Stephen Malkmus
American musician, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Pavement
Stephen Malkmus (American musician, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Pavement) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Pavement (band), Smashing Pumpkins.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Pavement (band)
Malkmus said he avoids the black towels on band riders because he cannot tell whether they are clean.
“There's something about a rock and roll towel that it's black. It's not just that black is rock and roll, like heavy metal”
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: Reflecting Pools and Construction Zones (Jun 27, 2026) · Listen from 25:24
Malkmus said his Wikipedia page singles out one rooftop party from his youth, among many other misdeeds.
“I know there is something about me like partying on rooftops in the high school and it was just one tiny thing of all the terrible things I did”
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: Reflecting Pools and Construction Zones (Jun 27, 2026) · Listen from 22:22
Malkmus described Pavement's musicianship as deliberately loose, which he suggested made listeners feel they could start bands too.
“We have a relationship with tone and tuning and tempo that is loose”
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: Reflecting Pools and Construction Zones (Jun 27, 2026) · Listen from 21:49
Smashing Pumpkins
Malkmus downplayed his 1994 lyric about the Smashing Pumpkins and said the band has some good songs.
“didn't have a pump in its function, but, you know, they do truly have some good songs”
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: Reflecting Pools and Construction Zones (Jun 27, 2026) · Listen from 23:58
Appearances
Reflecting Pools and Construction ZonesWait Wait... Don't Tell Me! · Jun 27, 2026 · 48 min
Peter Sagal and Alzo Slade quiz panelists Emmy Blotnick, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, and Gianmarco Soresi on the week's news, and Pavement's Stephen Malkmus plays Not My Job.
Often appears with
- Peter Sagal · 1 shared episode
- Alzo Slade · 1 shared episode
- Emmy Blotnick · 1 shared episode
- Joyelle Nicole Johnson · 1 shared episode
- Gianmarco Soresi · 1 shared episode