Fruupp
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 in Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Founder | Vincent McCusker |
| Defunct | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Belfast , Northern Ireland |
Area served | United Kingdom, Europe |
Key people | Vincent McCusker, Peter Farrelly, Martin Foye, Stephen Houston, John Mason |
| Products | Progressive rock music, studio albums, live albums, singles |
Fruupp was a British progressive rock group from Belfast, Northern Ireland, active during the 1970s. They developed a dedicated fanbase primarily in Great Britain, gaining notable recognition among university students and frequently opening for prominent bands such as Genesis, Queen, and King Crimson.
History
The band was established in early 1971 by guitarist Vincent McCusker. The original members consisted of classically trained musicians: Peter Farrelly handling bass and lead vocals, Stephen Houston on keyboards and oboe, and Martin Foye on drums. After two years of live performances, Fruupp signed with Dawn Records, the progressive division of Pye Records. From 1973 to 1975, they produced four studio albums alongside three singles. Although they toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe, no official live albums were issued during their active years; nevertheless, several audience-recorded bootlegs are available. A live album planned from their 1975 concert at Friars Aylesbury was lost due to a fire that destroyed the master tapes.
In January 1975, Stephen Houston departed to pursue a religious vocation, with John Mason stepping in as his replacement. Under Mason's tenure, Fruupp recorded their last studio album, Modern Masquerades (1975), which was produced by Ian McDonald, a founding member of both King Crimson and Foreigner. Plans for a fifth album titled Doctor Wilde's Twilight Adventure were abandoned in 1976 following disappointing sales and the emergence of punk and new wave genres, culminating in the band's dissolution.
In 2022, Bad Pressings issued Masquerading With Dawn, a remastered double live album presenting the recovered 1975 Friars Aylesbury performance as a limited release. The subsequent 2023 box set A Twilight Adventure, named after the unreleased fifth album, comprises a DVD, book, CD, and various memorabilia related to the band.
Peter Farrelly died in March 2025 at the age of 76.
Personnel
- Vincent McCusker – guitar, vocals (1971–1976)
- Peter Farrelly – bass guitar, guitar, lead vocals (1971–1976; deceased 2025)
- Martin Foye – drums, percussion (1971–1976)
- Stephen Houston – keyboards, oboe, vocals (1971–1975)
- John Mason – keyboards, vibraphone, vocals (1975–1976)
Studio albums
- Future Legends (Dawn, released 5 October 1973)
- Seven Secrets (Dawn, released 19 April 1974)
- The Prince of Heaven's Eyes (Dawn, released 8 November 1974)
- Modern Masquerades (Dawn, released 14 November 1975)
Compilation albums
- Songs for a Thought (Sequel, 1992)
- It's All Up Now: Anthology (Castle Music, released 1 November 2004)
Singles
- "Prince of Heaven" b/w "The Jaunting Car" (Dawn, released 18 October 1974)
- "Janet Planet" b/w "Why" (Pye Records, released 24 October 1975)
- "Annie Austere" b/w "Decision" - Live (Bad Pressings, released 15 December 2021)
Live albums
- Live - Masquerading With Dawn (Bad Pressings, issued 2022; archival recording from December 6, 1975)