Fuse (band)
Encyclopedia
Fuse was an American
rock
band, formed in Rockford, Illinois
in 1967, when Rick Nielsen
proposed the merging of two local bands: 'The Grim Reapers' headed up by him with Joe Sundberg and 'Toast and Jam' consisting of Chip Greenman, Craig Myers and Tom Peterson later known as Tom Petersson
. The line-up was: Rick Nielsen on keyboards and guitar, Joe Sundberg on vocals, Tom Peterson on bass, Craig Myers on lead guitar and Chip Greenman on drums. Band manager Ken Adamany tried to get the interest of record label
s. A single
was recorded for Smack Records, including the tunes "Hound Dog" and "Crusin for Burgers". In 1969, the band played in Chicago
and was signed by Epic Records
. Epic executives rushed the band into Columbia Studios in the fall and, in a matter of a few weeks, the album Fuse
was recorded, which was released early 1970 (re-released in 2001). It remains their only album, though a bootleg disc, Retrospective Foresight, was released some time later.
Frustrated by their lack of success, Fuse recruited the two remaining members of Nazz (Thom Mooney
and Robert "Stewkey" Antoni
) in 1970 in place of Sundberg and Greenman, and ended up playing around the Midwest for six or seven months under two monikers, Fuse or Nazz, depending on where they were gigging. With Brad Carlson later known as Bun E. Carlos
replacing Mooney on drums, Fuse moved to Philadelphia in 1971 and began calling themselves 'Sick Man of Europe'. After a European tour in 1973, Nielsen, Petersson and Carlos formed Cheap Trick
with Randy Hogan.
Nielsen has nothing good to say about the Fuse album:
By Petersson’s account:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, formed in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
in 1967, when Rick Nielsen
Rick Nielsen
-External links:* * *...
proposed the merging of two local bands: 'The Grim Reapers' headed up by him with Joe Sundberg and 'Toast and Jam' consisting of Chip Greenman, Craig Myers and Tom Peterson later known as Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson is an American musician, best known as the bassist and sometime guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Career:...
. The line-up was: Rick Nielsen on keyboards and guitar, Joe Sundberg on vocals, Tom Peterson on bass, Craig Myers on lead guitar and Chip Greenman on drums. Band manager Ken Adamany tried to get the interest of record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s. A single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
was recorded for Smack Records, including the tunes "Hound Dog" and "Crusin for Burgers". In 1969, the band played in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and was signed by Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. Epic executives rushed the band into Columbia Studios in the fall and, in a matter of a few weeks, the album Fuse
Fuse (Fuse album)
Fuse is the debut rock album by Fuse, recorded in 1969 , released in 1970. This is the only album the band released before they broke up, with members going on to form Cheap Trick and Silver Fox.-Track listing:Side 1...
was recorded, which was released early 1970 (re-released in 2001). It remains their only album, though a bootleg disc, Retrospective Foresight, was released some time later.
Frustrated by their lack of success, Fuse recruited the two remaining members of Nazz (Thom Mooney
Thom Mooney
Thom Mooney is an American drummer.Strongly influenced by the British invasion during the sixties, he was a founding member of the East Coast rock group Nazz, along with guitarist Todd Rundgren, who later went on to have a successful solo career...
and Robert "Stewkey" Antoni
Stewkey
Robert "Stewkey" Antoni is the former lead vocalist and keyboardist for Nazz, a Philadelphia-based band, notable for featuring future rock star Todd Rundgren, which played psychedelic rock as well as garage rock.Other bands Antoni was involved with include Fuse and Sick Man of Europe alongside...
) in 1970 in place of Sundberg and Greenman, and ended up playing around the Midwest for six or seven months under two monikers, Fuse or Nazz, depending on where they were gigging. With Brad Carlson later known as Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos, born Brad Carlson, June 12, 1951, is the primary drummer for American rock band Cheap Trick. He is the band's chief setlister and archivist, and maintains recordings of all the band's shows, some of which have been released under the name 'Bun E's Bootlegs'.Carlos is left-handed, but...
replacing Mooney on drums, Fuse moved to Philadelphia in 1971 and began calling themselves 'Sick Man of Europe'. After a European tour in 1973, Nielsen, Petersson and Carlos formed Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
with Randy Hogan.
Nielsen has nothing good to say about the Fuse album:
By Petersson’s account: