Back in the 80's/90's I had the opportunity to see The Godfathers and Fuzztones many times. I was hoping they'd still be good (they both are) so after work I did the 2+ hour trip to Eindhoven, arriving at the middle of the headliner's (Godfathers') set. That got me worried, but it became obvious that the bands had switched places. As Fuzztones singer Rudi explained, they arrived late because "some idiot committed suicide in front of our train. We had to wait until they scraped that motherfucker's guts off the tracks". Which sounds a bit... insensitive? Unless you live here, and realize it's a weekly phenomenon. I mean, seriously, why can't these people commit suicide privately? Is it really their dying wish to cause delay and discomfort to thousands of commuters? Rudi being a Berlin resident, though, probably didn't know that. After leading completely different Fuzztones bands in New York (80's) and Los Angeles (90's) the current incarnation also includes Lana Loveland on Vox organ, an English guy called Eric on bass, and a bare-chested caveman on drums. During the set Rudi kept having problems with his guitar, which he told us used to belong to Brian Gregory, the mysterious Cramps guitarist who in 1980 pulled a sudden disappearing act "together with his witch girlfriend. He left his guitar to my sister, who was screwing him at the time." Which begs the question: what the hell was Rudi's sister thinking, screwing the boyfriend of a witch? Wouldn't she naturally put a hex on the guitar? Rudi was lucky to just get sound problems. Of course, he's probably protected from bad juju by that tooth-and-bone necklace he never takes off. No, it won't be voodoo that kills Rudi. It'll be his fans. As he told us "I have health issues, any time you see me could be the last. I got it from breathing your fucking smoke all these years. 66 years old, I never smoked a cigarette." 
Gosh, the man loves to talk. And to pose as a bona fide rock star. But maybe that's what makes him a great frontman: the fact that he's a rock-'n'-roll legend in his own mind, and acts accordingly. On sale at the merchandise stall were two thick hardcover volumes of his autobiography. I mean, shit, even Keith Richard's was half that size, and he's been through some stuff. Another of Rudi's vanity projects was to compile a record where some of his greatest influences would cover Fuzztones tunes. Imagine the nerve, to approach your musical heroes and ask them to record a tribute to...yourself. One of them was Craig Moore, singer of 60's primitive garage rockers Gonn. Their collaboration extended to a joint European tour in 2008 and this live record, which I bought from the lovely Lana Loveland after the show. It's credited to Fuzztones Gonn Primitive and recorded live-in-studio when the band found themselves idle because of some cancelled gigs. Which didn't stop Rudi from addressing the audience (presumably one or two dozen persons) as if he was playing a fully packed rock club. Thankfully he makes the illusion work, resulting in a record with the energy and spontaneity of a live performance and the clean sound of a studio recording.
Lead vocals are shared with Moore, who screams his lungs off on the Gonn songs (punky "Doin' Me In" and "Blackout Of Gretely", folk rock "Come With Me", the semi-ballad "Death Of An Angel") and a cover of The Fuzztones' "Shame On You". He also guests on "She's Wicked", while Rudi sings lead on Fuzztones originals and 60's garage classics that have been in his repertory for decades e.g. "Action Woman" (Litter), 'Be A Caveman" (The Avengers), "Good Guys Don't Wear White" (The Standells) etc. Drummer "Mad Mike" Czekaj sings on The Sonics "Boss Hoss", bassist Bob Hughes on "What You Don't Know", and Lana on The Seeds' "Pushin' Too Hard". The album closes with tour-de-force "Blackout Of Gretely" probably Gonn's most savage song as well as one of The Fuzztones' favorites - they recorded it for their debut 35 years ago, and keep playing it to this day. It's not easy to combine two singers and frontmen, but there's an evident affinity between Rudi and Craig. That camaraderie and general good vibe is the main reason this LP is such fun to listen to. On the other hand, given that it's the Fuzztones' 4th live album -not to mention that a few of these tracks have already been released in the Snake Oil and In Fuzz We Trust compilations- it's far from an essential purchase. For fans like me, of course, it's still nice to listen to the complete fruits of this collaboration. It must work even better as a souvenir of the tour, if you'd actually been there. Newcomers, though, should seek out The Gonn's original 60's recordings and, for a taste of The Fuzztones' live act, either Live In Europe (featuring the original NYC line-up) or Lysergic Ejaculations (with the more "psychedelic" L.A. line-up, also featuring X-rated photos and essential bonus tracks in its vinyl edition).
**** for Caught You Red-Handed, Doin' Me In, Be A Cavemen, Pretty Girl, Pushin' Too Hard, Just Like Me, (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone, What You Don't Know, Death Of An Angel, Blackout Of Gretely
*** for Action Woman, Hey Joe, Come With Me, Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, She's Wicked, Boss Hoss
** for Shame On You
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