Biography
One of the more distinctive outfits to emerge from Britain's late-'70s new-wave milieu, the Fabulous Poodles fused a spare, fiddle-accented roots approach and bar-band drive with playful irreverence and a distinctly British wit, earning a devoted following on both sides of the Atlantic. The ensemble had begun life on the pub-rock circuit as the Poodles, issuing its first LP in 1977. Although that debut and the follow-up Unsuitable from 1978 achieved only modest domestic returns, the U.S. compilation Mirror Stars drew stronger interest through relentless roadwork and airplay for its title track. Think Pink arrived in 1979 with solid musical craft yet failed to replicate earlier American traction, and the group disbanded the next year; periodic catalog reissues nonetheless sustained its reputation.
The Poodles coalesced in London in 1974 around Tony de Meur on lead vocals and guitar, Jon Bentley handling bass and vocals, Bob Suffolk at the piano, Bobby Valentino on violin, mandolin, and vocals, and Gordon Coxon behind the drums. Songwriter John Parsons, though never an official member, supplied material across the band's lifespan. Known for eccentric stage presentations laced with comedy and props, the group secured a one-off Private Stock contract that yielded the 1975 single "Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)" backed with "Love and Sorrow." After the release floundered, Bentley, Suffolk, and Coxon departed—Suffolk later built a career designing studios—prompting the addition of bassist Richie Robertson and drummer Bryn Burrows. Rechristened the Fabulous Poodles, the refreshed lineup found fresh context amid the punk and new-wave surge. Signing with Pye Records in 1977, the band delivered its self-titled debut, helmed by the Who's John Entwistle. Positive notices from critic John Peel and a slot on the BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test—where the antics reportedly scandalized host Bob Harris—did little to lift sales despite extensive European touring.
The group pressed forward, recording 1978's Unsuitable with six tracks overseen by Muff Winwood and the remainder produced in-house alongside Howard Kilgour. While the album made scant chart impact at home, an American deal with Epic followed, resulting in Mirror Stars, a stateside collection drawn from the first two British LPs. Epic backed extensive U.S. touring that included club headlining and support slots for Sha Na Na, the Ramones, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty, and Chuck Berry, for whom the Poodles also served as backing unit. The title cut received scattered radio exposure, propelling the album to number 61 on the Billboard chart—an impressive showing for a British new-wave act that year.
Returning to London, the band cut Think Pink for a 1979 release, issued in America by Epic and in Britain via Pye's Blueprint imprint. Singles "Bionic Man" and a cover of the Everly Brothers' "Man with Money" appeared, yet the LP stalled at number 185 stateside. With momentum waning on both continents, the Fabulous Poodles dissolved late in 1980. Tony de Meur later performed and wrote under the name Ronnie Golden. Bobby Valentino maintained a busy studio and sideman schedule, recorded with Los Pistoleros, and took occasional acting and modeling work. Bryn Burrows went on to drum for Freur, Underworld, and Ron Chadwick, while Richie Robertson played with Hank Wangford before relocating to the U.S. and joining Barrence Whitfield & the Savages. In 2018, Cherry Red issued the three-disc anthology Mirror Stars: The Complete Pye Recordings 1976-1980, presenting expanded versions of the band's three British albums.
The Poodles coalesced in London in 1974 around Tony de Meur on lead vocals and guitar, Jon Bentley handling bass and vocals, Bob Suffolk at the piano, Bobby Valentino on violin, mandolin, and vocals, and Gordon Coxon behind the drums. Songwriter John Parsons, though never an official member, supplied material across the band's lifespan. Known for eccentric stage presentations laced with comedy and props, the group secured a one-off Private Stock contract that yielded the 1975 single "Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)" backed with "Love and Sorrow." After the release floundered, Bentley, Suffolk, and Coxon departed—Suffolk later built a career designing studios—prompting the addition of bassist Richie Robertson and drummer Bryn Burrows. Rechristened the Fabulous Poodles, the refreshed lineup found fresh context amid the punk and new-wave surge. Signing with Pye Records in 1977, the band delivered its self-titled debut, helmed by the Who's John Entwistle. Positive notices from critic John Peel and a slot on the BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test—where the antics reportedly scandalized host Bob Harris—did little to lift sales despite extensive European touring.
The group pressed forward, recording 1978's Unsuitable with six tracks overseen by Muff Winwood and the remainder produced in-house alongside Howard Kilgour. While the album made scant chart impact at home, an American deal with Epic followed, resulting in Mirror Stars, a stateside collection drawn from the first two British LPs. Epic backed extensive U.S. touring that included club headlining and support slots for Sha Na Na, the Ramones, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty, and Chuck Berry, for whom the Poodles also served as backing unit. The title cut received scattered radio exposure, propelling the album to number 61 on the Billboard chart—an impressive showing for a British new-wave act that year.
Returning to London, the band cut Think Pink for a 1979 release, issued in America by Epic and in Britain via Pye's Blueprint imprint. Singles "Bionic Man" and a cover of the Everly Brothers' "Man with Money" appeared, yet the LP stalled at number 185 stateside. With momentum waning on both continents, the Fabulous Poodles dissolved late in 1980. Tony de Meur later performed and wrote under the name Ronnie Golden. Bobby Valentino maintained a busy studio and sideman schedule, recorded with Los Pistoleros, and took occasional acting and modeling work. Bryn Burrows went on to drum for Freur, Underworld, and Ron Chadwick, while Richie Robertson played with Hank Wangford before relocating to the U.S. and joining Barrence Whitfield & the Savages. In 2018, Cherry Red issued the three-disc anthology Mirror Stars: The Complete Pye Recordings 1976-1980, presenting expanded versions of the band's three British albums.