Freur
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Freur is the principal name under which the group have recorded from 1983-1986 1980s.
History
The band were famously known only for being a squiggle and emerged in 1983.The name 'Freur' however, emerged because of pressure from record shops and the band's own record label, CBS, who complained that nobody knew how to pronounce it. The band (or was it Carl?), suggested it was actually pronounced 'Freur' and the name stuck.
The band struck a recording deal with a major label, CBS Records, a coup for a relatively unknown band, back then in 1983.
Their first and only hit (Number 59 in the UK Charts) 'Doot Doot' (1983) was typically Eighties pop, and despite the dizzy heights of the Top 75, the band survived and went on to produce two albums.
The band, initially were: Carl Hyde (Vocals, Guitar), spelt with a 'C' in those days. Rick Smith, Alfie Thomas (Guitar), Byrn Burrows (Guitar), and John Warwicker (Synthesizer). (John later became Totato Video Maker, and Karl Hyde collaborator).
The look the band portrayed was a cross between goth, rock, glam and new romantic. Something that the eighties chart terrorists Sigue Sigue Sputnik pulled off with better effect, not soon after Freur had failed with it.
The band released 5 further tracks after 'Doot Doot', between 1983 and 1985: 'Matters of the Heart', 'Runaway', 'Riders in the Night', 'Devil and the Darkness', and 'Look in the Back for Answers'.
All failed to dent the UK Charts.
There were also two albums - 'Doot Doot' (1983) and 'Get Us Out of Here!' (1985). The second LP was only released in Germany and Holland and is near impossible to get a hold of these days. It became almost a prophetic title for their last LP.
John Warwicker left the band in 1986. Baz Allen subsequently joined the band, and Freur spent almost 2 years contemplating their future; they re-emeged in 1988. Then they left CBS, and joined Sire Records under a new name, Underworld (Mk1).
They later went onto become Underworld electronic music as a duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith.
(NOTE : all information by Mattv from Big Screen Satellite)
Band members
- Karl Hyde (b. 10 May, 1957, Worcester, Worcestershire) - vocals, guitars (1983-1986)
- Rick Smith (b. Richard Smith, 25 May, 1959, Ammanford, Wales) - keyboards (1983-1986)
- Alfie Thomas - bass, keyboards (1986-1990)
- Byrn Burrows - guitars
- John Warwicker - keyboards
Trivia
- The post-Screen Gemz manifestation was originally designated only by an esoteric symbol (see: right), until forced to provide the "Freur" pronunciation.
- The Guinness Book Of British Hit Singles would list "Freur" under the symbol with the translation by the side, until the late 1990s. This was due to space-saving.
As \"Freur\"
Albums
- Doot Doot (1983) (Reissued 1994)
- Get Us Out of Here (1985) (Not released in the UK, but Released in Holland)
- Transmutations (Underworld) (1985) (A film soundtrack)- Unreleased
Singles
- Doot Doot (1983)
- Matters of the Heart (1983)
- Runaway (1983)
- Riders in the Night (1984)
- The Devil and Darkness (1984)
- Look in Back for Answers (1984)
- The Piano Song (1986)
External links
- [Discography: Freur/Underworld/Lemon Interupt] - Detailed discography to 1999
- [Freur fan page]
- [Band History page]
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