Fabulous (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Simon Spence, Martyn Goodacre |
| Products | Music recordings |
Fabulous was a British rock ensemble established in 1991 by NME journalist Simon Spence (also known as Dudfield) alongside NME photographer Martyn Goodacre, originally performing under the name Baggy.
History
The founding members included Spence on vocals, Goodacre handling guitar duties, Russell Underwood also on guitar, Kieron "Ronnie Fabulous" Flynn playing bass, and Robert "Hodge" Hodges on drums. Initially named Baggy, the group was managed by NME features editor James Brown, who credited Fabulous’ activities as a key influence behind the creation of Loaded magazine. Their first single, "Destined To Be Free," was issued through Heavenly Records in November 1991 with sleeve artwork crafted by Paul Cannell, known for his work on Screamadelica. This release earned the distinction of NME's "Single of The Week." The band drew notice for their short yet impactful performances and the provocative T-shirts designed by Cannell. Jacqui and Carrie, who later formed part of Shampoo, frequently joined them on stage and managed their fan club.
Malcolm McLaren suggested they collaborate with producer Pete Waterman, which led to a contract in 1992 with Waterman’s PWL label and the establishment of their own imprint, PWL Rock. Following an appearance on Waterman's television program The Hitman And Her, Fabulous severed ties with PWL. Their planned album titled Produced by Kylie has never been released. Afterward, they independently issued two singles—"Personality Recession" and "Dead Friends"—under Kinglake Records. The band also briefly associated with Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate Records before eventually disbanding.
Publicity
Fabulous garnered more media attention through sensationalism than their musical output, frequently featuring in gossip columns within the music press. They made tabloid news after being barred from nearly all venues during their initial UK tour. The Sun published a headline "Fabulous bad boys banned" following a notorious incident involving stage destruction at Kingston Polytechnic, which was also reviewed by the NME. Additional media coverage stemmed from their connection with American actor Keanu Reeves, covered by outlets including The Daily Star, Smash Hits, and The Face.
Their Austin Maxi, dubbed the "Fab Mobile" and painted by Paul Cannell, was showcased in a segment on BBC2’s music program Rapido. Roger Morton, manager of Razorlight, provided their first live review for the NME on 27 July 1991, describing them as "the least dour group you will ever see." They appeared regularly in magazines such as i-D, The Face, The Wire, Select, and Melody Maker. Journalist Mark Simpson (journalist) featured them in an article for The Guardian and included them in his book titled Male Impersonators. Radio presenter Stuart Bailie championed the band at the NME, naming their debut single "single of the week" and writing in a January 1992 cover story: "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 pursues careers in photography and music, while also managing Kinglake Records. Under the alias 'Simon Dudfield,' Simon Spence provided interview material and conducted research for the autobiographies of The Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Ronnie Fabulous has established himself in the film industry as a director. Robert Hodges holds a position at Malvern Theatre in Worcestershire and performs as a drummer with The Tights and Dogs Of Santorini.
Discography
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 – never released
Albums
- Get Fucked by Fabulous (2022), Supermegabot