Biography
One of the more distinctive groups to emerge from Britain’s late-1970s new-wave movement, the Fabulous Poodles fused a spare, fiddle-accented roots style and bar-band drive with irreverent wit and a distinctly English comic outlook that earned them a devoted audience on both sides of the Atlantic. The band originated on the pub-rock circuit under the simpler name the Poodles and issued its debut album in 1977. Although that record and the 1978 follow-up Unsuitable enjoyed only modest domestic returns, the American compilation Mirror Stars—drawn from the first two LPs—performed strongly, buoyed by relentless touring and airplay for its title track. Despite the musical strengths of 1979’s Think Pink, the album failed to replicate Mirror Stars’ commercial impact, prompting the group’s dissolution in 1980; periodic catalog reissues nevertheless sustained interest in their work.
The ensemble began as the Poodles, a London-based unit formed in 1974 whose lineup included Tony de Meur on lead vocals and guitar, Jon Bentley on bass and vocals, Bob Suffolk on piano, Bobby Valentino on violin, mandolin, and vocals, and Gordon Coxon on drums. Songwriter John Parsons, though never an official member, supplied material throughout the band’s existence. Known for theatrical stage antics that mixed comedy with assorted props, the Poodles secured a one-off contract with Private Stock Records, resulting in the early-1975 single “Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)” backed with “Love and Sorrow.” When the release failed to chart, Bentley, Suffolk, and Coxon departed—Suffolk later built a career designing studios—while bassist Richie Robertson and drummer Bryn Burrows joined, prompting the addition of “Fabulous” to the name. As punk and new wave reshaped British rock, the group’s eccentric approach found a receptive climate, leading to a 1977 Pye Records deal and the John Entwistle-produced debut The Fabulous Poodles later that year. Positive notices from John Peel and an appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test—where the band’s behavior reportedly dismayed host Bob Harris—failed to translate into sales despite extensive European dates.
Returning to the studio, the Fabulous Poodles delivered 1978’s Unsuitable, half of which Muff Winwood produced and the remainder of which the band co-produced with Howard Kilgour. Although the LP made little headway in Britain, an American arrangement with Epic Records yielded the compilation Mirror Stars, assembled from earlier recordings. Epic supported extensive U.S. touring, including headlining club dates and support slots with Sha Na Na, the Ramones, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty, and Chuck Berry, for whom the group also served as backing musicians. The title track received scattered radio exposure, propelling the album to number 61 on the Billboard chart. Work on a third album followed in London, and Think Pink appeared in 1979—Epic in the States, Blueprint (Pye’s rock imprint) at home. Singles “Bionic Man” and the Everly Brothers cover “Man with Money” were issued, yet the record peaked at number 185 stateside. With momentum waning, the Fabulous Poodles disbanded near the close of 1980.
Tony de Meur subsequently pursued acting, comedy, and writing as Ronnie Golden. Bobby Valentino established himself as a session player and sideman, recorded with Los Pistoleros, and occasionally acted or modeled. Bryn Burrows drummed for Freur, Underworld, and Ron Chadwick, while Richie Robertson performed with Hank Wangford before relocating to the United States 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 U.K. albums.
The ensemble began as the Poodles, a London-based unit formed in 1974 whose lineup included Tony de Meur on lead vocals and guitar, Jon Bentley on bass and vocals, Bob Suffolk on piano, Bobby Valentino on violin, mandolin, and vocals, and Gordon Coxon on drums. Songwriter John Parsons, though never an official member, supplied material throughout the band’s existence. Known for theatrical stage antics that mixed comedy with assorted props, the Poodles secured a one-off contract with Private Stock Records, resulting in the early-1975 single “Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)” backed with “Love and Sorrow.” When the release failed to chart, Bentley, Suffolk, and Coxon departed—Suffolk later built a career designing studios—while bassist Richie Robertson and drummer Bryn Burrows joined, prompting the addition of “Fabulous” to the name. As punk and new wave reshaped British rock, the group’s eccentric approach found a receptive climate, leading to a 1977 Pye Records deal and the John Entwistle-produced debut The Fabulous Poodles later that year. Positive notices from John Peel and an appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test—where the band’s behavior reportedly dismayed host Bob Harris—failed to translate into sales despite extensive European dates.
Returning to the studio, the Fabulous Poodles delivered 1978’s Unsuitable, half of which Muff Winwood produced and the remainder of which the band co-produced with Howard Kilgour. Although the LP made little headway in Britain, an American arrangement with Epic Records yielded the compilation Mirror Stars, assembled from earlier recordings. Epic supported extensive U.S. touring, including headlining club dates and support slots with Sha Na Na, the Ramones, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty, and Chuck Berry, for whom the group also served as backing musicians. The title track received scattered radio exposure, propelling the album to number 61 on the Billboard chart. Work on a third album followed in London, and Think Pink appeared in 1979—Epic in the States, Blueprint (Pye’s rock imprint) at home. Singles “Bionic Man” and the Everly Brothers cover “Man with Money” were issued, yet the record peaked at number 185 stateside. With momentum waning, the Fabulous Poodles disbanded near the close of 1980.
Tony de Meur subsequently pursued acting, comedy, and writing as Ronnie Golden. Bobby Valentino established himself as a session player and sideman, recorded with Los Pistoleros, and occasionally acted or modeled. Bryn Burrows drummed for Freur, Underworld, and Ron Chadwick, while Richie Robertson performed with Hank Wangford before relocating to the United States 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 U.K. albums.
Albums
