Green Fuz
Encyclopedia
The Green Fuz were an American garage rock
band in the late 1960s known for their one single, "Green Fuz", which has become a classic of the genre and was covered by The Cramps
. On the single, the band was identified as Randy Alvey & Green Fuz.
The group was formed in Bridgeport, Texas
. The members were Randy Alvey (vocals),
Mike Pearce (drums), Jimmy Mercer (rhythm guitar), Les Dale (lead guitar), and R.E. (Buck) Houchins (bass). Alvey and Pearce formed their first group, the Psychedelic Reactions, in 1967; and after some personnel changes they became The Green Fuz – named after Dale's green fuzz box. Alvey, Pearce and Houchins were later involved in another group, Natchez.
The Green Fuz played at dances and clubs, and gained enough local popularity to persuade the co-owner of Wash-Tex Records, Shorty Hendrix, to record their self-written theme song. The recording took place in a deserted roadside cafe, chosen for its acoustics, and was issued locally in 1969. It was not a success, largely because the primitive recording techniques led to a muffled sound, which has subsequently contributed to its cult appeal.
The record resurfaced on a prominent garage rock
compilation album
, Pebbles, Volume 2
in the late 1970s and has since appeared on many similar compilation albums. One of those albums, Acid Dreams Epitaph is subtitled 75 Minutes of Green Fuz. The band gained additional fans when "Green Fuz" was covered by The Cramps
on their 1981 album Psychedelic Jungle
.
The roots music festival Ponderosa Stomp
, of New Orleans, featured the Green Fuz in 2008, after the festival's founder, Dr. Ira Padnos found Green Fuz lead guitarist Les Dale in Virginia Beach, VA, where he had retired after two decades in the U. S. Navy.
In 2009, the song "Green Fuz" was included by Evan Dando
's The Lemonheads
on their well-received covers album, Varshons
. This version has a much slower tempo than the original version or that of the Cramps, which each had the same timing (2:05).
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band in the late 1960s known for their one single, "Green Fuz", which has become a classic of the genre and was covered by The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
. On the single, the band was identified as Randy Alvey & Green Fuz.
The group was formed in Bridgeport, Texas
Bridgeport, Texas
Bridgeport is a city in Wise County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,309 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Bridgeport has a total area of 3.7 square miles , of which, 3.7 square miles of it is land and 0.04 square miles of it is...
. The members were Randy Alvey (vocals),
Mike Pearce (drums), Jimmy Mercer (rhythm guitar), Les Dale (lead guitar), and R.E. (Buck) Houchins (bass). Alvey and Pearce formed their first group, the Psychedelic Reactions, in 1967; and after some personnel changes they became The Green Fuz – named after Dale's green fuzz box. Alvey, Pearce and Houchins were later involved in another group, Natchez.
The Green Fuz played at dances and clubs, and gained enough local popularity to persuade the co-owner of Wash-Tex Records, Shorty Hendrix, to record their self-written theme song. The recording took place in a deserted roadside cafe, chosen for its acoustics, and was issued locally in 1969. It was not a success, largely because the primitive recording techniques led to a muffled sound, which has subsequently contributed to its cult appeal.
The record resurfaced on a prominent garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Pebbles, Volume 2
Pebbles, Volume 2
Pebbles, Volume 2 is a compilation album in the Pebbles series that has been issued in both LP and CD formats. Another Pebbles, Volume 2 was issued on CD a few years earlier by ESD Records and has almost completely different tracks.-Release data:...
in the late 1970s and has since appeared on many similar compilation albums. One of those albums, Acid Dreams Epitaph is subtitled 75 Minutes of Green Fuz. The band gained additional fans when "Green Fuz" was covered by The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
on their 1981 album Psychedelic Jungle
Psychedelic Jungle
Psychedelic Jungle! is the second LP by the American garage punk band The Cramps. It was released on IRS Records. It was engineered by Paul McKenna and recorded at in January 1981 at A&M Studios. It was self-produced by The Cramps...
.
The roots music festival Ponderosa Stomp
Ponderosa Stomp
The Ponderosa Stomp is an annual American roots music festival dedicated to recognizing the architects of rock-n-roll, blues, jazz, country, swamp pop and soul music...
, of New Orleans, featured the Green Fuz in 2008, after the festival's founder, Dr. Ira Padnos found Green Fuz lead guitarist Les Dale in Virginia Beach, VA, where he had retired after two decades in the U. S. Navy.
In 2009, the song "Green Fuz" was included by Evan Dando
Evan Dando
Evan Griffith Dando is an American musician, most famous for fronting the alternative rock band The Lemonheads. He is the only original member left in the current Lemonheads line-up, having served as lead singer since the band's original formation in 1986...
's The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
on their well-received covers album, Varshons
Varshons
Varshons is an album of covers by alternative rock band The Lemonheads. On 27 March 2009, it was announced that Varshons would be released in the US on 23 June on The End Records....
. This version has a much slower tempo than the original version or that of the Cramps, which each had the same timing (2:05).