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. Soon afterward, 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 Monkees, Cryan' Shames, 1910 Fruitgum Company and the 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 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, 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.
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 on drums. Their first studio LP Lysergic Emanations achieved gold record status. The band also released a live album with blues legend Screamin' Jay Hawkins in 1984. One year later the band toured for 3 months 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. Their album, In Heat, was produced by the legendary Shel Talmy. A later line-up has recorded the third studio album called Braindrops, 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.
Solo
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. In July 2016 he released his autobiographical book called "The Fuzztone".
Discography
Has played with or recorded with
1. Screamin' Jay Hawkins 2. Lydia Lunch & The Devil Dogs 3. Esquerita 4. The Dead Boys 5. Peter Stampfel 6. Billy Idol 7. Ian Astbury 8. Ann Magnuson 9. Big Sandy 10. The Unholy Modal Rounders 11. Sean Bonniwell and Ron Edgar 12. Arthur Lee 13. The Miracle Workers 14. The Chocolate Watch Band 15. Craig Moore 16. The Surfaris 17. Vinny Martell 18. Mark Lindsay 19. Pretty Things 20. Sylvain Sylvain 21. Davie Allan 22. The Damned 23. Marky Ramone 24. Jeff Salen 25. Mars Bonfire 26. Tempest Storm 27. Dixie Evans 28. Andy Shernoff & Ross The Boss 29. The Headhunters
30. Steve Mackay 31. The 69 Eyes 32. Sami Yaffa 33. James Lowe 34. Sky Saxon
