Search - Blind Eye Sees All, Live 1985 on DVD

Absolutely essential document

Matt Haddad | California | 05/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1985 live video documents the mighty Surfers during their "Cream Corn" era. What you get is our heroes merrily thrashing through their early classics while Gibby tears apart things and dances about. This is a professionally-shot and varied document that looks good, and this also documents the double-drumming unit and short-time bassist Trevor Malcolm playing a gigantic tuba. As amazing as these moments are, the highlight is the incredible interview with the band (all in one giant bed smokin' and drinkin'), wherein Gibby delivers some typically awesome words of wisdom.This DVD version is superior to the original video cassette: the sound is clearer and the picture's sharper. In addition to the new features (including a "Butthole Karaoke," which finally displays lyrics to songs like "Lady Sniff"), all the extras from the original video appear here. The 7" alternate version of the song "American Woman" (which came with the tape) is incorporated in its entirety on the DVD when you access the Gallery, and the "bonus footage" that originally appeared on the video cassette several minutes after the video ended is even placed as hidden feature. Heck, even the Touch and Go Video logo appears in the credits! (How'd that one get by?) My only complaint about the document is that I would have really liked to see the band's 1986-and-on years, in which they started played appalling movies of surgeries and accidents on a film screen projector behind them while Gibby set objects on fire. But make no mistake, "Blind Eye Sees All" is stellar all the way, and it's now made available again after many years of elusiveness. If you appreciate the genius of the Butthole Surfers, get this immediately. And if you don't "get" them, it's your loss."

Gibby standin naked in a freezing Detroit morning? Priceless

C. Gardner | Washington D.C., D.C. United States | 11/21/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This captures the 'Holes just a few years before the peak of their live performances (the traveling circus of lasers & smoke machines & upside-down films & Katherine the mute trancing centerstage...) Great performances of material through "Psychic...Powerless". In between songs, an exasperated interviewer attempts to get the goods as the band lounges together in a motel bed with Mark Farner and a siamese cat. It's a side splitter."

Acid + Failed Accountant = Gibby Haynes

Gunther Haagendazs | Up High in the Trees | 06/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unfortunately I wasn't around when the Butthole Surfers has shows with 2 drummers, strobe lights, film projectors, fires, nude dancers and more. With the Butts being one of my favorite Bands, I felt that it was essential for me to pick up a copy of this. Now I'll admit, it was a little premature for them to releases a Video in 1985. They only had 3 studio albums out by then. That wasn't them in their peak. There weren't any film projectors, dancers, or fires. If they could release a DVD of shows from 1988 than that one would blow this sucker out of the water. But since they haven't (Yet) we all have to settle for this. Not that it's bad or anything, but for the budget they had at the time, this thing is almost perfect. The drums sound is unlike anything they had on the records. It stands out a lot more. The version of Dum Dum they play here is phenomenal. Gibby also adds another part of sorts between verse 2 and 3. And at one part the Bassist brings out a Tuba to play on "Something" and Gibby switches to Bass. Between each song a reporter tries to interview the Butthole Surfers who are in a bed eating pizza and drinking beer. Let's just say he fails miserably and is quite frustrated t some points. It shows just how crazy Gibby is.

The flaws in the show are that it was recorded during 2 different shows. While this doesn't affect it much, it's kind of annoying for Gibbys cloths and hair style to suddenly change when the camera angle changes. At one point his hair is up and all over the place and he has no shirt on and then he has his hair down and has a black shirt on. The first time I watched this I asked myself "what the F***?" Another thing is that if you pay attention then you can tell that they switched the songs out of order. It's clear that Mark Says Alright comes before Something cause at the end of "Mark", The bassist brings out his tuba. The same thing happens with the shah sleeps in lee Harvey's Grave and 100 million people dead. At the end off "100" Gibby picks up the guitar he had in "Shah", but in the next song it disappears. Another complaint is that The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey's Grave isn't that great here, for some reason, that song among the rest looks like the most "unprofessional" of the bunch, maybe because it's basically improve. You will know what I mean when you buy this. It just doesn't look good for the first song they play.

The Song list is:

1. The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey's Grave

2. 100 Million People Dead
3. Bar-be-que pope
4. Cowboy Bob
5. Hey
6. Tornadoes
7. Dum Dum
8. Mexican Caravan-Gibby sings through a roll of toilet paper!!!!!
9. Cherub
10. Lady Sniff
11. Something
12. Mark Says Alright
13. PSY

Bonus material

Negro Observer 1991- rather pointless
Butthole Karaoke- Shows some of the songs with lyrics.
5.1 surround sound
Contains Audio and Photo Gallery Shows flyers and posters from past shows and plays the original American Woman in the Background. You can get the rare song (and others) from their website onto your computer.

I myself am a drummer/percussionist and for me, being able to watch a band with 2 stand up drummers (no bass drums) is simply captivating. This DVD is worth every penny.

Also There Are Bonus songs on the DVD. Yeah, you heard me. I found the Easter Eggs. in order to get the Easter Eggs/hidden tunes follow these easy steps.

STEP 1: you must first go and buy the DVD.
Step 2: watch the DVD.
While watching the DVD you will notice there are some parts of another Butthole Surfers Show in which Gibby has his pants down and babbles on about his homeless-no-legged-no-armed friend named Matt.
Step 3:Go into the Butthole Kareoke Option and then select The Shah Sleeps In Lee Harvey's Grave
Step 4: Press the Left Arrow in your DVD controller.
Step 5: You will then notice that the moon in the clown's hat will become highlighted. Press Enter.

And there you Have it. A small segment from a very early Butthole Surfers show. I won't tell you whats on it because it's supposed to be a secret. The clown told me so.
"

Great in its way, but before the band's peak. Scant extras

Erik Denning | Los Angeles, CA United States | 10/04/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a MAJOR Buttholes fan. I've seen them at least 25 times and even been fortunate enough to meet them a few times a long the way. They were a very magical thing at one time. They toured almost non-stop throughout the '80's and this video captures them at a good time, but not the BEST time visually or aurally. I know (straight from the band themselves!) that there is later, better footage. They became known for all their amazing, very psychedelic, crazy visuals onstage but this show was a couple years before they added some major visual additions. What I, and a lot of other fans would love to see is some video from around '87-'89, post Hairway to Steven. Jeff was in on bass, Paul had become an INCREDIBLE guitarist, Theresa hadn't left the band yet, and Gibby was still moving around onstage. Sadly, this dvd version of Blind Eye Sees All contains almost no extra footage. Something like Negro Observer from a '90's show. No obvious rhyme or reason for that addition either, but you take what you can get. This IS a great, fun, video, but it ISN'T the Butthole Surfers at their prime, which was only a couple years away..."