Funboy Five

Funboy Five
OriginHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
GenresPost-punk
Years active1979 (1979)–1981 (1981), 2014 (2014)–
MembersMick Sinclair
John McRae
Bob Brimson
Robert Radhall

Formed in January 1979, the Funboy Five were an English post-punk band from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and originally had four members, Mick Sinclair (guitar and vocals), John McRae (keyboards), Bob Brimson (bass) and Robert Radhall (drums).[1]

1979-2007: original formation and sporadic activity

While gigging sporadically in London and south-east England, the band recorded a three-track demo which earned them a review in Sounds[2] and a session for the John Peel Show. First broadcast in October 1979,[3] the session was followed in January 1980 by a single, "Life After Death"/"Compulsive Eater", which also saw the debut of the new rhythm section of Dave Tyler (bass) and Paul Ingram (drums), released on the band's own Cool-Cat-Daddy-O record label.[1] Also released on the label in 1980 was a 7-track cassette Funboy Five Shall Inherit The Earth, which included demos and other material.[4]

Although the band ceased recording and playing live in 1981, the single became a sought-after rarity among collectors of DIY vinyl being listed in journalist Johan Kugelberg's 100 best records of the post-punk DIY-era, first published in Ugly Things magazine.[5] During the 1990s and 2000s, "Life After Death" featured on two unofficial vinyl compilations, Teenage Treats Vol.10[1] and Killed By Death #007.[6]

During 2001, the band gathered their recorded material together for a 13-track CD, Very Hush! Hush!, shared with Milkshake Melon, Mick Sinclair's solo alter-ego.[1] In 2007, the band were represented by two tracks on Messthetics #101: DIY 77–81 London, a CD retrospective with "Compulsive Eater" on the main release and "Haircut Bob Dylan 66" as a mp3 bonus track.[7]

2009-present: revivals and further albums

In 2009, "Life After Death" was included on Universal's four-CD tribute to John Peel, Kats Karavan: The History of John Peel On The Radio.[8]

A cover version of "Life After Death", by Talya Cooper, appeared as a digital download in 2011.[9] A cover version, by Das Boomerang, of both sides of the first single appeared as a digital download in 2018.[10]

Two original members, Mick Sinclair and John McRae, revived the band and the Cool-Cat-Daddy-O label in August 2014 releasing a vinyl single, "Save the World"/"What Did You Do with the Body?".[1] "Save The World" was described by Record Collector as "like a bonker's contest to play "In The Mood" without actually playing it".[11]

In June 2015 came another single, "Radio Free Asia",[1] and a vinyl retrospective album, Landmarks Ruins and Memories, of remastered recordings from 1979 to 1981 on the Italian re-issue label, Ave Phoenix Records[1] described as sounding "a bit like Love's Forever Changes on happy pills."[12]

A further single, "Vipers of the Commonwealth", appeared in 2016[1] as did "The Radmall Rundown",[1] a tribute instrumental to the band's original drummer who died in 2015. Five further new songs were released in 2018 [1] while January 2019 saw the release of an album, The Greatest Album Of All Time,[1] September 2019 the four-track set An Autumn Collection,[1] December 2020 the five-track collection Six Pigeons On A Rooftop Discuss A Snappy Title,[1] and December 2021 the singles Back To Vancouver and Life Is Boring.[1] Another four-track set, Songs Of Ghosts And Demons: Volume One, appeared in January 2022 [1] as in February 2023 did The Shape Of The Universe. [1] Songs Of Ghosts And Demons: Volume Two was released in August 2024.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Official website. Retrieval 4 February 2023.
  2. ^ Bushell, Garry (14 July 1979). "Cassettes and Drugs and Rock and Roll". Sounds: 32–33.
  3. ^ "BBC Radio 1 Keeping It Peel". BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  4. ^ Naylor, Tim (October 2011). "C30, C60, C90, C21!". Record Collector (393): 52.
  5. ^ It Was Easy It Was Cheap? Go And Do It!. Retrieval 28 December 2012
  6. ^ "45cat". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  7. ^ MESSTHETICS #101: London D.I.Y. Retrieval 28 December 2012
  8. ^ Universal Boxed Set Store: Kats Karavan, Kats Karavan: The History of John Peel on the Radio. Retrieval 28 December 2012
  9. ^ Cool Cover Comps: Life After Death by Talya Cooper. Retrieval 28 December 2012.
  10. ^ Living In A Haunted House/Compulsive Eater by Das Boomerang. Retrieval 23 August 2018.
  11. ^ McCann, Ian (November 2014). "Single Cream". Record Collector: 106.
  12. ^ "Funboy Five and Milkshake Melon – Landmarks, Ruins and Memories 12" (Ave Phoenix)". The Big Takeover. Retrieved 14 November 2016.