The Return Of The Fabulous Poodles

Fabulous Poodles - Special One Off London Show.

40 years ago the Fabulous Poodles were one of the hottest live acts on both sides of the Atlantic. They toured almost constantly in the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada.

To say they were hard working is an understatement - at one point they played 78 shows in 73 days.

In North America they opened for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on the “Damn The Torpedoes” tour; Sha-na-na; Aerosmith; Ted Nugent (not an ideal pairing) and the Ramones, as well as headlining their own shows in big clubs and small theatres.

Their live shows were renowned for being mega-fun – they were even compared to The Who and the Kinks. (The latter due to the quirkiness of Tony De Meur and John Parsons’ songs.)

Along with onstage mayhem and pithy lyrics, exploding ukuleles became a bit of a trademark for the Fab Poos...no wonder they were one of John Peel’s favourite bands.

Between 1977 and 1979 the group recorded three albums before their split in 1980. The first, eponymously titled, was produced by John Entwistle (the only band he produced apart from The Who). It was followed by “Unsuitable” and “Think Pink” both produced by Muff Winwood.

In 2018 a retrospective box set, “Mirror Stars”, was released on Cherry Red Records. It comprised the three albums along with some obscure and rather wonderful extra tracks including a punk version of ‘White Christmas’. It showed to good effect what an utterly splendid group the Fabulous Poodles were.

Following the success of the box set the band have now decided to revisit the live arena.

They’re returning to play a special one-off London show at Nell’s Jazz & Blues, 3 North End Crescent, West Kensington, W14 8GT on Friday 29th November. Tickets are on sale now priced £12 in advance and £15 on the night, doors open 7.30pm.

The Fabulous Poodles were, and are, a band of characters. Redoubtable mainstays, Tony De Meur (AKA Ronnie Golden) and Bobby Valentino, are joined by a new rhythm section. Richard Allen has inherited bass duties from Richie Robertson and Bryn Burrow’s drum stool is kept warm by Pete Turtle

For the past 40 years Ronnie and Bobby have pursued very successful solo careers. Ronnie had a song nominated for an Oscar while Bobby co-wrote the Bluebells’ No 1 hit “Young At Heart”.

Ronnie has been working the comedy circuit, winning awards and regularly performing double stand-up with Barry Cryer. Bobby has become the go-to violinist of the pop world playing with everyone from Bob Dylan and Tom Petty downwards.

Ronnie had a cameo role as an MI6 agent in the movie "The Fourth Protocol" with Michael Caine and appeared on TV in Rik Mayall’s ground-breaking ‘The Young Ones’. A comic, musician, jingle writer, voiceover artist, actor and film composer, there’s not much he can’t do entertainment-wise.

Bobby has played with Mark Knopfler, Big Country, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, Billy Bragg, Hank Wangford, Sinead & Des O’Connor, Boy George, Style Council, Kirsty McColl, and Cliff Richard (to name but a few). His violin talent is legendary and he even made the violin smashing sounds on the Young Ones’ No.1 ‘Living Doll’.

So for any self-respecting lover of music performed with occasional tongue-in-cheek the Fabulous Poodles’ November show will be an absolute must see. Compulsory viewing for aspiring writers and performers...the Fabulous Poodles are back, more fabulous than ever and standing up for canines everywhere!

“This highly recommended box set is a godsend” Somethingelse Reviews

“This new compilation was sorely needed” Louder Than War

“What would the late 70s Kinks have sounded like had they prominently featured mandolin and violin? The simple answer: The Fabulous Poodles.” Musoscribe

“Musically tight and lyrically clever to the point where comparison