Right Said Fred

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Richard Fairbrass (March 2015)

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Fred Fairbrass (March 2015)

Right Said Fred are an English pop band formed by brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass in 1989. They are best known for the hit 1991 song "I'm Too Sexy".

History

1989–1991: Formation

Prior to forming Right Said Fred, the Fairbrass brothers had been playing music since the mid-1970s: as part of a band called the Actors, the brothers had toured with Suicide and supported Joy Division at the Factory club in Manchester.<ref name=guardian>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Fairbrass brothers formed the group in 1989, with Richard on lead vocals and bass and Fred on guitar. Prior to that, Richard was employed as a session bassist for artists including Boy George, Mick Jagger,<ref name=guardian /> and David Bowie, and appeared as the bass guitarist in Bowie's short film Jazzin' for Blue Jean.<ref>Template:YouTube showing Richard Fairbrass playing bass.</ref> In 1987, Fred appeared as a guitarist in the Bob Dylan vehicle Hearts of Fire.<ref name=guardian />

The group was named after the novelty song "Right Said Fred", which was a hit single for singer and actor Bernard Cribbins in 1962. The Fairbrass brothers were originally accompanied by drummer Ray Weston and guitarist Dan Kruse. Weston left in 1990 to join the progressive rock group Wishbone Ash, and Kruse left the next year. Guitarist Rob Manzoli joined in 1990 and remained with the group until 1997.

1991–1992: I’m Too Sexy and Up

In July 1991, the group released its debut single and best-known song, "I'm Too Sexy", on the independent London-based record label Tug Records. The Fairbrass brothers have stated that the song's lyrics are centred on certain users of the gym they owned in London, who they claimed had no shame. "A lot of models used our gym, so we thought it was time to start poking [fun] at them," Fred stated.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The song was a considerable hit in the United Kingdom, spending six weeks at number two on the charts behind Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" and three months in the Top 10. The song also went to number one in 32 countries, including the United States, where it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.<ref>Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of #1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications)</ref> The song earned the band a nomination for an Ivor Novello award.<ref name="The Ivors">Template:Cite web</ref> "I'm Too Sexy" has subsequently been used in over 40 television shows and movies, including My Wife and Kids, The Simpsons, The West Wing, and EastEnders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Their second single, "Don't Talk Just Kiss", with background vocals by soul singer Jocelyn Brown, was released in October 1991. It made number 3 on the United Kingdom Christmas charts, entered the top five in many countries, and reached number eight on the United States dance chart.<ref name="Whitburn">Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974–2003, (Record Research Inc.)</ref>

In February 1992, the band released its third single, "Deeply Dippy". This was number one in the United Kingdom for three weeks and peaked at number nine on the United States dance chart.<ref name="Whitburn"/>

The success of the singles resulted in the band's multi-platinum debut album, Up, reaching number one on the United Kingdom album charts as well as charting worldwide. The album remained in the Top 40 for almost a year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Germany, a fifth single, "Love For All Seasons", charted at number 65 in 1993.

In 1992, Heavenly Records released an EP that featured the label's acts covering Right Said Fred songs for charity. The Fred EP includes Saint Etienne (performing "I'm Too Sexy"), The Rockingbirds ("Deeply Dippy"), and Flowered Up ("Don't Talk Just Kiss").<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Remainder of the 1990s

1993–1994: Sex and Travel

Early in 1993 Fred, Richard, and Rob wrote and recorded the Comic Relief single "Stick It Out", which was a top-five hit in the United Kingdom and in many European countries. In September 1993, Right Said Fred released its second album, Sex and Travel, which included the singles, "Bumped" and "Hands Up (for Lovers)".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band received its second Ivor Novello award for "Deeply Dippy" in 1993.<ref name="The Ivors" />

1995–1996: Smashing!

Right Said Fred parted company with Tug Records and then released their third album Smashing! in 1996 on the band's own label Happy Valley Records. It included the singles, "Living on a Dream", "Big Time", and "Everybody Loves Me".

1997–2001: Manzoli leaves, You’re My Mate and Fredhead

Rob Manzoli left the band on friendly terms in 1997Template:Citation needed. In 1998, Fred and Richard set up their own recording studio in London and started writing and recording what became the album Fredhead.

In 2000, Right Said Fred signed to Kingsize/BMG Berlin in Germany. The first single from Fredhead was "You're My Mate" (co-written with hard rock guitarist Myke Gray).Template:Citation needed Other singles from Fredhead were "Mojive" (written by Ninfa, Ena, Klein, Frame) and "Love Song" (Agostino Carollo).

21st century

2002–2003: Stand Up

The second Kingsize/BMG album Stand Up was released in 2002. The lead single was "Stand Up (For the Champions)", composed by Clyde Ward and the Fairbrass brothers.

2004–2006: For Sale

Due to family ill-health, Fred and Richard took some time out from travelling to write and record the single "We Are the Freds" and the album For Sale for the Ministry of Sound.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In late 2004, Right Said Fred toured extensively in Europe.

2007–2010: I'm a Celebrity

File:RSF LIVE EUROPEAN TOUR crop.jpg

Germany 2009

During 2007 and 2008, Fred and Richard collaborated with Clyde Ward to write and record their sixth album I'm a Celebrity. The album was produced by Ward, and for the United States release, Right Said Fred worked with David Levine at Promark Music. In late July 2009, Right Said Fred released "Sexy Bum" in Germany, the first single from the band's HITS! album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band toured in support of the album in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2011–2012: Sexaholic

Right Said Fred collaborated with Norwegian writers/producers Dsign Music to record Sexaholic, released in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2013–present: Raise Your Hands

Richard spoke at an Oxford Union debate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> TV appearances included an acoustic performance on the UK’s Celebrity Big Brother TV show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

RSF began writing and recording new tracks with Paul Statham (who had previously worked with artists such as Dido, Jim Kerr, Kylie Minogue, The Saturdays).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band released the single "Sweet Treats" in January 2017 from the album Exactly!<ref>"Sweet Treats" Template:Webarchive, RSF Official website</ref> In August 2017, Richard and Fred were credited as songwriters on the Taylor Swift single "Look What You Made Me Do" alongside Jack Antonoff and Swift herself. The song's chorus is an interpolation of the famous chorus from "I'm Too Sexy".<ref name="rsfrs">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In May 2022, Phoenix Music International released the band's single "Godsend", dubbing the duo the 'UK’s most controversial band' after a number of anti-COVID-19 vaccine-themed Twitter posts and appearances in the press during the UK pandemic lockdowns. In 2022 they were involved in leafletting for British anti-climate change activist group, Not Our Future, in Oxford.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Nominee(s)	Category	Result	Template:Abbr
BMI London Awards	2018	"Look What You Made Me Do"	Award-Winning Songs	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2022	"Way 2 Sexy"		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2025	"Alien Superstar"		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
BMI Pop Awards	1993	"I'm Too Sexy"	College Award	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2019	"Look What You Made Me Do"	Award-Winning Song	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Brit Awards	1993	Themselves	British Group	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
		Up	British Album of the Year	Template:Nom
Ivor Novello Awards	1992	"I'm Too Sexy"	The Best Selling 'A' Side	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
			Most Performed Work	Template:Won
	1993	"Deeply Dippy"		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Silver Clef Awards	1992	Themselves	Best Newcomer	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications (sales threshold) UK <ref name=uk>UK chart peaks: Top 100 peaks: Template:Cite web N.B. this site displays compressed chart peaks (exclusion rules applied) for positions 76–100. Top 200 peaks from November 1994 to December 2010: Template:Cite web N.B. This site displays uncompressed chart peaks (no exclusion rules) for positions 76–200.</ref> AUS <ref name=aus/><ref name="ARIAsearch">Template:Cite web Template:Cite web Template:Cite webN.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> AUT <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> GER <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> NL <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> NZ <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SWE <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SWI <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> US <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Up Release date: 16 March 1992 Label: Tug Formats: Vinyl, CD, cassette 1 39 1 8 9 23 16 22 46 BPI: 2× Platinum<ref name="BPI" /> MC: Platinum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> RIAA: Gold<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sex and Travel Release date: 1 November 1993 Label: EMI Formats: CD, cassette 35 145 35 88 91 — — — — Smashing! Release date: 1996 Label: Happy Valley Formats: CD, cassette — — — — — — — — — Fredhead Release date: 23 October 2001 Label: Sony BMG Formats: CD, cassette — — 4 2 — — — 75 — Stand Up Release date: 26 August 2002 Label: Kingsize Formats: CD, cassette — — 29 9 — — — — — For Sale Release date: 23 January 2006 Label: Ministry of Sound Formats: CD, music download — — — 61 — — — — — I'm a Celebrity Release date: 14 October 2008 Label: Promark Music Formats: CD, music download — — — — — — — — — Stop the World Release date: 1 May 2011 Label: Luv Formats: CD, music download — — — — — — — — — Exactly! Release date: 24 February 2017 Label: PMI Digital Formats: CD, vinyl, music download — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart Compilation albums Title Details Greatest Hits Release date: 23 December 2003 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, cassette Hits! Release date: 2009 Label: Sexy Records, EMI Formats: CD, music download The Singles Scheduled: 2 June 2023<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Label: Sexy Records, EMI Formats: CD, 2×LP, music download Singles (The Original Hits) Release date: 9 January 2024 Label: Sexy Records Formats: music download Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications (sales threshold) Album UK <ref name=uk/> AUS <ref name=aus>Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks: Top 50 peaks: Template:Cite web Top 100 peaks: Template:Cite Ryan "Bumped": Template:Cite web</ref> AUT <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> BEL (FLA) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> GER <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> IRE <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> NL <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> NZ <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> US <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> US Dance <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 1991 "I'm Too Sexy" 2 1 1 3 14 1 19 1 1 4 BPI: Gold<ref name="BPI">Template:Cite web</ref> ARIA: Platinum<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> MC: Gold<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> RIAA: Platinum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Up "Don't Talk Just Kiss" 3 18 5 11 2 8 3 16 76 8 1992 "Deeply Dippy" 1 38 6 14 15 1 9 11 — 9 BPI: Silver<ref name="BPI" /> "Those Simple Things/Daydream" 29 121 29 27 48 21 23 — — — 1993 "Stick It Out" 4 — — — — — — — — — Single only "Bumped" 32 88 — 25 54 — 37 29 — — Sex and Travel "Hands Up (4 Lovers)" 60 176 — — 82 — — — — — 1994 "Wonderman" 55 — — 50 — — — — — — 1995 "Living on a Dream" 91 147 — 17 66 — — — — — Smashing! 1996 "Everybody Loves Me" — 187 — — 74 — — — — — "Big Time" 77 — — 53 — — — — — — 2001 "Mojive" — — 35 — 46 — — — — — Fredhead "You're My Mate" 18 101 4 — 6 — — 43 — — 2002 "Love Song" — — — — 21 — — — — — "Stand Up (For the Champions)" — — — — 14 — — — — — Stand Up "I Love You (But I Don't Like You)" — — — — 61 — — — — — 2003 "We Are the Freds" — — — — 68 — — — — — — "We Are the Champs" — — — — 92 — — — — — 2004 "The Wizard" (vs. Doris Dubinski) — — — — 52 — — — — — Der Wixxer OST 2006 "Where Do You Go to My Lovely?" — — 40 — 36 — — — — — For Sale 2007 "I'm Too Sexy" (re-release) 56 — — — — — — — — — — 2008 "I'm a Celebrity" — — — — — — — — — — I'm a Celebrity 2009 "Sexy Bum" — — — — — — — — — — Hits "Right on the Kisser" — — — — — — — — — — 2010 "Viva Südafrika" (Höhner featuring Right Said Fred) — — — — 54 — — — — — — 2017 "Sweet Treats" — — — — — — — — — — Exactly! "—" denotes releases that did not chart Music videos List of music videos, showing year released and directors Title Year Director "I'm Too Sexy" 1991 James Lebon "Don't Talk Just Kiss" 1991 James Lebon "Deeply Dippy" 1992 Frank Sacramento "Those Simple Things" 1992 N/A "What A Day for a Daydream" 1992 James Lebon "Love for All Seasons" 1992 James Lebon "Bumped" 1993 Marcus Nispel "Hands Up (4 Lovers)" 1993 Paul Boyd "Wonderman" 1994 N/A "Living on a Dream" 1995 James Lebon "Everybody Loves Me" 1996 N/A "Mojive" 2001 David Incorvaia "You're My Mate" 2001 N/A "Love Song" 2001 Bernard Wedig "Stand Up (For the Champions)" 2002 N/A "I Love You" 2002 Wolf Gresenz "We Are the Freds" 2004 Bernd Possardt & Jeff Lisk "Where Do You Go to My Lovely?" 2006 N/A "I'm a Celebrity" 2008 Robert Madrid References External links Template:Official website Template:Discogs artist [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 1654804	match|1=1654804|2=^nm}}	Template:Trim/	nm1654804/ }}	{{#if: {{#property:P345}}	name/Template:First word/	find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm }} }}{{#if: 1654804 {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch:	awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for }}}} {{#if:	{{{name}}}	Template:PAGENAMEBASE }}] at IMDb{{#if: 1654804{{#property:P345}}	Template:EditAtWikidata	Template:Main other }}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=1654804|plain=false}}	3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning	4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}