Did you ever play I Fought The Law in a garage band somewhere along the way? I know I did. Bill offers the absolute best walking tour of Nashville. Do yourself a favor and take his tour while you're in town. www.walkinnashville.com/meet-your-guide/
The famous version by The Bobby Fuller Four was cut in 66 I believe, in Hollywood with Dewayne Quirico on drums who I have been playing with for 12 years here in Tucson...he is a legend on the kit and has played with numerous other people. You should interview him Otis...he is 82 now and still playing great!
I must be old I know what a zip gun is , usually shoots a .22 caliber bullet , very common in the 60's and '70's .... Yep played it in my college band days 😎👌🏻
@miamistomp Yup, I went to a Technical (or, vocational, if you will) high school, and the guys in machine shop were makin' 'em all the time. Me, I was in graphic arts for 3 years, so the only danger I could pose was possibly dousing someone with a bucket of molten lead from one of our linotype machines!
I love Sonny's version with the Crickets ! It sounds so Texas. Sonny's got that west Texas twang in his voice, that makes it sound cool like Buddy's voice without the hiccup. Sonny's still kick'n around in this crazy planet. He might even still live up there in Nashville. Cheers !
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One of the first singles I ever remember having as a very young boy. Later in life the Indianapolis band "The Late Show" did a very good cover of this song. The Late Show or another iteration called "Recordio" was one of the best live bands ever in Indianapolis.
I'm pretty sure I heard the Bobby Fuller version first when I was in junior high. The version that stuck with me was The Clash, when I first heard it in high school as a young punk rocker... played the hell out of that song, and not well. Thank you, Bill, and as always, Otis 🙏🏻🤍
Richard Thompson amusingly grafted the lyrics to Loch Lomand to the tune of I Fought the Law. Worth checking out. Reminds me of Conway Twitty’s rockabilly version of Danny Boy.
We played the hell outta that song, but we sang it "I fought your maw but your maw won". ....😁as did other bands, I'm guessing! Everyone should listen to WFMU's Dave the Spazz archived playlist of shows. Almost 25 years worth of Bobby Fuller, Buddy/Crickets, punk, garage...his Halloween shows are my fave. Great video!
I had an original Bobby Fuller 45, which sounded terrific, but I lost it somehow. I really like the way Lou Reed quotes it in "Dirt", of "Street Hassle".
I remember in NYC in the 1960’s that the infamous who had JD cards (A real thing issued to Juvenile Delinquents), a card of pride, rip car antennas off of cars to make zip guns.
Still amazes me that the Crickets, despite Buddy's parting and his death, the British Invasion, etc. that the Crickets didn't score as well here as in the UK.
I think that actually, Hank Williams Jur's version is the most distinctive version, the one that was the best thought out on how to get away from the original while still maintaining it. Crickets version was funThe Clash version was fine but it was of its time. The Bobby Fuller 5 version is timeless and still the one to beat. Zip guns...I remember those, even saw one or two. Funny to think you had to put some effort into using a firearm for crime once upon a time. Nowdays, you just break a car window in Texas , steal the guns that are in there and go out and commit another crime.
In the day... some zip guns were made from snapping off car radio antennas. The base of many of these had an inside diameter that would accommodate a .22 rimfire. Set up a striker and handle and it may even work... Can't do that with a cellphone antenna 😅😅😅
I remember seeing nancy griffith with sonny curtis and the crickets on austin city limits singing that song and makingvan exaggerated gesture when he sung ZIP gun! I liked his "real buddy holley story" song also.
A-Rab: Cracko jacko. Down goes a teenage hoodlum. Baby John: Gee. Could a real zip gun make you do like that? Anybodys: You don't know what a zip gun would do? Man, you better wear diapers. --West Side Story
Wasn't there also some bizarre cosmetic suction device for acne called a ZIT GUN..? Maybe that's why they wanted to change it to sixgun in later versions…?
Did you ever play I Fought The Law in a garage band somewhere along the way? I know I did.
Bill offers the absolute best walking tour of Nashville. Do yourself a favor and take his tour while you're in town. www.walkinnashville.com/meet-your-guide/
Only the Dead Kenady's get that one line right saying zip gun but have, and the Law won changed to, and I won.
I love that song by Bobby Fuller!
All through grade school, grownups were warning us not to steal car antennas to make zip guns.
The famous version by The Bobby Fuller Four was cut in 66 I believe, in Hollywood with Dewayne Quirico on drums who I have been playing with for 12 years here in Tucson...he is a legend on the kit and has played with numerous other people. You should interview him Otis...he is 82 now and still playing great!
Sonny Curtis Rocks! "Robbin' people with a Zip gun", is one of the greatest lines ever!
Thanks Bill & Otis
Bill is such a fabulous storyteller.
I see Bill and I click, could listen for hours. Thanks, Otis
I must be old I know what a zip gun is , usually shoots a .22 caliber bullet , very common in the 60's and '70's .... Yep played it in my college band days 😎👌🏻
Any rim fire shell will work and 22 are the most common and easiest to make! Don't ask me how I know that though.
Yep. Apparently, if we know what a zip gun is, we're officially old! 😂
@@jacklbrt we made them in shop class-this guy lead a sheltered life, I guess
@miamistomp Yup, I went to a Technical (or, vocational, if you will) high school, and the guys in machine shop were makin' 'em all the time. Me, I was in graphic arts for 3 years, so the only danger I could pose was possibly dousing someone with a bucket of molten lead from one of our linotype machines!
Always excited to hear stories connected to Buddy Holly!💯
I've heard the Grateful Dead do this as an encore several times. Nice, straight ahead version.
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Another great story by Bill. He always tells fascinating stories.
Fantastic background.
I love Sonny's version with the Crickets ! It sounds so Texas. Sonny's got that west Texas twang in his voice, that makes it sound cool like Buddy's voice without the hiccup. Sonny's still kick'n around in this crazy planet. He might even still live up there in Nashville.
Cheers !
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Grateful dead used to play it live
Epic
Yep...I saw them play it a few times and they rocked it.
Cool story! Thanks, Otis.
Great stuff - thank you.
Great story.
Not a garage band, but a cabin band, sang it with Kings Liniment many a time! I got to get down there and walk with Bill
Great story
Did not realize how many covers there of this song. Interesting story! Thanks!
One of the first singles I ever remember having as a very young boy. Later in life the Indianapolis band "The Late Show" did a very good cover of this song. The Late Show or another iteration called "Recordio" was one of the best live bands ever in Indianapolis.
Thank you!
I'm pretty sure I heard the Bobby Fuller version first when I was in junior high. The version that stuck with me was The Clash, when I first heard it in high school as a young punk rocker... played the hell out of that song, and not well.
Thank you, Bill, and as always, Otis 🙏🏻🤍
Richard Thompson amusingly grafted the lyrics to Loch Lomand to the tune of I Fought the Law. Worth checking out. Reminds me of Conway Twitty’s rockabilly version of Danny Boy.
We played the hell outta that song, but we sang it "I fought your maw but your maw won".
....😁as did other bands, I'm guessing!
Everyone should listen to WFMU's Dave the Spazz archived playlist of shows.
Almost 25 years worth of Bobby Fuller, Buddy/Crickets, punk, garage...his Halloween shows are my fave. Great video!
I saw Nancy play with the crickets She was wonderful
Sweet
I had an original Bobby Fuller 45, which sounded terrific, but I lost it somehow. I really like the way Lou Reed quotes it in "Dirt", of "Street Hassle".
I remember in NYC in the 1960’s that the infamous who had JD cards (A real thing issued to Juvenile Delinquents), a card of pride, rip car antennas off of cars to make zip guns.
Even the Dead Kennedys took their shot at this one!
Sonny Curtis also wrote Buddy Holly’s best rocker, Rock Around With Ollie Vee.
Great story. West Texas is a mythical place.
Everybody’s got their opinions and in mine the original version is the cleanest and the best.
Still amazes me that the Crickets, despite Buddy's parting and his death, the British Invasion, etc. that the Crickets didn't score as well here as in the UK.
John Mellencamp wrote his own version - the authority song.
I always hoped Mellencamp would cover it one day, his voice was perfect for it.
I think that actually, Hank Williams Jur's version is the most distinctive version, the one that was the best thought out on how to get away from the original while still maintaining it. Crickets version was funThe Clash version was fine but it was of its time. The Bobby Fuller 5 version is timeless and still the one to beat.
Zip guns...I remember those, even saw one or two. Funny to think you had to put some effort into using a firearm for crime once upon a time. Nowdays, you just break a car window in Texas , steal the guns that are in there and go out and commit another crime.
At least half the pickups parked overnight in driveways in the South have a handgun under the seat.
And one more thing about zip guns, they were mentioned in West Side Story when the two gangs were setting terms for the rumble (gang fight).
In the day... some zip guns were made from snapping off car radio antennas. The base of many of these had an inside diameter that would accommodate a .22 rimfire. Set up a striker and handle and it may even work...
Can't do that with a cellphone antenna 😅😅😅
I remember seeing nancy griffith with sonny curtis and the crickets on austin city limits singing that song and makingvan exaggerated gesture when he sung ZIP gun! I liked his "real buddy holley story" song also.
Steve Earle just released a version.
He may be singing "zip gun" but the drummer hits six rim shots like he's reinforcing a "six gun" lyric?????
I prefer the version by The Clash. I was lucky enough to see them so it live a lifetime ago.
👌😎
👍
A-Rab: Cracko jacko. Down goes a teenage hoodlum.
Baby John: Gee. Could a real zip gun make you do like that?
Anybodys: You don't know what a zip gun would do? Man, you better wear diapers.
--West Side Story
in 1989 the song was used to ‘torture’ Manuel Noriega who was avoiding capture by holing up in the Vatican embassy in Panama City
The Clash version is noteworthy, but I'll always prefer the Bobby Fuller Four recording - what a ripping guitar performance.
Hard to believe you never heard of zip gun.. shoots a 22
Wasn't there also some bizarre cosmetic suction device for acne called a ZIT GUN..?
Maybe that's why they wanted to change it to sixgun in later versions…?
Seems like I heard a story long ago about Bobby Fuller having a short romance with Nancy Sinatra. Frank was not happy.
The Grateful Dead covered that song too!
I still bash this one out on guitar to this day. Just a solo deal no band.