In the second installment of The Odd Interview I venture back to my roots in the swamps of rock journalism to interview Angus “Gus” McIntyre, of the ukulele duo Gus & Fin. You probably know these guys–if you know them at all–as the two wacky Scotsmen who have become YouTube stars of sorts over the past (nearly) eight years for their covers of punk classics performed on ukes.
If you’re not familiar with Gus & Fin, you could do worse than start with this sparkling cover of the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” from 2007, and go from there (warning: like certain types of snack food, it’s nearly impossible to consume just one of their videos). Fin is the one with the goatee and glasses; Gus is the one without. Here’s a link to their YouTube channel, GUGUG. Although their hilariously spot-on covers of the Ramones, Buzzcocks and the like are their calling card, they regularly branch out into other genres, including the best version of “Georgy Girl” I’ve ever heard and even Blue Oyster Cult, all, of course, featuring the uke (cheap plastic ones welcome).
According to this blogger, Gus & Fin are the UK’s leading purveyors/acolytes of ukulele punk, a genre they may have invented (Gus himself isn’t sure). There aren’t too many interviews with Gus & Fin out there (here’s one with Gus from back in 2008), so I figured it was time for another one.
Although Gus and Fin sometimes use the nom de YouTube of Raucous as their surname, I wasn’t sure whether the two lifelong Glaswegians were cool with being referred to by their proper names. However, says Gus, “Refer to us any way you like.” Gus answered my questions via email.
The Odd Interview: How long have you known Fin?
Gus McIntyre: I have known Fin since we were both 12. We were in the same class at school, which was in the West End of Glasgow.
According to this article, you (Gus) taught Fin the uke in school and you started by performing Ramones covers. When did this come about, why did you decide to make videos, and what & when was your first video?
Gus: Ha ha, no – me and Fin went to the same school but we didn’t know anything about ukuleles till many years later, except perhaps a vague awareness of a ukulele being the thing that George Formby played in the musical numbers in his films. Ukuleles appeared in our consciousnesses many years later. Also I didn’t teach Fin the ukulele – I just showed him one and he took it from there.
I think the first GUGUG video was a rather obscure ukulele version of the music (by Burt Bacharach) in an obscure film called After the Fox. The first Gus & Fin tune was probably a doo-wop version of the Ramones’ “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” (in 2006).
Have you been in other bands and if so, which and where?
Many, many bands. Generally rock ‘n’ roll and ska, and generally playing the drums.
What does GUGUG stand for?
Nothing.
Were you the first people to perform covers of punk songs on the ukulele, an instrument previously regarded (at least in the USA) as largely the province of Hawaiian musicians, vaudeville performers and Tiny Tim, perhaps the least ‘cool’ instrument this side of the tuba? Why punk + ukulele, and how did you realize they would go together well?
I’m not entirely sure if we were the first. We may have been. When I started playing ukulele I checked YouTube (which was relatively young at the time) to see if I could pick up some tips on the ukulele, but there were very few people on there playing the uke. I copied the idea for a “ukulele channel” from a guy called Randy Greer who is a professional jazz/swing singer who was playing uke on YouTube, and I thought, “I could do something like that except not jazz, obviously.” There was never a question of whether they would go together musically. We didn’t even consider it — we just did it!
Along with the ukulele, you and Fin have played the likes of the tea-chest bass, wobble board and suchlike. What is your attraction to these kinds of obscure instruments?
Fin and I have always liked the idea of playing music on cheap, home-made instruments. Kind of punk innit? I have an aversion to musical instruments that cost a lot of money — takes all the fun out of it!
You have over 11,000 subscribers on YouTube at the moment and (I think) 126 videos on GUGUG. You’ve branched out beyond punk to classic ‘60s pop and other standards, and have covered “Georgy Girl” with Duglas Stewart (BMX Bandits) and “Destination Venus” with Fay Fife (Rezillos/Revillos). Do you seek out guest performers, or do they seek you out?
Duglas is my pal, so I’m not sure who asked who? Fay Fife and Gus & Fin were playing at the same gig (Norton Records Benefit) and so I think we may have asked her if she wanted to perform a Rezillos song with us onstage (which she was right up for).
Do you do much live performing, and have you only performed in the UK? Any plans for touring in other countries?
We don’t tend to play much in the UK — we prefer to play in exotic far-off lands. We like playing all over the world. All we ask is travel, accommodation and beer money.
Which foreign countries have Gus & Fin played? Ever played the USA, or have any plans to?
We always have plans to play in the USA but we haven’t got it together yet. The UWC (Ukulele World Congress) have asked us every year since it started. Maybe one day. We have played in Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany and we almost played in Holland, but there was too much snow in Amsterdam for aeroplanes to land. Bummer!
What is it about Scotland that makes it such fertile ground for a particular sound – not just punk rock but a punked-up, almost cartoonish version of power pop with fun in mind (like the Rezillos/Revillos), which sits side by side with a love for classic ‘60s pop of the kind purveyed by the likes of BMX Bandits? What kind of camaraderie exists in the Scottish alternative rock scene in general?
Well that’s a big question. I’m not the best person to answer that one. Better to ask a music journalist. Must be something about the miserable weather keeps everyone indoors practising.
Are you satisfied with just having a YouTube presence, or will there be actual records for sale, videos, concerts, a website, T-shirts, signature “Gus & Fin” ukes, etc. in the future?
We’re very disorganised.
What do you guys do when you’re not playing music and making videos?
Ride motorbikes (generally not at the same time), Fin likes to go camping and climb mountains. I like snowboarding and drinking coffee.
Last question: Do you have a favorite Gus & Fin video?
Fin’s is “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.” Mine is “Get It On.”
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