Fumble (band)
Encyclopedia
Fumble were an English
rock and roll revival
group, that formed in 1967 and disbanded in 1982. They had specialised in covering rock and roll
classics. Although they were never particularly successful, the band did achieve some recognition appearing at some festivals
and on the television program
me, Oh Boy!.
, England
, by singer Des Henly and bassist Mario Ferrari under the name of 'The Balloons'.
In 1971 they changed their name to Fumble and, in September 1972, released their first album
, Fumble, on the EMI-Sovereign record label
.
In February and March 1973 they supported David Bowie
on his US
leg of the Ziggy Stardust Tour
. According to the NME
, Bowie had been attracted by the cover of their first album and offered them to support him on the tour. About Fumble, Bowie had been quoted saying that he "adored them" and that they were very unpretentious about revamping the whole area. Five years later in 1978, their keyboardist Sean Mayes
was recruited by Bowie to join his band for the Isolar II World Tour
.
The Bowie tour increased their fame and Fumble played several festivals in 1973, including the Reading Festival, the London Music Festival at Alexandra Palace
, and the Roskilde Festival
in Denmark
, after their single
"Hello Mary Lou
", had reached number 5 in the Danish charts in June 1973.
During the period from 1973 to 1976 they received some coverage in the UK
music weekly papers, NME, Sounds
and Melody Maker
.
The band had signed with RCA Records
and released their second album, Poetry in Motion, in 1974. The album sleeve was designed by Hipgnosis.
From 1977 to 1979, Fumble performed together with Shakin' Stevens
and P.J. Proby in the West-End musical Elvis
at the Astoria Theatre in London. This was followed by a remake of the 1959 TV series Oh Boy! in 1979, both directed by Jack Good
.
Mayes died of AIDS
in 1995, at the age of 49.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
rock and roll revival
Rock and roll revival
Rock and Roll Revival was a back-to-basics musical trend of the late 1960s and early 1970s, in a sort-of backlash against the heavier and psychedelic rock sounds then in vogue....
group, that formed in 1967 and disbanded in 1982. They had specialised in covering rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
classics. Although they were never particularly successful, the band did achieve some recognition appearing at some festivals
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
and on the television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
me, Oh Boy!.
History
The group was formed in 1967 in Weston-super-MareWeston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, by singer Des Henly and bassist Mario Ferrari under the name of 'The Balloons'.
In 1971 they changed their name to Fumble and, in September 1972, released their first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Fumble, on the EMI-Sovereign record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
In February and March 1973 they supported David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
on his US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
leg of the Ziggy Stardust Tour
Ziggy Stardust Tour
The Ziggy Stardust Tour was a concert tour by David Bowie in United Kingdom, North America, and Japan in 1972-73, to promote the studio albums Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane.-The band:*David Bowie - vocals, guitar, harmonica...
. According to the NME
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...
, Bowie had been attracted by the cover of their first album and offered them to support him on the tour. About Fumble, Bowie had been quoted saying that he "adored them" and that they were very unpretentious about revamping the whole area. Five years later in 1978, their keyboardist Sean Mayes
Sean Mayes
Sean Mayes was a British pianist and writer.Born in Stone Allerton, Somerset, Mayes was schooled in Bristol. He won a place at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he obtained a degree in philosophy....
was recruited by Bowie to join his band for the Isolar II World Tour
Isolar II - The 1978 World Tour
The Isolar II – The 1978 World Tour, more commonly known as The Low / Heroes World Tour or The Stage Tour, was a worldwide concert tour by David Bowie...
.
The Bowie tour increased their fame and Fumble played several festivals in 1973, including the Reading Festival, the London Music Festival at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
, and the Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, after their single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Hello Mary Lou
Hello Mary Lou
"Hello Mary Lou" is a song written by U.S. singer Gene Pitney and Cayet Mangiaracina and performed by Ricky Nelson in English and German in 1961. It reached #9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961, although the other side of the single, "Travelin' Man", hit #1...
", had reached number 5 in the Danish charts in June 1973.
During the period from 1973 to 1976 they received some coverage in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music weekly papers, NME, Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
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...
.
The band had signed with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and released their second album, Poetry in Motion, in 1974. The album sleeve was designed by Hipgnosis.
From 1977 to 1979, Fumble performed together with Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...
and P.J. Proby in the West-End musical Elvis
Elvis (musical)
Elvis is a jukebox musical based upon the life of Elvis Presley, conceived and directed by Jack Good and Ray Cooney. The original cast included Shakin' Stevens, who later became one of the top selling UK singles artist of the 1980s.-Production history:...
at the Astoria Theatre in London. This was followed by a remake of the 1959 TV series Oh Boy! in 1979, both directed by Jack Good
Jack Good
John or Jack Good may refer to:* I. J. Good, Irving John Good , British statistician* John G. Good, Pennsylvania politician* Jack Good , icon painter and television & music producer...
.
Mayes died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in 1995, at the age of 49.
External links
- [ Discography at AMG]