England's The Fabulous Poodles were a quirky pub rock band formed in 1976 and after releasing two albums in the U.K. came close to breaking big in the U.S. with their stateside debut album "Mirror Stars" (Epic, 1978). They toured the states opening for Tom Petty, The Ramones and even Sha Na Na and appeared on Dick Clark's legendary American Bandstand. Their LP (released on limited edition pink vinyl) managed to crack the Billboard charts outselling both the Jam's and The Clash's debut albums. But lack of label support and burnout took its toll and the band split in 1980. It didn't help that they had a ruthless manager that didn't allow the band members to use their own names after the breakup
forcing the members to adopt new names.
The Fabulous Poodles were:
Tony Demeur - Vocals, Guitar. He became Ronnie Golden
Richie C. Robinson, - Bass. He later joined Barrance Whitfield & the Savages.
Bobby Valentino - Violin. He went on to become a session musician and play with
many people including Tom Petty, Billy Bragg and Mark Knopfler as well as playing
in Los Pistoleros.
Bryn B. Burrows - Drums. He went on to play in Ronnie & The Rex and Worldwide Electric.
You may find a Greatest hits CD here or here.
See a video here.
Go to the download page to get The Fabulous Poodles - "Mirror Star"
Nice one.
ReplyDeleteI put "Mirror Star" on a CD to play in the car last year, followed by "Take Me To Your Leader" by The Sinceros. Now that's a one-two pop punch!
I remember the Poodles and this song in particular. It was played on the station I listened to in the late 70's quite a bit. Great song.
ReplyDeleteSeriously one of the coolest nerd-rock bands ever. Tight arrangements, great sense of timing, just the right blend of cynical wit, nostalgic romanticism and never took themselves TOO seriously but were always pros when it came to playing. Dig around for the stuff that's NOT included on "His Master's Voice", their greatest hits CD, you'll miss the complete Fab Poodles experience without it. I miss these guys. Didn't get to see them play since I worked that night but did get served cake by all four band members early in the afternoon at a local record store!
ReplyDelete"Mirror Star" was definitely one of my fav lps of '79, right up there with G.P.'s "Squeezing Out Sparks"! Reminded me a lot of 70's era Kinks, without the whole concept album doldrums. Great pop! Lotsa fun!
ReplyDeleteI knew a guy who saw R.E.M. back in their early & said a Fabulous Poodles song was part of their repertoire. They were a cut out bin regular where I was from.
ReplyDeleteThe unofficial webpage is
ReplyDeletemembers.aol.com/fabpoos
I do have a disc with the stuff that doesn't show up on His Masters Choice if anyone is interested
Fabulous Poodles were a bit before my time but they were so cool.
ReplyDeleteI acctually have both of U.S releases, still in my collection
ReplyDeleteanyone know were to download music of theirs free? or could someone please send me some if they've got any to my internet adress : pipple_lligmich@hotmail.com (please put something like "Your Fab Poodle request")
ReplyDeleteI would buy some, but I'm only 17 and so can't buy online..
The singer was also known as Enrico Cadillac, and was one of three singers in a pre punk band from Liverpool called "Deaf School." They released 3 albums before splitting in 1978. Enrico then formed The Fabulous Poodles and changed his name.
ReplyDeleteThe singer of the Fabulous Poodles has been known as Tony DeMeur and Ronnie Golden. The fiddle player Bobby Valentino bears a resemblance to Enrico Cadillac but is most decidely NOT the same person.
ReplyDeleteFor more information go to the semi-unofficial Fabulous Poodles website at
http://fabpoos.eric-coleman.com
I saw the Fab Poods open for tom Petty about 1980 at the Phoenix Symphony hall and with songs like Mirror Star and Roll your Own..(and by the way Tom Petty was enebriated..sitting on the monitor...) they were the hit. The violin through a talk box....
ReplyDeleteI Bought the album because I was a Who fan and John Entwhistle produced one of the great "lost"albums of pop....
Always loved Work Shy.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where I can find the lyrics to "Anna Rexia"? I've been trying to decipher that damn song for almost 30 years, and haven't managed it. Thanks for your help!
ReplyDeletespamherepleez@yahoo.ca
I saw the Fab Poos several times in the early days (76/77) in London. I had no idea they'd been so popular in the States.
ReplyDeleteI based a big chunk of my life on Work Shy...
I loved the Fab Poos what a great band. Check out what Bobby Valentino was doing in 1991 with this link to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELftDzJjJuY . Could have been a hit?
ReplyDeleteI went to watch Meat Loaf at Manchester Apollo on there first British performance. The Fabulous Poodles where the support band. They where really outstanding. Bobby Valentino he was something different playing the violin like I have never heard before. As for Mirror star well, still one of my favs...............
ReplyDeleteCherchez la femme baby!! I saw the Fab Poo's open for Petty at the Aragon in Chicago in '80. They were tits!!
ReplyDeleteI saw the Fabulous Poodles as a headliner at Cal State Fresno in the Student Union right after Mirror Star was released. Great band, great show. I loved Chicago Box Car and also Tit Photographer Blues! I still have both U.S. releases on vinyl and listen to them often. Think Pink!
ReplyDeleteJMH
Saw the Fab Poos at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool in 1979 or 1980. They played a song dedicated to all geologists in the audience that night called 'it's all rock to me'. Has this ever been recorded? I would love to get hold of a copy on any format. Perhaps the band members may know? contact igk1527@aol.com will pay good money for a copy.
ReplyDeleteI saw them twice. The first time at the Whiskey on the Sunset Strip.
ReplyDeleteThe second was when they opened for Tom Petty at the Forum in LA. (Maybe around January 1980?)
Very tight, very seasoned band.
At the Whiskey, the guitar amp blew up mid song while playing Mirror Star...the violinist stepped in and tossed off a great solo to cover the lost guitar part...great memories.
I have loved the Mirror Stars ever since I bought it on 8 track back in late 77 or early 78. My girlfriend's name was Cheryl so Oh Cheryl was one of my favorite cuts. The 8 track gave up the ghost a long time ago and I had been surviving on and old casette copy for years. It finally died in 98 after one to many plays on a radio show I had on my college radio station (work shy and roll your own were big listener favs) My old girlfriend (Cheryl) knew how much I loved the album so for Christmas of 00 she gifted me with a mint LP that she managed to find somewhere. I haven't played it yet because I want to keep it pristine so that when I can afford the equipment to transfer it to CD I can get cherry copy.
ReplyDeleteHawk from Iowa....The Fab Poo opened for T.P. at Hancher in Iowa City. A buddy of mine, Mike Evans, was the promoter and we were backstage drinkin Henekins with Petty and rockin out to "Chicago Boxcar Boston Back" Great band. I tell people about them and nobody has heard of them. Glad to find this site and to get their music again. Thanks
ReplyDeleteMy name is Bobby Valentino (the tall, pale one) and I was a member of the Fab Poos.
ReplyDeleteThere is one thing I feel compelled to correct: our management may have been tough cookies but they never forbade us from using our names after the band split. Tony de Meur used the name "Ronnie Golden" because he like it and fantasised about having a '50s R'n'R band called "Ronnie Golden and the Earthlings". Checkout his website: www.ronniegolden.com
Feel free to checkout mine: www.bobbyvalentino.co.uk , if you leave a message, it will be forwarded.
How could you not love such classics as "Tit Photographers Blues" and "Convent Girls".
ReplyDeleteGreat to be reminded of music which had such energy and humour.
They were the first band I ever saw live - Jan 1980 Dallas TX - Opening for Tom Petty. I was 12.
ReplyDeleteI didnt plan for TP&TheHBs to be my first concert - but they were and The FabPoos were the first band I ever saw live and they will always hold a special place in my heart.
I am glad they finally reissued the two US albums on CD in 2009!
-Allen Wilson - Age 42
Dallas Texas
Hawk- I also saw the Poodles with Petty at Hancher in 1980 - what a show!!
ReplyDeleteSearching for their music I see that Amazon has a boxed CD set with Mirror Star and Think Pink for $14.00:
http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Stars-Think-Fabulous-Poodles/dp/B002E2LW6I/ref=pd_krex_fa_t_dp_img
Mirror Stars holds up to the test of time; great album
ReplyDeletehttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270626402061&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_614wt_1137
ReplyDeleteI am the daughter of John Parsons, the man behind the lyrics for the fabulous poodles and im selling some of his song books! the link is above. these are GENUINE! These are also signed by John Parsons!!!
I saw the Poodles at the Philly Spectrum around 1979 or 1980 and I thought they rocked. Too bad they didn't stick around awhile.
ReplyDeleteluv the fab poos...saw them with tom petty & the hb's in seattle in about '80...what an amazing show! think pink 4-ever!
ReplyDeleteBrooklands Tech and Guildford Uni......quite when, I don't know, but Fab-u-lous, to plagiarise......
ReplyDeleteBoth times a [different] gorgeous one bopped the night away in the audience. Just listening to them on vinyl. Have all three albums. Great memories and great music.
Liberatingsteptoe
Their sound was like the Kinks and The Who- with a twist of country. They had great wit, and, foresight. "B" Movies is one of the most awesome pop songs ever. If I ever make a movie I will put that song in it. I also like "Work Shy" I listen to the Poodles often.
ReplyDelete"B" movies and "Work Shy" are both excellent. I will make a movie and put both songs in it.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing Tony as 'Daddy Stovepipe' a few times around 71/72, at the old Farx Club in Potters Bar just north of London, and once at an all-nighter at Brunel Uni in Uxbridge - the likes of Can were also on the bill. I remember a ukulele, a song about exchanging chewing gum from mouth to mouth while snogging a girl, and a freeform freakout on said ukulele put through a fuzz box. Happy daze, I hope it wasn't all a dream!
ReplyDeleteA good friend of mine, Spencer Allen, did sound for the Poodles. before they were famous. He told they were so much better live. He went on to do sound for, among others, Emerson, Lake and Powell and the Moody Blues. On the English release of Mirror Stars, he appeared on the credits.
ReplyDeleteI saw this band in Seattle the local radio station KISW had 99 cent Rising Stars I saw them. seven rowsback still love this band to this day
ReplyDeleteI ❤️The Fabulous Poodles! I’m pissed off that they didn’t make it ‘Big’, as I and many believe they were owed. I heard those that went to their concerts (sadly I never saw them live) claim they were The Best Live Gig - Ever ! I can only lament on what might have been...and continue to repeatedly listen to what they left us!
ReplyDeleteI was social secretary at Aberdeen College of Education in the late 70's. I hired the fabulous poodle for a gig. Was a brilliant was a brilliant event & completely sold out. Fabulous music.
ReplyDelete