Although known primarily for founding and fronting the legendary garage revivalists,
THE FUZZTONES, Rudi has actually been performing since 1966,when he formed his first
Rock & Roll band, King Arthur's Quart. Rudi spent his teen years in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania playing in local bands.
In 1976, after seeing a particularly inspired show by the DEAD BOYS at CBGB's in
NYC, Rudi convinced Dead Boy STIV BATORS to let him audition as bassist. Although
Rudi did actually play one show with The Dead Boys, a future with the band was not
his fate.
He returned to home and formed TINA PEEL, Harrisburg' s (and possibly the World's)
only Bubblegum-Punk band. Heavily influenced by The Monkees, 1910 Fruitgum Company,
Cryan' Shames, and Dave Clark 5 , TINA PEEL eventually moved to NYC where they became
a popular attraction, often headlining the major clubs of the time (Hurrah, Ritz, &
CBGB's). TINA PEEL had made several appearances on various television shows,
including the cult favorite, THE UNCLE FLOYD SHOW.
Although the band was courted by major labels and enjoyed frequent press, TINA PEEL
broke up in 1980, when foundingmembers, RUDI PROTRUDI and DEB O' NAIR, went on to
form THE FUZZTONES.
Generally regarded as the most important, or, at least, the most notorious of the
80's garage revivalists, THE FUZZTONES were among the first to release vinyl
(their first two LPs, "LEAVE YOUR MIND AT HOME" and "LYSERGIC EMANATIONS" are
considered classics). They also performed and recorded with legendary 50's R&B
shouter, SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS.
Perhaps the most important contribution the band made, however, was to be the
first of the revivalists to introduce the 60's garage/ psych sound to a European
audience. In 1985, the band endured a grueling 3 month tour where they opened
for THE DAMNED.
Although The Fuzztones headlined several shows of their own as well,it was the
shows with the English bad boys of Goth Punk that brought them to the attention of
the European masses. Considering how popular The Fuzztones became soon after, it's
hard to believe that at the time a typical show would consist of the punk audience
pelting the band with beer bottles and showering them with "gob" (a punk term for spit)
The Fuzztones performed 28 days a month for three months, and eventually won
over fans of The Damned. That was not to imply that it was ever smooth sailing for
The Fuzztones. Rudi was actually shot at during a show in Lyon, France, and Deb
was punched unconscious by The Damned's RAT SCABIES during an offstage argument.
Upon their return to the States, The Fuzztones broke up,right at the height of
their popularity.
From 1986 to 1987, Rudi and bassist MICHAEL JAY attempted to reform THE FUZZTONES.
With the addition of drummer, "MAD" MIKE CZEKAJ, they were at least able to form a
side project that would satisfy their need to perform, at least until the eventual
reformation of "The Gurus of Garage Grunge".
That side project was LINK PROTRUDI & THE JAYMEN. Originally an instrumental
tribute to LINK WRAY. (back when very few knew who he was!). The Jaymen went on
to write many of their own songs, and record several albums.
They succesfully toured Europe and Canada, and still pop up occasionally
to back burlesque legends such as TEMPEST STORM and KITTEN NATIVIDAD.
In 1987, Rudi and "Mad" Mike moved to Los Angeles, where
they reformed The Fuzztones. Ironically, the new lineup consisted almost entirely
of transplanted New Yorkers. This line-up was the ONLY garage revival band to
land a major record deal ("IN HEAT" on RCA/ Beggars Banquet)
This line-up toured Europe frequently, often headlining festivals for up
to 20,000 screaming fans and earned the moniker, the "Paisley Pussy Posse"for their
offstage antics, which were often even wilder than their onstage hormone blast!
"To me, Rock & Roll is like a primitive mating call...", Rudi has been quoted
as saying, "...It's a form of RELEASE...like an orgasm...releasing teen angst."
The Fuzztones officially ended their 13 year career in 1992,after a succesful
tour of Israel. Rudi went on to other projects, including recording with SKY SAXON
(singer of 60's garage icons,THE SEEDS), producing other bands, recording his first
solo LP in 1993 ("White Trash", his foray into psycho-country music, predating Mike
Ness by several years), and performing and recording with THE JAYMEN.
In 1994, LINK PROTRUDI & THE JAYMEN recorded "SEDUCTION", a lounge-a-delic slice
of Exotica, with strong Middle Eastern overtones, predating the Lounge Music
fad and Madonna's (and Plant & Page's) dabbling with the Mid Eastern genre.
In 1997, Rudi succesfully reformed the "IN HEAT" line-up of THE FUZZTONES
and performed sporadic shows in L.A. and NYC including CAVESTOMP '97 (where
they enticed FLESHTONES vocalist, PETER ZAREMBA, onstage to go-go dance! )
On top of that a co-headlining show with QUESTION MARK & THE MYSTERIANS.
In 1998, Rudi reformed the ORIGINAL NYC LINE-UP of THE FUZZTONES (with DEB O' NAIR)
to play CAVESTOMP '98. This was the first time they'd played together in 13 years!
The band was joined onstage by VANILLA FUDGE's guitarist VINNIE MARTELL for a rousing
"Psychotic Reaction" which climaxed by an impromptu striptease from Rudi! The NYC
line-up donned their Vox Phantom guitars once more in 1999 when they played the
INDIAN BIKER FESTIVAL in Matera, Italy.
Rudi also toured Italy and Germany with Italy's garage heroes, THE OTHERS,
as backing band. Consequently, Italy's top Garage 'E-zine and record label,
MISTY LANE, released the album "Yellow, Green & Purple", a solo record of
sorts, featuring RUDI backed by THE OTHERS on one side, and GONN vocalist
CRAIG MOORE backed by the band on the other. By the way, MISTY LANE #17
includes an ultra rare live recording of Rudi's first band, KING ARTHUR'S QUART!
RUDI HAS RECORDED WITH:
1. Springhead Motorshark (one single: 1972)
2. TINA PEEL (2 singles: 1976 and 1979, tracks on 3 comps)
3. Fuzztones (9 LPs and countless singles)
4. Sativa Luv Box (2 songs on "Beloved Satellite" LP)
5. No King ("Restless Soul" - Deadly Spawn LP)
6. Workdogs ("Funny Money" 45)
7. Link Protrudi & The Jaymen (6 LPs)
8. Solo ("White Trash Thing" - LP, solo acoustic single)
9. Screamin' Jay Hawkins ("Live with The Fuzztones" LP)
10. Ian Astbury ("Down on the Streets" w/ The Fuzztones)
11. Sky Saxon ("In Search of Brighter Colors" LP, "World Fantastic" LP &
"Barbie Doll Look" promo video)
12. Sean Bonniwell ("People In Me" duet with Fuzztones - Misty Lane 45 ,
issue # 16)
13. Vulcan Death Grip (demos and appearance in the Cinemax special,
"Ann Magnuson's Vandemonium")
14. James Lowe and Mark Tulin (Electric Prunes) - ("All The King's Horses" -
release date to be announced)
15. Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls) - (backup vocals on "Come See Me)
RUDI HAS ACTED IN THE FOLLOWING FILMS:
1. Chelsea Barracks (small speaking role)
2. Night Tour (starring role as vampire)
RUDI'S ARTWORK HAS APPEARED :
1. On the cover and 3 page spreads for SCREW magazine
2. On all Fuzztones and Link Protrudi LPS
3. Get Primitive- The Best of Pebbles (Bomp 60's Garage compilation)
4. Sixties Rebellion (entire series)
5. Be A Caveman - Bomp compilation: Best of 80's garage bands
6. OUI magazine -Illustration for Jim Morrison article
7. Garage Sale -ROIR casette compilation of 80's garage bands
RUDI HAS PLAYED WITH:
1. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
2. Lydia Lunch & The Devil Dogs
3. Esquirita
4. The Dead Boys
5. Peter Stampfel (ex-Fug and Holy Modal Rounder)
6. Billy Idol
7. The Drive-Ins
8. Ann Magnuson (Ann's heavy metal satire band, Vulcan Death Grip,
appears in her Cinemax special, Vandemonium and performs 2 songs co-written
by Rudi.)
9. Big Sandy
10. The Unholy Modal Rounders
11. Sean Bonniwell and Ron Edgar (as Music Machine 2001)
12. Arthur Lee
13. The Miracle Workers
14. The Chocolate Watchband
15. Craig Moore (Gonn)
16. The Surfaris
17. Vinny Martell (Vanilla Fudge)
One of America's foremost TV talkshow hosts, LARRY KING,
interviewed Rudi on his radio show, 1987
Rudi's country & western ode to drunken one night stands,
"Beersighted", is featured in the film, SAMMYVILLE
Rudi's instrumental, "Jaywalk", is featured in the HBO Burlesque special,
"REAL SEX."
Rudi is currently writing his autobiography, tentatively titled,
"Pissing In The Wind (The Story of My Life)."
He also interviews porn starlets for Club International magazine.
re-use is permitted under the GFDL or released into the public domain
