George HaffendenOur funky friends Bill Curtis and the Fatback Band are set to bring their unique style of funk to the United Kingdom this summer as they embark on an extensive tour.
Nothing is quite as exciting as finding out one of our favourite groups are set to perform in the UK – and we are delighted to bring you news that the Fatback Band are coming back to the UK this summer, travelling across the country performing a long list of dates.
Famous for hits such as ‘(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop‘, ‘Spanish Hustle‘ and UK-mega-hit ‘I Found Lovin’‘, the Fatback Band were one of the true innovative bands in funk and soul in the 1970s. Formed in New York City by Bill Curtis, Johnny King, Johnny Flipping, George Williams, Earl Shelton, George Adams and Gerry Thomas, the band would carve out their own brand of funk, incorporating jazz, soul and R&B. With the influence of disco in the mid-seventies, the group began to release songs such as the infectious ‘Yum Yum (Gimme Some)‘, ‘Keep On Stepping‘, and one of our favourite’s, ‘Backstroking‘. In 1979 the group released the first ever rap single ‘King Tim III (Personality Jock)‘, which was released just a few months before the classic ‘Rappers Delight‘ by the Sugarhill Gang. Then five years later, with the demise of disco, the group embraced what would become known as eighties groove, releasing ‘I Found Lovin‘, which would chart three times in the UK in the space of three years (helped in part thanks to Steve Walsh’s cover).
Today the band continue to perform worldwide with Bill Curtis still at the helm, and recently recorded some new material, including a jazzy version of ‘Get Your Head Out Your Phone‘. Last year the group played the annual Street Sounds All-Dayer in Essex to much acclaim, and founder Bill Curtis spoke with us at length about the group and the music business today.
The Fatback Band are on tour this summer in the UK from 23rd August to 6th September – details and links to tickets can be found below!