Crazy Joe and the Variable Speed Band - Eugene (Ace Frehley)

[barkon]

Believe it or not, this song was the entire reason that I never revealed my middle name after sixth grade.

I just used the initial "E".

[SBMPLYMA]

LOLZ. Classic.

[Rockulaproductions]

I always pictured Eugene as more of the slicked back, white disco suit Guido type when I listened to this on DR Demento. Awwww MAN! What'd ya have to go and do that for!!???

[radioonemike]

My best friend's nasty older brother used to make fun of me whenever this song came on JB-105. Funny PRO-FM never played this though.

[gHoStsOfTheHollow]

ok this is freakin me out..been a KISS fan since forever.. my name is eugene and i buy gingerale everyday and have a KISS pinball machine as my screen saver have long hair and a beard... was this prophetic? oh and I am in the middle of reading Aces new book...NO REGRETS.. :)

[MrGGAaron]

Ace does everything on this song. Except backing vocals.

The clip was shot at his house.

[edgroove7]

I saw this linked to Rock Town Hall site and am sad to say this is fucking shit! Ok the backing band are good,but it sounds like music from an old porno flick lol!

[yoqse486]

WTF????

[deanflo]

Was this video filmed in The Box Seat Pub in Wappingers Falls NY?

[pg1171]

Remember the flipside of the 45? Madam Palm!

[pm0501]

Remember when MTV used to play videos like this? I want my MTV back!

[AndrewMonteleone]

my uncle is in this video, he is the guitarist in the yellow jacket!

[jdenicol]

@AndrewMonteleone Andrew... Your uncle did some fret work for me many years ago. He spent LOTS of time chatting with my dad and I about guitars and stuff... and he showed me some of the work he was doing for Peter Frampton. He also gave me LOTs of guitaring advice. He was a GREAT person, and it was an honor to know him. I know he is well missed!

[AndrewMonteleone]

@jdenicol Thank you for responding, He really was a great guy and i still to this day am trying to play like he did, ever since i was little and saw him play i always wanted to play like he could. I am getting there, but I still have a long way to go. How long did you know him? and thank you for the kind comments.

[Swishiee]

Eugene why'd you have to go and ruin their sugar?! YOU BASTARD!

[micktheMaag]

cant believe i found a video for this... thanks for sharing..

[superdude101100]

One of the greatest cult recordings of all time

Crazy Joe is the man behind the JERKY BOYS.

This should have been a number on record.

Never promoted, buried on purpose by newly appointed record executives at the label that released this classic

hysterically funny song. L.Russell Brown

[HIGGERHAGGERHOFF]

and lemme get a prosciutte wedge for mah girrlz...

[sereneloon55]

I stick my hand in fans for fun. Who can forget that?

[jmaxcamp]

im a cool dude in a loose mood

[whiteboy7931]

looks like some cheap porn movie from the 80s

[jerseygene]

This is a call to order to all Eugenes around the planet. We must stand up and conquer! There are not many of us around. Unite!

[pk923482]

this is the best video on youtube. hands down.

[mrmike6lee6]

I believe this record was recorded at North Lake Sound in White Plains, NY. If anybody knows how to reach Joe's son Mark, I would appreciate the help. A mutual friend named Ritchie brought me there to jam with mark and a few other guys. Joe jr even played some drums with us, he was probably 14 at the time.

[TheRosie199]

@mrmike6lee6 - Mark lives in St. Pete, Fl

[mrmike6lee6]

@TheRosie199 Thanks. Is he on Facebook?

[utubesux691]

How cool is this????????????

[spacecatsonmars]

does anybody know where i can buy a copy of this song? my brother's name is eugene!

[skeilak]

@spacecatsonmars

If you do a Google search for "Crazy Joe and the Variable Speed Band - Eugene mp3", you can download it from several places.

[KissandTellScrapbook]

Yay Joe! So happy to see this online :). PS. Charlie is playing a gig tonight - he's drumming :). He'd love to play with you again soon :).

[smackythefrog23]

i stick my hands in pants for fun.

[missimerica18]

EUGENE IS MY HERO! 2:16

[BillMonarch]

It took me forever to find this song!!!!

[leoyzr]

OK Where in Wappinger Falls was this video recorded/taped?

[allybriannasisrocks1]

No....this us my uncle.....I'll post a pic....his name is Jo renda, now married to Marie renda....they live in at Pete!!!!I swear I know him...if I lie....I die!!!!

[wh1pst1ckag0st0p]

This is my great-uncle, my mom's uncle. My family is too awesome for words.

[makemegood18]

this is dyno!!!reminds me of when i used to hang out at the bonaza lounge at lawrence and st.louis ave in chicago!!!

[xtranet1]

Uh...Uh...Eugene...

[JimKelleher]

they played this song in Boston

[optionjoe]

This song is too good... and too funny! Thank goodness for YouTube!

[italoman9]

Hell, thank god for YouTube and Ace...I've been trying to find and hear this song for literally -- wow, 30 years or so?? Thanks!

[Wilthomer66]

@italoman9 That makes two of us! My cousin played me this 30 years ago and I swore I'd imagined it!!

[sjdss]

kissvideofan..................­..cool i thought maybe ace spoke that one part too bad mcadams stabbed ace in the back later on never mind ace probable spent 6 figures on his friends over the years ! its almost better to lose the old friends if you make it big they always come back to hurt you if they feel slighted about something!

[kissvideofan]

@sjdss

You have one fact wrong. Actually, Ace stabbed Bobby in the back many times over. Ace was very cheap when it came to his friends.

[gianni737]

I am so glad to have discovered this rare treasure! Everything about the music and video is brilliant and way ahead of its time!

[dlhalper]

Absolutely this should have been a hit! We played it on several of the stations where I worked, and it always got a good response. I didn't know there was a video-- the lip-synching is really bad, but it goes along with the concept of Eugene as the ultimate loser. Thanks for posting this!

[donnalethal]

"I stick my hands in fans for fun"

[sjdss]

1:38 - 1:50 that might be ACE speaking that part !

[kissvideofan]

@sjdss

that's Joe Renda doing the speaking part.

[sjdss]

Ace FREhley plays bass on this song!thats not him playing bass in the video!

[kissvideofan]

@sjdss

John Regan is playing bass in the video.

[fitforlife43]

I remember this SONG! They used to play it constantly in Alabama. Wow, it's the real music enthusiasts who dig and find these gems

[oderous11]

Is that Karla Davito as one of the singing girls at the bar? She looks just like her!!!

[uthant]

According to some of the earlier posted comments, one of them is Janet McAdams, then-wife of Bob, who shows up playing pinball, and in drag at the bar with the girls. The other is Kat McCord. But I don't know which is which.

[kissvideofan]

@oderous11

Kat McCord and Janet McAdams (Bobby McAdams - author of the book KISS & Tell - wife) are the singers.

[radioshuriken]

eugene

[JPGR66]

Just bought this l.p. the other day for 5 bucks. Full of wacky songs.

[russelljdj]

One of the Great Forgotten 45's of All Time! Lets all Stick our hands in fans for fun!

[spardo76]

Holy crap!! I haven't heard this song in close to 30 years. I first heard it on WBCN (Boston) around 1981. I never thought I would hear it again. Thank god for Youtube.

[cuzikn]

You can buy this song on i Tunes now! You would be surprised how many people remember this crazy song.

[KISSbestfan]

Isnt Ace playin pinball here ?

[synesthesia67]

nope

that aint him...

[torpedo609]

That is Bobby McAdams playing pinball

[KISSbestfan]

Wow ! A real Ace fan is talking to me :)

[kissvideofan]

@KISSbestfan

Bobby McAdams is playing pinball.

[MrMrgdtrfb]

This song was played on XRT(Chicago)in the 80's.I could not find it with music search engines.I E-Mailed XRT today and they had a response within 10 minutes with this video link.Great work

guys!Truly Chicagos finest rock(and other)!

[chigirl2028]

I can't believe this song is attainable now. I've only been looking for it for like, 20 years.

[solord]

I've been looking for this for a while. Classic! And funny as hell! Thanks for posting.

[thebuff]

Urban Legend was that Ace wrote this as a joke (dig) at Gene Simmons. This guys actually acts like Gene .... the way he moves, talks, doing the stupid trick at the end where he pulls the scarf out of his mouth, etc. If the story is true this is one very, very funny Kiss story. Bill Baker (or Bobby McAdams if you are out there) do you have any idea if this is true?

[TeetleBaby336]

my next door neighbor is "eugene"

[deuce1231]

@thebuff All accounts I've seen indicate Ace only wrote music for this, so it wasn't about Gene Simmons. The Eugene character was all Crazy Joe Renda's doing. He came up with the concept. Who he based it on I have no idea, but it was all Crazy Joe's brainchild.

[kissvideofan]

@thebuff

Not true

[akmalegmail]

I like when he blows smoke on the Rod Stewart looking dude LOL

[kissvideofan]

@akmalegmail

the Rod Stewart looking dude is Bob McAdams (co-author of the book KISS & Tell)

[ZaNKT]

Like, seriously?

[cuzikn]

So this must be one of the only video recordings of Kiss performing without the makeup? Awesome! BTW the song is on iTunes. I just bought it.

[kissvideofan]

@cuzikn

Nobody from KISS is in the video.

[Joeyjeep0426]

wow i cant believe that im finding crazy things my father did 7 years sense hes been gone. very cool! RIP dad (eddie monteleone)

[elyssanz]

My parents had this on vinyl when i was a kid - god those were the days... the whole record was hilarious.

[Paulie88]

I seriously think Ace did lead vocal on this. Hail Ace!

[MartyCohen]

No, it's Joe Renda, he owns (or did) a studio in Westchester County NY, where Ace used to record some solo stuff. I band I worked for recorded there as well, so I know from whence I speak.

[kissvideofan]

@Paulie88

Ace did not sing lead on this song.

[kissvideofan]

@Paulie88

Ace did not sing lead vocal on Eugene

[VanSpeedwagon]

The vinyl LP states the following: "Crazy Joe" Renda / Vocals & Keyboards Kat McCord / Vocals John Regan / Bass Ed Monteleone / Guitars Claude Lehenaff / Drums & Percussion There are other credits for other songs on the record, but these pertain to "Eugene" only: Diane Scanlon / Background vocals on Eugene Ace Frehley / Syndrum on Eugene John Plantania / Guitar Effects on Eugene Eugene co-produced by Crazy Joe Renda and Ace Frehley

[VanSpeedwagon]

This never made it to tape, let alone CD, did it?

I have this full album on vinyl...I should rip it and share it with the masses...

[Crabowski4370]

Ace frehley on vocals

[VanSpeedwagon]

I heard that Fehley played some guitar on this record, but I had never heard anything about him doing vocals...

In that case, he sings on every song on this record...Not just this single...That is, if the voice of Eugene is Ace....

[Crabowski4370]

ACE FREHLEY ON VOCALS I CANT BELIEVE IT

[jojolovejoy]

i saw this vid. once on a late night music show in 81 and havent seen or heard it since

i was beginning to wonder if it had ever existed or i'd dreamed it

the ace frehley connection makes it an even better memory come to life..thanks

[LibrarianDave227]

Been looking for this as an MP3...if anyone is willing to share let me know.

Thanks in advance

[deuce1231]

I remember the first time I met Ace, it was at the Chicago KISS Convention (my first)in 1994, and during the Q&A, he said he had to fly back out the West Coast for a show in Eugene, Oregon. Then he said, "My name a-is EU-gene," like Crazy Joe. I didn't get it then, because I didn't know the song.

Before the Q&A, I briefly interviewed John Regan for my college radio stattion (WRSE), and HE mentioned Crazy Joe as the person who introduced him to Ace. I still have that tape someplace.

[eightiesmusicrules]

I totally remember this one! When I graduated high school back in 1982 the whole class-all 704 of us started yelling out "Eh-Eh-Eh-Eugene" when this kid Eugene went up on the stage for his diploma! He kinda looked like the Eugene in the video too...

[JohnnyWhore]

As a 14 year old KISS fan in '81 I thought this song had something to do with KISS ( I was/am obsessed) just because of the name. I guess I was right. Thanks for the blast from the past!

[jjj11330]

Freakin awesome!!! Been looking for this for years. Thanks!

[MoCatt]

RIP Eddie Monteleone from a former student.

:(

[a2carpenterguy]

just took a chance looking for this song. Used to hear it on WXRT, back in the day. Not exactly the kind of song you ask people about, like..eh..eh..member da song ..eh..my name is Eugene. I just played the Tubes, 'dont touch me there' for my teens, {1979}. they got a kick out of it, maybe Eugene will get a laugh out of them. I'm seeing a revival.

[bigjimgtr]

I've been asking people about this song for 20+ yrs,everyone thinks I'm nuts when I would sing it! Lol

An old friend has the 45 on Casablanca

[haaree826]

i can't believe this is here, or that there was even a video!!! having been a lifelong ace fan, i never knew that there was a connection. and i know posts say otherwise, but it sure sounds like him on vocals...

[iCousin8]

This just made my day... I thought I was the only one who knew this song!!

[biggswede]

ditto! good to get confirmation that this song actually exists. it only took about thirty years, but here it is!

[SweetSweetWaldo]

Hey, I don't know if you care, but the doctor says I'm not gonna make it too much longer if you know what I mean...

[moschops12]

I used to listen to this on WKTU in NY back in the day! Wow! Never knew there was a video too! Thanks for posting!!

[diamondunicorn1983]

i'm probably wrong...but the guy playing eugene looks an awful lot like gene simmons...even swaggers like him mmmmmmm

[mtzimm]

I stick my hands for fans for fun.. Hey Hey Hey. I remember WXRT playing this in Chicago, back in the day. It should be on VH1 One Hit Wonders, although I don't think it was a hit, but it was unique!

[myles4552]

Thanks whoever put this up! It cannot be found on tape, cd, or vinyl anywhere. WXRT still plays it on "Saturday Morning Flashback" when the year is 1981.

thanks again I love this tune.

[Philbisregin]

WOW...I'd thought I imagined watching this video when I was growing up in Boston in the 70's and 80's, but here it is! Bless you for posting this....now I know it really happened...I'll stick my hands in a fan for you!! Thanks!

[deuce1231]

No...Gordon's not in the video.

Check your facts brother.

[kissunmasked1980]

Thanx !

[kissvideofan]

Bob McAdams (Gordon Gebert's co-author of the KISS & Tell book) along with his wife at the time are in the Eugene video.

[liberalmorons]

I'm a cool dude in a loose mood? def. 80's music

[fizz147]

Holy Shit I did not realise peter criss was so ugly without makeup

[piezdagrohova]

Thanks for posting this vid! I remember searching for it online about a year ago with no luck. Now this song will be stuck in my head for days.

[Liozeris]

Great video, the only thing Eugene is missing is a conspicious tatoo.

[merbac]

Need an audio download!!!

[brooklynheart]

OMG - thank you for posting this! Over the past few decades I was starting to think I was remembering something that never existed. It had to be about 1979 or 1980ish - that guy's right - they used to play this on KTU all the time .. and we all used to sing "Im'a Ludegene" 3 for 10 at white castle lol. Awesome find! Thanks so much for sharing!!

[NJJ]

they used to play this song on 92 KTU (NYC) in the mornings, as I was getting up to go to school...ah what a great find and funny song..!!

[Hooty75]

This is a great vibe!

[cakescassone]

I was the engineer on this. Sad that this wasn't a hit. It was #1 in many key markets but not coordinated by Polygram, who purchased Casablanca. That's Claude Lehenof on drums and the late Ed Monteleone on guitar. And of course the head Mumbo, John Regan (all hail the Grand High Exhaulted Mystic Mumbo)on bass. Cameos by Rob Ferri (drug dealer) and I even got in as the bartender. That's Bob McAdams on pinball and ALSO in drag next to Kat McCord and Ms. McAdams (forgot her name)

[moveoverboy]

Hey Chris when I read the beginning of your comments I was impressed with your memory on the events of that day. By the way, Bobby is doing well, Crazy Joe and Marie are great. And I.....the ex-Ms.Janet McAdams well, I have a better memory than you. That was a fun day.-

[Lunabot3000]

This is awesome. Any idea exactly where this video was filmed?

[sjdss]

@cakescassone cool song! i had heard ace played baas but it was friend regan i see, was that ace with the spoken part at 1:38?

[ThomasJamesAlford]

@cakescassone - it was HUGE in my hometown! (Dothan, AL)

[micktheMaag]

@ThomasJamesAlford prior helicopter pilot.. dothan was our destination for fun.... ft rucker alabamy...

[ThomasJamesAlford]

@micktheMaag - Cool! how long ago was that?

[xyaqua]

@cakescassone This was so classic and fun and cool- it's just a riot! Cool production too- it really came together well. Perhaps not a #1 hit, but this will be rememberd more than a lot of #1 hits... promise you that!! Good on you!

[cubfan65]

This is awesome. I still have the LP and I recently converted it into digital format so I could put it on a CD. Bought this LP at Yorktown Mall a suburb of Chicago. I never knew that a video existed since MTV wasn't even born when this LP was produced. This is a nice find and thanks for posting.

[torpedo609]

I guess i should have just posted this first ..:) The music was written by Crazy Joe Renda and the lyrics by Crazy Joe & Ace Frehley,The singer was Joe Renda. The album was Eugene on Casablanca Records. The bass player was John Regan formally with Frehley's Comet and now with Peter Frampton ..the Pinball player is Bobby McAdams (long time friend of Ace) The Video was originally taped in Wappingers NY . Joe Renda is the producer of the Jerky Boys !!!

[torpedo609]

If anyone needs some more info on this video i can shed some light on it, I have some inside info :)

I only have one question. Where did the person that posted it get it .. I can't think of how someone got a copy ?? I don't even have a good one ???

[gordonrobbins]

since the 70's, whenever i hear anything relating to "Eugene"...a name, a city, whatever...i think of this song in my head! i remeber listening to this on the Dr. Demento show from my youth! this video is wild! i guess this is Ace Frehley from Kiss, huh? my mind is blown!

long live Dr. Demento..."Fish Heads, Fish Heads, Rolly Polly Fish Heads...."

[meesterm0le]

weird video.

[Scoobitzu]

"I'm a cool dude in a loose mood"

I am gonna steel that line when I can get away with it!

[misterreality]

Thats Bob McAdama playing the pinball machine, I think...

[MeAndMyRC]

Never knew a video existed for this!

[AceFrehleyisMINE]

awesome! where do you get this stuff? its awesome!

[AceFrehleyisMINE]

oh, and i love the kiss pinball machine in this vid!

[BRUCEF76]

Was Ace in this video?

[midnightblue80]

No, but his friend Bob McAdams is playing the pinball machine.

[jjk696969]

its actually his other ex-friend gordon gebert playing the pinball machine. gordon and mcadams are friends now though

[midnightblue80]

No, that is for sure Bob McAdams. You see both of them in Kiss and Tell.

[deuce1231]

It's Bobby McAdams. Gordon Gebert and Ace really didn't start hanging out until well after Ace left KISS, and he was still a memeber of KISS at this time.

[diasukematsuzaka]

Bill, are you sure you weren't John Regan in the 70's. LOL

Can't wait for the book!

[beardybwoy]

I Loved this friggin tune as a kid!!! Nice to see a video for it after all these years...I stick my hands in fans for fun!