The Fugs | Artist

The Fugs were an American folk-rock band formed 1964 in the Lower East Side of New York City, by the poets Ed Sanders (guitar, vocals) and Tuli Kupferberg (vocals, percussion), with Ken Weaver on drums. Soon afterward, they were joined by Peter Stampfel (guitar, fiddle) and Steve Weber (guitar) of The Holy Modal Rounders. The band led the US underground scene of the 1960s and became an important part of the American counterculture movement. The is known for its comedic, even lewd, nature but also earned fame through their persistent anti-Vietnam War sentiment during the 1960s. Starting out as a shambolic jug-band, their sound evolved with the addition of electric guitar, bass and drums. Their often frank and humorous lyrics were typically about sex, drugs, and politics. As a recording unit, the band released 11 studio albums, with highlights being the first five releases: The Fugs First Album (1965), The Fugs (1966), Virgin Fugs (1967), Tenderness Junction (1968) and It Crawled Into My Hand, Honest (1968). Like many subversive counter culture bands of that era, The Fugs were monitored by America's FBI. In official correspondence from 1969, found inside an FBI file, the Bureau described The Fugs as the "most vulgar thing the human mind could possibly conceive." Their song, "CIA Man", can be heard during the closing credits of the Cohen Brothers' black comedy film Burn After Reading (2008).

Artist Website: thefugs.com

Featured Albums: The Fugs

Related Artists: Ed Sanders, Allen Ginsberg, Holy Modal Rounders, The City

Video Clips: I Couldn't Get High, Kill for Peace, CIA Man