Rudi Protrudi
Encyclopedia
Rudi Action Protrudi is an American rock musician, songwriter, record producer, artist and actor best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the rock and roll band The Fuzztones
.
Rudi
Protrudi was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Both he and his younger sister, Rene Laigo, inherited their artistic talent from parents, John and Janet.
Rudi attended school in Camp Hill, Lemoyne and New Cumberland, where he graduated from Cedar Cliff High School in 1970. He attended York Academy of Art from 1971 to 1972.
At the age of 12, after seeing The Beatles
on the Ed Sullivan Show, Rock & Roll became his obsession.
Through The Beatles, he became familiar with Chuck Berry
, who quickly became his idol. Like Berry, Rudi chose guitar as his instrument, and by the age of 14 had formed his first band, King Arthur's Quart.
He continued to play in local bands until 1976 when an audition for the Dead Boys provided him the opportunity to play bass for them at CBGBs. But a future with the Dead Boys was not his fate.
Soon after he founded Tina Peel with then girlfriend/live-in partner, Deb O'Nair and they moved to New York in 1977, where their serious music careers started.
, Cryan’ Shames, 1910 Fruitgum Company and Dave Clark 5. It is also Rudi's first band, where he performed as frontman.
Rudi wrote or co-wrote the majority of the original material recorded by Tina Peel with then members Deb O'Nair, Jim Nastix and Jackson Plugs. Dave U. Hall
(ex-bassist from Birdland with Lester Bangs) replaced Jim Nastix after his tenure with the band. Dave went under the name Rick O'Shea.
Soon, they became a popular NYC attraction, often headlining the major clubs of the time (Hurrah, Irving Plaza, Ritz, CBGB), as well as appearing on several television shows, including the cult favorite, The Uncle Floyd Show.
Even though the band was courted by major labels, and enjoyed frequent press, Tina Peel broke up when members Rudi Protrudi and Deb O'Nair went on to form The Fuzztones
in 1980.
) on drums. Their first studio LP Lysergic Emanations has been released in 1985 and has achieved gold record status.
The band has also released a live album with Blues legend Screamin' Jay Hawkins
in 1984.
One year later the band toured for 3 month in the UK and Europe opening for The Damned, and introducing the 60’s garage/ psych sound to a European audience.
After the tour the band broke up, and in 1987 Rudi and new drummer Mike Czekaj moved to Los Angeles, where they reformed the Fuzztones
. The additional band members were Jordan Tarlow on guitar, John Carlucci on bass and Jason Savall on organ. This line up toured Europe excessively between 1987 and 1990, and was the only band from the 80's Garage Revival to land a major label record deal ( RCA
/Beggars Banquet).
Their album, In Heat, was produced by the legendary Shel Talmy
. A later line-up has recorded the third studio album called Braindrops (1991), followed by and Monster A Go-Go in 1992.
A live album, Lysergic Ejaculations, was released after their break up in 1992. Rudi wrote or co-wrote the majority of the original material recorded by the Fuzztones.
Among Protrudi's most popular compositions are Ward 81, She's Wicked, Bad News Travels Fast, Highway 69, Nine Months Later, Romilar D, Action Speaks Louder Than Words.
Their version of The Sonics
Strychnine reached No. 1 in Italy.
In 2000 Rudi reformed the band with founding member, Deb O'Nair and again toured Europe frequently. In 2003 they released the critically acclaimed studio album "Salt For Zombies". In 2010 they began their new album's tour. The album, named "Preaching to the Perverted", was released in 2011. The band is still touring and releasing albums.
He made his first record in 1972, a single released by Springhead Motorshark.
2. Lydia Lunch
& The Devil Dogs
3. Esquerita
4. The Dead Boys
5. Peter Stampfel (ex-Fug and Holy Modal Rounder)
6. Billy Idol
7. Ian Astbury
(Doors, Cult)
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 Watch Band
15. Craig Moore
(Gonn)
16. The Surfaris
17. Vinny Martell (Vanilla Fudge
)
18. Mark Lindsay
(former lead singer for Paul Revere & The Raiders)
19. Pretty Things
20. Sylvain Sylvain
(New York Dolls
)
21. Davie Allan
22. The Damned
23. Marky Ramone
24. Jeff Salen (Sparks, Tuff Darts)
25. Mars Bonfire
26. Tempest Storm
27. Dixie Evans
28. Andy Shernoff & Ross The Boss (Dictators)
29. The Headhunters
(members of the Fuzztones, Tommyknockers and Groovie Ghoulies)
The Fuzztones
The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi...
.
Rudi
Protrudi was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Both he and his younger sister, Rene Laigo, inherited their artistic talent from parents, John and Janet.
Rudi attended school in Camp Hill, Lemoyne and New Cumberland, where he graduated from Cedar Cliff High School in 1970. He attended York Academy of Art from 1971 to 1972.
At the age of 12, after seeing The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
on the Ed Sullivan Show, Rock & Roll became his obsession.
Through The Beatles, he became familiar with Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, who quickly became his idol. Like Berry, Rudi chose guitar as his instrument, and by the age of 14 had formed his first band, King Arthur's Quart.
He continued to play in local bands until 1976 when an audition for the Dead Boys provided him the opportunity to play bass for them at CBGBs. But a future with the Dead Boys was not his fate.
Soon after he founded Tina Peel with then girlfriend/live-in partner, Deb O'Nair and they moved to New York in 1977, where their serious music careers started.
Tina Peel
Bubblegum-Punk band, formed in 1976. Rudi says, that this band was heavily influenced by The MonkeesThe Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
, Cryan’ Shames, 1910 Fruitgum Company and Dave Clark 5. It is also Rudi's first band, where he performed as frontman.
Rudi wrote or co-wrote the majority of the original material recorded by Tina Peel with then members Deb O'Nair, Jim Nastix and Jackson Plugs. Dave U. Hall
Dave U. Hall
Dave U. Hall is an American musician whose musical voice is resonated by the tones of his Electric Bass guitar. He was a member of the band Birdland with Lester Bangs Dave U. Hall (born R.U.Hall?, in New York City) is an American musician whose musical voice is resonated by the tones of his...
(ex-bassist from Birdland with Lester Bangs) replaced Jim Nastix after his tenure with the band. Dave went under the name Rick O'Shea.
Soon, they became a popular NYC attraction, often headlining the major clubs of the time (Hurrah, Irving Plaza, Ritz, CBGB), as well as appearing on several television shows, including the cult favorite, The Uncle Floyd Show.
Even though the band was courted by major labels, and enjoyed frequent press, Tina Peel broke up when members Rudi Protrudi and Deb O'Nair went on to form The Fuzztones
The Fuzztones
The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi...
in 1980.
The Fuzztones
Other band members were Deb O'Nair on keyboards and vocals, Michael Jay on bass, Elan Portnoy on lead guitar and Ira Elliot (now with Nada SurfNada Surf
Nada Surf is an American alternative rock band. Formed in 1992, the New York band consists of Matthew Caws , Ira Elliot and Daniel Lorca .-Early years:...
) on drums. Their first studio LP Lysergic Emanations has been released in 1985 and has achieved gold record status.
The band has also released a live album with Blues legend Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Jalacy Hawkins , best known as Screamin' Jay Hawkins was an American musician, singer, and actor...
in 1984.
One year later the band toured for 3 month in the UK and Europe opening for The Damned, and introducing the 60’s garage/ psych sound to a European audience.
After the tour the band broke up, and in 1987 Rudi and new drummer Mike Czekaj moved to Los Angeles, where they reformed the Fuzztones
The Fuzztones
The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi Protrudi The Fuzztones are a garage rock revival band formed in 1980. Founded by singer-guitarist Rudi...
. The additional band members were Jordan Tarlow on guitar, John Carlucci on bass and Jason Savall on organ. This line up toured Europe excessively between 1987 and 1990, and was the only band from the 80's Garage Revival to land a major label record deal ( RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
/Beggars Banquet).
Their album, In Heat, was produced by the legendary Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy is an American record producer, songwriter, arranger best known for his work in London with The Who and The Kinks in the 1960s, with a role in many other English bands including Cat Stevens and Pentangle...
. A later line-up has recorded the third studio album called Braindrops (1991), followed by and Monster A Go-Go in 1992.
A live album, Lysergic Ejaculations, was released after their break up in 1992. Rudi wrote or co-wrote the majority of the original material recorded by the Fuzztones.
Among Protrudi's most popular compositions are Ward 81, She's Wicked, Bad News Travels Fast, Highway 69, Nine Months Later, Romilar D, Action Speaks Louder Than Words.
Their version of The Sonics
The Sonics
The Sonics are an American garage rock band from Tacoma, Washington, originating from the early and mid-1960s. Among The Sonics' contemporaries were The Kingsmen, The Wailers, The Dynamics, The Regents, and Paul Revere & the Raiders...
Strychnine reached No. 1 in Italy.
In 2000 Rudi reformed the band with founding member, Deb O'Nair and again toured Europe frequently. In 2003 they released the critically acclaimed studio album "Salt For Zombies". In 2010 they began their new album's tour. The album, named "Preaching to the Perverted", was released in 2011. The band is still touring and releasing albums.
Personal life
Rudi's first television appearance was in 1970, when he and his band, Rigor Mortis, played his original composition, "Bandit," on the Weekend Show, Hershey PA.He made his first record in 1972, a single released by Springhead Motorshark.
Discography
| Title | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|
| King Arthur's Quart | Misty Lane Single | 2003 |
| Rigor Mortis - Basementville | Teen Sound Compilation LP | 2003 |
| Springhead Motorshark/Rapa's Schoolgirl | Baldwin Sound Productions Inc. | 1972 |
| Tina Peel/Penis Between Us | Boston Bootleg | 1976 |
| Tina Peel/More than Just Good Looks | 4 song 7" EP-Dacoit/Limp Records | 1977 |
| Tina Peel/30 SECONDS OVER DC | Limp Records/Comp | 1978 |
| Tina Peel/Fifi Goes Pop | Teen Appeal 45 records | 1978 |
| Tina Peel/Extra Kicks | Teen Appeal Tapes 001 | 1978 |
| Tina Peel/You'll Hate This Record-Comp Exception To The Ruler |
The Only Label In The World | 1983 |
| Tina Peel/Pajama Party | Misty Lane Records | 2003 |
| Tina Peel/Pajama Party Today Is Just Tomorrows Yesterday |
Misty Lane Records | 2003 |
| Link Protrudi & The Jaymen Drive It Home |
Music Maniac | 1987 |
| Link Protrudi & The Jaymen Missing Links |
Skyclad | 1988 |
| Link Protrudi & The Jaymen Drive It Live |
Skyclad | 1988 |
| Link Protrudi & The Jaymen Slow Grind |
Music Manic | 2003 |
| Link Protrudi & The Jaymen Seduction |
Music Maniac | 1994 |
| Link Protrudi & The Jaymen Hit & Run |
Get Hip | 1998 |
| Rudi Protrudi & The Others Yellow Green & Purple |
Misty Lane Records | 1999 |
| Rudi Protrudi It's A White Trash Thing |
Music Maniac Records/Twist Records | 1994/2007 |
| Fuzztones (full discography on website or Wikipedia site) |
Has played with or recorded with
1. Screamin' Jay HawkinsScreamin' Jay Hawkins
Jalacy Hawkins , best known as Screamin' Jay Hawkins was an American musician, singer, and actor...
2. Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch is an American singer, poet, writer, and actress whose career was spawned by the New York No Wave scene...
& The Devil Dogs
3. Esquerita
Esquerita
Esquerita was the stage name of singer, songwriter and pianist Eskew Reeder Jr, originally known as Steven Quincy Reeder Jr. and also known as S.Q. Reeder and SQ Jr. A native of Greenville, South Carolina, he was born on November 20, 1935, and died in Harlem, New York on October 23, 1986, of AIDS...
4. The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Among the first wave of early punk bands, the Dead Boys were initially active from 1976 to 1979, briefly reuniting in 1987, 2004 and 2005.-Formation and 1970s punk rock era:...
5. Peter Stampfel (ex-Fug and Holy Modal Rounder)
6. Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
7. Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
(Doors, Cult)
8. Ann Magnuson
Ann Magnuson
Ann Magnuson is an American actress, performance artist, and nightclub performer who first gained prominence in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan...
(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
Big Sandy
There are six communities in the United States named Big Sandy*Big Sandy, Montana in Chouteau County*Big Sandy, Nebraska in Thayer County, Nebraska*Big Sandy, Tennessee in Benton County*Big Sandy, Texas in Upshur County...
10. The Unholy Modal Rounders
11. Sean Bonniwell
Sean Bonniwell
Thomas Harvey "Sean" Bonniwell , guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, is most famous as the main creative force behind the late-1960s garage rock band, The Music Machine....
and Ron Edgar (as Music Machine 2001)
12. Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee may refer to:*Arthur Lee , U.S. envoy to France*Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham , British soldier and diplomat*Arthur Lee , American psychedelic-rock musician...
13. The Miracle Workers
The Miracle Workers
The Miracle Workers were a rock and roll band in the 1980s, who began as a garage rock revival band in Portland, Oregon.-Background:The Miracle Workers were formed in January 1982 by Gerry Mohr , and Joel Barnett . The original guitarist and drummer, who were friends of Gerry's, but weren't...
14. The Chocolate Watch Band
15. Craig Moore
Craig Moore
Craig Andrew Moore , is a retired Australian soccer defender.Moore is best known for his two spells with Scottish Premier Division / Scottish Premier League club Rangers...
(Gonn)
16. The Surfaris
The Surfaris
The Surfaris were an American surf rock band formed in Glendora, California in 1962. They are best known for two songs that hit the charts in the Los Angeles, California area, and nationally by May 1963: "Surfer Joe" on the A-side and "Wipe Out" on the B-side of a 45 RPM single.-Career:The original...
17. Vinny Martell (Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
)
18. Mark Lindsay
Mark Lindsay
Mark Lindsay is an American musician, best known as the singer for the group Paul Revere & the Raiders.-Biography:Lindsay was born in Eugene, Oregon and was the second of eight children...
(former lead singer for Paul Revere & The Raiders)
19. Pretty Things
Pretty Things
The Pretty Things are an English rock and roll band from London, who originally formed in 1963. They took their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing" and, in their early days, were dubbed by the British press the "uglier cousins of the Rolling Stones". Their most commercially successful...
20. Sylvain Sylvain
Sylvain Sylvain
Sylvain Sylvain is an American rock guitarist, most notable for being a member of the New York Dolls.-Early years:...
(New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
)
21. Davie Allan
Davie Allan
Davie Allan is a guitarist best known for his work on soundtracks to various teen and biker movies in the 1960s. Allan's backing band is almost always the Arrows , although the Arrows have never been a stable lineup....
22. The Damned
23. Marky Ramone
Marky Ramone
Marky Ramone is an American musician. He is best known for being the drummer for the Ramones, but has also played in other notable bands like Dust, Wayne County and the Backstreet Boys, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, and the Misfits.Although he is not the original drummer , Marky is the only living...
24. Jeff Salen (Sparks, Tuff Darts)
25. Mars Bonfire
Mars Bonfire
Dennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....
26. Tempest Storm
Tempest Storm
Tempest Storm is the stage name of an American stripper, burlesque star, and motion picture actress. Along with Lili St. Cyr and Blaze Starr, she was one of the best known burlesque performers of the 1950s and 1960s. She is regarded as having one of the longest careers as a burlesque performer,...
27. Dixie Evans
28. Andy Shernoff & Ross The Boss (Dictators)
29. The Headhunters
(members of the Fuzztones, Tommyknockers and Groovie Ghoulies)