Fiction Factory

Fiction Factory

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1982 in Perth, Scotland
Founder	Kevin Patterson, Eddie Jordan, Chic Medley
Defunct	1987 (initial breakup)
Headquarters	Perth , Scotland
Products	Music albums and singles

Fiction Factory was a new wave ensemble from Perth, Scotland, established in 1982. They are primarily recognized for their hit single "((Feels Like) Heaven)," which climbed to number six on the UK Singles Chart. The band emerged from former members of the ska outfit The Rude Boys, with the principal lineup featuring Kevin Patterson (lead vocals), Eddie Jordan (keyboards), Chic Medley (guitar), Graham McGregor (bass), and Mike Ogletree (drums). Their musical style blended melodic synthesizer elements with reflective lyrics, typical of early 1980s new wave music.

Their first album, Throw the Warped Wheel Out (1984), attracted some critical notice but did not achieve the commercial heights of their hit single. The subsequent release, Another Story (1985), failed to make a significant impact on the charts, which contributed to the group's eventual breakup shortly thereafter. Though their career was brief, "(Feels Like) Heaven" endures as an iconic example of 1980s synth-pop and is frequently included in various compilations and retrospectives.

Rise to Prominence (1982–1987)

Prior to creating Fiction Factory in 1982, Kevin Patterson (vocals) and Eddie Jordan (keyboards) were members of Street People and later joined the ska band The Rude Boys alongside Grant Taylor and Chic Medley. Due to artistic disagreements, Patterson, Jordan, and Medley departed to form Fiction Factory. They recruited Graham McGregor on bass and Mike Ogletree on drums, who had previously played with Simple Minds and Café Jacques. Their influences encompassed Magazine, Kraftwerk, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), with Patterson naming OMD as "a major inspiration." His singing style drew influence from the Walker Brothers, Sparks, and Howard Devoto of Magazine.

The band was a regular presence at Bandwagon Music Supplies in Perth, where owner Pete Caban fondly remembered their early recordings eventually becoming a top six hit. The shop remained open for 37 years until its closure in 2020.

In 1984, their single "((Feels Like) Heaven)" reached the UK Top 10 and also secured Top 10 positions in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Switzerland; it remained their sole UK chart entry. The follow-up track "Ghost of Love" attained number 64 on the UK charts. While Throw the Warped Wheel Out did not chart domestically, it achieved moderate success across Europe: "(Feels Like) Heaven" peaked at number two in Switzerland and placed within the Top 20 in several countries; "Ghost of Love" stayed on German charts for 11 weeks; the album itself charted at #23 in Switzerland, #34 in Sweden, and #57 in Germany.

Fiction Factory toured Europe as an opening act for OMD during 1984. That same year saw Jordan, McGregor, and Ogletree leave the group. Subsequently, Patterson and Medley recorded their follow-up album with session musicians such as keyboardist Paul Wishart along with OMD members Graham and Neil Weir.

Another Story and disbandment (1987–2011)

Following the commercial failure of their second album Another Story, Fiction Factory dissolved in 1987. Afterward, Patterson briefly formed a duo named The Dearhearts with Karen Smyth before exiting the music business entirely. He currently works within the IT sector and has a family. In 2007, Patterson reunited with Jordan to perform "(Feels Like) Heaven" at Jordan’s wedding ceremony. Later on, Medley contributed to the Scottish world music collective Mouth Music.

Reunions (2011, 2022)

The original members came together once more in 2011, marking their first reunion since 1984, to appear at the Rewind Festival. In 2016, the band Manic Street Preachers produced a rendition of "(Feels Like) Heaven" featured on the compilation BBC Radio 2 Sounds of the 80s, Volume 2. Fiction Factory reunited a second time in 2022, delivering a live show at Belgium’s "W-Festival" held in Ostend.

Studio albums

Album Title	Release Information	Highest Chart Rankings
		CAN	GER	SWE	SWI
Throw the Warped Wheel Out	Year: 1984 Label: Columbia	98	57	34	23
Another Story	Year: 1985 Label: Virgin	—	—	—	—
"—" signifies albums that did not enter the charts or were not issued in those markets.

Singles

Release Year	Song Title	Highest Chart Positions											Certifications	Associated Album
		UK	AUS	AUT	BEL	GER	IRE	ITA	NED	NZ	SWE	SWI
1983	"Ghost of Love"	64	—	—	—	49	—	—	—	—	—	—		Throw the Warped Wheel Out
	"(Feels Like) Heaven"	6	51	20	10	10	4	33	16	24	14	2	BPI: Silver
1984	"All or Nothing"	148	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1985	"Not the Only One"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"No Time"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Standing at the Top of the World"	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —	style=text-align:center;| —

|- colspan=15; class=small; align=center; "—" indicates singles that failed to chart or were not issued in that region.

Band members

• Kevin Patterson – lead vocals (1982–1987, 2007, 2011, 2022)
• Chic (Charles) Medley – guitar (1982–1987, 2011, 2022)
• Graham McGregor – bass guitar (1982–1984, 2011)
• Eddie (Edward) Jordan – keyboards (1982–1984, 2007, 2011, 2022)
• Mike Ogletree – drums and percussion (1982–1984, 2011, 2022)
• Grant Taylor – trumpet (1983–1984; featured on debut studio album)
• Paul Wishart – keyboards (1985–1987; contributed to second studio album)
• Graham Weir – trombone (1985; appeared on both first and second studio albums)
• Neil Weir – trumpet (1985; involved in first and second studio albums)
• James Locke – drums and percussion (1985; participated in second studio album)
• Pim Jones – guitar (1985; featured on second studio album)
• Marwenna Laidlaw – backing vocals (1985; contributed to second studio album)
• Fiona Carlin – vocals (1985; featured on second studio album)
• Bill Montague – bass guitar (2022)
• Leon Thorne – guitar and saxophone (2022)