Caught by the Fuzz

Infobox Single
Name = Caught By The Fuzz


Border = yes
Artist = Supergrass
Album = I Should Coco
B-side = "Strange Ones"
Released = 24 October, 1994 (UK)
Format = CD, 7", TC
Recorded = Sawmills Studio
1994
Genre = Britpop, Pop punk
Length = 02:17
Label = Parlophone
Writer = Supergrass
Producer = Sam Williams
John Cornfield
Last single =
This single = "Caught By The Fuzz"
(1994)
Next single = "Mansize Rooster"
(1995)

"Caught by the Fuzz" was the first single by Britpop band Supergrass. The single was initially released in August 1994 on Backbeat Records, with a limited number of copies pressed (it is believed that more copies have been pressed since Supergrass signed to Parlophone), on only a 7" vinyl format [ [http://www.strangeones.co.uk/music/45_b1.htm The Strange Ones Supergrass Site ] ] . "Caught by the Fuzz" comprised of the A-side, and "Strange Ones" the B-side. They are, however, both slightly different versions to the ones that can be found on later releases (ie. those on the Parlophone label).

The song is written around the true-life incident of leadsinger Gaz Coombes' arrest, for being caught in possession of cannabis at the age of fifteen. [cite episode
title = Going Underground 476
series = Going Underground on Gouwestad Radio
serieslink =
airdate = 2008-07-11
season =
number = 476] One of the members of the Seattle rock band Presidents of the United States of America said in regards to "Caught by the Fuzz"; "This song is exactly what being a teenager sounds like [ [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6409 Caught By The Fuzz by Supergrass Songfacts ] ] ."

The single just missed out on the Top 40 by reaching #43 in the UK Singles Chart, but failed to chart in the US [ [http://www.strangeones.co.uk/music/45_01.htm The Strange Ones Supergrass Site ] ] [ [http://www.music-city.org/Supergrass/biography/ Supergrass biography : beginnings, career, success ] ] . The song was also notably included in John Peel's Festive 50 at number five at the time of its release in 1994 [ [http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/festive50lists.htm John Peel's Festive 50's - 1977 - 2003 ] ] .

"Caught by the Fuzz" was used as the closing theme tune of the 2007 movie, "Hot Fuzz", and features on the official soundtrack album [ [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hot-Fuzz-Soundtrack-Various-Artists/dp/B000N3SP9C Amazon.co.uk: Hot Fuzz Soundtrack: Various Artists: Music ] ] . In 1994, before appearing on their debut album "I Should Coco", the song was released on an EP put out by record company Fierce Panda, entitled "Crazed and Confused". [ [http://www.strangeones.co.uk/press/articles/mc970003.htm The Strange Ones Supergrass Site ] ]

Track listing

CD CDR6396
# "Caught By The Fuzz" (2:17)
# "Strange Ones" (3:39)
# "Caught By The Fuzz (Acoustic)" (3:02)

7" R6396 / TC TCR6396
# "Caught By The Fuzz" (2:17)
# "Strange Ones" (3:39)

Notable Performances

On one occasion Supergrass played "Caught by the Fuzz" on Top of the Pops via satellite [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=BHGfe4dMJPA YouTube - Supergrass - Caught By The Fuzz (TOTP via satellite) ] ] . The film pictured Mick Quinn wearing a T-shirt with Hugh Grant's mug shot printed onto it, (this was around the time Hugh Grant was arrested for lewd conduct with a prostitute [http://www.mugshots.org/hollywood/hugh-grant.html Hugh Grant Mugshot ] ] ) which suggested a connection with the actor and the overall theme of the Supergrass song. This was probably to make up for the fact that the band were not allowed to use this same photo for the cover of "Caught by the Fuzz" (See Single Artwork below for more.)

During one performance at Leicester University Ball, Supergrass convinced a real policeman to introduce the song [ [http://www.strangeones.co.uk/press/articles/mv970400.htm The Strange Ones Supergrass Site ] ] .

On a final night of supporting the Foo Fighters in Europe, Taylor Hawkins of band joined Supergrass to play the drums on "Caught by the Fuzz". In an interview on "A Home Movie: Documentary" from Supergrass Is 10, Danny Goffey recalls Hawkins playing the drums "at about 500 miles per hour". [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=ikCtuaLsGCA YouTube - Supergrass, caught by the fuzz,Foos Taylor Hawkins guests! ] ]

ingle Artwork

*Designer: Designers Republic
*Photography: Zoe Shardlow

The sleeve cover is a black and white caricature of a policeman pointing his finger accusingly, encapsulating the idea of being 'caught by the fuzz'. A mug shot of Hugh Grant (this was around the time Hugh Grant was arrested for lewd conduct with a prostitute) was originally intended to be the artwork of the US single sleeve, but the idea was later dropped after Grant's lawyers complained [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4136296.stm BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Highlights from the Britpop year ] ] [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=haEfq-nKqjgC&pg=RA1-PA3-IA344&lpg=RA1-PA3-IA344&dq=supergrass+hugh+grant&source=web&ots=Ti2G2jbgkN&sig=dPKBvzhnyS7it5v_JE6ucI3F6tw&hl=en] .

Music Video

*Director: Dom and Nic

The video is a montage of footage of the band, onstage and offstage, filmed on a Super 8 camera [ [http://www.boardsmag.com/articles/magazine/20010501/domnic.html Boards :: Dom & Nic ] ] . It was also the directors, Dom and Nic's, first ever music video.

The music video for the single appears in the US animation "Beavis & Butthead" episode "Sprout" (1996) [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0861870/soundtrack "Beavis and Butt-Head" Sprout (1996) - Soundtracks ] ] .

Other Music Videos

There is a video for the acoustic version of Caught by the Fuzz as well, which was filmed in the same fashion as the original "Caught by the Fuzz" music video, except using different footage and with the addition of some scenes of Morris dancers.

References