LINK PROTRUDI & THE JAYMEN, 1986 .-
NYC's Garage Rock Kings, The Fuzztones, had just broken up after an extremely successful 
record release and subsequent European tour with England's Punk Pioneers,The Damned. 
Remaining Fuzztones Michael Jay, Deb O' Nair and Rudi Protrudi spent a good deal of 
1986 auditioning prospective future Fuzztones, but to no avail. Deb went off to form 
Punk/Polka band Das Furlines with Wendy Wild. Rudi and Michael added "Mad" Mike Czekaj 
to the line-up and continued the search

After almost a year of auditions, the trio 
had become disillusioned. They began playing 
obscure Link Wray covers in the privacy of 
their rehearsal room, in an effort to amuse 
themselves until the right Fuzztone replacements 
came along. The Fuzztones rehearsal space was 
located in the infamous Music Building, right 
off of NYC's Time Square. Many popular NY acts
rehearsed there and it became customary for 
musicians to drop in to catch a few tunes by 
the Jaymen. There was no "surf" scene yet, and 
in fact, no instrumental rock & roll acts at all. 
The Jaymen impressed other musicians to thepoint 
that they constantly hounded the new band to go 
out and play some shows.

Literally a "tribute" band to the, then barely known Link Wray, the band decided 
to name themselves after Wray's combo, Link Wray & The Raymen. The moniker "Jaymen" 
being inspired by Michael Jay. Their debut show, at NYC's Southern Funk Cafe, was a 
huge success, and the band continued to play NY venues from that point on. They began 
writing their own material, and soon found themselves touring Eastern Canada. Upon 
their return, they recorded 2 albums worth of material and licensed it to Germany's 
Music Maniac label.

Still determined to resurrect The Fuzztones, Rudi and "Mad" Mike 
set off to California. Michael Jay decided to stay behind. The 
Fuzztones were reformed shortly after, as were the Jaymen. Both 
bands continued to record and perform, as well as tour. Between 
1987 and 1994, the Jaymen had toured Europe 6 times. In 1992, 
the Jaymen released the first guitar oriented striptease/burlesque 
LP, "Slow Grind," and consequently became the houseband for the 
annual striptease convention held at Exotic World, a converted 
goatfarm turned burlesque museum, in the California desert region 
of Helendale. There they backed the legendary Tempest Storm, as 
well as other surviving dancers from the burlesque era.

By 1994, the Jaymen had released  
"Seduction," an exotic mix of
psychedelia and belly dance music,
which they dedicated to one of Rudi's
heroes, Korla Pandit,an Indian organist,
who's 1949 TV show featured the keyboardist in turban and nehru jacket
gazing hypnotically at the viewer delivering mesmerizing exotic
music on his hammond, while projected clouds would float behind him. 

This line-up (the fifth) consisting of former Fuzztones Jordan Tarlow
(Mosrite bass),  Jason Savall (keyboards), & drummer Brian Keats 
began playing live as well performing a set consisting of striptease
and exotica numbers, featuring strippers (including former Russ Meyer
starlet Kitten Natividad) and belly dancer (Rudi's ex-wife, Misty Lane)

Ironically, a later version of the Jaymen, 
featuring the rhythm section of the Dutch 
garage rockers The Acetones, went on to 
back Link Wray himself, albeit without Rudi. 
In 2000, Link Protrudi toured Germany and 
Italy, this time with an Italian Jaymen,
 consisting of two of Rome's The Others.

Since their inception, the Jaymen have 
released 6 LPs, as well as a promo video. 
They are currently performing in the L.A. 
area and preparing for dates in Europe and 
Mexico City.
As for Link Wray, himself, is a big fan of 
the Jaymen! Link can be seen sporting a 
Link Protrudi & the Jaymen t-shirt in his
new live video release,"The Rumble Man!"

Drive It Home (1988) Music Maniac LP
California Sun (live) - Music Maniac flexi disc free w/ EX NEXU Fanzine # 8
Missing Links (1989) Skyclad LP
Slow Grind (1990) Music Maniac LP (MMLP 033) and CD
Drive It Live! (1992) Skyclad LP and CD  (TONE 86)
Seduction Music Maniac LP (MMLP 053) and CD
5 song EP (live from 1994 Euro tour) - Skoda (SKODA 9560)
Hit & Run (1998) Get Hip CD (GH 1051