The Rowdy Rudies
Rude & Rowdy: the Rowdy Rudies at the Greasy Skillet Jazz Club
“There’s Something Wrong With This Guy”
Aliases:
- The Shootin’ Looties (when tasked with performing country music/rockabilly instead of jazz)
Contrary to what most people think of as a band, The Rowdy Rudies were (barely) paid studio/bar/Butthole County Fair musicians, essentially staff that worked music gigs for a recording/live venue talent agency. More of a title or brand than a band or group name, they are the musical equivalent of disposable lighters: burn ’em out, throw ’em out, swap ’em out. No two lineups were ever the same, as their parent agency Rowdy Rudy Inc. had a constant revolving door of fresh meat for the organ grinder. Cheap and effective, infinitely replaceable, they were oily cogs in the music industry machine, grinding out those gold record hits.
There are even instances of The Rowdy Rudies recording different songs, of entirely different genres, in completely different locations (including internationally), at nearly the exact same time on the very same date. Not an act of sorcery, but a by-product of an approach to music creation that essentially boiled down to factory farming musicians. The Rowdy Rudies were pigs at the trough, fattening up for slaughter day.
Fun Facts:
- while never twice the same, Rowdy Rudies lineups did have repeat musicians, such as the prolific Sally.
- although she was a full salaried Rowdy Rudy, Sally only performed support positions, such as blowing the tuba, or helping them unload through the back door.
- While never outright owned by him, Uncle Rudy owned their studio, venue, and all of their instruments. Rudy was also the main benefactor for feeding them after a joint, usually some type of hot food on a tin pan in the alley behind wherever they were gigging.
- Due to the meat-grinder style evolutionary pressure plaguing the Rudies, the cream always naturally rose to the top, producing masterclass musicians such as the ineffable yet F-able Judy Patootie.
There’s nothing wrong with them, they just love what they do!
