Suck The Head

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the funky vibes of "Suck The Head" by The Radiators from their 1987 album Law Of The Fish, getting all the Zoo Freaks out there moving to its swampy beat. This song is a quintessential slice of The Radiators’ self-proclaimed "fish head music," a term that captures their unique blend of New Orleans funk, rock, and R&B. According to a 2010 interview with keyboardist and vocalist Ed Volker on Glide Magazine, "Suck The Head" is a playful nod to the New Orleans tradition of eating crawfish, where sucking the head of the crawfish to get the flavorful juices is a cultural rite of passage. The song’s infectious energy and quirky lyrics like “Do or die, come on stand up” embody the band’s love for their city’s culinary and musical heritage.

One juicy piece of trivia comes from a fan post on the Radiators Fish Head Music Fan Group, where a longtime Zoo Freak shared a story about a 1990s live performance at Tipitina’s in New Orleans. The band extended "Suck The Head" into a 15-minute jam, weaving in snippets of Professor Longhair’s "Big Chief" and getting the crowd so wild that people were reportedly dancing on tables, tossing crawfish shells in the air. The Radiators are known for their improvisational live shows, and as noted on their official website, they’ve allowed fans to record performances, resulting in over 500 free concert recordings on the Internet Archive. This openness has fueled stories like these, cementing the song’s status as a fan favorite.

The Radiators, also known as The New Orleans Radiators, got their start in 1978 in the vibrant music scene of New Orleans, Louisiana. As detailed in their bio on SonicHits, the band formed when childhood friends Ed Volker (keyboards, vocals), Dave Malone (guitar, vocals), and Camile Baudoin (guitar) joined forces with bassist Reggie Scanlan and drummer Frank Bua, later adding percussionist Glenn "Kul" Sears. They honed their craft in local bars, blending the city’s traditional sounds—think jazz, funk, and Mardi Gras rhythms—with rock and R&B influences. Their nickname "fish head music" came from their quirky, eclectic style, which resonated with locals and built a cult following. Despite limited commercial success, their relentless touring and dynamic live shows, as mentioned in a 2011 Glide Magazine article, earned them admiration from peers and a dedicated fanbase.

The band’s journey wasn’t without challenges. In a 2006 interview posted on their Facebook page, Dave Malone recalled playing dive bars in the early days, sometimes to near-empty rooms, but the band’s chemistry and love for music kept them going. By the 1980s, they were headlining festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and their 1987 album Law Of The Fish, which includes "Suck The Head," marked a high point in their creative output. Though the band announced their breakup in 2011 after 33 years and over 4,500 shows, as reported by Glide Magazine, they’ve reunited for occasional performances, delighting fans who still flock to their Instagram and X accounts for updates.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, The Radiators’ official website offers tour dates, merch, and a discography. Their Facebook page is active with posts about reunion shows and fan memories, while their Instagram showcases behind-the-scenes photos and throwbacks. On X, they share quick updates and interact with fans. For community vibes, the Radiators Fish Head Music Fan Group on Facebook is a hub for Zoo Freaks to swap stories, share bootlegs, and plan meetups at shows. Another fan-run site, Rads Fish Tank, offers a treasure trove of live recordings and band history, keeping the fish head spirit alive.