The Fratellis
Encyclopedia
The Fratellis were an indie rock
band from Glasgow
, Scotland. The band consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Jon Fratelli
(born John Lawler), bass guitarist Barry Fratelli (born Barry Wallace), and drummer and backing vocalist Mince Fratelli (born Gordon McRory).
The band released 2 albums during their career, Costello Music
in 2006 and Here We Stand
in 2008. Known for their energetic live shows, the band played with a 3-piece horn section during 2007 and in 2008/2009 were assisted by Will Foster
on keyboards and guitar. After finishing the touring schedule for Here We Stand the band entered indefinite hiatus.
. They played their first show on 4 March 2005 in the O'Henry's bar in Glasgow across the road from the famous Horseshoe bar, and received their first radio playing in 2005, on central Scotland's Beat 106 (later XFM Scotland, now Galaxy Scotland
) Beatscene show hosted by Jim Gellatly
. They were signed by Fallout Records.
The Fratellis EP
was released on 3 April 2006, featuring the tracks "Creepin' Up the Backstairs", "Stacie Anne" and "The Gutterati?". The NME
ran a two page feature on The Fratellis in 10 August 2006 issue, proclaiming them "the best new band in Britain". "Creepin' Up the Backstairs" was never a single released by the band, even though a video was made for it. It was not eligible for the charts. The first single released by the band was "Henrietta", which was released on 12 June 2006 and charted at number 19 on the UK Charts.
was the debut album for The Fratellis and was released on 11 September 2006. It charted at number two in the UK album charts for three weeks. The success of the album led to The Fratellis winning the BRIT award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 2007, an award that was voted for by BBC Radio One listeners.
The Fratellis supported Kasabian in December 2006 on their UK tour before playing 10 dates by themselves in February and March 2007. The locations included Nottingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London. Following the release of the album, The Fratellis embarked on a tour of the UK festival circuit, playing at Glastonbury and headlining at festivals such as NME's Rock 'n' Riot tour, OXEGEN 2007 and T in the Park 2007, amongst others. They also opened for The Police Reunion Tour
in the summer of 2007 in some of the North America dates.
The Fratellis also recorded some cover songs during the year including "All Along the Watchtower
" for Radio 1's 40th Anniversary Double Album, Radio 1: Established 1967, and "Solid Gold Easy Action
" for the soundtrack of the film Hot Fuzz
, which also included the single "Baby Fratelli
".
The band released their first live DVD, Edgy In Brixton
, in the UK on October 1, 2007, which was recorded at the Brixton Academy in London. The DVD contains a full live performance of the debut album Costello Music
, B-sides from various singles and a new song called "Pretty Like a Girl". Extras on the DVD include the band being asked questions by members of The Fratellis' website, and on the deluxe edition, highlights from the T in the Park
2007 festival. It was released in the United States on 30 October 2007.
On 10 February 2009, three songs from the album Costello Music- "Creepin' Up the Backstairs", "Flathead" and "Henrietta"- were made available as downloadable content (DLC) for the video game Rock Band 2
.
, was first mentioned in November 2007 on the Fratellis' official website, which stated that work had begun on the album in a rehearsal space in Glasgow. The band said that they were self-producing the album and had their own studio to record in. Recording finished on 13 January 2008.
On 22 February 2008, they played a small show for fans at Queen Margaret Union
to debut new songs from the upcoming album. About eight new songs from their new album were played, including "Mistress Mabel
", "Acid Jazz Singer", and "Look Out Sunshine!
". This performance introduced two new touring members, a guitarist, Robin Peringer
and a keyboard player, Will Foster
. However, after the Teenage Cancer Trust
show in 2008, Robin departed the tour for unknown reasons. Will Foster subsequently played both keyboard and guitar during live performances.
The album, was released on 9 June 2008 in the UK and 10 June 2008 in the United States. The band marked the US release of the album with sold-out shows in New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles. The first single from the album,"Mistress Mabel
", was released on 26 May 2008. The next single, "Look Out Sunshine!
", released on 18 August 2008 and with money going towards the Teenage Cancer Trust. The third single was "A Heady Tale
", released on 22 December. The Fratellis released a deluxe edition of Here We Stand internationally on 8 December. The CD included a new song titled "Moriarty's Last Stand" and the accompanying DVD which features "The Year of the Thief" (a documentary of the band on the road in the US), a live show filmed on 18 June 2008 at the Fillmore, San Francisco; performances of "Milk and Money", "Flathead" and "Mistress Mabel" from Abbey Road Studios and the videos for the singles "Mistress Mabel" and "Look Out Sunshine!".
During 2009, the band did a mini-tour of Australia and Japan during February and March. The Fratellis headlined the Island Records 50th anniversary show on 27 May 2009 where they debuted their new track to be included on the Island 50: 50 Years of Island Records which was Bob Marley
's "Stir It Up
". The band also headlined the Hop Farm Festival 2009 on 4 July, with a gig at the Middlesbrough Empire on 3 July to prepare for the upcoming headline slot.
called Codeine Velvet Club
. He released an album
with the band in December 2009 and toured during late 2009 and early 2010, before declaring that he will be leaving the band to pursue a solo career, taking the backing band with him . He has since released his debut solo album entitled Psycho Jukebox
and has embarked on tours in Scotland and the UK.
Barry initially stated that he is starting his own musical project in the coming months and will let Fratellis fans know about it via The Fratellis website. He didn't let fans know his musical ventures until November 2011, where he revealed he had joined Birmingham band The Twang
.
Mince initially joined a heavy metal band called Throne o' Diablo , before leaving the band to join Jon's solo band as a second drummer, backing vocalist and occasional guitarist. He is currently recording new material with Jon.
On 22 April 2010, various media sources reported that the band had split up, taking posts from Jon and Barry on the band's forum and twisting the truth. After the story was put out, Jon updated his Twitter with a "cryptic message" which pointed towards the band's split being false, he then posted on a thread on the band's forum which was discussing the split, stating "I haven't split from anyone....!". In a June 2010 interview, Jon said on the band's future "Back home, it's been misjudged. People need absolutes and definites, but I've never lived my life like that. I have no plans to work with the Fratellis right just now, but that doesn't mean not ever. Sometimes, you find people you like to play with, and that's what it's like with the Codeine band. It's good to have choices."
In February 2011, after completing work on his debut solo album Psycho Jukebox
, Jon stated that:
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland. The band consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Jon Fratelli
Jon Fratelli
Jon Fratelli is a Scottish musician and songwriter best known for his work with the band The Fratellis. He has also played in a band called Codeine Velvet Club but is currently performing as a solo artist.-Early years:Little is known about Lawler's life before he joined the Fratellis. He attended St...
(born John Lawler), bass guitarist Barry Fratelli (born Barry Wallace), and drummer and backing vocalist Mince Fratelli (born Gordon McRory).
The band released 2 albums during their career, Costello Music
Costello Music
Costello Music is the debut album by Scottish rock band The Fratellis. It was released on 30 October 2006 on Fallout Records and was a moderate success, peaking at #2 in the UK Albums Chart and spent 83 weeks in the Top 100. It debuted behind FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake and stayed in...
in 2006 and Here We Stand
Here We Stand (The Fratellis album)
-Deluxe Edition:As well as containing the entire album on a CD with bonus track "Moriarty's Last Stand", the deluxe edition also contained a DVD with the following:* The Year of the Thief...
in 2008. Known for their energetic live shows, the band played with a 3-piece horn section during 2007 and in 2008/2009 were assisted by Will Foster
Will Foster
Will Foster is the keyboardist for the English rock band The Tears.Previously, he played with UK art rock band Delicatessen before forming Lodger - alongside Delicatessen singer Neil Carlill, Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey, and Goffey's wife Pearl Lowe....
on keyboards and guitar. After finishing the touring schedule for Here We Stand the band entered indefinite hiatus.
2005–2006: Beginnings and The Fratellis EP
The band's name came from the surname of the criminal family in the 1985 film The GooniesThe Goonies
The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure-comedy film directed by Richard Donner. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. The premise surrounds a band of pre-teens who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon hoping to save...
. They played their first show on 4 March 2005 in the O'Henry's bar in Glasgow across the road from the famous Horseshoe bar, and received their first radio playing in 2005, on central Scotland's Beat 106 (later XFM Scotland, now Galaxy Scotland
Galaxy Scotland
105-106 Capital is a regional radio station broadcasting to Scotland's Central Belt, an area surrounding the two cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the kingdom of Fife...
) Beatscene show hosted by Jim Gellatly
Jim Gellatly
Jim Gellatly is a Scottish radio presenter and DJ. He currently presents the New Music show In:Demand Uncut across Scotland, and a weekly showcase on the UK-wide DAB digital radio station Amazing Radio.-Biography:...
. They were signed by Fallout Records.
The Fratellis EP
The Fratellis EP
The Fratellis EP was the debut EP released on 3 April 2006 by Scottish band The Fratellis. There are only a limited number of physical copies of this available in the UK. "Creepin' Up The Backstairs" was ineligible for the UK Charts due to the fact the EP was limited in numbers and contained...
was released on 3 April 2006, featuring the tracks "Creepin' Up the Backstairs", "Stacie Anne" and "The Gutterati?". 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...
ran a two page feature on The Fratellis in 10 August 2006 issue, proclaiming them "the best new band in Britain". "Creepin' Up the Backstairs" was never a single released by the band, even though a video was made for it. It was not eligible for the charts. The first single released by the band was "Henrietta", which was released on 12 June 2006 and charted at number 19 on the UK Charts.
2006–2007: Costello Music
Costello MusicCostello Music
Costello Music is the debut album by Scottish rock band The Fratellis. It was released on 30 October 2006 on Fallout Records and was a moderate success, peaking at #2 in the UK Albums Chart and spent 83 weeks in the Top 100. It debuted behind FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake and stayed in...
was the debut album for The Fratellis and was released on 11 September 2006. It charted at number two in the UK album charts for three weeks. The success of the album led to The Fratellis winning the BRIT award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 2007, an award that was voted for by BBC Radio One listeners.
The Fratellis supported Kasabian in December 2006 on their UK tour before playing 10 dates by themselves in February and March 2007. The locations included Nottingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London. Following the release of the album, The Fratellis embarked on a tour of the UK festival circuit, playing at Glastonbury and headlining at festivals such as NME's Rock 'n' Riot tour, OXEGEN 2007 and T in the Park 2007, amongst others. They also opened for The Police Reunion Tour
The Police Reunion Tour
The Police Reunion Tour was a 2007–2008 worldwide concert tour by The Police, marking the 30th anniversary of their beginnings. At its conclusion, the tour became the third highest grossing tour of all time, with revenues reaching over $340 million...
in the summer of 2007 in some of the North America dates.
The Fratellis also recorded some cover songs during the year including "All Along the Watchtower
All Along the Watchtower
"All Along the Watchtower" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song, which has been included on most of Dylan's greatest hits compilations, initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. Over the past 35 years, he has performed it in concert more...
" for Radio 1's 40th Anniversary Double Album, Radio 1: Established 1967, and "Solid Gold Easy Action
Solid Gold Easy Action
-External links:* at LyricWiki...
" for the soundtrack of the film Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz is a 2007 British action dark comedy film written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, and starring Pegg and Nick Frost. The three had previously worked together on the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead as well as the television series Spaced...
, which also included the single "Baby Fratelli
Baby Fratelli
"Baby Fratelli" is The Fratellis' fourth single from their debut album Costello Music. It was released on 12 March 2007, in CD, 7-inch vinyl, and DVD single formats. A limited edition USB stick was later released on 19 March 2007. This USB stick contained a weblink to an exclusive documentary, as...
".
The band released their first live DVD, Edgy In Brixton
Edgy In Brixton
Edgy In Brixton is a DVD by The Fratellis consisting largely of a live concert recorded at that was recorded at the Brixton Academy, released October 1, 2007...
, in the UK on October 1, 2007, which was recorded at the Brixton Academy in London. The DVD contains a full live performance of the debut album Costello Music
Costello Music
Costello Music is the debut album by Scottish rock band The Fratellis. It was released on 30 October 2006 on Fallout Records and was a moderate success, peaking at #2 in the UK Albums Chart and spent 83 weeks in the Top 100. It debuted behind FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake and stayed in...
, B-sides from various singles and a new song called "Pretty Like a Girl". Extras on the DVD include the band being asked questions by members of The Fratellis' website, and on the deluxe edition, highlights from the T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
2007 festival. It was released in the United States on 30 October 2007.
On 10 February 2009, three songs from the album Costello Music- "Creepin' Up the Backstairs", "Flathead" and "Henrietta"- were made available as downloadable content (DLC) for the video game Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
.
2007–2009: Here We Stand
The band's second album, Here We StandHere We Stand (The Fratellis album)
-Deluxe Edition:As well as containing the entire album on a CD with bonus track "Moriarty's Last Stand", the deluxe edition also contained a DVD with the following:* The Year of the Thief...
, was first mentioned in November 2007 on the Fratellis' official website, which stated that work had begun on the album in a rehearsal space in Glasgow. The band said that they were self-producing the album and had their own studio to record in. Recording finished on 13 January 2008.
On 22 February 2008, they played a small show for fans at Queen Margaret Union
Queen Margaret Union
The Queen Margaret Union is one of two students' unions at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1890, it caters for the social and cultural needs of its members by providing a range of services including, entertainments, catering, shop facilities, bars and games.-History:The Queen...
to debut new songs from the upcoming album. About eight new songs from their new album were played, including "Mistress Mabel
Mistress Mabel
"Mistress Mabel" is a song by The Fratellis and the first single from their second album Here We Stand. The single was released on 26 May 2008. The song was first introduced by the band at their Queen Margaret Union show on 22 February 2008 as the first song on the setlist...
", "Acid Jazz Singer", and "Look Out Sunshine!
Look Out Sunshine!
"Look Out Sunshine!" is a song by Scottish rock band The Fratellis from their second album Here We Stand. The song is the second single release from the album after "Mistress Mabel"...
". This performance introduced two new touring members, a guitarist, Robin Peringer
764-HERO
764-HERO was an American Indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, signed to Up Records. The band's name, suggested by a friend, is taken from the Washington State Department of Transportation phone number for reporting HOV lane violators ....
and a keyboard player, Will Foster
Will Foster
Will Foster is the keyboardist for the English rock band The Tears.Previously, he played with UK art rock band Delicatessen before forming Lodger - alongside Delicatessen singer Neil Carlill, Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey, and Goffey's wife Pearl Lowe....
. However, after the Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust is a charity that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer, leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and related diseases by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. The units are dedicated areas for teenage patients, who are involved in their concept and creation...
show in 2008, Robin departed the tour for unknown reasons. Will Foster subsequently played both keyboard and guitar during live performances.
The album, was released on 9 June 2008 in the UK and 10 June 2008 in the United States. The band marked the US release of the album with sold-out shows in New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles. The first single from the album,"Mistress Mabel
Mistress Mabel
"Mistress Mabel" is a song by The Fratellis and the first single from their second album Here We Stand. The single was released on 26 May 2008. The song was first introduced by the band at their Queen Margaret Union show on 22 February 2008 as the first song on the setlist...
", was released on 26 May 2008. The next single, "Look Out Sunshine!
Look Out Sunshine!
"Look Out Sunshine!" is a song by Scottish rock band The Fratellis from their second album Here We Stand. The song is the second single release from the album after "Mistress Mabel"...
", released on 18 August 2008 and with money going towards the Teenage Cancer Trust. The third single was "A Heady Tale
A Heady Tale
A Heady Tale is the third single by Scottish rock band, The Fratellis from their second album, Here We Stand. It was released on 22 December 2008.. This song is 1 of the 4 tracks on Here We Stand to have a heavy use of piano...
", released on 22 December. The Fratellis released a deluxe edition of Here We Stand internationally on 8 December. The CD included a new song titled "Moriarty's Last Stand" and the accompanying DVD which features "The Year of the Thief" (a documentary of the band on the road in the US), a live show filmed on 18 June 2008 at the Fillmore, San Francisco; performances of "Milk and Money", "Flathead" and "Mistress Mabel" from Abbey Road Studios and the videos for the singles "Mistress Mabel" and "Look Out Sunshine!".
During 2009, the band did a mini-tour of Australia and Japan during February and March. The Fratellis headlined the Island Records 50th anniversary show on 27 May 2009 where they debuted their new track to be included on the Island 50: 50 Years of Island Records which was Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
's "Stir It Up
Stir It Up
"Stir It Up" is a song composed by Bob Marley in 1967, written for his wife Rita, and first made popular by Johnny Nash. Nash's recording hit the top 15 in both Britain and America in 1972....
". The band also headlined the Hop Farm Festival 2009 on 4 July, with a gig at the Middlesbrough Empire on 3 July to prepare for the upcoming headline slot.
2009–Present: Hiatus and New Bands
Since the Hop Farm Festival appearance in July 2009, the Fratellis are on indefinite hiatus and have each moved on to new bands. Jon formed a new band with singer/songwriter Lou HickeyLou Hickey
Lou Hickey is a singer-songwriter from Neilston near Glasgow, Scotland. She has been working as a solo artist since 2006 and in 2008, joined Jon Lawler from the Fratellis in a band called Codeine Velvet Club which disbanded in 2010...
called Codeine Velvet Club
Codeine Velvet Club
Codeine Velvet Club was a Scottish alternative rock band formed in 2008 by Lou Hickey and Jon Lawler. The band's debut album Codeine Velvet Club was released on 28 December 2009 in the UK and on 6 April 2010 in the US....
. He released an album
Codeine Velvet Club (album)
- Personnel :Codeine Velvet Club* Jon Lawler – Guitar, Bass, Vocals* Lou Hickey – VocalsFeaturing* Ross McFarlane - Drums * Affy Ahmad - Drums * Helen MacLeod - Harp...
with the band in December 2009 and toured during late 2009 and early 2010, before declaring that he will be leaving the band to pursue a solo career, taking the backing band with him . He has since released his debut solo album entitled Psycho Jukebox
Psycho Jukebox
A Scottish edition of the album was released with the following extra tracks. This version is also avaliable on iTunes as the deluxe version, which also includes "Aeroplanes" as a pre-order bonus track and doesn't include "Sometimes You Just Can't Win"....
and has embarked on tours in Scotland and the UK.
Barry initially stated that he is starting his own musical project in the coming months and will let Fratellis fans know about it via The Fratellis website. He didn't let fans know his musical ventures until November 2011, where he revealed he had joined Birmingham band The Twang
The Twang
The Twang are an indie rock band from Birmingham, England, formed in 2001. The band have released two studio albums - Love It When I Feel Like This and Jewellery Quarter...
.
Mince initially joined a heavy metal band called Throne o' Diablo , before leaving the band to join Jon's solo band as a second drummer, backing vocalist and occasional guitarist. He is currently recording new material with Jon.
On 22 April 2010, various media sources reported that the band had split up, taking posts from Jon and Barry on the band's forum and twisting the truth. After the story was put out, Jon updated his Twitter with a "cryptic message" which pointed towards the band's split being false, he then posted on a thread on the band's forum which was discussing the split, stating "I haven't split from anyone....!". In a June 2010 interview, Jon said on the band's future "Back home, it's been misjudged. People need absolutes and definites, but I've never lived my life like that. I have no plans to work with the Fratellis right just now, but that doesn't mean not ever. Sometimes, you find people you like to play with, and that's what it's like with the Codeine band. It's good to have choices."
In February 2011, after completing work on his debut solo album Psycho Jukebox
Psycho Jukebox
A Scottish edition of the album was released with the following extra tracks. This version is also avaliable on iTunes as the deluxe version, which also includes "Aeroplanes" as a pre-order bonus track and doesn't include "Sometimes You Just Can't Win"....
, Jon stated that:
Discography
- Costello MusicCostello MusicCostello Music is the debut album by Scottish rock band The Fratellis. It was released on 30 October 2006 on Fallout Records and was a moderate success, peaking at #2 in the UK Albums Chart and spent 83 weeks in the Top 100. It debuted behind FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake and stayed in...
(2006) - Here We StandHere We Stand (The Fratellis album)-Deluxe Edition:As well as containing the entire album on a CD with bonus track "Moriarty's Last Stand", the deluxe edition also contained a DVD with the following:* The Year of the Thief...
(2008)
Awards
| Date | Award | Awarding Body |
|---|---|---|
| 4 July 2008 | Best British Band | 33rd Silver Clef Awards 2008 |
| 27 January 2008 | Best European Border Breaking Act- United Kingdom | 2008 European Border Breakers Awards |
| 14 February 2007 | Best British Breakthrough Act | BRIT Awards 2007 2007 BRIT Awards The 2007 BRIT Awards was the 27th edition of the biggest annual pop music awards in the United Kingdom. They are run by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 14 February 2007 at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London... |