FUMBLE - History

1962-1967 - The Iveys - The early days

Iveys 1962 Des and Mario have been friends since they were kids. Together with Mario's brother Remo and John Watson they founded the Iveys in about 1962. They started with Shadows and Cliff Richard Style music. Their first drummer John Watson was later replaced with Bob Davies. 1965 In 1965 the Iveys recorded two songs in the famous Abbey Road Studios. In August of the same year they took their amps and guitars and went to Sweden to look for some work during the summer. English bands were very popular in Sweden at that time, so they found places to play quite easily. They even did a TV-show with Sony and Cher, the Loving Spoonful and the Kinks among others. The Show was broadcast on New Year's Eve of that year. That was when EMI Sweden decided to release the single.

1966 The Iveys finished when Remo got married and Bob Davies joined the army. Later that year Des and Mario met Sean and Barry, and the Baloons were born.

1967-1971 - The Baloons

1967 The Baloons started touring clubs and universities around the UK and Europe. They even played in Bulgaria and Rumania, which was fairly unusual for bands in those days.
In December 1968 they played the legendary Star Club in Hamburg, Germany for 10 days, and in 1970 the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
When Mario broke a leg during a stay in Switzerland in late 1971, he had plenty of time and thought about a new band name - FUMBLE

1972 - Fumble
First album, Bowie Tour, Bill Haley Tour, Old Grey Whistle Test

1971 the Baloons changed their name to FUMBLE.
1972 - Fumble recorded their first LP, and supported Bill Haley on his German tour. Later that year they appeared on The Old Grey Whistle Test, one of the most popular music programmes in those days.
1973 At the beginning of the year David Bowie invited Fumble to support him on his British tour in January and his US-Tour in February/March. Just after they had arrived back in Europe they performed on the German TV-show Musikladen , where they played three songs.

1973
Reading Festival, Roskilde, Alexandra Palace

In the summer of 1973 they were headliner at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, in July/August they played for 10 days at the Alexandra Palace Festival, and the Reading Festival 1973 in August.

1974 - 1976
Second album, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino

In April 1974 a second guitarist, Dave Christopher, joined the band. Fumble played at the Reading Festival 1974, and later that year recorded their second LP "Poetry in Lotion", this time it was a mixture of covers and own material.In November 1975 Dave Christopher left the band again. Dave Bennet joined the band for a short time. He was replaced again with Kevin Adderley, who left the band again in March 1977.1976 In the mid-seventies Fumble supported Fats Domino on a European tour, were backing band of Chuck Berry, and played regularly in London clubs like the Marquee Club, Dingwalls and the Rock Garden.

Das ELVIS - Musical
1977 - 1979

1977 Fumble played in ELVIS - THE MUSICAL, which was running from November 1977 until June 1979 at the Astoria Theatre in London's West End. The Musical was about the story of Elvis, who was played by Tim Whitnall, Shakin' Stevens and P.J. Proby in different stages of his career.
The Musical got the Evening Standard Award for "Best Musical of the Year 1978"

Jack Good's "Oh Boy"
1979 / 1980

1979 Fumble performed in the all-music Rock'n'Roll shows "Jack Good's Oh Boy", and later in "Let's Rock". The Shows featured Shakin' Stevens, Alvin Stardust, Lulu, Joe Brown, Freddie "Fingers" Lee and many others, and were broadcast all over Europe in the early Eighties.

FUMBLE 1980-1982

1980 Fumble toured with Bill Haley again, and supported him on his very last tour of South Africa in June 1980.
In 1981 they recorded their last Album "It's only a Rock'n'Roll Game", which was released in Germany, and included the single "Wasn't That A Party". This time they had Paul McGreavy aka "Miles Shorter" on Sax.

For the rest of the year Fumble toured extensively in Germany.
In 1982 their last single "Greenback Dollar" was released in Germany.