Freur...news

[big screen satellite]

I am in the process of acquiring some intersting back history from a friend of Karl, Freur, and Underworld from as far back as 1984

This history is in the form or some letters, press cuttings, press photos and press releases and other nice bits and bobs...

Anyway, I recieved the first of about 6 folders today, dated Freur 1984-1986

rest assured I won't be divulging any personal information, not that any is contained, but will be able to divulge some historical bits and pieces, as i read through the articles, and will also upload some of the more intersting photos!

[big screen satellite]

the main notes from this press release:

'...Freur, who triumphed with their debut LP, Doot Doot in 1983, are back in action with their single 'The Devil and the Darkness', which will be followed by the release of their long awaited second LP in the new year.

The line up is still the same...Alfie Thomas / keys and editing, Rick Smith / keys and assorted machinery, Karl Hyde / vocals and guitar, Bryn Burrows / drums, John Warricker Le Breton / video synthesiser and graphics. A new bassisthas been added. His name is Jake Bowie - a little man with orange hair and a dog...'

'Originally concieved in 1982 at the University of Cardiff, in South Wales, Freur converted their Splott terraced house into a nifty little 4-track studio called "The Black Box"...'

'Doot Doot was released in 1983, number one in Italy, 24 in Germany, top five in NZ.' (wow!) (also popular in US and Canada - cult status!) 'College radio went crazy over their music'!

'Everyone wanted to know who Freur were. Where did they come from? And why did they dress up in emeralds, pearls and diamonds? Brightly coloured clothing? Crimped hairstyles?

"We did it because, at that time, nobody else was doing it," explains Karl.

"...we stuck with that look for 18 months."

"A lot of the new material (the new album) started to lean towards a more traditional vein - the background of old England - the celtic and old English styles of modern technology including emulators, sampling equiptment, guitars, drums and a great London studio (Mayfair). The initial backing tracks were recorded in ICC studio down on the south coast...

(somewhere near Bexhill if my memory serves me right - Mattval)

...The Crux of the LP was produced ourselves and John Hudson (who's credits include Gary Glitter, Ultravox and Tina Turner.)"

...

'Like the new single, a lot of the new material doesn't feature any sequneced basslines. As already mentioned, Jake Bowie is the new bass player. In fact Karl promises that if the group have any kind of financial success, more musicians would be added to the current line up.'

next, is the best bit of the whole piece for me...in todays context - Mattval:

"We're getting a bit bored with synths and pure electronic sounds." says Rick...

!!!! hahahaha !!!! oh how times have changed ;)

'...The name is Freur. And so is the noise. The band never intended to come up with a name that meant anything in particular. If anything the name separated the group from all of the other groups. It had to be multi-national. Freur is a noise that everyone around the world can translate. It's got absolutely nothing to do with language. Freur is a sound that rolls off the tounge. It's a pictogram, a logo, a signal post that typifies six different people.'

'Karl: we have most of the actual recording sessions down on video...'

press release by Peter L. Noble 1984

...

the rest of the piece is about the actual release of 'The Devil and Darkness', i've not included everything in the press release, some bits I held back purely because its waffle, some bits I might need if I ever get around to writing a book... ;) It'll all be in there...and anyway, i might upload a scan of the entire piece in time ...but this is an intersting taster of what was happenening at the time of the second album release.


anyway more bits and pieces to follow...

Mattval1

[undarrenworld]

It seems to be interesting.
Thanks for the info.

;)

[big screen satellite]

Curly Managment (Simon Davies), was Freur's manager, and Karl sent out several bits on 'official' headed notepaper to his friend in 1984/5.

Simon Davies was Director of Curly Management, which was based in London, as detailed on the notepaper.

i've detailed a few bits of interest from a couple of these notes sent out...some of which were handwritten by Karl are detailed below (again anything personal has not been detailed, although most of it is about the band...)

appox. dated Sept/Oct 1984

"...you asked me about any new Freur releases, and it just so happens that on 15th Oct, the first track from our (as yet unreleased) 2nd album poked its head out onto the streets. The single is called...'The Devil and Darkness' and will be available in three (3!!!?) different formats with other 'things' on the B-side."

"...I don't know anything about touring Britain yet, as we have to spend a lot of time in Europe, but we are doing one show at the Marquee club in London on the 31st October."

(signed 'lots of luv and good health Karl')

another handwritten headed letter sent after the Marquee gig:

"...it was very hot in the club, and unfortunately, we had to turn away 200 people as the gig sold out!.

still....we will be appearing at the same club on 11th Dec '84..."

(signed 'luv Freur') - (the squiggle not the name!)

another headed letter this time typed by Simon Davies (Freur's manager)(dated 19 April 1985):

"...I'm sorry Karl hasn't had an opportunity to answer your letter but the band has been really busy over the past month or two in the studio recording the soundtrack for the film "Underworld"."

another headed letter again typed by Simon Davies (Freur's manager)(dated 2 May 1985):

"...the boys have just finished the soundtrack for Underworld and i believe it should be released in London towards the end of the year...."

"...the 12" edited remix of The Devil and Darkness was never released, although it was recorded and cut, so that explains why you had difficulty finding it. The album "Get Us Out Of Here" is due for release soon, so i'll let you know the exact dates when i have them..."

details from a FREUR NEWS newsheet type letter, from Simon Davies again (dated 10/06/85):

"As you know Freur have been working on the soundtrack to a film called "Underworld".

This is now finished and the film is having its first showing at 10:30am on Sunday 16th June at the Empire cinema in Leicester Square."

"...we are playing at the Hippodrome again on the 20th June at midnight and at the Marquee on Monday 15h July..."

details from a FREUR NEWS newsheet type letter, from Simon Davies again (dated 09/07/85):

"Once again the time has come for us to wave farewell to some of the songs and ideas we have been performing for the last twelve months.

So it is that on July 15th 1985, Freur will play their end of term show at the Marquee Club, Wardour Street, London, W1. Uncle Jeoff and the lads want you to know.

Lov. Lov.

Les Boys du Musik"

another Curly Management Letter from Simon Davies, dated 6th August 1985:

"...The film premier went very well as did Freur's subsequent appearance at the Marquee.

Since then they've been very busy whittling down hours music they wrote for the film into a sountrack album. As yet i don't know the exact dates for its release but when we know we'll write.

You asked for the boys birthdays, Karl is 10 May, Ricks 25 May..."



i keep this bit in purely to alert you to the fact that Karl's B'day is very soon (this Wednesday!) and not long afterwards is Ricks...so if you guys wanted to post a salutation here, you could ;)

anyway, thats all i'll post for a while, there is a lot more, but copying it out takes its time...

hope this has been a bit informative at least for the Freur fans amongst us...

Matt

[m.g.]

Thanks a lot Matt... i was already a fan of R&K music in 1984 (and actually never stopped liking their music...*), and of course, i never had this kind of infos at that time... very interesting. Thanks again for sharing.


* mmm... well, except maybe with Underneath the Radar & Change the Weather... ;)

[lloyd]

thnx matt, nice inside view of the early days :)

[Dirty0900]

Cool, nice one matt, guess we need a bday thread for Karl soon.

[freur]

very interesting
thank you

[big screen satellite]

another bit of info that my correspondent, who is sending me stuff, has divulged, is that Freur used to turn up on stage (sometimes) wearing what best can described as 'Synthesiser Suits', which had electronic pads that allowed them to be played whilst on stage...not sure what these actually looked like or even sounded like, but i'd love to know if anyone still has these...(i might be getting a scan of some old photos of these - will post when i get them... did the photos in the previous Freur thread show these suits...i can't recall??)

Rick also had some kind of electronic stick thing that he banged in mid air...apparently...

more news when i get it and when i can upload it....

Matt

[freur]

Yeah, remember that stick, but I don't think it has been used live on stage.

[froopy seal]

Rick also had some kind of electronic stick thing that he banged in mid air...apparently... This item can be seen in action in the Doot Doot video clip from around 2'10''. But beware: this might be unsuitable for the weak-minded (or, rather, the weak-eyed)! Unfortunately, the instrument doesn't appear in the live footage from German BR television. However, fashion and hair are quite remarkable on their own. (For info on the videos you might want to join rtsr.)

[big screen satellite]

(For info on the videos you might want to join rtsr.)

already am... i might be getting some footage anyway...waiting for my conatct to sort themselves out!

[froopy seal]

already am...
Anything else would have surprised me. :D The info was mainly addressed to people who might not yet know about rtsr (like freur, maybe?).

[freur]

I know very well rtsr, thank you anyway

[freur]

More news?

[Mike]

Rick also had some kind of electronic stick thing that he banged in mid air...apparently...

more news when i get it and when i can upload it....

Matt

The lolipop :)

Woooooooooooo hehehe...

Here are a couple of pics from a selection that i have here in my box:

http://www.rowla.com/freur/Flexipop.jpg
http://www.rowla.com/freur/SG3.jpg

The last one is actually a very very early picture of Rick when performing live with the Screen Gems :)

Mike

[big screen satellite]

The lolipop :)

Woooooooooooo hehehe...

Here are a couple of pics from a selection that i have here in my box:

http://www.rowla.com/freur/Flexipop.jpg
http://www.rowla.com/freur/SG3.jpg

The last one is actually a very very early picture of Rick when performing live with the Screen Gems :)

Mike


When and how long for was Rick the the Gemz?

because the single i have doesn't list or show him - did he join after the I Don't Like Cars single...?

i'd always heard he was in the band but seeing the single made me think taht this was just speculation...

[Mu Chi]

he mike
do you more of those rare photo's of the old era time

[Mike]

When and how long for was Rick the the Gemz?


I dont have that info, maybye he just didn't have any writing credits and used to jam / play live with them?

Mike

[big screen satellite]

"Thursday last week, and a distressed call from a CBS press person asking what she could do about getting their latest signing's new single reviewed. The problem? The band in question don't have a name. Well they do have a name but nobody knows how to spell it because its in the form of some runic squiggle.

The aforementioned press person explained that she had adequet stocks of this logo that we could use everytime we wanted to mention the band by name in Sounds. On being told that we cynical hacks were unlikely to participate voluntary in such a blatant piece of company hypography, she added: "I know, but its not us its the band. It's entirely their idea. We've been trying talk them out of it for months.

Ah but when you know you're right - anyway we've decided to call them Elephant With a Big Stick of Rhubarb because it has a sort of poetic ring to it. And the single is reviewed this week."

ELEPHANT WITH A BIG STICK OF RHUBARB: Doot Doot (CBS)
Aptly african feel for these jumbo japsters with synthy drums leanding jungle atmosphere and plenty of swirling arrangements making for a highlife taste.
'Doot Doot' creeps up on you as silently as a tiger and attacks just as successfully (though quite why its inventors chose to slap their names on the sleeves in Congo lingo is confusing).
Nevertheless; safari, so good.




Article and Review appeared in Sounds, circa 1983, when 'Doot Doot' was released.

more snippets to follow...

[freur]

more "news" Matt?

[ultradave]

Much appreciation Matt. :D

now playing: Don't Panic (A Rush Of B-Sides To Your Head Version) - Coldplay

[big screen satellite]

more "news" Matt?


i'll see what i can dig out...

check back later....

[big screen satellite]

Graham Neal (DJ): Hello Karl & Alfie. Welcome fellas. Nice to see you here i must say.

A & K: Thank you for waiting for us.

GN: Now, am right in thinking; I remember looking back to "the Tube" a while ago and remembering that you were saying you didn't really want a name, you wanted this sort of little caterpillar-type squiggle thing. Is that right?

K: Yeah, thats half right we did have a name Freur at the time but it was something we wanted to pass on by word of mouth. We had an audio biog, that went out with some of the 'A' labels for the radio stations. We thought the word of mouth would spread that this squiggle stood for Freur.

GN: Did it cause any problems at teh time? You mentioned some DJ's picking on it.

A: Computers can't spell squiggle; so computers had a bad time with us.

GN: Now you're fairly quite recently. I must say you're looking very smart tonight, a rather different sort of change of image, how's this come about?

K: Well its not through money.

GN: It looks like it!

K: We spend a lot of time touring Europe, we've had most of our successes, like number 1's in Italy, top ten in Germany, its been great over there for us, so we've been very busy there and then frpom the summer of this year recording the new album and thats complete now.

GN: Is it frustrating that in your home you haven't been as big as you have outside like you say number 1 singles in Italy, is that frustrating for you?

A: Its a little bit because we've had such a good reaction from Europeans and, they're as curious as we are as to why we aren't as successful in sales terms in this country.

GN: I'd find it hard, i really would, that sort of situation. You'd think why it hasn't happened at home.

K: Its hard for Freur fans our mums and dadas, really it's heartbreaking sometimes. You play gigs all over in this country and the attendance at the gigs is really good and, you see the fans faces they can't understand why, they want us to successed so much. We're really happy, i wish you knew how happy we were.


more to follow...

[negative1]

by the way,
i bumped all the freur info on wikipedia
over too its own page..

it needs to be updated also:
if anyone has a chance, please do,
as i don't really know much about freur..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freur

matt, i used the history from your
page for it.....

later
-1

[freur]

mmmm, this radio interview was on "underworld contacts" (Tony Barrett fanzine early 90's)........
He released 3 numbers, a very good work

[big screen satellite]

mmmm, this radio interview was on "underworld contacts" (Tony Barrett fanzine early 90's)........
He released 3 numbers, a very good work

yeah i have those - thats where its coming from ;)

[big screen satellite]

ok - so time to update you...rather than continue with the freur radio interview, which i started...i've received a new batch of stuff from my contact, and its more up to date...

and its no longer 'Freur News'...its Underworld - Mark I news, as the first letter in the folder is from Point Music Limited

its Dated 28th May 1986 - the second paragraph of which explains....

"Freur are no longer called Freur, their new name being 'The Underworld', but don't worry the line up is still the same though, with Karl, Rik, Alfie Bryn and Chris.

At the moment they are getting a new record deal together with Arista. Then in a months time or so, they plan to do some gigs around the country - i'll let you know about these when teh dates are confirmed.

I don;t think they'll be putting out any new records for a good six months yet, although they've written hundreds of songs (well very nearly). However, they have done the soundtrack to a movie (also called 'The Underworld') which should be released in the foreseeable future."

(signed by Sheean McCormick - Pinpoint Music Limited, Studio 5, London)

[big screen satellite]

Also in the stuff i've been getting - the contact of mine, and friend of Karl's kept full transcripts of conversations and meetings they had with Karl and all of Freur / Underworld.

And on one trip to London, to meet Karl Hyde and Alfie Thomas, in a converstaion with Alfie at Victoria Station these bits of info were divulged:

Friend (not wanting to divulge thier name): It's funny I still call you 'Freur', i can't get used to you being 'Underworld'

Alfie: well thats what we are now. we couldn't decide what to call ourselves. we thought of lots of strange names like 'don't splash me i'm drowning' or (something welsh) but we decided 'underworld' was a good name to remember

Friend: it amazes me how you thought of freur, apparently Rick's to blame isn't he?

Alfie: yes we couldn't think of anything so in the end tossed a can and whoever caught it had to think of a name. it was Rick who had to think of a name, so we locked him in the bedroom, 'cos thats where we had all our equiptment.

Friend: ha

Alfie: we went downstairs for a cup of tea and left Rick creaming 'let me out!' when we listened to the tapes of his shouts and screams we deciphed what we heard and came up with 'Freur'.


so thats quite interesting in itself...

i'll report back with more when i can type it all out



as ever i won't divulge anything personal, and only report on any band issues that I feel are relevant...



Matt

[freur]

Interesting news, as ever.
Funny enough I was at Victoria station this morning