Fuzigish

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Last updated 26 07 11

Fuzigish's Bio:

Fuzigish is a punk/ska band based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Formed in 1997, Fuzigish have become veterans of the South African punk/ska scene and have played and headlined almost every festival in the country. Fuzigish plays an infectious catchy brand of punk music that has audiences going nuts and skanking a riot at their energy fuelled live shows.

Along with three acclaimed CDs released through their own indie punk label Red Ambulance and a fourth studio album expected late 2006, Fuzigish have also toured internationally with bands like Frenzal Rhomb & The Selecta as well as bringing out punk legends Lagwagon for their first tour to South Africa. They also supported The Violent Femmes to 22000 people over two nights in Johannesburg in 2006. Fuzigish have undoubtebly earned the respect and esteem in which they are held in their home country of South Africa.

Fuzigish's Bio from another source:

The skanking machine that is Fuzigish was formed way back in the mists of time, around about 1997. Since that time, members have come and gone, albums have been released, South Africa, Europe and Australia toured and much fun had by all. But one thing has never, and will never change. Fuzigish are one of South Africas top bands, both live on stage and in what they record. Their longevity alone is proof of that tasty pudding, and the popularity of the recorded albums is the back up.

Three years after formation, the band released Skankers union their first full length album in 2000. The second, Southern Ska Stomper saw the light of day in 2002, and following the two year theme, a third, Exploited and Distorted was released in 2004. Their fourth full length studio album, as yet entitled, is due for release in Winter 2006. Two years. On the nose!

In between they toured Europe (twice) Australia (once) and spent way too much time touring SA and its major cities. They also started up red Ambulance records in order to release al their own stuff, issued a digitally re-mastered version of Skankers Union with a re-issue of Southern Ska Stomper in the pipeline as well. In short this is one hard-working band.

Over the years their sound has moved from the strident punk rock of the early years to a more reggae infused ska sound, then absorbing a bit of rockabilly rawk and some thrash and now progressing onto a sound that is totally and utterly uniquely Fuzigish. A party band of legendary proportions, their live shows tend to include unpredictable elements like on-stage haircuts, beer funnels, speeches, casual stage visits from the audience and anything else they can dream up ahead of a show.

The Fuzigish sound is based around the solidly creative song-writing of Jay Bones, and re-enforced by the dense teamwork of the extremely tight unit that is the rest of the band. Defying strict categorisation, The Gish is the band that you can call on when your party is flagging, when spirits need raising and dancing needs to be done. From the stiring backing vocals of bassist Rockwell, the mad air guitar dancing of Trombonist Big Willy and his partner in crime, multi-instrumentalist Ampi Omo to the hypnotic power of drummer Lee Fuzigish are a great live act and have the songs to match on album.

About Fuzigish’s performance:

The Southern Ska Stompers demolished Stone City on the 4th of July with their new album launch, Fuzigish SA’s ska rock icons showed Durban once again why they are the first band that comes to mind when someone brings up S.A ska. Unit 11 was lucky enough to have them play at their club with Fruit and Veggies and Low Profile opening for the band. The Durban groups made sure to make their presence known with Fruit and Veg giving the crowd a little of their Durban ska talent as well as Low Profile rocking out in their usual fashion. Fuzi as per usual had a huge turn out with die hard fans singing along to favorites like Uncle Shifty’s and Upper Hand. The group showed the fans plenty of thanks by giving them a gig so awesome that Durban has not seen in a long while.

The band started out hard and showed Durban a good time. The crowd going ballistic all the while, this ended in the security barrier having to be removed. Fuzi had their usual madness with crowd members hitting back one of Big Willy’s infamous funnels as well as stage diving and being thrown around. The only negative thing to be said was the crowd let the band down by trying to kill each other instead of skanking the way it should be done. Jay Bones as per usual kept the crowd entertained with his guitar and vocals along with Big Willy and the rest of the gang making a night to remember. The group made sure to include the audience the whole while and even though they had a massive set list there was not a single dull moment even when Jay ended up without a guitar and improvised an entire song which just shows his lyrical talents. Lamps were knocked around while the gig was going on and all I could see was Jay taking a rogue lamp to the forehead thankfully that wasn’t a situation Fuzi had to deal with.

Fuzigish – Roll with the punches:

After slogging it out in the indie scene for ten years, Fuzigish have returned from many months in the studio and a New Year break with their fourth full-length album: Roll With The Punches. Roll With The Punches is a huge album. Recorded solely at B# Studio’s in Benoni with producer JP Destefani at the helm, it features some of the strongest song-writing and densest production that Fuzigish have produced so far. But in true Fuzi style, it weighs in with 13 tracks at only a tad over 38 minutes! Sonically, the album is an up-beat rock album that features all of Fuzigish’s traditional influences and touches of madness. And just because it is a studio album doesn’t mean to say that there is any lack of energy! With special guest artists appearing here and there like Joey Cape from Lagwagon on guest vocals, the entire Fokofpolisikar crew on backing vocals, Electro Muse on strings and Richard Bruyns on Lapside guitar. Roll With The Punches takes everything that was good about Fuzigish before and adds some more good things, leaving any waste behind. It’s Fuzi, only better! Riddled with catchy songs that stick to the roof of the mind like glue and serious dance floor grooves too, it’s another classic in the making.