Right Said Fred Explained

Right Said Fred
Landscape:	yes
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	East Grinstead, England
Years Active:	1989–present
Current Members:	Fred Fairbrass Richard Fairbrass
Past Members:	Ray Weston Dan Kruse Rob Timms Rob Manzoli

Right Said Fred are an English pop band formed by brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass in 1989. They are best known for the hit 1991 song "I'm Too Sexy".

History

1989–1991: Formation

Prior to forming Right Said Fred, the Fairbrass brothers had been playing music since the mid-1970s: as part of a band called the Actors, the brothers had toured with Suicide and supported Joy Division at the Factory club in Manchester.^[1]

The Fairbrass brothers formed the group in 1989, with Richard on lead vocals and bass and Fred on guitar. Prior to forming the group, Richard was employed as a session bassist for artists including Boy George, Mick Jagger and David Bowie, and appears as the bass guitarist in Bowie's short film Jazzin' for Blue Jean.^[2] In 1987, Fred appeared as a guitarist in the Bob Dylan vehicle Hearts of Fire.

The group was named after the novelty song "Right Said Fred", which was a hit single for singer and actor Bernard Cribbins in 1962. The Fairbrass brothers were originally accompanied by drummer Ray Weston and guitarist Dan Kruse. Weston left in 1990 to join the progressive rock group Wishbone Ash and Kruse left the next year. Guitarist Rob Manzoli joined in 1990 and remained with the group until 1997.

1991–1992: I’m Too Sexy and Up

In July 1991, the group released its debut single and best-known song, "I'm Too Sexy", on the independent London-based record label Tug Records. The Fairbrass brothers have stated that the song's lyrics are centred on certain users of the gym they owned in London, who they claimed had no shame. "A lot of models used our gym, so we thought it was time to start poking [fun] at them," Fred stated.^[3]

The song was a considerable hit in the United Kingdom, spending six weeks at number two in the charts behind Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", and three months in the Top 10. The song also went to number one in 32 countries, including the United States, where it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[4] The song earned the band a nomination for an Ivor Novello award.^[5] "I'm Too Sexy" has subsequently been used in over 40 television shows and movies, including My Wife and Kids, The Simpsons, The West Wing, and EastEnders.^[6]

Their second single, "Don't Talk Just Kiss", with background vocals by soul singer Jocelyn Brown, was released in October 1991. It made number 3 in the United Kingdom Christmas charts, entered the top five in many countries, and reached number eight in the United States dance chart.^[7]

In February 1992, the band released its third single, "Deeply Dippy". This was number one in the United Kingdom for three weeks, and peaked at number nine in the United States dance chart.^[7]

The success of the singles resulted in the band's multi-platinum debut album, Up, reaching number one in the United Kingdom album charts as well as charting worldwide. The album remained in the Top 40 for almost a year.^[8] In Germany a fifth single "Love For All Seasons" charted at # 65 in 1993.

In 1992, Heavenly Records released an EP that featured the label's acts covering Right Said Fred songs for charity. The Fred EP contains Saint Etienne (performing "I'm Too Sexy"), The Rockingbirds ("Deeply Dippy") and Flowered Up ("Don't Talk Just Kiss").^[9]

Remainder of the 1990s

1993–1994: Sex and Travel

Early in 1993 Fred, Richard and Rob wrote and recorded the Comic Relief single "Stick It Out", which was a top-five hit in the United Kingdom and in many European countries. In September 1993, Right Said Fred released its second album, Sex and Travel. Sex and Travel included the singles "Bumped" and "Hands Up (for Lovers)".^[10] The band received its second Ivor Novello award for "Deeply Dippy" in 1993.

1995–1996: Smashing!

Right Said Fred parted company with Tug Records and then released its third album, Smashing!, in 1996 on the band's own label Happy Valley Records, including the singles "Living on a Dream", "Big Time" and "Everybody Loves Me".

1997–2001: Manzoli leaves, You’re My Mate and Fredhead

Rob Manzoli left the band on friendly terms in 1997. In 1998, Fred and Richard set up their own recording studio in London and started writing and recording what became the album Fredhead.

In 2000, Right Said Fred signed to Kingsize/BMG Berlin in Germany. The first single from Fredhead was "You're My Mate" (co-written with hard rock guitarist Myke Gray. Other singles from Fredhead were "Mojive" (Ward) and "Love Song" (Agostino Carollo).

21st century

2002–2003: Stand Up

The second Kingsize/BMG album Stand Up was released in 2002. The lead single was "Stand Up (For the Champions)", composed by Clyde Ward and the Fairbrass brothers.

2004–2006: For Sale

Due to family ill-health, Fred and Richard took some time out from travelling to write and record the single "We Are the Freds" and the album For Sale for the Ministry of Sound.^[11] In late 2004, Right Said Fred toured extensively in Europe.

2007–2010: I'm a Celebrity

During 2007 and 2008, Fred and Richard collaborated with Clyde Ward to write and record their sixth album I'm a Celebrity. The album was produced by Ward, and for the United States release, Right Said Fred worked with David Levine at Promark Music. In late July 2009, Right Said Fred released "Sexy Bum" in Germany, the first single from the band's HITS! album.^[12] The band toured in support of the album in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.^[13]

2011–2012: Sexaholic

Right Said Fred collaborated with Norwegian writers/producers Dsign Music to record Sexaholic, released in 2011.^[14]

2013–present: Raise Your Hands

Richard spoke at an Oxford Union debate.^[15] TV appearances included an acoustic performance on the UK’s Celebrity Big Brother TV show.^[16]

RSF began writing and recording new tracks with Paul Statham (Dido, Jim Kerr, Kylie Minogue, The Saturdays).^[17] The band released the single "Sweet Treats" in January 2017 from the album Exactly!^[18] In August 2017, Right Said Fred's members Richard Fairbrass and Fred Fairbrass, were credited as songwriters on the Taylor Swift single "Look What You Made Me Do" alongside Jack Antonoff and Swift herself. The song's chorus is an interpolation of the famous chorus from "I'm Too Sexy".^[19]

In May 2022, Phoenix Music International released the band's single "Godsend", dubbing the duo the 'UK’s most controversial band' after a number of anti-COVID-19 vaccine-themed Twitter posts and appearances in the press during the UK pandemic lockdowns. In 2022, they were involved in leafleting for British anti-climate change activist group, Not Our Future, in Oxford.^[20]

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Nominee(s)	Category	Result
BMI London Awards	2018	"Look What You Made Me Do"	Award-Winning Song		^[21]
2022	"Way 2 Sexy"			^[22]
BMI Pop Awards	1993	"I'm Too Sexy"	College Award		^[23]
2019	"Look What You Made Me Do"	Award-Winning Song		^[24]
Brit Awards	1993	Themselves	British Group		^[25]
Up		British Album of the Year
Ivor Novello Awards	1992	"I'm Too Sexy"	The Best Selling 'A' Side		^[26]
Most Performed Work
	1993	"Deeply Dippy"		^[27]
Silver Clef Awards	1992	Themselves	Best Newcomer		^[28] Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications (sales threshold) UK ^[29] AUS ^[30] AUT ^[31] GER ^[32] NL ^[33] NZ ^[34] SWE ^[35] SWI ^[36] US ^[37] Up Release date: 16 March 1992 Label: Tug 1 39 1 8 9 23 16 22 46 BPI: 2× Platinum MC: Platinum^[38] RIAA: Gold^[39] Sex and Travel Release date: 1 November 1993 Label: EMI Formats: CD, cassette 35 145 35 88 91 — — — — Smashing! Release date: 1996 Label: Happy Valley Formats: CD, cassette — — — — — — — — — Fredhead Release date: 23 October 2001 Label: Sony BMG Formats: CD, cassette — — 4 2 — — — 75 — Stand Up Release date: 26 August 2002 Label: Kingsize Formats: CD, cassette — — 29 9 — — — — — For Sale Release date: 23 January 2006 Label: Ministry of Sound — — — 61 — — — — — I'm a Celebrity Release date: 14 October 2008 Label: Promark Music Formats: CD, music download — — — — — — — — — Stop the World Release date: 1 May 2011 Label: Luv Formats: CD, music download — — — — — — — — — Exactly Release date: 24 February 2017 Label: PMI Digital Formats: CD, vinyl, music download — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart Compilation albums Title Details Greatest Hits Release date: 23 December 2003 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, cassette Hits Release date: 2009 Label: Sexy Records, EMI Formats: CD, music download The Singles Scheduled: 2 June 2023^[40] Label: Sexy Records, EMI Formats: CD, 2×LP, music download Singles (The Original Hits) Release date: 9 January 2024 Label: Sexy Records Formats: music download Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications (sales threshold) Album UK AUS ^[41] AUT ^[42] BEL (FLA) ^[43] GER ^[44] IRE ^[45] NL ^[46] NZ ^[47] US ^[48] US Dance ^[49] 1991 "I'm Too Sexy" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 2 1 1 3 14 1 19 1 1 4 BPI: Gold^[50] ARIA: Platinum^[51] MC: Gold^[52] RIAA: Platinum^[53] Up "Don't Talk Just Kiss" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 3 18 5 11 2 8 3 16 76 8 1992 "Deeply Dippy" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 1 38 6 14 15 1 9 11 — 9 BPI: Silver "Those Simple Things/Daydream" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 29 121 29 27 48 21 23 — — — 1993 "Stick It Out" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 4 — — — — — — — — — Single only "Bumped" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 32 88 — 25 54 — 37 29 — — Sex and Travel "Hands Up (4 Lovers)" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 60 176 — — 82 — — — — — 1994 "Wonderman" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 55 — — 50 — — — — — — 1995 "Living on a Dream" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 91 147 — 17 66 — — — — — Smashing 1996 "Everybody Loves Me" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — 187 — — 74 — — — — — "Big Time" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 77 — — 53 — — — — — — 2001 "Mojive" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — 35 — 46 — — — — — Fredhead "You're My Mate" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 18 101 4 — 6 — — 43 — — 2002 "Love Song" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — — — 21 — — — — — "Stand Up (For the Champions)" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — — — 14 — — — — — Stand Up "I Love You (But I Don't Like You)" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — — — 61 — — — — — 2003 "We Are the Freds" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — — — 68 — — — — — — "We Are the Champs" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — — — 92 — — — — — 2004 "The Wizard" (vs. Doris Dubinski) < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — — — 52 — — — — — Der Wixxer OST 2006 "Where Do You Go to My Lovely?" < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — 40 — 36 — — — — — For Sale 2007 "I'm Too Sexy" (re-release) < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> 56 — — — — — — — — — — 2008 "I'm a Celebrity" — — — — — — — — — — I'm a Celebrity 2009 "Sexy Bum" — — — — — — — — — — Hits "Right on the Kisser" — — — — — — — — — — 2010 "Viva Südafrika" (Höhner featuring Right Said Fred) < -- UK AUS AUT BEL GER IRE NL NZ US USDance --> — — — — 54 — — — — — — 2017 "Sweet Treats" — — — — — — — — — — Exactly "—" denotes releases that did not chart Music videos Title! scope="col" Year Director "I'm Too Sexy" 1991 James Lebon "Don't Talk Just Kiss" 1991 James Lebon "Deeply Dippy" 1992 Frank Sacramento "Those Simple Things" 1992 N/A "What A Day for a Daydream" 1992 James Lebon "Love for All Seasons" 1992 James Lebon "Bumped" 1993 Marcus Nispel "Hands Up (4 Lovers)" 1993 Paul Boyd "Wonderman" 1994 N/A "Living on a Dream" 1995 James Lebon "Everybody Loves Me" 1996 N/A "Mojive" 2001 David Incorvaia "You're My Mate" 2001 N/A "Love Song" 2001 Bernard Wedig "Stand Up (For the Champions)" 2002 N/A "I Love You" 2002 Wolf Gresenz "We Are the Freds" 2004 Bernd Possardt & Jeff Lisk "Where Do You Go to My Lovely?" 2006 N/A "I'm a Celebrity" 2008 Robert Madrid External links

Notes and References

1. Web site: How we made Right Said Fred's I'm Too Sexy . Simpson . Dave . 4 April 2017 . The Guardian. 4 April 2017.
2. showing Richard Fairbrass playing bass.
3. News: POP MUSIC : Right Said Fred: A Model Trio. 1992-02-09. Los Angeles Times. 2019-06-18. en-US. 0458-3035.
4. [Fred Bronson|Bronson, Fred]
5. Web site: The Ivors . 2 January 2015.
6. Web site: Right Said Fred's IMDb page . . 9 December 2014.
7. [Joel Whitburn|Whitburn, Joel]
8. Web site: RIGHT SAID FRED. Officialcharts.com. 28 September 2014.
9. Web site: Flowered Up, St Etienne*, Rockingbirds, The – The Fred EP. 26 October 1992 . Discogs.com. 28 September 2014.
10. Web site: Apple iTunes . . 4 January 1993 . 9 December 2014.
11. Web site: For Sale on Amazon. Amazon. 9 December 2014.
12. Web site: HITS! on Amazon. Amazon UK. 9 December 2014.
13. Web site: Night of the Living Fred. https://archive.today/20141209165413/http://www.mtv.com/artists/right-said-fred/discography/2693594/. dead. 9 December 2014. MTV. 9 December 2014.
14. Web site: Dsign – Right Said Fred . 2 January 2014.
15. Web site: Oxford Times: Right Said Fred star to debate gay adoption . 17 January 2013 . 9 December 2014.
16. Web site: IMDb: Big Brother's Bit on the Side - 10 . . 9 December 2014.
17. Web site: Amazon: Don't Make Me Laugh (Paul Statham), Right Said Fred . Amazon . 9 December 2014.
18. https://www.rightsaidfred.com/ReleaseDetails?rid=RSF_WRE_5 "Sweet Treats"
19. Grow. Cory. Right Said Fred on Taylor Swift's 'Cynical' 'Look What You Made Me Do'. Rolling Stone. 25 August 2017. 25 August 2017.
20. News: 2023-01-14 . Oxford residents dubbed 'guinea pigs' over traffic policy . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-01-14.
21. Web site: Harry Gregson-Williams and Other Top Songwriters Honored at 2018 BMI London Awards . October 2018 .
22. Web site: 2022 BMI London Music Awards. Bmi.com .
23. Web site: Music Week. Worldradiohistory.com. 20 November 1993. 27 May 2023.
24. Web site: Sting, Imagine Dragons and Martin Bandier Honored at BMI's 67th Annual Pop Awards . Bmi.com. 15 May 2019 .
25. Web site: History. Brits.co.uk .
26. Web site: Archive | The Ivors | The Ivors Academy | Champions of Music Creators . The Ivors Academy . 2022-06-30.
27. Web site: Archive | the Ivors . The Ivors Academy.
28. Web site: O2 Silver Clefs Lunch . https://web.archive.org/web/20191113214425/https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/silver-clef-award-winners-archive/ . 13 November 2019 .
29. UK chart peaks:
    • Top 100 peaks: Web site: Official Charts > Right Said Fred. The Official UK Charts Company. 14 May 2017. N.B. this site displays compressed chart peaks (exclusion rules applied) for positions 76–100.
    • Top 200 peaks from November 1994 to December 2010: Web site: Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > The Rabble Army – RZA. Zobbel.de. 14 May 2017. N.B. This site displays uncompressed chart peaks (no exclusion rules) for positions 76–200.
30. Web site: Right Said Fred's ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in 2022 page 1. ARIA. Imgur.com. 3 December 2023. Web site: Right Said Fred's ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in 2022 page 2. ARIA. Imgur.com. 3 December 2023. Web site: Right Said Fred's ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in 2022 page 3. ARIA. Imgur.com. 3 December 2023. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
31. Web site: austriancharts.at – Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. 18 March 2011.
32. Web site: Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts – German Albums. Hung Medien. 18 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510050524/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/RIGHT+SAID+FRED/?type=longplay. 10 May 2018. dead.
33. Web site: dutchcharts.nl – Dutch charts portal. Hung Medien. 18 March 2011.
34. Web site: charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal. Hung Medien. 18 March 2011.
35. Web site: swedishcharts.com – Swedish charts portal. Hung Medien. 18 March 2011.
36. Web site: The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community. Hung Medien. 18 March 2011.
37. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=right said fred|chart=Billboard 200}} Right Said Fred Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 18 March 2011.
38. Web site: Gold & Platinum Search – Music Canada – Right Said Fred – Albums. Music Canada. 17 August 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120225041920/http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=. 25 February 2012.
39. Web site: RIAA – Gold & Platinum – March 18, 2011: Up certified awards. Recording Industry Association of America. 18 March 2011.
40. Web site: NEW ALBUM - RELEASED JUNE 2ND!. Twitter. 9 March 2023. 26 March 2023.
41. Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
    • Top 50 peaks: Web site: australian-charts.com > Discography Right Said Fred. Hung Medien. 1 November 2015.
    • Top 100 peaks: 235.
    • "Bumped": Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 23 Jan 1994. Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). 14 May 2017.
42. Web site: austriancharts.at – Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. 17 March 2011.
43. Web site: Flanders peak. Ultratop.be. 28 September 2014.
44. Web site: Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts – German Singles. Hung Medien. 17 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510050645/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/RIGHT+SAID+FRED/single?sort=exit. 10 May 2018. dead.
45. Web site: Search for Irish peaks . Irishcharts.oie . 28 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement . 2 June 2009 .
46. Web site: Top 40 Artiest: Right Said Fred. Dutch Top 40. 18 March 2011.
47. Web site: charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal. Hung Medien. 18 March 2011.
48. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=right said fred|chart=all}} Right Said Fred Chart History – Hot 100]. Billboard. 17 March 2011.
49. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=right said fred|chart=Dance/Club Play Songs}} Right Said Fred Chart History – Dance/Club Play Songs]. Billboard. 17 March 2011.
50. Web site: BPI Searchable Database . . 17 March 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090924015932/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx . 24 September 2009 .
51. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
52. Web site: Gold & Platinum – Music Canada – Right Said Fred – Singles. Music Canada. 17 August 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120225041920/http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=. 25 February 2012.
53. Web site: RIAA – Gold & Platinum – March 17, 2011: "I'm Too Sexy" certified awards. Recording Industry Association of America. 17 March 2011.