Until now, Vulcan Death Grip has only been known to the few die-hard Fuzztones fans who have read about them within the context of a Fuzztones interview or Rudi bio. We have just found out that Vulcan Death Grip recorded a track for a compilation back in the late 80's & the recording is still available on cassette via the internet.
Performance artist & film star Ann Magnuson ("Making Mr. Right", "Anything For Love") & Rudi teamed up in the 80's to form a heavy metal satire band which played the occasional gig in Manhattan for several years to come. Original Fuzztones' bassist, Randy Pratt, portrayed Wolverine, the bassist. Originally Ira Elliot played the role of Nigel, the drummer, but was replaced by Marco Anthony as Rabid Bat, who not only pummeled the world's largest drum kit but supplied the Grip with huge Marshall stacks. Rudi played K-Zar, The Man-Beast on lead guitar & Ann was Raven, the flaming red-maned metal mistress from Ronconcomo, Long Island. The band appeared in Ann's HBO special, "Ann Magnson's Vandemonium", performing "I'm On A Holiday In Hell (and I'm Wasted"). Their absurd satire was so realistic that, when opening for Jesus & Mary Chain at NYC's infamous Ritz club, they were thought to be a real band (despite wearing two wigs each to accomplish the biggest hair of any metal band at the time!) & the crowd reaction (as well as clueless press reviews) was hilariously negative! When an irate female fan finally jumped onstage & ripped Ann's wigs off in midset, prompting Ann to jump offstage & literally force feed a string of link sausages down the girls throat, the spectacle marked the end of the VDG experience as we knew it.
For those curious to hear the Vulcan Death Grip's big hit, "Get It Up or Get Out!", you can order the "Tellus #18: Experimental Theater" cassette still available from the
Harvestworks' web site. Select "Tellus Media" on the left. Next choose, catalog then the picture titled "Theater" and it is tape # 18.