Fred Fairbrass

born on 3/11/1963

Right Said Fred

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Right Said Fred

Right Said Fred are an English band based in London and formed by brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass in 1989. Guitarist Rob Manzoli joined the duo in 1990. The group are named after the song which was a hit for Bernard Cribbins in 1962. With over 20 million CDs sold worldwide, the group has achieved multi-platinum status and has also won two Ivor Novello Awards – for "I'm Too Sexy" and "Deeply Dippy". Before forming Right Said Fred, the Fairbrass brothers had played with Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Mick Jagger.

1991-1992: Im Too Sexy and Up

In July 1991, they released their debut single, "I'm Too Sexy", on the independent London-based record label Tug Records. The track is a distinctive dance song which takes a gentle swipe at the fashion industry and features an instrumental break based on "Third Stone from the Sun" by Jimi Hendrix.[1]

It was a huge hit in the United Kingdom, spending six weeks at number two in the charts behind Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It for You, and three months in the Top 10. The song also went to number one in 32 countries including the United States where it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] The song earned the band its first Ivor Novello award.

Right Said Fred are the first UK band since The Beatles to reach the number one slot in the USA with a debut single. The single also went to number four on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.[3] "I'm Too Sexy" has been used in over 50 movies and 100 TV commercials.

Their second single, "Don't Talk Just Kiss", with background vocals by soul singer Jocelyn Brown, was released in October 1991. It made number three in the Christmas UK charts, entered the top five in many countries and reached number eight in the US dance chart.[3]

In February 1992, the band released its third single, "Deeply Dippy". This was number one in the UK for three weeks and peaked at number nine in the US dance chart.[3]

The success of the singles resulted in the band's Multi-Platinum debut album, Up, reaching number one in the UK album charts as well as charting worldwide. The album remained in the Top 40 for almost a year.[4]

In 1992, Heavenly Records released an EP that featured the label's acts covering Right Said Fred songs for charity. The Fred EP contains Saint Etienne (performing "Im Too Sexy"), The Rockingbirds ("Deeply Dippy") and Flowered Up ("Don't Talk Just Kiss").[5]

1993-1994: Sex and Travel

Early in 1993 Fred, Richard and Rob wrote and recorded the Comic Relief single, Stick It Out, which was a top five hit in the UK and in many European countries. In September 1993 Right Said Fred released its second album, Sex and Travel, to critical acclaim. Sex and Travel included the hit singles Bumped and Hands Up for Lovers.

The band received its second Ivor Novello award for Deeply Dippy.

1995-1996: Smashing!

Right Said Fred parted company with Tug Records then released its third album, Smashing!, in 1996 on the band's own label – Happy Valley Records. Living on a Dream, Big Time and Everybody Loves Me were all European hits. The band went on the road and performed to sell-out shows all over Europe. In 1996, Richard presented the ground breaking TV show, Gaytime TV, for the BBC.

1997-2001: Rob leaves, Youre my Mate and Fredhead

Rob Manzoli left the band on friendly terms in 1997. At this point the Fairbrass brothers took some time out to gather their thoughts. Richard continued to present Gaytime TV for the BBC.

In 1998 Fred and Richard set up their own recording studio in London and started writing and recording what became the Gold album Fredhead.

In 2000, Right Said Fred signed to Kingsize/BMG Berlin in Germany, collaborating with Alex Christensen and award winning songwriter and producer Clyde Ward for most of the material on Fredhead. The first single, You're My Mate (Fairbrass-Gray) was a UK hit, reached number four in GSA, and entered the German charts at number two, remaining in the top 10 for most of 2000.

You're My Mate became a football stadium anthem and was also used as the official song of the South Africa national rugby union team in 2002. Other hit singles from Fredhead were Mojive (Ward) and Love Song (AC16). Youre My Mate continues as a sports anthem all over the world and a line-dancing favourite in the US.

2002-2003: Stand Up

The second Kingsize/BMG album Stand Up went straight into the German top 10. The single Stand Up (For the Champions), composed by Clyde Ward and the Fairbrass brothers, was also a top 10 hit in Germany and reached number one in Japan. The track became a popular anthem for sport channels, such as SuperSport in South Africa and sports teams including The Cincinnati Bengals (NFL), Borussia Dortmund FC, Manchester United FC and Saracens RC, a top English rugby team. It also featured at the Super Bowl in the USA.

Jay-Z referenced Right Said Fred in his hit The Rulers Back in the line "Im too sexy for jail like Right Said Fred".

2004-2006: For Sale

Due to family ill-health, Fred and Richard took some time out from travelling to write and record the hit single We Are The Freds and the For Sale album for the Ministry of Sound.

In late 2004, Right Said Fred toured extensively in Europe, playing festivals and arenas, and performed as special guests on German superstar Nena's tour. They performed at the 2006 World Cup opening ceremony in front of 200,000 people at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, and were special guests at The Bollywood Awards in Mumbai in front of a live TV audience of 200 million. Tom Hanks impersonated Right Said Fred on Saturday Night Live singing "dont cut off my testicles".

2007-2010: I'm a Celebrity

During 2007 and 2008, Fred and Richard collaborated with Clyde Ward to write and record their sixth album I'm a Celebrity. The Album was produced by Ward, and for the US release, Right Said Fred teamed up with David Levine at Promark Music. David made his name at the iconic label Casablanca Records with Donna Summer, amongst many others.

Released in 2008, Im A Celebrity was the first single from the album, and parodied celebrity culture. With remixes by DJ Reza and Raul Rincon, it became another US Top 10 Club/Dance Chart hit. On the back of this success, Fred and Richard appeared in the US on Good Morning America, as well as on shows on Fox TV, VH1, MTV and TMZ.

In late July 2009, Right Said Fred released Sexy Bum in Germany, the first single from the band's HITS! album.

In 2010 remixes by Klubjumpers and DJ Reza of This Love and I am a Bachelor, both from the Im a Celebrity album, were US Club/Dance hits.

Fred and Richard took the band back on the road performing at summer European festivals. The band also staged acoustic shows in the UK including one at Londons Leicester Square Theatre where the Night of the Living Fred DVD was filmed.

2011-2012: Sexaholic

Right Said Fred hooked up with Norwegian hit-machine Tom Onions to record Sexaholic. Remixes of the track by Klubjumpers and MajikBoys reached the top five on the US Dance/Club Charts and stayed there for six months.

Fred and Richard, along with Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson and Sting, made special guest appearances on Ricky Gervais hit TV series Lifes Too Short. The brothers also appeared in cameo roles in the Universal Pictures UK movie Gridiron.

2013: Raise Your Hands

Raise Your Hands is Right Said Fred's first 2013 single and was written and produced by Clyde Ward (PRS/MCPS). It was released in the USA with remixes from DJ Kash, DJ Sphank and The Majikboys. Entries in the prestigious ZipDJ charts as well as the Latino top 10 (*Right Said Fred Website Official) has led to critical acclaim for the song.(PRS/MCPS)

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
UK
[6]
AUS
[7]
AUT
[8]
GER
[9]
NL
[10]
NZ
[11]
SWE
[12]
SWI
[13]
US
[14]
Up
  • Release date: 16 March 1992
  • Label: Tug Records
  • Formats: Vinyl, CD, cassette
1 39 1 8 9 23 16 22 46
  • CAN: Platinum[15]
  • UK: 2× Platinum[16]
  • US: Gold[17]
Sex and Travel
  • Release date: 1993
  • Label: EMI Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
35 35 88 91
Smashing!
  • Release date: 1996
  • Label: Happy Valley Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Fredhead
  • Release date: 23 October 2001
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Formats: CD, cassette
4 2 75
Stand Up
  • Release date: 26 August 2002
  • Label: Kingsize Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
29 9
For Sale
  • Release date: 23 January 2006
  • Label: Ministry of Sound
  • Formats: CD, music download
61
I'm a Celebrity
  • Release date: 14 October 2008
  • Label: Promark Music
  • Formats: CD, music download
Stop the World
  • Release date: 1 May 2011
  • Label: Luv Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
"" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

Title Details
Greatest Hits
  • Release date: 23 December 2003
  • Label: Hansa Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Introducing...
  • Release date: 17 August 2004
  • Label: Empire Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
Album
UK
[18]
AUS
[19]
AUT
[20]
BEL
(FLA)
[21]
GER
[22]
IRE
[23]
NL
[24]
NZ
[25]
US
[26]
US
Dance
[27]
1991 "I'm Too Sexy" 2 1 1 3 14 1 19 1 1 4
  • CAN: Gold[28]
  • UK: Gold[16]
  • US: Platinum[29]
Up
"Don't Talk Just Kiss" 3 18 5 11 2 8 3 16 76 8
1992 "Deeply Dippy" 1 38 6 14 15 1 9 11 9
  • UK: Silver[16]
"Those Simple Things/Daydream" 29 29 27 48 21 23
1993 "Stick It Out" 4 25
"Bumped" 32 25 54 37 29 Sex and Travel
"Hands Up (4 Lovers)" 60 82
1994 "Wonderman" 55 50
1995 "Living on a Dream" 91 17 66 Smashing!
1996 "Everybody Loves Me" 74
"Big Time" 77 53
2001 "Mojive" 35 46 Fredhead
"You're My Mate" 18 4 6 43
2001 "Love Song" 21
"Stand Up (For the Champions)" 14 Stand Up
2006 "Where Do You Go to My Lovely?" 40 36 For Sale
2007 "I'm Too Sexy" (re-release) 56
2008 "I'm a Celebrity" I'm a Celebrity
2009 "Sexy Bum" Hits
"Right on the Kisser"
"" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. Right Said Fred's I'm Too Sexy sample of Jimi Hendrix's Third Stone From the Sun. WhoSampled. Retrieved on 9 January 2014.
  2. Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of #1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003, (Record Research Inc.)
  4. http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/right%20said%20fred/
  5. http://www.discogs.com/Flowered-Up-St-Etienne-Rockingbirds-The-Fred-EP/release/138741
  6. Chart Stats Right Said Fred. chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  7. australian-charts.com Australian charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  8. austriancharts.at Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  9. Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts German Albums. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  10. dutchcharts.nl Dutch charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  11. charts.org.nz New Zealand charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  12. swedishcharts.com Swedish charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  13. The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  14. You must specify title = and url = when using {{cite web}}.. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  15. Gold & Platinum Search Music Canada Right Said Fred Albums. Music Canada. Retrieved on 17 August 2011.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 BPI Searchable Database. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 17 March 2011.
  17. RIAA Gold & Platinum March 18, 2011: Up certified awards. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  18. Chart Stats Right Said Fred. chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved on 17 March 2011.
  19. australian-charts.com Australian charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  20. austriancharts.at Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 17 March 2011.
  21. Flanders peak
  22. Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts German Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 17 March 2011.
  23. Search for Irish peaks
  24. Top 40 Artiest: Right Said Fred. Dutch Top 40. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  25. charts.org.nz New Zealand charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  26. You must specify title = and url = when using {{cite web}}.. Billboard. Retrieved on 17 March 2011.
  27. You must specify title = and url = when using {{cite web}}.. Billboard. Retrieved on 17 March 2011.
  28. Gold & Platinum Music Canada Right Said Fred Singles. Music Canada. Retrieved on 17 August 2011.
  29. RIAA Gold & Platinum March 17, 2011: "I'm Too Sexy" certified awards. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 17 March 2011.

External links

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This page was last modified 17.04.2014 11:16:35

This article uses material from the article Right Said Fred from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.