Fuzztones – Bad News Travels Fast

This song rocks… The riff sounds like it was borrowed from Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath” but he goes somewhere else with it.

This was the debut single of the Fuzztones in 1984. The band was formed in 1980 by  Rudi Protrudi  in New York. The band was nicknamed “The Gurus of Garage Grunge.” a decade before grunge existed. They played a large role in the mostly underground ’60s revival during the 1980s.

Their debut studio LP, Lysergic Emanations, was released in 1985. Thanks to praise from Ian Astbury of the Cult… the newly relocated Los Angeles-based Fuzztones were one of the few to get a major label deal. Thanks to a hugely successful tour of Europe in 1985, the group built a loyal and dedicated fan base there, and they toured there regularly ever since.

The band broke up in 1987 but Rudi Protrudi recruited other members to form a new Fuzztones and they have touring and releasing albums ever since…with Rudi being the only original member.

According to Discogs they have released over 21 studio and live albums between 1984 through 2020.

Bad News Travel Fast

Well I got somethin’ to say girl
I hope you’re listenin’ close
‘Cause here’s one fish you caught that’s
Slippery than most
Baby You’re just a schoolgirl
Well here’s a lesson you can use
All the other women
Say that I’m Bad News
You’re not the first
You won’t be the last
Bad News Travels Fast

Well you’re friends they all warned you
My heart is black as coal
So if you wanna ride my highway baby
You gotta pay the toll
You know I’m bad
That’s where it’s at
Bad News Travels Fast
Well, don’t you try to change me
I’ll just string you along
Sit back and enjoy the ride
Tomorrow I’ll be gone

Baby you’re just a schoolgirl
Here’s a lesson you should learn
If you want my lovin’, baby
You gotta wait your turn
Well You’re not the first
You won’t be the last
Bad News Travels Fast
Bad News Travels Fast
Bad News Travels Fast

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

18 thoughts on “Fuzztones – Bad News Travels Fast”

  1. A whole different vibe than I thought when I clicked the video. A sound from the 80s that was the exact opposite sound of what was the 80s. What I mean by that is a stripped back sound.

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    1. Turn your amps up and hit record…That was basically it. The last one is less guitar…I like the middle one.
      Thanks for listening Deke.

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  3. somewhere between 60s garage rock and ’77 NYC punk. Not bad… actually I might need to give that another listen, had the volume on low because people working nearby, but it seems catchy.

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  4. Don’t know this one, Max. I like it though. The guitar sounds like my Teisco I was telling you about. A junky treasure. Both song and guitar. Real rock and roll. Speaking of bad news…Charlie Watts just died. That took the wind out of my sails. Hate it.

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    1. No problem…after the Stones current American leg of the tour…I would bet they are over for good. I guess the last Rolling Stone to pass away was Brian Jones….it is sad.

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      2. Keith absolutely loves him and has said before…without Charlie, there is no Stones…Maybe they will but I don’t see it. They do have an album half finished with Charlie.

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      5. They have to finish the American leg yea…they were going to do it anyway…that is why I was probably not going to see them in October in Nashville because I knew Charlie wouldn’t be drumming…

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