Fuzzbox

Fuzzbox are a Birmingham, United Kingdom group active from 1985 to 1990. They begin as an all-female new wave quartet and are associated with c86, indie pop, pop rock and punk. The line-up consists of Joanne Dunne, Margaret Dunne, Tina O'Neill and Vickie Perks.

Style and early work

The group is known for a sound that mixes punk rock, pop, dance music and other styles. At the start of their career, they favour a raw and amateurish playing style, before later moving towards a smoother pop presentation. Their image also changes over time, with a more polished look replacing the earlier rougher approach.

Recordings

Their first release appears in spring 1986 as a double A-side single, with "XX Sex" and "Rules And Regulations" and a blank B-side. This leads to the album Bostin' Steve Austin, which is also sometimes labelled as self-titled. In summer 1986, they collaborate with The Nightingales and Ted Chippington on "Rocking With Rita (Head To Toe)", and the single includes a B-side version of "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini".

In 1989, they release Big Bang!, a sharp change in direction that presents them as a slick pop vocal group. On that album, Vickie Perks is brought to the front as the main visual focus, and the record carries no musician credits. The singles "Pink Sunshine", "Fast Forward Futurama" and "International Rescue" are all co-written by Liam Sternberg.

Break-up and after

Work on a new album begins in 1990, but the project stops after the first single, "Your Loss, My Gain", is released. Perks then starts a solo career under the name Vix, releasing a self-titled album, and the group has already ended by that point.