Fabulous (band)
Encyclopedia
Fabulous were a British pop punk band formed in 1991 by NME
journalist Simon Spence (a.k.a. Dudfield) and NME photographer Martyn Goodacre, initially under the name Baggy.
Briefly called Baggy, the band were managed by NME features editor James Brown
who claimed that the exploits of Fabulous were the inspiration behind his later creation of Loaded magazine
. Their debut single "Destined To Be Free" was released on Heavenly Records
in November 1991. The sleeve was designed by Screamadelica
artist Paul Cannell (HVN 11). "Destined To Be Free" was made "Single of The Week" in the NME. The band were at the centre of much controversy over their often-brief live shows and obscene Cannell-designed T-shirts. Jacqui and Carrie of future Shampoo
fame often appeared on stage with the group and ran their fan club. Malcolm McLaren
suggested Fabulous work with Pete Waterman
and the group signed to Waterman's PWL in 1992 (and were handed their own label PWL Rock).
After appearing on Waterman's The Hitman And Her
TV show, Fabulous and PWL parted company. The album they were working on, Produced by Kylie, has never been officially released. Two further singles, "Personality Recession" and "Dead Friends" were recorded independently and released on the Kinglake Records label. Fabulous worked briefly with Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate Records before disbanding.
after an infamous stage-wrecking performance at Kingston Polytechnic that was also reviewed by the NME. Further publicity came via an association with American actor Keanu Reeves
chronicled by The Daily Star, Smash Hits
and The Face.
Their Maxi motor (left), dubbed the "Fab Mobile", was painted by Paul Cannell and was featured in a lengthy TV feature about Fabulous on the BBC2 music show Rapido. Razorlight
manager Roger Morton gave them their first live review in the NME on 27 July 1991 - their first ever gig — "the least dour group you will ever see". They featured heavily in i-D, The Face, The Wire, Select, and Melody Maker
. Author Mark Simpson (journalist)
profiled them in The Guardian
, and featured the group in his first book Male Impersonators. Radio broadcaster and author Stuart Bailie strongly supported them at the NME, making their debut single "single of the week" and, in a January 1992 cover story, writing: "They terrify the Manics. They flaunt porno t-shirts. They steal carpets, and erm, Santas. They are a sick NME joke. They are a daft, manipulative group, noisy, reckless, exciting."
' manager Andrew Loog Oldham
. Ronnie Fabulous is a filmmaker. Robert Hodges works at the Malvern Theatre in Worcestershire, as well as playing drums with The Tights & Dogs Of Santorini. Russell Underwood runs a printing business in South-East London.
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
journalist Simon Spence (a.k.a. Dudfield) and NME photographer Martyn Goodacre, initially under the name Baggy.
History
The original line up included Spence (vocals), Goodacre (guitar), Russell Underwood (guitar), Kieron "Ronnie Fabulous" Flynn (bass) and Robert "Hodge" Hodges (drums).Briefly called Baggy, the band were managed by NME features editor James Brown
James Brown (editor)
James Brown is a British journalist. He is best known for creating the modern men's magazine market with the launch of his title Loaded in 1994, a magazine that was said to define a generation...
who claimed that the exploits of Fabulous were the inspiration behind his later creation of Loaded magazine
Loaded (magazine)
Loaded, first published in 1994, is a British magazine for men that is considered to be the "original lads' mag". Its motto is "For men who should know better".-History:...
. Their debut single "Destined To Be Free" was released on Heavenly Records
Heavenly Records
Heavenly Records, aka Heavenly Recordings, is a London-based record label, distributed by EMI. Founded by Jeff Barrett, a former press officer for Creation Records and many successful indie bands of the time including Happy Mondays, Heavenly Recordings' first releases were 7" and 12" singles for...
in November 1991. The sleeve was designed by Screamadelica
Screamadelica
Screamadelica is the third studio album by the Scottish alternative rock group Primal Scream and was their first to be a commercial success. It was released on 23 September 1991 in the UK by Creation Records, and 8 October 1991 in North America by Sire Records. Screamadelica peaked at #8 on the UK...
artist Paul Cannell (HVN 11). "Destined To Be Free" was made "Single of The Week" in the NME. The band were at the centre of much controversy over their often-brief live shows and obscene Cannell-designed T-shirts. Jacqui and Carrie of future Shampoo
Shampoo (band)
Shampoo were a British all-girl band in the 1990s, formed by Jacqui Blake and Caroline "Carrie" Askew. They were most famous for their hit song, "Trouble".-History:...
fame often appeared on stage with the group and ran their fan club. Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
suggested Fabulous work with Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
and the group signed to Waterman's PWL in 1992 (and were handed their own label PWL Rock).
After appearing on Waterman's The Hitman And Her
The Hitman and Her
The Hit Man And Her was a British television dance music show hosted by Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan. The programme was produced by Granada Television in Manchester, Clear Idea Productions and Music Box and it ran almost continuously for over four years and three months September 1988 until...
TV show, Fabulous and PWL parted company. The album they were working on, Produced by Kylie, has never been officially released. Two further singles, "Personality Recession" and "Dead Friends" were recorded independently and released on the Kinglake Records label. Fabulous worked briefly with Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate Records before disbanding.
Publicity
The band were better known by their hype than their music. Never out of the music paper gossip columns, they made tabloid headlines by being banned from nearly every venue on their debut UK tour. "Fabulous bad boys banned" splashed The SunThe Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
after an infamous stage-wrecking performance at Kingston Polytechnic that was also reviewed by the NME. Further publicity came via an association with American actor Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
chronicled by The Daily Star, Smash Hits
Smash Hits
Smash Hits was a pop music based magazine, aimed at teenagers and young adults and originally published in the United Kingdom by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006 and was issued fortnightly for most of that time...
and The Face.
Their Maxi motor (left), dubbed the "Fab Mobile", was painted by Paul Cannell and was featured in a lengthy TV feature about Fabulous on the BBC2 music show Rapido. Razorlight
Razorlight
Razorlight are a UK based indie rock band formed in 2002. They are primarily known in the UK, having topped the charts with the 2006 single "America" and its parent self-titled album, their second...
manager Roger Morton gave them their first live review in the NME on 27 July 1991 - their first ever gig — "the least dour group you will ever see". They featured heavily in i-D, The Face, The Wire, Select, and Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
. Author Mark Simpson (journalist)
Mark Simpson (journalist)
Mark Simpson is an English journalist, writer, and broadcaster specialising in pop culture, media, and masculinity. He has been described by one critic as "the skinhead Oscar Wilde" Simpson is a frequent commentator on British television shows....
profiled them in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, and featured the group in his first book Male Impersonators. Radio broadcaster and author Stuart Bailie strongly supported them at the NME, making their debut single "single of the week" and, in a January 1992 cover story, writing: "They terrify the Manics. They flaunt porno t-shirts. They steal carpets, and erm, Santas. They are a sick NME joke. They are a daft, manipulative group, noisy, reckless, exciting."
Individual careers
Martyn Goodacre is a photographer, musician and the owner of Kinglake Records. Simon Spence wrote the books Stoned and 2Stoned with The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' manager Andrew Loog Oldham
Andrew Loog Oldham
Andrew Loog Oldham is an English producer, talent manager, impresario and author. He was manager and producer of The Rolling Stones from 1963, and was noted for his flamboyant style.-Biography:...
. Ronnie Fabulous is a filmmaker. Robert Hodges works at the Malvern Theatre in Worcestershire, as well as playing drums with The Tights & Dogs Of Santorini. Russell Underwood runs a printing business in South-East London.
Singles
- "Destined To Be Free" / "There's a Riot Going On" 7" (1991), Heavenly
- "Personality Recession" 12" (1992), Kinglake
- "Dead Friends" 7" (1993), Kinglake
- "Woolly Bully" (1993), Immediate Records - unreleased