Yesterday (March 3rd), Mr. Bungle kicked off their 2024 New Zealand and Australia tour with a stop at Auckland Town Hall, where Mike Patton and his merry band of avant-metal miscreants broke out a special surprise.
After a 15-song main set complete with covers of Slayer ("Hell Awaits"), Corrosion of Conformity ("Loss for Words") and S.O.D. ("Speak English or Die," which became "Speak Māori or Die" for the occasion), Bungle returned to the stage for their encore and kicked into Olivia Newton-John's Grease confection "Hopelessly Devoted to You."
It was a first for Bungle, who are, of course, no strangers to eclectic covers, having taken on songs by Mr. Rogers and Stevie Wonder in the past, in addition to metal and hardcore trailblazers like those listed above. ("Hopelessly Devoted to You" was notably followed by a ripping take on Sepultura's "Territory.")
Concertgoers responded enthusiastically to the cheeky Grease homage, with at least one audience member loudly laughing and crying out, "Oh my god," while Patton visibly smirked onstage before crooning his heart out.
"Hopelessly Devoted to You" wasn't the only highlight for Bungle in Auckland; while in town, members of the band also got to party with Aquaman actor and metal superfan Jason Mamoa. See below.
