MK Ultra News

NEW YORK (AP) -- In the 1960s, the rock group the Fugs were at the vanguard of the underground counterculture movement, railing against the Vietnam War, promoting legalization of marijuana and extolling the virtues of free sex.

Nearly 40 years later, American troops are in Iraq, pot is still illegal and
the sexual revolution has been blunted by the scourge of AIDS. Yet the Fugs continue to preach their gospel of peace, love and ... well, not so much drugs anymore.

In their latest release, "The Fugs Final CD (Part 1)," the New York-based group sings about sex for senior citizens, criticizes the U.S.-led war in Iraq and advances other leftist causes such as pacifism and universal health care.

"We're just as radical as we were before," 79-year-old vocalist Tuli
Kupferberg told The Associated Press before performing Wednesday night in Greenwich Village. "The ideas we had are still valid today."

Kupferberg and singer/poet Ed Sanders founded the Fugs in 1965 in New York's East Village as an underground alternative to mainstream rock. The group, which took its name from Norman Mailer's euphemism for the similar-sounding four-letter obscenity, plunged headlong into the 1960s anti-war movement and associated with other radicals, such as Beat poet Allen Ginsburg.

A blend of folk, rock and New Age postmodernism, the Fugs' style is edgy but not vulgar, witty but not profane. Their music also is infused with radical and leftist politics.

Several of the band's new songs, such as "Go Down, Congress," a play on the gospel song "Go Down, Moses," are criticisms of the Bush administration's war on terrorism. Others, such as "I've Been Working for the Landlord," feature an anti-capitalist bent.

And the Fugs are still breaking sexual taboos. Kupferberg's hilarious
"Septuagenarian in Love," a randy takeoff of Dion and the Belmonts' classic "Teenager in Love," laments the problems of sexual gratification for a man about to hit the big eight-oh.

"Some of our tunes are risquDe," said Sanders, 63. "But if you look at BET and MTV, our songs are mild compared to that."

They've shied away from their references to drug use, noting that some of their friends have died from overdoses. But they still support the
legalization of marijuana.

During Wednesday's concert at the Village Underground, the Fugs kept the packed house entertained. Kupferberg, still hale for a man two months from 80 and as raunchy as some rap artists, humored the crowd with his performance of "Septuagenarian in Love."

Sanders' social commentary also captivated the audience, which chanted along with him during his rendition of "Kill for Peace," another Fugs anti-war song.

The group attracted an eclectic mix of aging radicals in tie-dyed shirts,
and multi-tattooed and multi-pierced Gen-Xers who weren't born when the band first shocked audiences with its explicit lyrics.

Rick Shafrick, 41, of New Haven, Conn., said he had been following the Fugs since he was a kid.

"They are just as relevant today as they were 40 years ago," he said. "You can just change a few lyrics and the songs they sang in the 60s would apply today."

Paul Lovelace, 26, of Brooklyn, wanted to make sure he'd seen the Fugs before they retired.

"This show was just too good to pass up," he said.

Sanders and Kupferberg said they may hang it up after this album, but did leave themselves an opening.

"That's why we subtitled our CD 'Part 1,"' Sanders said. "Never paint
yourself into a corner."

Kupferberg believes there will always be a place for the Fugs. "Brotherhood and peace," he said, "will never go out of style."

		<--- Back...
The Fugs still relevant after 40 years
	NEW YORK (AP) -- In the 1960s, the rock group the Fugs were at the vanguard of the underground counterculture movement, railing against the Vietnam War, promoting legalization of marijuana and extolling the virtues of free sex. Nearly 40 years later, American troops are in Iraq, pot is still illegal and the sexual revolution has been blunted by the scourge of AIDS. Yet the Fugs continue to preach their gospel of peace, love and ... well, not so much drugs anymore. In their latest release, "The Fugs Final CD (Part 1)," the New York-based group sings about sex for senior citizens, criticizes the U.S.-led war in Iraq and advances other leftist causes such as pacifism and universal health care. "We're just as radical as we were before," 79-year-old vocalist Tuli Kupferberg told The Associated Press before performing Wednesday night in Greenwich Village. "The ideas we had are still valid today." Kupferberg and singer/poet Ed Sanders founded the Fugs in 1965 in New York's East Village as an underground alternative to mainstream rock. The group, which took its name from Norman Mailer's euphemism for the similar-sounding four-letter obscenity, plunged headlong into the 1960s anti-war movement and associated with other radicals, such as Beat poet Allen Ginsburg. A blend of folk, rock and New Age postmodernism, the Fugs' style is edgy but not vulgar, witty but not profane. Their music also is infused with radical and leftist politics. Several of the band's new songs, such as "Go Down, Congress," a play on the gospel song "Go Down, Moses," are criticisms of the Bush administration's war on terrorism. Others, such as "I've Been Working for the Landlord," feature an anti-capitalist bent. And the Fugs are still breaking sexual taboos. Kupferberg's hilarious "Septuagenarian in Love," a randy takeoff of Dion and the Belmonts' classic "Teenager in Love," laments the problems of sexual gratification for a man about to hit the big eight-oh. "Some of our tunes are risquDe," said Sanders, 63. "But if you look at BET and MTV, our songs are mild compared to that." They've shied away from their references to drug use, noting that some of their friends have died from overdoses. But they still support the legalization of marijuana. During Wednesday's concert at the Village Underground, the Fugs kept the packed house entertained. Kupferberg, still hale for a man two months from 80 and as raunchy as some rap artists, humored the crowd with his performance of "Septuagenarian in Love." Sanders' social commentary also captivated the audience, which chanted along with him during his rendition of "Kill for Peace," another Fugs anti-war song. The group attracted an eclectic mix of aging radicals in tie-dyed shirts, and multi-tattooed and multi-pierced Gen-Xers who weren't born when the band first shocked audiences with its explicit lyrics. Rick Shafrick, 41, of New Haven, Conn., said he had been following the Fugs since he was a kid. "They are just as relevant today as they were 40 years ago," he said. "You can just change a few lyrics and the songs they sang in the 60s would apply today." Paul Lovelace, 26, of Brooklyn, wanted to make sure he'd seen the Fugs before they retired. "This show was just too good to pass up," he said. Sanders and Kupferberg said they may hang it up after this album, but did leave themselves an opening. "That's why we subtitled our CD 'Part 1,"' Sanders said. "Never paint yourself into a corner." Kupferberg believes there will always be a place for the Fugs. "Brotherhood and peace," he said, "will never go out of style."

		<---- Back...