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We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 20253 sources
We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It!!
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1985 in Birmingham, England
FounderVix (Vickie Perks), Magz (Maggie Dunne), Jo Dunne, Tina O'Neill
Defunct1990 (first disbandment)
FateDisbanded in 1990; reunited 2010 and 2015
Headquarters
Birmingham
,
England, United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom, Europe, United States
Key people
Vix (Victoria Perks), Maggie Dunne, Jo Dunne, Tina O'Neill, Megan Burke, Sarit Black, Jules Layhe
ProductsMusic albums and singles
Number of employees
5 (as of latest reunion) (2015–present)

We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It!!, commonly abbreviated as Fuzzbox, is a British alternative rock band that originated in Birmingham in 1985. This female quartet initially comprised Vix (Vickie Perks), Magz (Maggie Dunne), Jo Dunne, and Tina O'Neill. For the American release of their first album, they abbreviated their name to Fuzzbox. Following the release of two studio albums, the group disbanded in 1990, reunited for live shows in 2010, and announced another reunion in 2015.

Biography

The band was formed by musicians from Birmingham neighborhoods including Moseley, Sheldon, and Acocks Green. The formation began when Vix met Jo during their school years. Their name was inspired by the acquisition of a guitar distortion pedal, prompting Maggie Dunne to declare: "We've got a fuzzbox and we're gonna use it!"

Their initial EP, launched in March 1986, featured tracks such as "XX Sex" and "Rules and Regulations," which reached number 41 on the UK Singles Chart. Despite missing the Top 40, it remained on the UK Indie Chart for 25 weeks. This momentum led to tours across the UK and Europe, followed by their debut album Bostin' Steve Austin (renamed We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It for the US market). The album yielded their first Top 40 single, "Love Is The Slug," alongside the minor hit "What's The Point."

In 1986, they joined forces with Vindaloo labelmates The Nightingales and Ted Chippington on the single "Rocking with Rita (Head to Toe)," delivering covers of classics like "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." Maggie provided vocals on their rendition of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky."

After signing with WEA, their 1989 release Big Bang! showcased a transition toward dance-pop. Singles such as "International Rescue" (UK No. 11), "Pink Sunshine" (UK No. 14), and "Self!" (UK No. 24) all secured spots within the UK Top 30. Their cover of Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice" reached number 76. Additionally, "Self!" charted in the United States, peaking at number 16 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart and number 35 on the Dance Club Play chart.

In 1990, work commenced on a third album titled Out Of This World, but progress ceased following the release of the single "Your Loss, My Gain" due to creative disagreements. Vix embarked on a solo career under her stage name Vix, while other members departed from the music industry. The band briefly reunited in 2008 for Birmingham Pride, unveiling previously unreleased material including Fuzz and Nonsense and From Rules and Regulations to Pink Sunshine, which featured songs originally intended for Out Of This World. A collection of BBC radio recordings was also released as Love Is a Slug: Complete BBC Sessions.

In October 2004, a compilation entitled Look At The Hits On That was issued, containing singles, alternative versions, and a DVD featuring promotional videos that had not been publicly available before.

Television appearances

Fuzzbox made appearances on channels and shows such as MTV, Going Live, Jim'll Fix It, The Old Grey Whistle Test, and performed eight times on Top of the Pops. A memorable moment occurred during a live rendition of "Pink Sunshine" on Ghost Train in 1989 when their backing track failed midway through the performance.

Reunion

At the beginning of 2010, Fuzzbox came back together as a five-piece band, this time without drummer Tina O'Neill, to embark on a UK tour in May. They issued a fresh single and music video—a rendition of M's "Pop Muzik"—distributed via Gotham Records and iTunes.

In September 2010, they were the headline act at the Shifnal Festival, followed by a performance at the Whitby Gothic Weekend in March 2011, which concluded that particular reunion period.

Guitarist Jo Dunne died from cancer in October 2012 at the age of 43.

Second reunion

Fuzzbox announced their second reunion in July 2015 during an interview on BBC Radio 2 with Sara Cox. New additions to the lineup included Megan Burke on guitar, Sarit Black handling bass duties, and Hannah Layhe on drums. They appeared live at The 100 Club in London on 13 November 2015. The following year, they released the single 'Let's Go Supernova!' alongside a video and undertook a UK tour supporting The Wonder Stuff.

In March 2022, the band revealed their album We’ve Got A Fuzzbox and We’re Going To Use It – Reimagined/Reimagined Too: The Best of Fuzzbox Reimagined, featuring re-recorded tracks with contributions from guest artists such as Melanie Williams and DJ Vince Vega. Produced by Mike Bennett, this release showcases their musical development.

Solo work

Vix, the lead vocalist, teamed up with Ginger from the Wildhearts in Ginger & The Sonic Circus, performing internationally prior to The Wildhearts' reunion.

In 2008, Vix brought out LovePower and Peace, an album comprising original songs as well as reinterpreted Fuzzbox material co-written with Robin George.

She subsequently recorded the EP "Seduction Songs" with prominent musicians including Pete Haycock and Mel Collins. In 2014, Vix released "Believe Me," a gospel-influenced pop single with The Offering.

ViX n The Kix/Vix & Her MsChiefs

ViX n The Kix was initiated by Vix in 2007 as a venture combining vintage glamour with punk-pop elements reminiscent of No Doubt and Garbage. This endeavor concluded when Fuzzbox reunited in 2010.

Following the end of that reunion phase in late 2011, Vix formed The Victoria Perks Band, focusing on Americana and New Country genres.

In 2014, she launched her current all-female Americana ensemble ViX & her MsChiefs, releasing an EP.

Current

  • Vix (Victoria Perks) – vocalist (1985–present)
  • Maggie Dunne – keyboard, bass (1985–present)
  • Megan Burke – guitar (2015–present)
  • Sarit Black – bass (2015–present)
  • Jules Layhe – drums (2015–present)

Former

  • Jo Dunne – guitar (1985–1990, 2010–2011)
  • Tina O'Neill – drums (1985–1990)
  • Sarah Firebrand – bass (2010–2011)
  • Karen Milne – drums (2010–2011)

Studio Albums

  • Bostin' Steve Austin (1986), Vindaloo Records1
  • Big Bang! (1989), Warner Bros. – reached No. 5 on UK charts[1]
  • We’ve Got a Fuzzbox and We’re Going to Use It – Reimagined/Reimagined Too: The Best of Fuzzbox Reimagined (2022), Pagster Music via Gonzo Media2

1 Issued in the United States under the title We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It by Geffen Records in 1987. 2 Features newly recorded versions of tracks from Fuzzbox’s catalogue.[2]

Compilation Albums

  • Fuzz and Nonsense (2000), Cherry Red Records
  • Rules & Regulations to Pink Sunshine: Fuzzbox Story (2001), Cherry Red
  • Look at the Hits on That (2004), Warner Music Group
  • Love Is a Slug: Complete BBC Sessions (2005), Cherry Red

Singles and EPs

Year Title Chart Peak Positions Associated Album
UKCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Ireland US DanceCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name US AlternativeCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
1986 Rules and Regulations EP 1
Tracks: "X X Sex", "Do I Want To?", "Rules & Regulations", "She" 		41 — — — Bostin' Steve Austin
"Rockin' with Rita (Head to Toe)"
Included in The Vindaloo Summer Special 		56 — — — Single release only
Love Is the Slug EP
Includes "Love Is the Slug", "Console Me", "Spirit in the Sky", "Justine" 		31 — — — Bostin' Steve Austin
"What's the Point" 2 51 — — —
1989 "International Rescue" 11 20 — — Big Bang!
"Pink Sunshine" 14 24 — —
"Self!" 24 — 35 16
"Walking on Thin Ice" 76 — — —
"Your Loss My Gain" 3 100 — — —
"Pop Muzik" (digital exclusive) — — — —
"Let's Go Supernova" — — — —
"WGAF…. AWGUI!" — — — —
  • 1 Also attained No. 1 position on the UK Indie Chart.
  • 2 Contains a rendition of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."
  • 3 Released in limited quantities.[3]

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Strong
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named louderthanwar.com
  3. ↑ Fuzzbox, Official Charts

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