![]() ![]() ![]() Q: What's the deal with the vacuum? How's he do it? Origin: A baby blue Electrolux vacuum cleaner (a.k.a. the
vac or 'lux) has been in the repertoire (played as an instrument
by Fishman) since circa 1989. An earlier,
1967 model was donated to the
Hard Rock Cafe 1/29/93. The currently in-use model is from circa
1965. How Played: The vac is on "reverse", so that it blows rather than sucks. The end of the hose is pressed firm against Henrietta's mouth, and small crack is made to release a squeal. The larger the crack, the lower the pitch of the squeel; the smaller, the higher.
Dual Instruments: And during March 1992 (the same time the band played "Cold as Ice" instead of "Hold Your Head Up"), Fishman also played the bagpipes, with a special attachment so that he didn't have to blow the bagpipes *or* funnel the vacuum air through his mouth, creating the "Bag-vac".
Electrolux, reportedly "the world's largest appliance maker", laid off 2700 in 1/04. Special thanks to Matt Laurence, Tim Wade, Benjy Eisen, Ivan Troy, Mike "Lerdawg" and Jason "blkidkatie".
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