Beavis and Butt-Head, the Voice of a Generation: Rolling Stone's 1993 Cover Story

Your influence on today's youth.
Butt-Head: What's today?

Tuesday.
Butt-Head: Oh, yeah. What was I saying?

Your effect on young people. You said you like to bum stuff.
Butt-Head: Whoa! You must have one of those pornographic memories! Huh-huh. Uh ... I like to burn stuff, but that doesn't mean you have to. Huh-huh, huh-huh. It would be cool if you did, though.
Beavis: Yeah. Huh-huh. Fire! Fire! Fire!

So what's the coolest thing you've ever burned?
Butt-Head: Uh ... Beavis's eyebrows. Huh-huh.
Beavis: Yeah, that was pretty cool. Huh-huh. It smelled cool, too.

Why was that so cool?
Butt-Head: It was, like, unexpectant? We were torching a June bug with a can of Lysol and a lighter, and it ended up burning Beavis's face. Huh-huh, huh-huh. It was like a bonus.
Beavis: Huh-huh. I burned my bonus.

Well, let me ask you this: Do you guys find anything funny that isn't scatological?
Butt-Head: Uh... sure. Lots of stuff. Like, uh, butts are funny.

Anything besides butts?
Beavis: Farts are funny. Because they come out of your butt. Huh-huh.
Butt-Head: Did you know any time anyone is born, they come out right next to a butt? Huh-huh.
Beavis: Yeah. Even the president of the United States.

So what's your point?
Butt-Head: Well, uh ... that's pretty cool. Huh-huh, huh-huh.

What do you think of the disclaimer MTV sometimes runs before your show?
Butt-Head: It's cool.

Do you know what I'm talking about?
Butt-Head: Uh ... no. Huh-huh.

Those words MTV runs before, the show warning people about you.
Beavis: Words suck.
Butt-Head: Yeah. If I wanted to read, I'd go to school.
Beavis: So, like, what do they say?

They say you're crude, self-destructive and anti-social, but for some reason you make them laugh.
Butt-Head: Cool! Huh-huh.
Beavis: Yeah. MTV's cool.

Even though the censors in their standards department won't let you say certain words?
Butt-Head: Yeah. MTV's cool — for a bunch of wussies. Huh-huh, huh-huh.
Beavis: We can say "ass wipe."
Butt-Head: Not very often.
Beavis: We can say "asshole."
Butt-Head: No, we can't, Beavis.
Beavis: Are you calling me a liar?
Butt-Head: No, I'm calling you a waste of bum wipe.
Beavis: We can say "butthole." Butthole! Butthole! Butthole!
Butt-Head: Shut up! MTV will fire you!
Beavis: Fire! Fire! Fire!
Butt-Head: Settle down, Beavis!

You seem to watch a lot of TV. Do you think television depicts an accurate view of the world?
Butt-Head: Uh ... like, are you really with the Rolling Stones?

I'm with "Rolling Stone," the magazine.
Butt-Head: So, uh, do you get lots of chicks?
Beavis: Hey, Butt-Head, when chicks find out we know someone with the Stones, we'll get some helmet. Huh-huh, huh-huh.

I'm with the magazine "Rolling Stone." I'm a writer, not a musician.
Beavis: Wuss.
Butt-Head: So you don't get any chicks?

Not like Mick jagger.
Beavis: Mick Jaggers not a chick.
Butt-Head: He didn't say he was a chick, Beavis. He said he doesn't get chicks.
Beavis: He said he doesn't get chicks like Mick Jagger.
Butt-Head: That's right. Not like Mick Jagger.
Beavis: But Mick Jagger's not a chick.
Butt-Head: Don't make me kick your ass again, Beavis.
Beavis: You know who looks like a chick? Huh-huh. Vince Neil.
Butt-Head: Yeah. Huh-huh. And Dave Mus-taine.
Beavis: Yeah. That's why he wears glasses. So he doesn't look too much like a girl. Huh-huh, huh-huh.

What do glasses have to do with masculinity?
Butt-Head: You know what you should do to, like, get chicks? Since you're a wuss? Huh-huh, huh-huh.

What?
Butt-Head: You should get some binoculars and stand outside this apartment building we know and look in the windows. Huh-huh.

How would that help me get chicks?
Butt-Head: Sometimes you can see 'em naked. Huh-huh, huh-huh.
Beavis: Yeah. Huh-huh. Or you could go to Bible camp and hug chicks when they find Jesus.
Butt-Head: That would be cool. Huh-huh. "Give us this day our morning wood." Huh-huh, huh-huh.

What kind of music do you like
Butt-Head: Uh ... uh ... all different kinds.
Beavis: Yeah. Like loud music.
Butt-Head: Yeah. And music that rocks! Huh-huh.
Beavis: Music that kicks ass! Huh-huh. And fire music! Fire! Fire!

What's fire music?
Beavis: Oh, sorry, I was thinking about videos.
Butt-Head: I also like music that's about stuff. Huh-huh.
Beavis: Yeah. Like that rap song about that guy who likes big butts.
Butt-Head: Yeah. That one speaks to me. Huh-huh, huh-huh.

The rumor is, you guys have the same father.
Butt-Head: Uh . . . we're not sure. It's possible.Huh-huh.
Beavis: Yeah. Huh-huh. He used to come around a lot.

Are the two of you friends with anyone besides each other
Beavis: We're not friends.
Butt-Head: Beavis has a special friend. Huh-huh.
Beavis: Yeah. Huh-huh.
Butt-Head: Sometimes he shakes hands with Little Beavis.
Beavis: Yeah. [Pathetic attempt at Pakistani accent] "Hello, Meester Monkey." Huh-huh, huh-huh.
Butt-Head: Huh-huh. That was cool.

Well, you two sound pretty friendly.
Butt-Head: We just do lots of stuff together. Huh-huh.
Beavis: Just cool stuff.
Butt-Head: Yeah. I like stuff that's cool.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Great Gatsby' Is a Crushing Disappointment
• 
  TV Why You Should Watch 'Happy Endings'
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix