The Fat Lady Sings

The Fat Lady Sings

The Fat Lady Sings are an Irish group formed in Dublin in March 1986. They front singer and songwriter Nick Kelly, and the original line-up also includes Robert Hamilton on drums, Dave Sweeney on guitars and Finbarr O’Riordan on bass. Soon after forming, the band moves to London and bases itself there for the rest of its active period.

Early releases and line-up changes

The band does not record a demo before its first studio visit, which produces the single “Fear And Favour” about five months after formation. That self-funded release appears on Terri Hooley’s Good Vibratrions label and brings immediate attention from the English music press. Over the next 18 months, the group remains self-managed and self-financed while building a live following in Ireland and the UK.

In March 1988, the second independent single “Be Still” appears on Harbour Sound Records. By then, the classic line-up has formed, with Nick Kelly and Robert Hamilton joined by Dermot Lynch on bass and Tim Bradshaw on guitar and multiple instruments.

Recordings and major-label period

In October 1989, The Fat Lady Sings release “Arclight” on their own Fourth Base Record label, followed by “Dronning Maud Land” in January 1990. The interest generated by these singles, together with the band’s large live following and sold-out shows at Dublin’s National Stadium and London’s Town & Country Club, leads to a major-label deal with East West Records in London, and Atlantic in the United States, in 1990.

The first major-label single, “Man Scared”, follows in October 1990. The debut album, Twist, is released in May 1991 and yields the singles “Arclight” again, “Twist” and “Deborah”.

Johnson and split

After touring in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the United States, the band continues without Robert Hamilton, who leaves and later helps establish the Peace Together charity with Ali McMordie. The charity records a version of “Be Still” featuring Peter Gabriel, Nanci Griffith, Feragal Sharkey, Jah Wobble and Sinead O’Connor.

The second album, Johnson, is produced by Steve Osborne with Nic France on drums and appears in June 1993. It is preceded by “Show Of Myself”, and its second single, “Drunkard Logic”, gives the band its highest UK chart position, just outside the Top 40. After another extended run of touring, including a three-month US stint ending with a show at CBGBs in New York, the group splits in 1994 after Nick Kelly decides to leave.

After the band

Nick Kelly later releases the independently issued solo album Between Trapezes in 1997, which wins him Best Solo Male Artist at the 1998–99 Irish Music Critics Awards. His follow-up, Running Dog, appears on his Self Possessed Records label in 2005. Tim Bradshaw goes on to play, record and tour full-time with David Gray, and has also worked with Tanita Tikarem and Fatima Mansions. Dermot Lynch also works with David Gray and becomes established as a tour and production manager, with credits including Keane, Fun Loving Criminals and Supergrass. Tim and Dermot both later achieve Top 10 chart success in America as members of Dog’s Eye View.