June 16th

Album: Double Nickels On The Dime (1984)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Minutemen bassist Mike Watt named this instrumental in honor of Bloomsday (the day the events of James Joyce's novel Ulysses takes place). June 16th also held personal importance for the band, as it was the birthday of D. Boon, the Minutemen's guitarist.

    "Ulysses was a big influence on me; James Joyce writing about everything that happened in this one day made me think what a springboard it was to be in a band and rap about stuff with your buddy and go and explore the world," Watt told Mojo magazine. "I wrote June 16th, because Ulysses was set on June the 16th, but also because that was D's birthday."
  • Mike Watt reread Ulysses in his 40s. "It seemed much sadder than I remembered," he reflected. "The words hadn't changed, but I had."
  • "June 16th" is track 37 on Munutemen's 43-song album Double Nickels on the Dime. The double LP is widely regarded as the band's masterpiece, showcasing their eclectic style and politically charged approach to music.
  • Another Double Nickels track, "One Reporter's Opinion," was Mike Watt's "attempt at a song like the section of Ulysses, with all the scientific writing."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.