Immaculate Fools

Immaculate Fools were a pop group formed in 1984, who had their biggest success in 1985 with the single "Immaculate Fools",[1] and continued until 1997, releasing six studio albums before splitting up. In 2015, Kevin Weatherill reformed the group with new members.

Immaculate Fools
Immaculate Fools performance (2018)
Background information
OriginKent, England
GenresPop
Years active1984–1997, 2015–
LabelsA&M, Epic, Continuum, Cooking Vinyl
Associated acts
  • Dirty Ray
  • Weatherill and Lamb
Websitehttp://www.immaculatefools.com
MembersKevin Weatherill [Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica]
Linda Lamb [Vocals]
Laura Solla Gómez [Guitar]
Naíma Acuña [Drums]
Paco Charlín [Bass]
Alex Salgeiro [Keyboards]
Helena 'Hels' Watt [Violin]
Past membersKevin Weatherill
Paul Weatherill
Andy Ross
Peter Ross
Barry Wickens
Paul Skidmore
Ian Devlin
Brian Betts
Nick Thomas
Alex Valentine
Adam Fuest
Phil 'Redfox' O'Sullivan
Christian Pattemore
Phil Andrews

Formation, album history and tours

The band was formed in Kent, England by two sets of brothers: Kevin Weatherill (vocals, guitar) and Paul Weatherill (bass, vocals), and brothers Andy Ross (guitar) and Peter Ross (drums), the sons of saxophonist Ronnie Ross.[2]

The band's single "Immaculate Fools" reached No. 51 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1985.[1] Their debut album, Hearts of Fortune, reached No. 65 in the UK Albums Chart the same year.[3] The band toured Europe extensively, building a strong following in Spain, where they made several television appearances.[2]

In 1987 the band's second album, Dumb Poet, was well received by critics (including a five-star review in Sounds magazine), although it did not repeat the first album's commercial success.[2] The album did, however, give the band a second charting single with "Tragic Comedy."

The band underwent a major line-up change when the Ross brothers left, with Barry Wickens (violin), Brian Betts (guitar), Paul Skidmore (drums) and Ian Devlin (keyboards) joining for the Another Man's World album.[2] The band set up a recording studio in a farmhouse (Woodhouse) on the Welsh borders near Ludlow. For the band's final two albums, Woodhouse and Kiss and Punch, the Weatherill brothers were joined by Wickens, Betts, and Nick Thomas (drums).[2]

They continued to record music and occasionally tour until they formally split up in 1997.

After the breakup

Kevin Weatherill, who was not only the lead vocalist but also the main songwriter of the band, continues to record and tour both in the UK and Europe under the name Dirty Ray. In 2010 he worked with Miles Hunt (of the band Wonderstuff) and violinist Erica Nockalls to produce the album Big World for a Little Man.

Andy Ross went on to work with Basia, Howard Jones, Miguel Bosé, and Tori Amos.[4] In 2013 Andy Ross won an award at the Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival in New Zealand for his short film, Well Beyond Water, about the plight of drought affected farmers in New South Wales.

Reformation

In December 2014, Kevin Weatherill announced on his website that Immaculate Fools were to reform in 2015, initially playing some gigs in Spain, Portugal and Italy, and then embarking on a UK tour. In February 2015, the band began recording a new album titled Turn the Whole World Down, which was produced by Adam Fuest.

The reformed act toured Spain in 2015 with new members Linda Lamb (bass), Adam Fuest (guitar), Helen Watt (violin), Phil Redfox O'Sullivan (drums), and Alex Valentine (keyboards). For the Spring Tour of Spain in 2016, Immaculate Fools were joined by touring members Christian Pattemore and Phil Andrews of Thieves of Time on bass. Between October 2015 and June 2016 Immaculate Fools performed 26 shows in Spain.

In the summer of 2016, following Weatherill's relocation to Spain, the logistics of continuing the band in its current form became problematic. Adam Fuest and Kevin Weatherill parted company and Weatherill formed a new seven piece version of the band featuring local Spanish and UK musicians and continues to perform in Spain. In the spring of 2017, Weatherill released an album of new material under the name Immaculate Fools, titled Keep the Blade Sharp and began touring Spain to promote it.

Kevin Weatherill also continues to perform under the name Dirty Ray with Paco Charlín and Naíma Acuña.

Discography

Albums
  • Hearts of Fortune (1985) Polygram (UK #65)[1]
  • Dumb Poet (1987) A&M
  • Another Man's World (1990) CBS/Epic
  • The Toy Shop (1992) Continuum
  • Woodhouse (1995) Cooking Vinyl
  • Kiss and Punch (1996) Cooking Vinyl
  • Turn the Whole World Down (2015) bandcamp
  • Keep the Blade Sharp (2017)

Compilation albums
  • Smart Music for Smart People (1988) BNM
  • The Best of Immaculate Fools (1998)
  • No Gods No Masters (1998) Recall

Singles
  • "Nothing Means Nothing" (1984) A&M
  • "Immaculate Fools" (1984) A&M (UK #51)[1]
  • "Save It" (1985) A&M
  • "Tragic Comedy" (1987) A&M (UK #76)[3]
  • "Wish You Were Here" (1987) A&M
  • "Falling Apart Together" (1990) Epic
  • "Sad" (1990) CBS
  • "Prince" (1990) CBS/Epic
  • "Heaven Down Here" (1992) Continuum
  • "Stand Down" (1992) Continuum
  • "Kiss and Punch" (1996) Cooking Vinyl
  • "Blanket" (2017)

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 268. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Larkin, Colin (1995) The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Guinness Publishing, ISBN 0-85112-662-6
  3. Immaculate Fools, Chart Stats
  4. Gregory, Andy (2002) The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002, Routledge, ISBN 1-85743-161-8


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