Unknown Instructors

{{Short description|Musical group}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

Unknown Instructors are an all-star improvisational rock outfit that features the former rhythm section of Minutemen and fIREHOSE, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley; Saccharine Trust members, guitarist Joe Baiza and vocalist Jack Brewer; and vocalist/saxophonist Dan McGuire.{{cite web|last=Huddle|first=Mark|title=Interview: Joe Baiza and Dan McGuire of Unknown Instructors|url=https://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2007/09/07/interview-unknown-instructors/|work=Verbicide Magazine|date=September 7, 2007|access-date=March 15, 2019}} They have been described as "an all-star reunion of alumni from the SST stable of yore"{{cite web|last=Sanford|first=Graham|title=Mike Watt: Still Banging Away in the Engine Room|url=http://gapersblock.com/transmission/2009/05/11/mike_watt_still_banging_away_i/|work=Gapers Block|date=May 11, 2009|access-date=October 27, 2019}} and Henry Rollins called it a dream lineup.{{cite web|last=Kelly|first=Amy|title=Joe Baiza Of Unknown Instructors: 'My Musical Insight Has Grown'|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/joe_baiza_of_unknown_instructors_my_musical_insight_has_grown.html|work=Ultimate Guitar|date=July 16, 2009|access-date=October 27, 2019}}

Their first album, The Way Things Work, was released in late September 2005 by Smog Veil Records. In October 2005, they returned to the studio to record a second album, this time with Pere Ubu's David Thomas and artist Raymond Pettibon as added participants. The finished product, The Master's Voice, was released in March, 2007. A third album, Funland, followed in 2009.{{cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|title=Mike Watt Drops Album, Tours, Writes Opera|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/34902-mike-watt-drops-album-tours-writes-opera/|work=Pitchfork|date=March 25, 2009|access-date=March 15, 2019}} In 2019, the fourth album entitled Unwilling to Explain was released with J Mascis on guitar.{{cite web|title=Song Premiere: "Out in the Cold" by Unknown Instructors|url=https://bigtakeover.com/news/SongPremiereOutintheColdbyUnknownInstructors|work=The Big Takeover|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=October 27, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Unknown Instructors: Unwilling to Explain|url=https://orgmusic.com/unknown-instructors-unwilling-to-explain/|publisher=Org Music|access-date=March 15, 2019}} It was the first Unknown Instructors album that wasn't improvised.{{cite web|last=Cohan|first=Brad|title=Q&A: Mike Watt On Snapping Pics In San Pedro For on and off bass, The fIREHOSE Reunion, And Playing Stooges Covers|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/05/02/qa-mike-watt-on-snapping-pics-in-san-pedro-for-on-and-off-bass-the-firehose-reunion-and-playing-stooges-covers/|work=The Village Voice|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=October 16, 2019}}