The Fuzztones
Last Updated on Sunday, 25 April 2010 10:43 Written by Sean Twisted Sunday, 25 April 2010 10:39
The Fuzztones have certainly achieved legendary status as Cult faves during their 30 year career. Their fiery brand of Garage-Psych Punk pre-dated the entire "Garage Revival" of the 1980's and has influenced hundreds of groups, some quite famous.
Born in the summer of 1980 in the bowels of NYC's Lower East side, The Fuzztones were soon regulars at legendary NYC hotspots such as CBGB, and the Mudd Club. By utilizing the fuzzbox (an antiquated effects pedal used by many 60's groups to achieve overly distorted "psychedelic" guitar sounds), the band created a raunchy sound they referred to as "Grunge"...(On their 1984 debut single, "Bad News Travels Fast", lead guitarist Elan Portnoy is credited as playing "lead grunge", at least a decade before the Seattle Grunge Invasion)!
Complete with paisley and leather attire, genuine human bone necklaces, The Fuzztones influenced the fashions (and sounds) of bands as diverse as the Hoodoo Gurus to the Dwarves and Euro-rock favorites the 69 Eyes!
The band's classic video for "Ward 81" even inspired the legendary Ramones, whose "Psychotherapy" video copies several scenes directly from the Fuzztones' masterpiece, as did the glitter-rock docu-film "Goldmine"!
The band's first European tour in 1985, a 3 month onslaught of England, Wales, Scotland, Germany and Italy, firmly established the band with a dedicated, and avid following that continues to this day! Their 1985 debut studio LP, "Lysergic Emanations" has achieved major cult status, and has been released by 3 different labels over the last 16 years, the combined sales of which has assured Gold record status!
The Fuzztones have toured Europe fervently since 1985, and have headlined major venues in Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Wales, Scotland, Austria, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Czekoslavakia, Denmark and Finland, as well as Canada, Israel, and Mexico.
Their career spans at least 15 albums, countless singles, 5 videos, several television and radio appearances, major press articles, and let's not forget the countless number of bands who claim to be directly influenced by them! They were the only band involved in the 80's 'Garage Revival" to obtain a major label record deal and Now on their 8th incarnation, The Fuzztones continue to tour and record. Visit their website: www.fuzztones.net
To Celebrate their 30th anniversary, Sean Twisted will be hosting a very special Fuzzed-out edition of Grave Disorder on Saturday, April 24th between 11a & 2p CST, as he pays tribute to the Fuzztones and welcomes frontman and founder, RUDI PROTRUDI as he calls in all the way from Berlin, Germany! So be sure to leave your mind at home, and join us on this swingin' ride!
Sean Twisted
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