Freur
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009) |
Freur | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1982–1986 |
| Labels | CBS |
| Spinoffs | Underworld |
| Past members |
|
Freur were a Welsh
History
The band was formed in the early 1980s in Cardiff, Wales by Hyde, Smith and Alfie Thomas. It originally had only a graphic 'squiggle' for a name. In 1983, after recruiting John Warwicker and drummer Bryn Burrows (formerly of the Fabulous Poodles), they got a recording contract with CBS Records. As the label insisted on a pronounceable name, the band made the compromise that the squiggle was pronounced Freur.
Their first and only hit single (No. 17 in Italy, No. 17 in New Zealand, No. 24 in Germany, No. 36 in the Netherlands[4] and No. 59 in the UK Singles Chart), was "Doot-Doot" (1983).[5] It was recorded and co-produced by Alex Burak at The Point studio in London, which was controlled by Rupert Merton of Point Music publishing. Merton (who also had an early version of the Thompson Twins on his roster of artists) signed Freur.
The band released five further singles after "Doot-Doot", between 1983 and 1985: "Matters of the Heart", "Runaway", "Riders in the Night", "The Devil and Darkness" and "Look in the Back for Answers". All failed to dent the UK charts.
Freur released two studio albums:
The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles would list Freur under the symbol, with the translation by the side, until the late 1990s. John Warwicker is a video artist in the graphic design collective Tomato, whose founders include Hyde and Smith.
The now defunct UK magazine Sounds referred to the band as "Elephant with a stick of Rhubarb" because of the shape of the squiggle.
Band members
- Karl Hyde – vocals, guitars
- Rick Smith– keyboards
- Alfie Thomas – bass, keyboards, guitars, back vocals
- Bryn Burrows – drums
- John Warwicker – video synthesiser, graphics
Discography
Studio albums
- Doot-Doot (1983)
- Get Us out of Here (1986)
Soundtrack albums
- Transmutations (1985) (unreleased)
Singles
| Year | Title | UK
[7] |
GER
[8] |
NL [8] |
NZ [8] |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Doot-Doot" | 59 | 24 | 36 | 17 | Doot-Doot |
| "Runaway" | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Matters of the Heart" | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Riders in the Night" | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1984 | "The Devil and Darkness" | – | – | – | – | Get Us Out of Here |
| 1985 | "Look in the Back for Answers" | – | – | – | – | |
| 1986 | "The Piano Song" | – | – | – | – |
References
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ISBN 1-84353-229-8.
- ^ Robbins, Ira. "Freur". Trouser Press. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "charts.nz – Freur – Doot-Doot". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "australian-charts.com – Underworld – Underneath The Radar". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
- ^ "Freur". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^ a b c "Freur – Doot-Doot". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
External links
- Discography: Freur/Underworld/Lemon Intereupt[permanent dead link] – Detailed discography to 1999
- Freur fan page
- Freur biography on BBC Wales
- Band History page
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