Creswell suggests that some of the lyrics refer to AIDS. In an essay called "'Touch Me I'm Sick': Contagion as Critique in Punk and Performance Art", Catherine J.
Īrm's lyrics, according to critic Steve Huey, are a rant about "disease, self-loathing, angst, and dirty sex". Mudhoney have dismissed this claim, and questioned the writer's knowledge of music. In his book Loser: The Real Seattle Music Story, Clark Humphrey accuses the song of being a copy of " The Witch" by The Sonics. At the time I was trying for the stuttering R&B guitar of The Nights and Days." The song is also reminiscent of the hardcore punk of Black Flag. Turner said: "In retrospect, it's The Yardbirds' ' Happenings Ten Years Time Ago' by way of The Stooges' 'Sick of You'. Ĭritics have noted a Stooges influence in "Touch Me I'm Sick", typical of Mudhoney's early material. Barr referred to this noisy sound as "the sonic equivalent of an amplified comb scraping against paper".
The song's dirty sound was produced using an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff distortion pedal, which is augmented by a second guitar providing more distortion. This is accompanied by a blunt bass line and frenetic drumming. "Touch Me I'm Sick" has a straightforward garage punk structure with a simple repeating power chord riff played at a high tempo. Problems playing this file? See media help.
"Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More" was to be the A-side of the single and "Touch Me I'm Sick" the B-side before, in drummer Dan Peters's words, "that all got flipped around". Guitarist Steve Turner said that the band selected two of their "grungiest" songs for the single. Producer Jack Endino was surprised by how noisy the sessions were and how dirty the band wanted the guitars to sound "for the most part, I just sort of stood back and let them go at it". Mudhoney recorded the song at Seattle's Reciprocal Recording studio in April 1988, three months after the band's formation. You got a shtick, it'll take you to the top.' And he basically gave us five chords, but he said don't use more than three within one song." Arm has also described "Touch Me I'm Sick" as a catchphrase around which the band built a song. A staple of Mudhoney's live shows, it remains the band's most recognizable song.Īccording to Mudhoney vocalist Mark Arm, "Touch Me I'm Sick" originated from a discussion with Sub Pop owner Bruce Pavitt, who "said: 'Hey, you sing about dogs. According to AllMusic, "the song's raw, primal energy made it an instant anthem which still stands as one of all-time classics". Its heavily distorted and fuzzy guitars, snarling vocals, blunt bass line and energetic drumming contributed to a dirty sound that influenced many local musicians, and helped develop the nascent Seattle grunge scene. When it was first released, "Touch Me I'm Sick" was a hit on college radio. The song's lyrics, which feature dark humor, are a sarcastic take on issues such as disease and violent sex. "Touch Me I'm Sick" was released as Mudhoney's debut single by independent record label Sub Pop on August 1, 1988. It was recorded in April 1988 at Seattle's Reciprocal Recording studio with producer Jack Endino. " Touch Me I'm Sick" is a song by the American alternative rock band Mudhoney. Mark Arm, Steve Turner, Dan Peters, Matt Lukin Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, Washington Picture sleeve for second and third editions of the US vinyl single
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