=Thill|first=Scott|title=Happy Bloomsday, Love Mike Watt|url=https://www.wired.com/2008/06/happy-bloomsday/|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=June 16, 2008|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809184100/https://www.wired.com/2008/06/happy-bloomsday/|url-status=live}}</ref> Watt attended the 2004 Bloomsday celebration in [[Dublin]]<ref name="norecess">{{cite web|last=Lau|first=Andrew K.|title=Mike Watt Spiels About James Joyce's Ulysses in a No Recess! Bloomsday Special|url=https://www.norecessmagazine.com/single-post/2018/06/15/Mike-Watt-Spiels-About-James-JoyceE28099s-Ulysses-in-a-No-Recess-Bloomsday-Special|publisher=No Recess|date=June 15, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929004756/https://www.norecessmagazine.com/single-post/2018/06/15/Mike-Watt-Spiels-About-James-JoyceE28099s-Ulysses-in-a-No-Recess-Bloomsday-Special|url-status=live}}</ref> and claimed that it was the first time he went to a town without having to perform a gig.<ref name="norecess"/> Watt attended Bloomsday again in 2008 while touring with [[The Stooges]].<ref name="wired"/>

In 2008, Watt was invited to contribute music to an adaptation of Joyce's ''[[Chamber Music (poetry collection)|Chamber Music]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Freedland|first=Henry|title=Mike Watt, Lee Ranaldo, more set James Joyce to music|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/06/james-joyces-poetry-set-to-music.html|magazine=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=June 24, 2008|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112153318/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/06/james-joyces-poetry-set-to-music.html|url-status=live}}</ref> released by [[Fire Records (UK)|Fire Records]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Chamber Music: James Joyce|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/chamber-music-james-joyce-mw0000791175/releases|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 15, 2019}}</ref>

In 2017, Watt participated in an international project setting Joyce's ''[[Finnegans Wake]]'' to music entitled ''[[Waywords and Meansigns]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Watt helps Waywords and Meansigns sets James Joyce to music|url=http://www.bdcwire.com/waywords-and-meansigns-sets-james-joyce-to-music/|publisher=[[RadioBDC]]|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091703/http://www.bdcwire.com/waywords-and-meansigns-sets-james-joyce-to-music/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was released on May 4, 2017, to coincide with the 76th anniversary of the book's first publication.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mills|first=Billy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/apr/28/finnegans-wake-james-joyce-modern-interpretations|title=Finnegans Wake – the book the web was invented for|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=April 28, 2015|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044253/https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/apr/28/finnegans-wake-james-joyce-modern-interpretations|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''The Watt from Pedro Show''===
{{main|The Watt from Pedro Show}}

When he is not on tour, Watt hosts a regular [[internet radio]] show, ''The Watt from Pedro Show'',<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Grow|first=Kory|title=7 Musicians' Podcasts You Need to Hear|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/7-musicians-podcasts-you-need-to-hear-628428/mike-watts-the-watt-from-pedro-show-628461/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403162243/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/7-musicians-podcasts-you-need-to-hear-628428/mike-watts-the-watt-from-pedro-show-628461/|url-status=live}}</ref> a continuation of a program Watt had first done on a [[low-power FM]] station in the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview: Mike Watt, Legendary Bassist For The Minutemen, Firehose & The Stooges|url=https://www.geeksofdoom.com/2013/04/29/interview-mike-watt-legendary-bassist-for-the-minutemen-firehose-the-stooges|publisher=Geeks of Doom|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref> The program debuted on May 19, 2001, and became so popular with Watt's fans that the website's host, Sightworks, temporarily forced the show offline on weekdays until a sponsor or other solution could be found. On January 10, 2006, ''The Watt from Pedro Show'' became available as a [[podcast]].

=== Porno for Pyros ===

Watt reconnected with Porno for Pyros in 2023 for a tour that was postponed while they finished a new single "Little Me", and is currently on that rescheduled tour; 2024’s Horns, Thorns En Halos Farewell Tour, in support of that single and the back catalog.

==Equipment==
Watt's first bass was a [[Kay Musical Instrument Company|Kay]] he purchased for $100.<ref>{{cite web|last=Liebman|first=Jon|title=Mike Watt|url=https://forbassplayersonly.com/interview-mike-watt-2/|publisher=For Bass Players Only|date=February 18, 2013|access-date=July 24, 2019|archive-date=July 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724170452/https://forbassplayersonly.com/interview-mike-watt-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> He played a Fender Precision Bass formerly owned by [[Fear (band)|Fear]] bassist [[Derf Scratch]] on ''What Makes A Man Start Fires?''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Watt Remembers Derf Scratch: "We Must Be More Intense Before We Lose More!"|url=https://www.ocweekly.com/mike-watt-remembers-derf-scratch-we-must-be-more-intense-before-we-lose-more-6602461/|work=[[Orange County Register]]|date=August 2, 2010|access-date=July 21, 2020|archive-date=July 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721154741/https://www.ocweekly.com/mike-watt-remembers-derf-scratch-we-must-be-more-intense-before-we-lose-more-6602461/|url-status=live}}</ref>

For most of his fIREHOSE tenure, Watt played a 1956 [[Fender Precision Bass]].<ref name="thudstaffs">{{cite web|last=Watt|first=Mike|title=watt's thudstaffs|url=http://hootpage.com/hoot_gallery-thudstaffs.html|publisher=Mike Watt's Hoot Page|access-date=July 24, 2019|archive-date=July 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709120312/http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_gallery-thudstaffs.html|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1995 until 1999, Watt predominately played a [[Gibson Thunderbird#Non-Reverse Thunderbirds|non-reverse]] [[Gibson Thunderbird]] which he altered with a [[Bartolini Pickups and Electronics|Bartolini pre-amp]] and [[Grover Musical Products, Inc.|Grover]] [[Machine head|tuning machines]].<ref name="thudstaffs"/>

Following his 2000 illness, Watt switched to short-scale basses for live work. Watt played a 1963 [[Gibson EB-3]] until it was stolen while on tour with [[The Stooges]].<ref name="premier">{{cite magazine|last=Wagner|first=Jordan|title=Reverend Mike Watt Wattplower Review|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25475-reverend-mike-watt-wattplower-review|magazine=[[Premier Guitar]]|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=July 24, 2019|archive-date=July 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724171947/https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25475-reverend-mike-watt-wattplower-review|url-status=live}}</ref> After the theft, Watt was gifted with a 1969 Gibson EB-3 and a [[Gibson EB-0]].<ref name="thudstaffs"/>

More recently, Watt plays a signature "Wattplower" bass he designed with [[Reverend Musical Instruments]].<ref name="premier"/><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Herrera|first=Jonathan|title=Review: Reverend Guitars Mike Watt Wattplower|url=https://www.bassplayer.com/gear/review-reverend-guitars-mike-watt-wattplower|magazine=[[Bass Player (magazine)|Bass Player]]|date=August 30, 2017|access-date=July 24, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327135458/https://www.bassplayer.com/gear/review-reverend-guitars-mike-watt-wattplower|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2020, it was announced that a "Mark II" iteration of the bass would be released.<ref>{{cite web|last=Xiao|first=Evigan|title=NAMM 2020: Reverend beefs up the Mike Watt Signature bass|url=https://guitar.com/news/reverend-debuts-mike-watt-signature-wattplower-mark-ii-signature-bass-namm-2020/|work=Guitar.com|date=January 9, 2020|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925011320/https://guitar.com/news/reverend-debuts-mike-watt-signature-wattplower-mark-ii-signature-bass-namm-2020/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Amazing: Reverend Guitars Revolutionary New Bass with Mike Watt|url=https://www.bassgearmag.com/amazing-reverend-guitars-revolutionary-new-bass-with-mike-watt/|work=Bass Gear Magazine|date=January 8, 2020|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127105400/https://www.bassgearmag.com/amazing-reverend-guitars-revolutionary-new-bass-with-mike-watt/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
* ''Spiels of a minuteman'' by Mike Watt (Montreal: [[L'Oie de Cravan]], 2003) {{ISBN|978-2-922399-20-2}}
* ''Mike Watt: On and Off Bass'' by Mike Watt (New York: Three Rooms Press, 2012) {{ISBN|978-0983581307}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Mike Watt: On and Off Bass|first=Mike|last=Watt|date=May 2, 2012|publisher=Three Rooms Press|isbn=978-0983581307}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://threeroomspress.com/authors/mike-watt/|title=Mike Watt – Three Rooms Press|website=Threeroomspress.com|access-date=November 26, 2018|archive-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127064844/http://threeroomspress.com/authors/mike-watt/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Discography==
'''[[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]]'''
* [[Minutemen discography]]

'''[[Firehose (band)|fIREHOSE]]'''
*[[Firehose (band)#Discography|fIREHOSE discography]]

'''[[Dos (band)|Dos]]'''
*1986 ''[[Dos (LP)|Dos]]'' ([[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]])
*1989 ''Numero Dos'' (12-inch [[EP (format)|EP]]) ([[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]])
*1989 ''Uno Con Dos'' (CD) ([[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]])
*1996 ''[[Justamente Tres]]'' (CD) ([[Kill Rock Stars]])
*2011 ''[[dos y dos]]'' (CD, LP) (Clenchedwrench)

'''Crimony'''
*1988 ''The Crimony EP'' ([[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]])

'''[[The Stooges]]'''
*2004 ''Live In Detroit'' (DVD) ([[Creem]]/[[MVD (record label)|MVD]])
*2005 "You Better Run" on ''The Songs Of Junior Kimbrough'' ([[Fat Possum Records|Fat Possum]])
*2005 ''[[Telluric Chaos]]'' ([[Skydog Records|Skydog]])
*2007 ''[[The Weirdness]]'' ([[Virgin Records|Virgin]])
*2011 ''[[Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the Fans]]'' (Virgin)
*2013 ''[[Ready to Die (The Stooges album)|Ready to Die]]'' ([[Fat Possum Records|Fat Possum]])

'''[[Unknown Instructors]]'''
*2005 ''[[The Way Things Work (album)|The Way Things Work]]'' ([[Smog Veil Records]])
*2007 ''[[The Master's Voice]]'' ([[Smog Veil Records]])
*2009 ''Funland'' ([[Smog Veil Records]])
*2019 ''Unwilling To Explain'' (ORG Music)

'''[[Floored by Four]]'''
*2010 ''[[Floored by Four (album)|Floored by Four]]'' (Chimera Records)

'''[[Off With Their Heads (band)|Off With Their Heads]]'''
*2011 ''Off With Their Heads/Discharge Split 7-inch'' ([[Drunken Sailor Records]])

;'''[[Steve Mackay]]'''
*2009 ''Untitled EP'' (as Estel)
*2011 ''[[Sometimes Like This I Talk]]''
*2011 ''North Beach Jazz''

'''[[The Hand to Man Band]]'''
*2012 ''You Are Always on Our Minds'' ([[Post-Consumer]])

'''[[Anywhere (band)|Anywhere]]'''
*2012 ''[[Anywhere (Anywhere album)|Anywhere]]'' ([[ATP Recordings]])

'''[[Mike Watt + the Missingmen]]'''
*2013 ''Missing the Minutemen 10-inch'' 
*2015 ''Missing More of the Minutemen 10-inch''

'''[[Il Sogno del Marinaio]]'''
*2013 ''[[La busta gialla]]'' (Clenchedwrench)
*2014 ''[[Canto Secondo]]'' (Clenchedwrench)

'''[[CUZ (band)|CUZ]]'''
*2014 ''Tamatebako'' (Bleeding Heart Recordings)

'''Brother's Sister's Daughter'''
*2014 ''BSD''

'''[[Mike Watt and the Secondmen]]'''
*2015 ''Shit on Me / Striking Out'' (Org Music<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shit on Me/Striking Out|url=https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/711574709878|work=[[Record Store Day]]|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810155743/https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/711574709878|url-status=live}}</ref>
**split 7-inch with E V Kain
*2016 ''Back In The Microwave'' (Org Music<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Watt + The Secondmen & Chronics – Back In The Microwave Split|url=https://orgmusic.com/releases/mike-watt-the-secondmen-chronics-back-in-the-microwave-red-7-split/|work=[[Org Music]]|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924022006/https://orgmusic.com/releases/mike-watt-the-secondmen-chronics-back-in-the-microwave-red-7-split/|url-status=dead}}</ref>)
**split 7-inch with Chronics
*2020 ''L.A. to Pedro EP'' (Nomad Eel Records<ref>{{Cite web|last=Balancia|first=Donna|title=Nomad Eel Records to Release Mike Watt, Blank Tapes, Jeffertitti and Livermore|url=https://californiarocker.com/2020/02/27/nomad-eel-records-to-release-mike-watt-blank-tapes-jeffertitti-and-livingmore/|work=California Rocker|date=February 27, 2020|access-date=March 6, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806064428/https://californiarocker.com/2020/02/27/nomad-eel-records-to-release-mike-watt-blank-tapes-jeffertitti-and-livingmore/|url-status=dead}}</ref>)
**split 7-inch with [[Zig Zags]]

'''[[Big Walnuts Yonder]]'''
*2017 ''[[Big Walnuts Yonder (album)|Big Walnuts Yonder]]'' ([[Sargent House]])

'''Hidden Rifles'''
*2017 ''Across The Neighborhoods'' (Total Life Society)

'''Afternoon Freak'''
*2018 ''The Blind Strut'' ([[Joyful Noise Recordings]])

'''Tone Scientists'''
*2018 ''Nuts b/w Tiny Pyramids'' 7-inch (Org Music)

'''[[Jumpstarted Plowhards]]'''
*2019 ''Round One'' ([[Recess Records]])

'''[[FITTED]]'''
*2019 ''First Fits'' (ORG Music)

'''[[mssv]]'''
*2019 ''Live Flowers'' (Striped Light Records)
*2020 ''Main Steam Stop Valve'' (BIG EGO Records)
*2020 ''Media Kittens / When The Hoarding Has Ended'' (7-inch) (Improved Sequence)

'''Round Eye'''
*2020 ''Culture Shock Treatment'' ([[Sudden Death Records]])  ''(Producer)''

'''Three-Layer Cake'''
*2021 ''Stove Top'' ([[RareNoiseRecords]])

===Solo albums===
All solo albums were released on [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] except where noted:
*1995  ''[[Ball-Hog or Tugboat?]]''
*1997  ''[[Contemplating the Engine Room]]''
*2004  ''[[The Secondman's Middle Stand]]''
*2010/2011  ''[[Hyphenated-man]]'' (Parabolica Records [Japan])/(clenchedwrench [elsewhere])
**The clenchwrench release uses a different cover artwork than the Japanese issue.
*2015 ''Watt: On Bass'' limited edition 5" vinyl
*2016 ''[["Ring Spiel" Tour '95]]''
*2017 ''Contemplating the Engine Room: Live in Long Beach '98''

===Guest appearances===
'''[[Juliana Hatfield]]'''
*1992 ''[[Hey Babe]]'' (Mamouth)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diffuser.fm/juliana-hatfield-hey-babe/|title=25 Years Ago: Juliana Hatfield Goes Solo with 'Hey Babe'|date=March 17, 2017|access-date=December 29, 2021|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027153040/https://diffuser.fm/juliana-hatfield-hey-babe/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''[[Anywhere (band)|Anywhere]]'''
*2018 ''Anywhere II'' (ORG Music) – "Moon Burnt Mountain"<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anywhere II by Anywhere|url=https://orgmusiclabel.bandcamp.com/album/anywhere-ii|work=[[Bandcamp]]|access-date=February 13, 2020|archive-date=February 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214003517/https://orgmusiclabel.bandcamp.com/album/anywhere-ii|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''[[Black Moth Super Rainbow]]'''
*2008 ''Drippers'' EP  (Moamoo) – "Black Yogurt"<ref name="colly"/>

'''[[Sonic Youth]]'''
*1986 ''[[Evol (Sonic Youth album)|EVOL]]'' ([[SST Records]]) – "In the Kingdom #19"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pelly|first=Jenn|title=Sonic Youth: Evol|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sonic-youth-evol/|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=May 9, 2019|access-date=February 13, 2020|archive-date=April 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418232024/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sonic-youth-evol/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''[[King Champion Sounds]]'''
*2016 ''To Awake In That Heaven Of Freedom'' (Excelsior) - "Smallest Tribe in the World"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Haskell|first=Duncan|title='To Awake In That Heaven Of Freedom' by King Champion Sounds (Album)|url=https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/music/to-awake-in-that-heaven-of-freedom-by-king-champion-sounds-album/33830|work=Songwriting magazine|date=September 20, 2016|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref>

'''[[Scarcity of Tanks]]'''
*2016 ''Ringleader Lies'' (Total Life Society)<ref name="tedium"/>
*2017 ''Garford Mute'' (Total Life Society)<ref name="tedium">{{cite web|title=Artist: Scarcity of Tanks|url=http://www.tediumhouse.com/artists/scarcity-tanks|website=Tedium House|access-date=November 12, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023020334/http://www.tediumhouse.com/artists/scarcity-tanks|url-status=live}}</ref>
*2019 ''Dissing The Reduction'' (Total Life Society)<ref>{{cite web|title=Scarcity Of Tanks – Dissing The Reduction|url=https://scarcityoftanks.blogspot.com/|website=[[Scarcity Of Tanks]]|access-date=November 12, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112213631/http://scarcityoftanks.blogspot.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''[[Bernays Propaganda]]'''
*2019 ''Vtora mladost, treta svetska vojna'' (''2nd Youth, 3rd World War'')<ref name="foster">{{Cite web|last=Foster|first=Richard|title=Bernays Propaganda – 2nd Youth, 3rd World War – LP review|url=https://louderthanwar.com/bernays-propaganda-2nd-youth-3rd-world-war-lp-review/|work=[[Louder Than War (website)|Louder Than War]]|date=September 11, 2019|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326205511/https://louderthanwar.com/bernays-propaganda-2nd-youth-3rd-world-war-lp-review/|url-status=live}}
</ref>

'''[[Billions Of Comrades]]'''
*2021 ''Our Hours'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://billionsofcomrades.bandcamp.com/track/our-hours-feat-mike-watt|title=Our Hours feat. Mike Watt, by Billions Of Comrades feat. Mike Watt|website=BILLIONS OF COMRADES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1bhQxaWX58|title=Billions Of Comrades - Our Hours feat. Mike Watt [Official Music Video]|date=November 26, 2021|via=YouTube}}</ref>

'''[[Sun+Dead]]'''
*2024 ''Magic Drum'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sunplusdead.bandcamp.com/album/magic-drum|title=Magic Drum, by Sun+Dead|website=Sun+Dead}}</ref>

===Promotional videos===
'''As a solo artist'''
*1995 "Big Train" – directed by [[Spike Jonze]]
*1995 "Piss-Bottle Man" – directed by [[Roman Coppola]]
*1997 "Liberty Calls" – directed by Spike Jonze
*2004 "Tied A Reed 'Round My Waist" – directed by [[Lance Bangs]]
*2004 "Drove up from Pedro" – directed by [[Mike Muscarella]]
*2004 "Beltsandedman" – directed by Mike Muscarella
*2004 "Burstedman" – directed by Mike Muscarella
*2004 "Pelicanman" – directed by Mike Muscarella

'''with [[Sonic Youth]]'''
*1990 "[[Goo (album)|My Friend Goo]]" – cameo appearance
*1991 "[[100% (Sonic Youth song)|100%]]" – brief cameo appearance

'''with [[Sublime (band)|Sublime]]'''
*1996 "[[Wrong Way]]" – Watt portrays a convenience store clerk

'''with [[The Jom and Terry Show]]'''
*2001 ''Mike Watt & The Jom and Terry Show: Eyegifts From Minnesota'' – documentary directed by Bill Draheim

'''with [[Good Charlotte]]'''
*2003 "[[Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (Good Charlotte song)|Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous]]" – Watt portrays a jury foreman

'''with [[Cobra Verde (band)]]'''
*2003 "Riot Industry" – Watt as "The Man In The Flannel Bathrobe".
*2012 "Thrash Lab" – Watt discusses Punk Rock [https://web.archive.org/web/20120902011333/http://thrashlab.com/mike-watt-rituals-4117/ Video]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Tour journals and interview links from [http://www.hootpage.com Mike Watt's Hoot Page]
* Michael Azerrad, ''Our Band Could Be Your Life''
* Mike Watt, ''Spiels Of A Minuteman'', [http://www.oiedecravan.com/soon.html L'Oie de Cravan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929173810/http://www.oiedecravan.com/soon.html |date=September 29, 2011 }}, {{ISBN|2-922399-20-6}}
* Various, ''All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul'', {{ISBN|0-87930-653-X}}
* Rough Guides, ''The Rough Guide to Rock'' (pg. 374), {{ISBN|1-84353-105-4}}

== External links ==
{{Sisterlinks|d=Q924668|q=Mike Watt|c=Category:Mike Watt|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140502004543/http://billdraheim.com/films.html?video=mike-watt-and-the-jom-terry-show-eyegifts-from-minnesota Mike Watt and the Jom & Terry Show "Eyegifts from Minnesota" documentary]
* [http://www.twfps.com The Watt from Pedro Show]

{{Mike Watt|state=expanded}}
{{Firehose}}
{{Minutemen}}
{{Dos}}
{{Unknown Instructors}}
{{The Stooges}}
{{Porno for Pyros}}
{{Nels Cline}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watt, Mike}}
[[Category:Mike Watt| ]]
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[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
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