Right Said Fred - Interview


An Interview with Right Said Fred

An Interview with Right Said Fred

Right Said Fred chat about the 25 year anniversary of I'm Too Sexy and talk about their new material.

It's been 25 years since 'I'm Too Sexy', how does it feel looking back on all that time passed?
Surreal to be honest, it feels like we've been around a couple of years. We've slowly morphed into elder statesmen of pop. We get these young bands at shows sidling up to us asking for advice. We've been blessed, we've played is some amazing venues, we've met a lot of great people, we look back on it with a great deal of affection.

What's the most common misconception you've faced as a band?
That we're a couple gym queens who can't play, write or sing and just got lucky. People feel comfortable within their pre-conceptions. The fact we were on the road in 1978 with Joy Division and Suicide, Rich then played bass with Bowie in '83, I played guitar for Bob Dylan in 1986, we signed to Capitol EMI in New York in 1987, played the NY scene for a year then self-financed and released an independent record in 1991 that went to number 1 in over 30 countries including the US isn't something they want to process or accept.

You've maintained success over these 25 years around the world, what would you say are the main differences between the way fans view pop here and abroad?
Abroad we don't get the 'cheesy' label. In the US for example we get racked in record shops under 'Alternative'. Also in our experience the UK is burdened by it's addiction to 'cool' a lot more than other countries. Also we've noticed that 25 to 30 years ago other countries would look to the UK for cultural guidance, those days have long gone, even the smallest territories now have a sense of self.

What has been the biggest stigma attached to RSF since your earlier hits?
Words like novelty get thrown around. We have no problem with 'novelty' as it actually means 'new', 'original' and 'unusual'. We know it's meant as an insult but you can't legislate against stupid. The indifference towards us use to bother us but now that indifference is dwarfed by our own indifference to it.

Do you still get recognised for 'I'm Too Sexy'?
Yes, all of the time. It jumps generations in leaps and bounds, we do autographs and photos for a whole range of people. I think also the fact it's been used in so many TV ads, TV shows and movies on a regular basis for 25 years it's maintained an omnipotence few songs enjoy.

What has been your career highlight over the years?
The FredHead campaign we did for GOSH was amazing, a humbling and life affirming experience. Being awarded two Ivor Novellos and having them included in the PRS book 'A Century Of Song' is pretty cool. In terms of performing The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in 2014 in front of 500,000 people and also The BollyWood Awards were mind blowing, that had a TV audience of 300,000.000. Meeting artists that we've always admired and them being complimentary about us is very special.

Is there anything you still want to achieve in music?
Yes lots, we just love writing, recording and playing live. We don't have any 'collaboration' desires, just to keep working and to enjoy it.

What are your plans after the 25th Anniversary?
The new album 'Exactly' will be released in early 2017, we're very keen to take it on the road. We also have a new health drink we're involved in, we expect to see that in the shops during 2017.

When can we see you live again and what can we expect from the live show?
We'll be out and about in 2017, it'll be a brand new band hopefully including a couple of female musicians. We hate rehearsing and pre-production, that said we want to come up with a couple of curve balls. We always play with a lot of energy but we are also looking to add to that in some way.

Finally, what would you say to pop fans of 20 years ago who still think of you as 'that band' who released 'I'm Too Sexy'?
We'd say "see ya, we don't have time to waste explaining what was"!




Official Site - http://www.rightsaidfred.com/

Contactmusic

Top 10 Videos

10 Years

Beautiful

2

Fast Girls

Fast Girls

3

Shaggy

Hey Sexy Lady

4

Air

Sexy Boy

5

The Staves

Tired As F***

6

Robin Thicke

Blurred Lines (Unrated Version)

7

All That Remains

Six (Live)

8

Fugees

Boof Baf

9

Fleur East

Sax [Live]

10




Suggested

Leisure Festival - Dreamland in Margate

Leisure Festival - Dreamland in Margate

On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...

Pretty Fierce talk to us about collaborating with Doja Cat, emetophobia, arena tours and staying

Pretty Fierce talk to us about collaborating with Doja Cat, emetophobia, arena tours and staying "true to yourself" [EXCLUSIVE]

Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.

Will Varley & Jack Valero - The Astor Theatre Deal Live Review

Will Varley & Jack Valero - The Astor Theatre Deal Live Review

Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.

WYSE talks to us about her

WYSE talks to us about her "form of synaesthesia", collaborating with Radiohead's Thom York and the prospect of touring with a band [EXCLUSIVE]

With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...

Advertisement
Bay Bryan talks to us about being a

Bay Bryan talks to us about being a "wee queer ginger", singing with Laura Marling and being inspired by Matilda [EXCLUSIVE]

Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...

Keelan X talks to us about staying true to

Keelan X talks to us about staying true to "your creative vision", collaborating with Giorgio Moroder and being "a yoga nut" [EXCLUSIVE]

Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.

Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]

Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]

Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...

Annie Elise talks to us about the challenges a female producer has to face and

Annie Elise talks to us about the challenges a female producer has to face and "going through a year of grief and sickness" [EXCLUSIVE]

Electronic music pioneer and producer Annie Elise says that the release of her first EP - 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' feels "both vulnerable and...

Advertisement
Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews