Rob Fisher
Encyclopedia
Rob Fisher was a British keyboardist and songwriter from Cheltenham
, England, who achieved chart success as a member of Naked Eyes
, and later Climie Fisher
. He attended Lord Wandsworth College
in Hampshire where he was a member of a band called Cirrus.
to form Neon, whose first single "Making Waves/Me I See You" was released on their own 3D Music
label. The band later went on to recruit Neil Taylor, Manny Elias
, Curt Smith
and Roland Orzabal
, before they finally broke up in December 1981. In 1982 Fisher and Pete Byrne formed the duo Naked Eyes
, who were to become key figures in the early days of synthpop
.
Naked Eyes' two biggest hit
s were their rendition of the Burt Bacharach
song "Always Something There to Remind Me
", and the self-penned "Promises, Promises." They had two more US Top 40 hits, "When the Lights Go Out" and "(What) In the Name of Love," before going their separate ways. They resumed their writing partnership after a five year break, and some of the songs written during this period were on the Naked Eyes album released in 2010.
In 1987, Fisher re-emerged as one half of the pop duo
Climie Fisher
with singer-songwriter Simon Climie
. Together they took "Love Changes (Everything)" to the UK No. 2 spot, while the hip-hop inspired "Rise to the Occasion" also cracked the Top Ten in the United Kingdom.
After the break-up of Climie Fisher, Fisher collaborated on several songs with Rick Astley
and Jules Shear
. For some years, Fisher had owned his own studio, The StoneRoom, in Shepherd's Bush, where, until shortly before his death, Fisher had been working with Pete Byrne on a new Naked Eyes studio album.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, England, who achieved chart success as a member of Naked Eyes
Naked Eyes
Naked Eyes is a British New Wave band that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. Originally a duo, the band is known largely for its singles: a cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David standard " Always Something There to Remind Me" , as well as the band's subsequent hits "Promises, Promises", "When...
, and later Climie Fisher
Climie Fisher
Climie Fisher were a UK pop duo formed by vocalist Simon Climie and former Naked Eyes keyboardist Rob Fisher...
. He attended Lord Wandsworth College
Lord Wandsworth College
Lord Wandsworth College, often abbreviated to LWC, is a medium-sized fully co-educational independent school in Hampshire, England. It takes both day and boarding pupils from the ages of 11 - 18. It is set among farmland adjacent to the small village of Long Sutton, near the small town of Odiham...
in Hampshire where he was a member of a band called Cirrus.
Career
Fisher's early bands were Whitewing (1975–1978) and the Xtians (1978), both during his time at Bath University. In 1979 he joined up with Pete ByrnePete Byrne
Pete Byrne is a Los Angeles, United States based English recording artist, and lead singer for the pop/New Wave duo Naked Eyes, during the earlier years of the 1980s. They are well known for their cover version of "Always Something There to Remind Me"...
to form Neon, whose first single "Making Waves/Me I See You" was released on their own 3D Music
Bristol record labels
The city of Bristol, in England, has since the mid 1970’s had a particularly fertile music culture, resulting in not only a great many influential musicians and bands, but also its own sound; Bristol Sound or Trip Hop. Along with the music scene, a number of local record labels also developed, some...
label. The band later went on to recruit Neil Taylor, Manny Elias
Manny Elias
Manny Elias is an English drummer, notable for being the original drummer with Tears for Fears during the 1980s.Originally a member of the rock band Interview from Bath, Somerset. Elias began working with Tears For Fears in 1982 and drummed on the albums The Hurting and Songs From The Big Chair,...
, Curt Smith
Curt Smith
Curt Smith is an English musician. He is best known for forming the band Tears for Fears, along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Also a solo artist, he released his third album Halfway, Pleased in May 2008....
and Roland Orzabal
Roland Orzabal
Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He is known mainly as a co-founding member of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint vocalist, but he has also achieved success as a producer of other artists.- Early career :Orzabal...
, before they finally broke up in December 1981. In 1982 Fisher and Pete Byrne formed the duo Naked Eyes
Naked Eyes
Naked Eyes is a British New Wave band that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. Originally a duo, the band is known largely for its singles: a cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David standard " Always Something There to Remind Me" , as well as the band's subsequent hits "Promises, Promises", "When...
, who were to become key figures in the early days of synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
.
Naked Eyes' two biggest hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
s were their rendition of the Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
song "Always Something There to Remind Me
(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me
" Always Something There to Remind Me" is a song written in the 1960s by songwriting team Burt Bacharach and Hal David.-First charting versions:...
", and the self-penned "Promises, Promises." They had two more US Top 40 hits, "When the Lights Go Out" and "(What) In the Name of Love," before going their separate ways. They resumed their writing partnership after a five year break, and some of the songs written during this period were on the Naked Eyes album released in 2010.
In 1987, Fisher re-emerged as one half of the pop duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
Climie Fisher
Climie Fisher
Climie Fisher were a UK pop duo formed by vocalist Simon Climie and former Naked Eyes keyboardist Rob Fisher...
with singer-songwriter Simon Climie
Simon Climie
Simon Climie is a songwriter/producer and the former lead singer of the UK pop duo Climie Fisher, who had hits with "Love Changes " and "Rise to the Occasion"....
. Together they took "Love Changes (Everything)" to the UK No. 2 spot, while the hip-hop inspired "Rise to the Occasion" also cracked the Top Ten in the United Kingdom.
After the break-up of Climie Fisher, Fisher collaborated on several songs with Rick Astley
Rick Astley
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
and Jules Shear
Jules Shear
Jules Mark Shear is a US singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Pittsburgh in 1952. Although he has had only one minor hit as a performer , he has recorded almost 20 albums to date...
. For some years, Fisher had owned his own studio, The StoneRoom, in Shepherd's Bush, where, until shortly before his death, Fisher had been working with Pete Byrne on a new Naked Eyes studio album.
Naked Eyes
- "Always Something There to Remind Me" (1983) No. 8 US, No. 59 UK
- "Promises, Promises" (1983) No. 11 U.S.
- "When the Lights Go Out" (1983) No. 37 U.S.
- "(What) In the Name of Love" (1984) No. 39 U.S.
Climie Fisher
- "Love Changes (Everything)" – 1987 – No. 67 UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
- "Keeping the Mystery Alive" – 1987
- "Rise to the Occasion" – 1987 – No. 10 UK
- "Love Changes (Everything)" – 1988 – No. 2 UK
- "This Is Me" – 1988 – No. 22 UK
- "I Won't Bleed for You" – 1988 – No. 35 UK
- "Love Like a River" – 1988 – No. 22 UK
- "Facts of Love" – 1989 – No. 50 UK
- "Fire on the Ocean" – 1989
- "It's Not Supposed to Be That Way" – 1990