The Fizz

The Fizz

The Fizz are a British new wave group from London, active from 1980. The band forms around Cy Curnin on lead vocals and Adam Woods on drums, who first bring in additional players after placing an advert for other members. The original line-up includes Jamie West-Oram on guitar, Rupert Greenall on keyboards and Charlie Barrett on bass. Barrett leaves after the first album and is replaced by Dan K. Brown. The group is known for its association with new wave and for its long-running activity in the United States.

History and line-up

The band signs to MCA Records in 1981 and releases its debut album, Shuttered Room, later that year. The record produces the singles “Red Skies” and “Stand or Fall” and helps establish the group’s sound. The Fixx keep a core line-up of Curnin, West-Oram, Greenall and Woods, later joined by bassist Gary Tibbs, formerly of Roxy Music, The Vibrators and Adam & The Ants. Cy Curnin is noted for performing with a glass of wine in one hand and an egg shaker in the other.

Albums and singles

Their 1983 album Reach the Beach is a major release and includes “One Thing Leads to Another” and “Saved by Zero”. The band continues with Phantoms in 1984, which includes “Are We Ourselves?”, and Walkabout in 1986, which produces “Secret Separation”. “Deeper and Deeper”, from the soundtrack to Walter Hill’s film Streets of Fire, also becomes a hit on Billboard’s Hot Club Play chart.

In 1987 the band moves from MCA to RCA Records and releases Calm Animals, which includes “Driven Out”, a No. 1 rock track and one of Billboard’s most-played rock tracks of the year. MCA later issues the compilation One Thing Leads to Another, which sells more than two million copies.

Later work

During the 1990s, the band releases Ink, including “How Much Is Enough?”, which reaches No. 10 on the Modern Rock chart. After time apart, the group returns with Elemental in 1998 on CMC International Records, followed by the collection Happy Landings and Lost Tracks and the acoustic release 1011 Woodland in 1999. In 2003 the band issues Want That Life on Rainman Records, produced by Martin Rex and featuring Gary Tibbs on bass. The album is the band’s eighth studio release and includes “Touch” and “Are You Satisfied?”.

Recognition and profile

The Fixx build a reputation for a distinctive blend of ethereal keyboards, inventive rhythm work, strong vocals and guitar-driven rock. They tour regularly in the United States and become better known there than in Britain. Their catalogue remains associated with songs such as “One Thing Leads to Another”, “Red Skies”, “Stand or Fall”, “Saved by Zero” and “Are We Ourselves?”.