Fat White Family

Last updated

Fat White Family
Fatwhitefamily immergut 06.jpg
Fat White Family at Immergut Festival 2016
Background information
Origin Peckham, South London, England
Genres
Years active2011 (2011)–present
Labels
  • Domino
  • Trashmouth
  • Fat Possum
  • Hate Hate Hate
  • Without Consent
Members
  • Lias Kaci Saoudi
  • Adam J Harmer
  • Adam Brennan
  • Alex White
  • Guilherme Fells
  • Victor Jakeman
Past members
  • Ciaran Hartnett
  • Jack Everett
  • Joseph Pancucci-Simpson
  • Dan Lyons
  • Jak Payne
  • Taishi Nagasaka
  • Severin Black
  • Samuel Toms
  • Saul Adamczewski
  • Nathan Saoudi
Website fatwhitefamilymusic.com

Fat White Family are an English rock band, formed in 2011 in Peckham, South London. Frontman Lias Saoudi has remained the project's sole constant member across multiple line-up changes. The band's current line-up also includes Adam J Harmer (guitar), Adam Brennan (guitar), Alex White (keyboards, saxophone, percussion), Victor Jakeman (bass, keyboards) and Guilherme Fells (drums). Former guitarist and vocalist Saul Adamczewski has been an on-again-off-again member of the band across its career.

Contents

Known for their energetic live performances and chaotic personal lives, the band has released four studio albums: Champagne Holocaust (2013), Songs for Our Mothers (2016), Serfs Up! (2019) and Forgiveness Is Yours (2024).

In 2022, Lias Saoudi and writer Adelle Stripe co-wrote the autobiographical book, Ten Thousand Apologies: Fat White Family and the Miracle of Failure, which chronicled the band's turbulent history.

History

2011–2015: Formation, early career and Champagne Holocaust

Brothers Lias and Nathan Saoudi grew up in Southampton, [1] Ireland and Scotland [2] before forming The Saudis with Alex Sebley in the 2000s, including a tour to their father's home country of Algeria. [3]

They later formed Fat White Family in 2011 with lead guitarist Saul Adamczewski - he was previously frontman of indie pop band the Metros, which also featured Fat White Family's bass player, Joe Pancucci. [4] Adam Harmer (guitarist) had been a solo artist before joining the original six-piece lineup which also featured Dan Lyons on drums. The band would rehearse at the Queen's Head, Stockwell. [5]

They released their debut album, Champagne Holocaust , in 2013, on UK label Trashmouth Records. It was released in 2014 in the U.S. on Fat Possum Records. The band released Fat Whites/Taman Shud, a split EP with Taman Shud, on 11 December 2013 on Trashmouth. [6]

On 10 March 2014, Fat White Family issued their first single, "Touch the Leather", on Hate Hate Hate Records. [7]

In early 2014, the band launched a PledgeMusic campaign to fund their show at the South by Southwest festival, with a subsequent US tour. [8] Pledgers were given the self-released EP Crippled B-Sides and Inconsequential Rarities. Next was the single "I Am Mark E Smith" (referencing singer Mark E. Smith of the Fall), released on 15 December 2014. [9]

2016–2020: Songs for Our Mothers and Serf's Up!

Their second album, Songs for Our Mothers , was released in 2016 by the Without Consent label. [10] [11] Lias Saoudi described the album as an attempt to "really to get at the shittiness lurking in the core of my own soul, and in everybody else's". [12] It was promoted with a single for "Whitest Boy on the Beach", [13] which was later chosen for the closing credits of the 2017 film T2 Trainspotting .

Fat White Family's next single, "Breaking Into Aldi", was released on 16 August 2016. [14] The single was recorded with Sean Lennon, as well as Cole Alexander from The Black Lips. [15]

On 9 January 2019, Fat White Family announced that their third album, Serfs Up! , [16] would be released on 19 April 2019 on Domino Records. This was followed by the singles "Feet" and "Tastes Good with the Money", the latter featuring spoken lyrics by Baxter Dury, and a video directed by Róisín Murphy. [17] The album was described as "triumphant" and "transcendent" by Adelle Stripe in The Quietus , [18] and The Irish Times said it "feels like a pop album you might slap on as the world is about to end or you’ve just learned Brexit has been pushed back to 2020". [19]

2021–present: Ten Thousand Apologies and Forgiveness Is Yours

In 2022, a biography of the band – Ten Thousand Apologies: Fat White Family and the Miracle of Failure – was released, co-written by Lias Saoudi and Adelle Stripe. [20] Writing in The Observer , Miranda Sawyer described it as "the story of a band that's always on the brink: of stardom, of madness, of brilliance, of disgrace". [21] It was shortlisted for the 2023 Penderyn Music Book Prize. [22]

On 26 April 2024, the band released their fourth studio album Forgiveness Is Yours . [23] During the recording of the album, founding member and on-again-off-again guitarist Saul Adamczewski "permanently and acrimoniously" left the band, "leaving the record unanchored and at risk of never being finished." [24] Describing the album upon its eventual release, Lias Soudi stated: "Forgiveness Is Yours is about life as eternal contingency. About no longer suspecting, but knowing that this shit will never get any easier… in fact, it’s about to get a whole lot worse, your body’s going to go into decay and the people you love will slowly start dropping dead around you. But somehow, you’ve smashed enough of your expectations thus far in life, you’re sort of fine with it. You accept it. The overarching aesthetic themes at work here are torpor and further torpor still." [24]

Other projects

In 2014, the post-punk and disco group Warmduscher formed and both Saoudi brothers and Adamczewski are on-and-off collaborators in the studio and at live sets. Other Fat White Family members with a more consistent role in Warmduscher are Harmer, Everett and Romans-Hopcraft.

In 2015, Adamczewski and Lias Saoudi collaborated with Adrian Flanagan and Dean Honer of experimental band Eccentronic Research Council on their album Johnny Rocket, Narcissist & Music Machine... I'm Your Biggest Fan. After its release, the partnership took concepts from the album to form a new band called the Moonlandingz. The act ended up touring together, as well as working with Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono, Philip Oakey, Randy Jones and Slow Club frontwoman Rebecca Taylor, resulting in the 2017 release of their debut album, Interplanetary Class Classics . [25]

In January 2017, Adamczewski formed the band Insecure Men with Lennon (guitar), Ben Romans-Hopcraft (bass), Jack Everett (drums), Jon Catfish de Lorene (keyboards) and Alex White (saxophone). [26] [27] Lennon co-produced their eponymous debut album, released in February 2018. [28]

Lias Saoudi is a member of Decius alongside Liam and Luke May (founders of Trashmouth Records) and Quinn Whalley (Paranoid London/Warmduscher). The group released their debut full-length album Decius Vol. I on The Leaf Label in November 2022. [29] [30] [31] [32]

Members

Current members

Former members

Temporary members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Trux</span> American alternative rock band

Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band active from 1987 to 2001, and again from 2015 to 2019 consisting of Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema (vocals).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mad Caddies</span> American ska punk band

The Mad Caddies is an American ska punk band from Solvang, California. The band formed in 1995 and has released seven full-length albums, one live album, and two EPs. To date, Mad Caddies have sold over 500,000 albums worldwide.

I Monster are an English electronic music duo, composed of the Sheffield based record producers Dean Honer and Jarrod Gosling. Best known for their songs "Who Is She?" and "Daydream in Blue", both of which appeared on their 2003 album Neveroddoreven. They have also produced records for acts such as The Human League or HK119 and worked on a documentary about the origins of electronic music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Leaf Label</span> British independent record label

The Leaf Label is a British independent record label based in Yorkshire, England. Initially an electronic music label, releasing mainly instrumental music, the company's approach now features artists spanning jazz and post-punk.

Toe Fat were an English rock band active from June 1969 to 1971, notable for including two future members of Uriah Heep and of Jethro Tull. During their brief existence, they released two full-length studio albums.

Tamam Shud is an Australian psychedelic, progressive and surf rock band, which formed in Newcastle in 1964. The initial line-up were known as The Four Strangers with Eric Connell on bass guitar, Dannie Davidson on drums, Gary Johns on rhythm guitar and Alex "Zac" Zytnik on lead guitar. At the end of that year Johns was replaced by Lindsay Bjerre on guitar and vocals as they trimmed their name to the Strangers. By late 1965 they had become the Sunsets. They took the name Tamam Shud in late 1967 after replacing Connell with Peter Barron on bass guitar. The group released two albums, Evolution (1969) – after which Tim Gaze replaced Zytnik on lead guitar – and Goolutionites and the Real People (1970) before disbanding in 1972. After a lengthy hiatus they reformed in 1993 to release a third album, Permanent Culture in 1994, but disbanded again in 1995. Beginning in 2008 the group worked together periodically on new material: it took eight years to complete their fourth album, Eight Years of Moonlight.

Adelle Stripe is an English writer and journalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Place to Bury Strangers</span> New York City-based noise rock band

A Place to Bury Strangers are an American rock band formed in 2002, in New York City. The trio is currently composed of Oliver Ackermann, John Fedowitz and Sandra Fedowitz (drums). Commonly known by the initials APTBS, the band plays a heavy, atmospheric Wall of Sound–influenced blend of noise rock, shoegaze and space rock.

Tim Gaze is an Australian rock and blues guitarist, songwriter, singer, and producer. He was a member of several Australian groups from the 1960s to 1990s including Tamam Shud, Kahvas Jute (1970), Ariel (1973–74) and Rose Tattoo (1985–87). He also had a solo music career and released the albums, Band on the Run, Rough Trade (1992), Blue Sierra (1996) and Blues Remedy (1998). In April 2008 he issued a retrospective compilation covering both his group and solo work, Reckless Love: the Tim Gaze Anthology.

Kahvas Jute were an Australian rock band formed in July 1970. Mainstay of the line-up was Dennis Wilson on guitar and vocals. Other founder members include Bob Daisley on bass guitar and Tim Gaze on lead guitar and vocals. Their debut album, Wide Open was released in January 1971. The group supported Bo Diddley on his second tour of Australia in October 1973. Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, described their style as 'expansive and free flowing, strong on rhythm and melody and bristling with exceptional guitar work' . Kahvas Jute did a reunion gig in 1991 and in 1993, their album Wide Open was re-released on CD again. In 2005, they played a reunion show at The Basement in Sydney which was recorded and filmed. A DVD and album pack entitled Then Again: Live at the Basement was issued in 2006.

The Moonlandingz are an English rock band, formed in 2015. The band consists of Eccentronic Research Council duo Adrian Flanagan and Dean Honer, along with Fat White Family members Saul Adamczewski and Lias Kaci Saoudi. The band was originally designed as a concept act for the Eccentronic Research Council's fifth album Johnny Rocket, Narcissist and Music Machine…I'm Your Biggest Fan, with the act's charismatic and otherworldly frontman Johnny Rocket being played by Saoudi.

<i>Interplanetary Class Classics</i> 2017 studio album by The Moonlandingz

Interplanetary Class Classics is the debut studio album from Sheffield-based rock band The Moonlandingz. It was released on March 24, 2017, through Transgressive Records in Europe and by Chimera Music in the United States. It was produced by both the band and Sean Lennon, and was recorded at the Chimera Music Studio in New York. The album features guest vocals from Yoko Ono, Philip Oakey, Randy Jones and Slow Club frontwoman Rebecca Lucy Taylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warmduscher</span> English post-punk band

Warmduscher is a British post-punk band formed in 2014 in London. The group is currently affiliated with the independent record label Strap Originals.

<i>Feelin Kinda Free</i> 2016 studio album by The Drones

Feelin Kinda Free is the sixth studio album from Australian band The Drones, and their final one before going on hiatus. Having grown tired with the more rock-oriented sound of the band up until that point, frontman Gareth Liddiard became fascinated with both vintage and modern electronic equipment - ranging from drum machines and samplers to the Teenage Engineering OP-1 synthesizer - in conceiving the album's sound. Its genre-defying musical style has been described as visceral and ominous, featuring a relative absence of guitars and a prominent use of electronic textures. Its sessions also marked the first appearance of drummer Christian Strybosch since 2005's Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By.

<i>Serfs Up!</i> 2019 studio album by Fat White Family

Serfs Up! is the third studio album by British post-punk band Fat White Family. It was released in April 2019 under Domino.

<i>Slow Summits</i> 2013 studio album by The Pastels

Slow Summits is the fifth studio album by the Scottish band The Pastels, released via Domino Recording Company in 2013. The album was their first proper studio album since 1997's Illumination, having released a soundtrack album and a collaborative album with Japanese avant-pop band Tenniscoats in between.

<i>This Is Fats Domino!</i> 1956 studio album by Fats Domino

This Is Fats Domino! is the third album by R&B pianist and vocalist Fats Domino. The album was released by Imperial Records in December 1956.

<i>Mercy</i> (John Cale album) 2023 studio album by John Cale

Mercy is the seventeenth studio album by the Welsh musician and composer John Cale. It was released on 20 January 2023 by Double Six Records, making it Cale's first album of new songs in over a decade. It features collaborations with Tony Allen, Laurel Halo, Weyes Blood, Tei Shi, Animal Collective's Avey Tare and Panda Bear, Dev Hynes, Sylvan Esso, Actress, and Fat White Family. It was inspired by current events such as Donald Trump's first presidency, Brexit, COVID-19, climate change, civil rights, and right-wing extremism.

Decius are a London-based band made up of brothers Liam and Luke May together with Quinn Whalley and Fat White Family frontman Lias Saoudi. They are signed to The Leaf Label and make music that draws on acid house, disco and techno.

<i>Forgiveness Is Yours</i> 2024 studio album by Fat White Family

Forgiveness Is Yours is the fourth studio album of the British post-punk band Fat White Family, released on 26 April 2024 by Domino. It is the band's first album without guitarist Saul Adamczewski.

References

  1. ↑ Bromwich, Kathryn (18 March 2017). "On my radar: Lias Saoudi's cultural highlights". The Guardian . Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Campbell, Brian (19 February 2016). "Fat White Family frontman Lias looking forward to Irish 'homecoming' gigs". The Irish News . Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  3. ↑ The Social https://www.thesocial.com/life-beyond-the-neutral-zone-5-lias-saoudi/
  4. ↑ "How The Metros are making a big noise in Peckham". The Independent . 7 March 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Pattison, Louis (9 December 2013). "Fat White Family: 'We want to make your skin crawl'". The Guardian . Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  6. ↑ "Fat White Family* / Taman Shud* - Fat Whites / Taman Shud". Discogs.com.
  7. ↑ "The Fat White Family - Touch The Leather". Discogs.com.
  8. ↑ "SXSW and US tour Send The Fat White Family to America". Nme.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "The Fat White Family - I Am Mark E Smith". Discogs.com.
  10. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (21 January 2016). "Fat White Family: Songs for Our Mothers review – still testing the boundaries of taste". The Guardian .
  11. ↑ Clements, Jaymz (25 January 2016). "Fat White Family - Songs For Our Mothers". Rolling Stone Australia. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Wood, Anna. "Silence Is Easy: Fat White Family Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  13. ↑ "The Fat White Family - Whitest Boy On The Beach". Discogs.com.
  14. ↑ "The Fat White Family - Breaking Into Aldi". Discogs.com.
  15. ↑ Noisey Staff (15 August 2016). "Stop All the Clocks, Fat White Family's New Single Is Massive". Vice. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  17. ↑ Wood, Anna (10 April 2019). "A Conversation With Fat White Family & Róisín Murphy". Dazed. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  18. ↑ Stripe, Adelle. "Fat White Family Hit Paydirt". The Quietus. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  19. ↑ Power, Ed. "Everyone Thinks We're Complete C**ts". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  20. ↑ Stripe, Adelle; Saoudi, Lias (16 February 2022). Ten Thousand Apologies. White Rabbit Books. ISBN   9781474617840.
  21. ↑ Sawyer, Miranda (15 February 2022). "Ten Thousand Apologies: Fat White Family and the Miracle of Failure review – band on the brink". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  22. ↑ "2023". Penderyn Music Book Prize. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  23. ↑ Richards, Will (24 January 2024). "Fat White Family announce new album 'Forgiveness Is Yours' with new single 'Bullet Of Dignity'". NME. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  24. 1 2 Briony Edwards (24 January 2024). ""It's about no longer suspecting, but knowing that this will never get any easier… in fact, it's about to get a whole lot worse": Fat White Family are releasing a new album and it's pushed them to the limits of their very existence". louder. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  25. ↑ Sendra, Tim (24 March 2017). "Interplanetary Class Classics - The Moonlandingz | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.com. All Media Network . Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  26. ↑ Cecilia, Woody (25 January 2017). "Saul Adamczewski from Fat White Family played his first gig with his new 10-piece band last night - Loud And Quiet". Loud And Quiet. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  27. ↑ Murray, Eoin (27 January 2017). "The Quietus | News | Insecure Men: Live Report". The Quietus . Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  28. ↑ Wood, Anna. "Uneasy Does It: Insecure Men Reviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  29. ↑ "Kudos-Proof: An Interview With Decius". The Quietus . Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "Decius". AllMusic.com. The Leaf Label . Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  31. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (22 February 2018). "Insecure Men: Insecure Men review – slacker supergroup find redemption in pop". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  32. ↑ Monger, Timothy (February 2018). "Insecure Men". AllMusic.com. All Media Network . Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  33. ↑ "Serfs Up! — Fat White Family, tastelessly refined" . Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  34. ↑ "Serfs up!". Discogs. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  35. ↑ Briony Edwards (24 January 2024). ""It's about no longer suspecting, but knowing that this will never get any easier… in fact, it's about to get a whole lot worse": Fat White Family are releasing a new album and it's pushed them to the limits of their very existence". louder. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  36. ↑ "New Music Discoveries 29th March: Fat White Family, The Buoys, St Vincent and more". The AU Review. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.