Fat Cops are delighted to announce the release of their self-titled album on 1 March 2019 through Absolute via Universal/Sony DADC. The band will also perform an album launch show at Heavenly Social on 4 March 2019 [ticketing info below]. ‘Fat Cops’ features ten tracks, including the live favourite ‘Hands Up! Get Down!’, see below for the video, which was hailed by Mojo as “a hazy summer groove for pants-swingers of all ages” and which features Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub on backing vocals. Specialising in what they describe as “hip-shakin’, garage-groovin’, punk-glam chaos”, Fat Cops are a six-piece featuring Chris Deerin [lead vocals], Robert Hodgens aka Bobby Bluebell [guitars and vocals], Chris “Bass Chris” Ayre [bass and vocals], Euan McColm [guitars], Al Murray [drums and vocals] and Neil Murray [keys].
Fat Cops were assembled by Bass Chris after he was bequeathed a black Rickenbacker bass guitar by his late aunt, Maggie Gulliver, who played it as a member of legendary 1970s Scottish girl group, The Wee Besoms. During an all-too-brief career, The Besoms appeared on bills with legends including The Ramones, The B52s, and The Cars. Their sole single, “Good Looking”, is covered by Fat Cops on their debut album, which Bass Chris admits is inspired in places by his aunt’s band.
He said: “When I picked up Maggie’s guitar, it was like it was demanding to be played. One night after we’d all gone to see Al in his last ever race at the speedway, I played the rest of the guys the Besoms demos and they were hooked. We got to talking about those big choruses, those crashing guitars and those fizzing keyboards and that was that – within a week we had 20 songs, exactly the number of tracks The Wee Besoms demoed.”
Murray, a drummer since childhood, said: “When Bass Chris played me those Wee Besoms tracks, I was blown away. Listening to Eunice Strange’s drumming was mindblowing and when Chris suggested we try to capture something of the band, I was in.”
Hodgens, who rose to fame with The Bluebells, has worked with stars including Brian Wilson, Bananarama, Sinead O’Connor, Ian McCulloch, Texas, and countless others. He said: “We had a blast making this record and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
Having brought their ‘magnificent clatter’ (Pete Paphides) to raucous shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and Kendall Calling festivals, and had radio play from the likes of Gary Crowley and Ricky Ross, Fat Cops – who take their name from The Wee Besoms track “Look At All The Fat Cops” – are a much-needed party band in these troubling times. Fat Cops soundtrack a collision between cocksure bravado and crashing self-doubt to thrilling effect.
TRACKLISTING
Hot Tub / Drink All The Drink / Shouldn’t Really / Hands Up! Get Down! / I Love Girls [He Loves Girls] / Dehydrated / Good Looking / My Saving Grace / Fat City / Voodoo Nightstick
NOTE: The Wee Besoms, formed from the ashes of proto-punk bands The Aye Right and Warm Pudding, existed only for 9 months during 1978. They were: Anna B.AnnA – vocals, Gillian Now – guitars, Maggie Gulliver – bass, Eunice Strange – drums, Claire 42 – keys
