View source for Simon Fowler

{{other people||Simon Fowler (disambiguation)}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Simon Fowler
| image             = Simon Fowler.jpg
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = Simon Fowler in 2025
| image_size        = 
| background        = solo_singer
| birth_name        = Simon Geoffrey Fowler
| alias             = Foxy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blue-whaleproductions.com/secure/html/simon_fowler.html |title=Simon Fowler|work=Blue-whaleproductions.com |date=1965-05-25 |accessdate=2014-08-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120721060205/http://www.blue-whaleproductions.com/secure/html/simon_fowler.html |archivedate=21 July 2012 }}</ref>
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|05|25}}<br>[[Meriden, West Midlands|Meriden]], [[Warwickshire]], England
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| origin            = 
| instrument        = Vocals, guitar, harmonica
| genre             = Rock, [[mod revival]], [[folk music|folk]]
| occupation        = Musician
| years_active      = 
| label             = [[Moseley Shoals Records]]
| website           = 
}}
'''Simon Geoffrey Fowler''' (born 25 May 1965) is an English musician, best known as the frontman of [[Ocean Colour Scene]].

==The Fanatics==
Simon Fowler commenced his music career as the lead singer and songwriter for [[Birmingham]] band The Fanatics, which consisted of Simon Fowler (vocals & guitar), Damon Minchella (bass), Paul Wilkes (guitar) and Carolyn Bullock (drums).<ref name="ugly.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.ugly.co.uk/music/fanatics.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031104215729/http://www.ugly.co.uk/music/fanatics.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-11-04 |title=The Fanatics - Live at the Irish Center, Birmingham, 1988 |website=Ugly.co.uk |accessdate=2014-08-24 }}</ref> Future [[Ocean Colour Scene]] drummer and former [[Echo Base]] band member [[Oscar Harrison]] replaced Bullock on drums.<ref name="ugly.co.uk"/>

The Fanatics released one record in 1989 before splitting, the four-track ''Suburban Love Songs'' 12" vinyl EP on Chapter 22 Records (12 CHAP 38), containing the songs "1,2,3,4", "My Brother Sarah" (later re-recorded by [[Ocean Colour Scene]]), "Suburban Love Songs", and "Tight Rope".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ugly.co.uk/wav_mp3/download.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010223154704/http://www.ugly.co.uk/wav_mp3/download.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2001-02-23 |title=The Men from Ugly Ś MP3 Download Area |publisher=Ugly.co.uk |accessdate=2014-08-24 }}</ref> Following the demise of The Fanatics in late 1989, Fowler, Minchella and Harrison teamed up with guitar player [[Steve Cradock]] to form Ocean Colour Scene.

==Other works==
Fowler has also appeared as a backing singer for [[Paul Weller]], Alison Moyet, [[Fine Young Cannibals]], and with [[Kate Rusby]].{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Merrymouth==
In 2012 Fowler formed the band [[Merrymouth]] with Ocean Colour Scene band member [[Dan Sealey]], and Mike McNamara. Their debut album, ''[[Simon Fowler's Merrymouth]]'', was released in March 2012, and their second album, ''[[Wenlock Hill (Merrymouth album)|Wenlock Hill]]'', featuring [[Adam Barry]], [[John McCusker]] and [[Chas Hodges]], was released in 2014.

==Personal life==

Fowler was outed as gay by ''[[The Sun]]'' newspaper in 1998, at which point his parents were still unaware of his sexuality.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/ocean-colour-scenes-simon-fowler-opens-up-about-being-outed-as-gay-by-tabloids-in-the-90s-3189078|title=Ocean Colour Scene's Simon Fowler opens up about being outed as gay by tabloids in the '90s|date=23 March 2022|website=nme.com}}</ref> 

Fowler is a supporter of [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City Football Club]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/ocean-colour-scene-star-fowler-admits-being-birmingham-mad-1198601|title=Ocean Colour Scene star Fowler admits being Birmingham mad|date=23 October 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026080439/http://www.tribalfootball.com/ocean-colour-scene-star-fowler-admits-being-birmingham-mad-1198601|archivedate=26 October 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}<!--added above External links/Sources by script-assisted edit-->

{{OceanColourScene}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, Simon}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:English rock guitarists]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:English gay musicians]]
[[Category:Ocean Colour Scene members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Britpop musicians]]
[[Category:Gay singers]]
[[Category:English male guitarists]]
[[Category:English LGBTQ singers]]
[[Category:20th-century English LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people]]