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27 Apr 1974 - Bristol University
If Fumble are
supposed to be the leading exponents of the rock and roll
revival, someone doesn't know that holders of such titles
are supposed to cling to authenticy like crepe soles to suede
uppers - or else Fumble don't like the mantle thrust upon
them.
Their concert at Bristol University last Saturday shows them
to be far more interested in developing and adapting a style
than reissuing it to a later generation. Of course the mainstream
of their music remains jiveable, but the rock and roll standards
don't come over as pure unadulterated songs any more preserved
intact in a timeless glacier of nostalgia.
Fumble know what the music of today is just as well as they
interpret that of yesterday. Naturally they use the old material,
interspersed with some of their own, but what they take from
it is not its past aura and its appeal for those who lived
themselves in the Fifties, but its basic simplicity, its directness,
and its universal Saturday night quality.
An indication of the way Fumbe do move forward is the fact
that they've recently acquired a lead guitarist, who plays
solo breaks, a little slide, and keeps a couple of pedals
for other effects, and truly adds an extra something go the
golden oldies. But don't get the wrong impression about Fumble
- they haven't come up to date so much that they'll rediscover
flower power in a couple of years - they're too well rooted
for that.
No. I leave you with Des Henly's accolade for the steaming
students as a sign that they keep their feet on the ground
- "the best way to tell if an audience is having a good
time is by the smell. You lot have got to be enjoying yourselves
'cause you smell awful."
Howard Fielding
Sounds
May 4 1974
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More
articles:
Success for Weston Group in beat championship
(Local paper, 1967)
Baloons flying
high behind Iron Curtain (Local paper, 1968)
Fumble (Record Mirror,
1971)
FUMBLE (Beat Instrumental,
1972)
American Press (1972)
Fumble gain a firm hold (1972)
Nancy
finds out all about....
(date unknown 1973)
There's no flies on Fumble (NME,
1973)
Fumble flies to fame and fortune
( 1973)
Rumble, rumble...here comes
Fumble (Record Mirror, 1973)
Fumble begin to feel good (Evening
News, 1973)
Fumble US Tour (Record Mirror,
1973)
In a class of their own
(Sounds, 1973)
Under the influence: Des
Henly (NME, 1973)
Rollin' and Fumblin'
(Melody Maker, 1973)
The Raver
(Melody Maker, 1973)
Back
in time - Nutrockers! (Reading Rock 73)
Accident Prone (Music Star,
1973)
An
interview with Barry Pike (Drum Magazine 1974)
Rock'n'Roll band signs up (St.
Albans Midweek Recorder, 1974)
Record and Popswop Mirror (Record
& Popswop Mirror, 1975)
Robin Katz talked to Sha Na
Na and Fumble (Sounds, 1975)
Pop goes GLC decibel dosage
(Daily Telegraph, 1975)
Concert reviews:
Playhouse Theatre
(supporting Bill Haley) (date unknown)
Newcastle,
City Hall (supporting David Bowie) (Jan 7, 1973)
Philadelphia,
Tower Theatre (supporting David Bowie) (Feb 17, 1973)
London,
Greyhound (May 17, 1973)
Paris
(May 31, 1973)
London,
Speakeasy (June 7, 1973)
London,
Marquee Club (July 14,
1973)
London, Rainbow Theatre
(supporting Chuck Berry) (Sept 7, 1973)
London, Marquee Club
(March 1974)
Bristol,
University (Apr 27, 1974)
London, Kings Road Theatre (Dec
15, 1974)
Burton-on-Trent,
76 Club (Mar 29, 1975)
London,
Roundhouse (supporting Dr. Feelgood) (Apr 20, 1975)
Festivals:
The Reading
Festival 1973
Alexandra Palace
Music Festival 1973
Roskilde
Festival, Denmark 1973 (Sounds)
Roskilde
Festival, Denmark 1973 (NME)
LPs and Singles:
Fumble
(Sovereign) 1972 (Melody Maker)
Poetry In Lotion (RCA) 1974
(Disc, Melody Maker)
Alexandra
Park (Sovereign) 1973 (Disc Magazine)
Million
Seller (Sovereign) 1973 (Melody Maker, NME, Disc, Sounds)
Not Fade Away (RCA) 1974
(Record Mirror, Melody Maker, NME)
Don't
Take Love (RCA) 1974 (Sounds)
German / Danish articles:
 Fumble
ride the oldie-wave (fans magazine, 1973) translated
Fumble
- Nostalgischer Pomaden-Pop (Flash magazine, 1973)
Success through persistence (BRAVO
magazine, 1973) translated
 FUMBLE
(GO, 1972)
Sjoveste LP i lang tid (Some
Danish paper, 1972)
Kendt
beatgruppe i Diskotek Limelight (Danish paper, 1973)
Roskilde-festival en stor succes
(Berlingske Tidende, 1973) |
