Fuzz, Biker Flicks, and the Devil's Angels Soundtrack: A Deep Dive into Rock's Dirtiest Sound

As much as Lou loves a fart video, he might love fuzz guitareven more, the musical equivalent of a fart.  There is nothing like listening to Jimi Hendrix fart around on stage.  A brief history lesson.  By most accounts, fuzz guitar began with Marty Robbins “Don’t Worry” in 1961.  On that song, bassist Grady Martin recorded a distorted solo that was not intentional but the result of technical problems in the studio.  The producers of the record thought the solo sounded great and left it on the track.  This happy accident led to the first commercial fuzz pedal, which intentionally reproduced the Grady Martin sound.  That fuzz pedal was The Maestro Fuzz-Tone and Keith Richards made it famous when he used it to significant effect on “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”.  With arguably the most iconic riff in rock history, the fuzz guitar became central to the sound of garage rock, classic rock, and heavy metal.  The Yardbirds and Jeff Beck became kings of fuzz as did Jimi Hendrix and Black Sabbath.  In the 1990s, Lou enjoyed fuzz from Smashing Pumpkins and The Beastie Boys.  Fuzz was good.  From “Satisfaction” forward, the fuzz pedal was always an important arrow in the rock guitarist’s quiver.

In lists of the greatest fuzz songs, Davie Allan and the Arrows usually find a place in the top ten.  “Blue’s Theme” from The Wild Angels soundtrack may be the greatest fuzz guitar song of all.  Roger Corman’s Wild Angels is ground zero for biker exploitation flicks; it pretty much defined the genre as its soundtrack defined its sound.  As you know from the blog, biker flick soundtracks are super groovy.  In many cases it is betterand more interesting than the actual movie.

Lou will always pick up some good fuzz, so he was happy to find the soundtrack to Devil’s Angels, a rip-off, er, follow-up to Wild Angels.  Everything about Devil’s Angels is one step belowits towering predecessor.  That goes for the soundtrack, which is again by Davie Allan and the Arrows.  Devil’s Rumble is just a notch below Blue’s Theme in terms of fuzz excellence.  Just a notch because Devil’s Rumble is excellent.  Tarantino recognized its genius and used it prominently in Inglorious Basterds.  It could be argued that it was one of Tarantino’s more inspiredneedle drops recycle jobs in his entire catalog.  Devil’s Rumblename drops Link Wray’s “Rumble”, a 1958 instrumental that many consider the beginnings of distortion in rock and the birth of the power chord.  Lou would go back to 1951 with “Rocket88” by Ike Turner.  For some reason, these acts of distortion are not considered true fuzz.  There is something unique and distinct about fuzz that Grady Martin captured first.  Fuzz is like porn to Lou, he can’t define it, but he knows it when he hears it, and he likes it.  It appeals to his prurient interest.

Looking over the credits to Wild Angels it is a who’s who of what would become New Hollywood:  Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, Michael J. Pollard, and Diane Ladd.  Plus, Nancy Sinatra!!  Devil’s Angels had America New Wave auteur, John Cassavetes.  You might be wondering what a directing talent like Cassavetes is doing in a biker exploitation flick.  It is the same thing he was doing in Rosemary’s Baby, a much more nuanced and successful exploitation flick by a much more talented auteur director than Roger Corman, Roman Polanski.  He was collecting a paycheck so he could make his own movies, much like Marlon Brando starring in Superman to finance his wonderful island.

The thing that Lou finds interesting about exploitation flicks besides them being a gas to watch and having awesome soundtracks, is that if you dig into their casting almost everybody involved is interesting in some way.  In Devil’s Angels you have Roger Corman and John Cassevetes, of course.  Two legends in exploitation and underground film.  The music was composed and conducted by Mike Curb.  As discussed,Davie Allan and the Arrows are icons, but Curb is a fascinating, if controversial, figure as well.  Curb was the last Republican lieutenant governor of California from 1979 to 1983 andinstrumental in promoting the political career of Ronald Reagan.  Reagan returned the favor and put Curb on his way into politics.  Curb is also a record executive and a Christian rock pioneer. Give the Mike Curb Congregation a listen.  It is divine.  His conservative values influenced his decisions in the music business.  In 1970 as president of MGM Record he fired eighteen acts for their promotion of hard drugs.  Most interestingly, Curb is in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.  He was co-owner of a racing group that sponsored Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Darrell Waltrip.  By the way, Curb is in the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.  Mike Curb is famous, dude.

Several others in Devil’s Angels are interesting footnotes in popular culture if not as famous as the illustrious Mike Curb.  Let’s talk about the Devil’s Angels Mamas.  For example, Beverly Adams married Vidal Sassoon, the truly famous hairstylist, in 1967, the height of Sassoon’s influence on hair sculpture.  She served as a spokeswoman for Vidal Sassoon, Inc for years.  Adams divorced Sassoon in 1981.  She then married a matador!!!  Lou would say bullshit if it wasn’t true.  Mimsy Farmer starred in Riot on the Sunset Strip another iconic exploitation flick, but her real claim to fame was starring in multiple Italian giallo films by auteurs Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci.  Later she became a sculptor.  Salli Sachse was a bikini and exploitation movie starlet but was also a member of the entourage of Crosby, Still, Nash & Young for two years as their personal photographer.  Later in the 1970s, she had a relationship with Jackson Browne and claims he wrote “Something Fine” about her.  Nai Bonet was a professional belly dancer, who released the novelty song “Jelly Belly” in 1966.

Pretty cool shit if you ask Lou.  And the soundtrack to all this weird coolness is fuzz, man.  Head over to the Vogue and pick up the soundtrack to Devil’s Angels and become a member of the cool club, if not a hall of famer.

Suggested Sites and Sounds:

The Birth of Fuzz Guitar:  Marty Robbins - Don't Worry (Official Audio)

The Greatest Fuzz Tracks:  Fuzz Quest: 130 greatest fuzz songs of all times

Tarantino Recycles:  Quentin Tarantino's 8 Best Uses of Scores from Other Movies

Devil’s Angels Trailer:  Devil’s Angels • 1967 • Theatrical Trailer

Mike Curb Congregation:  Mike Curb Congregation - Burning Bridges (1971)

Beverly Adams Interview:  Beverly Sassoon- Married to Vidal

“Something Fine” by Jackson Browne:  Something Fine (Remastered)

Jelly Belly:  Nai Bonet - Jelly Belly (1966) Karate

-- Lou Waxman