The Fat Lady Sings was formed in Dublin in March 1986. Fronted by singer and songwriter Nick Kelly, the initial line-up also comprised Robert Hamilton (drums), Dave Sweeney (guitars) and Finbarr ORiordan (bass). Unusually for the time, the band decided to relocate to London almost immediately after forming, and based themselves there throughout their subsequent eight year career. Perhaps more unusual still was the fact that they never recorded a demo five months after forming their first visit to a recording studio produced Fear And Favour. This single was paid for out of the bands own pocket and released by Terri Hooley on his Good Vibratrions label. Fear And Favour brought the band immediate critical attention from the English music press. Over the next 18 months, self-managed and self-financed, the band began building a live following in both the UK and Ireland.
In March 1988 their second independent single, Be Still was released on Harbour Sound Records, once again to critical acclaim. By this time, following various shifts in personnel, the bands classic line-up was firmly established, with Nick and Robert now joined by Dermot Lynch (bass) and guitar player and multi-instrumentalist Tim Bradshaw.
In October 1989, The Fat Lady Sings released their third single Arclight on their own Fourth Base Record label. The critical and public interest in this song, and for the bands follow-up single Dronning Maud Land (released January 1990), together with the enormous live following that theyd build up in both Ireland and the UK (they sold out both the National Stadium in Dublin and the Town & Country Club in London, an unprecedented feat for an unsigned band) attracted major label interest.
In 1990 the band signed to East West Records in London (Atlantic in America). Their first major label single Man Scared was released in October 1990. In May 1991, the bands first album, Twist was released. This album spawned 3 more singles: a re-release of Arclight (April 1991), Twist (May 1991) and Deborah (August 1991).
Following a year of touring and promotional activity, taking in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US, the band began preparations for their second album without drummer Robert Hamilton, whod decided to leave and subsequently set up the Peace Together charity with another TFLS old boy Ali McMordie. (The charity went on to record and release a charity single version of the TFLS tune Be Still featuring Peter Gabriel, Nanci Griffith, Feragal Sharkey, Jah Wobble and Sinead OConnor.)
The bands second album Johnson, produced by Steve Osborne (and with Nic France on drums), was released in June 1993, preceded by the single Show Of Myself. The second single from the album, Drunkard Logic gave the band their highest ever chart placing in the UK, just falling short of the Top 40. The band once more threw themselves into a punishing 6 months of touring, culminating in a 3 month US stint that ended with a storming pre-Christmas show in New York punk mecca CBGBs.
In January 1994, the band split with Nick Kellys surprise announcement that he was quitting.
Following a self-imposed exile from the music industry, Nick subsequently achieved great critical acclaim for his first independently-released solo album, Between Trapezes (1997), which won him the accolade of Best Solo Male Artist at the 1998-99 Irish Music Critics Awards. Nicks long-awaited follow-up album, Running Dog, released in January 2005, also on his own Self Possessed Records label, is already garnering similar plaudits.
Tim and Dermot both enjoyed Top 10 Chart success in America as members of the band Dogs Eye View in 1995. Tims multi-instrumental and production / arrangement talents have been subsequently availed of by artists as diverse as Tanita Tikarem, Fatima Mansions and, most notably, David Gray, with whom he both tours and records on a full-time basis. Dermots recent playing career also includes stints with David Gray; in addition, in recent years he has also become established as one of the most sought-after tour and production managers in the UK, working with the likes of Keane, Fun Loving Criminals and Supergrass.
To celebrate the release of The Fat Lady Sings double compilation album The Fat Lady Singles (& Opera Obscura), the band played two gigs one in Dublin the other in London in April 2005 as a send off to their loyal fans.
Check out these two videos.Press the pause button on the songing playing at the top of the page,then press the play button on the video. Enjoy.
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hey thanks for the invite!!!! i have all the fat lady albums and am a huge fan of fat lady and of nick kelly, so thanks a million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lots of love from across the pond in the gr8 state of georgia!!!! xx Rosie
Just stoppin by to show some love. Return the favor if you get some time! Do you want more real people coming to your page? I can get your page REAL exposure FAST.
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We Start Fires play The Clapham Grand in London on Wednesday 6th June. For tickets go to
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=220573
The 7" single “Magazine” is available now in all good record shops as well as online.
The band will be supporting Good Shoes at:-
Sheffield Fuzz Club - 7th June
Liverpool Academy - 8th June
Hull Welly Club - 9th June
"Debut album from the incendiary new wavers. It sounds like Blondie doing
Elastica doing Weezer. Ace, obviously." NME
"Sludge-sleek pop songs with spiky guitars and ear splitting noise
freakouts. Ones to watch." The Guardian
"Like one of the Deal sisters in a cosmic deathray fight with Be Your Own
Pets Jemina." NME
The incredible 8 piece winners of Glastonbury Unsigned funkin’ hip hoppers ‘The Bellagios’ play Camden Green Fair on Sunday 3rd June in Regents Park at 5.30pm. Come down for the day…it’s all free!
Hi, thanks for the add!
I first saw you At The Wellhead arms in Wendover, March 11th 1988?) I seem to recall it was Tim's birthday & my friend & I had a few celebratory drinks with you all (plus your then girlfriends of course!)I still have an autographed poster from the gig!! (not to mention a few old newsletters & copies of "Contact"!)Over the years I dragged a few mates along to your gigs around London - The Mean Fiddler, Borderline, The Marquee, The Garage to mention a few! Everyone of those friends became another fan!
Well the years have rolled by but I still love your music, Nick's solo stuff too & it's great to see Dermot & Tim have been so successful! (what happened to Hammo?!)
Take care guys - I'm off the play my old "Twist" CD :-)
Yes yes, my egg (shell) peeling skills are second to none..Gold star for you, only the second people ever to get the ref!! :D Thanks for the add; I was given a tape (I remember them) of yours years ago, and still listen to it now :D Hope your weekend was a good one. :)
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