Right Said Fred

Right Said Fred are an English pop group formed by brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass in 1989. They are best known for the hit 1991 song "I'm Too Sexy".

History 1989–1991: Formation Prior to forming Right Said Fred, the Fairbrass brothers had been playing music since the mid-1970s: as part of a band called the Actors, the brothers had toured with Suicide and supported Joy Division at the Factory club in Manchester.

The Fairbrass brothers formed the group in 1989, with Richard on lead vocals and bass and Fred on guitar. Prior to that, Richard was employed as a session bassist for artists including Boy George, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie, and appeared as the bass guitarist in Bowie's short film Jazzin' for Blue Jean. showing Richard Fairbrass playing bass. In 1987, Fred appeared as a guitarist in the Bob Dylan vehicle Hearts of Fire.

The group was named after the novelty song "Right Said Fred", which was a hit single for singer and actor Bernard Cribbins in 1962. The Fairbrass brothers were originally accompanied by drummer Ray Weston and guitarist Dan Kruse. Weston left in 1990 to join the progressive rock group Wishbone Ash, and Kruse left the next year. Guitarist Rob Manzoli joined in 1990 and remained with the group until 1997.

1991–1992: "I'm Too Sexy" and Up In July 1991, the group released its debut single and best-known song, "I'm Too Sexy", on the independent London-based record label Tug Records. The Fairbrass brothers have stated that the song's lyrics are centred on certain users of the gym they owned in London, who they claimed had no shame. "A lot of models used our gym, so we thought it was time to start poking [fun] at them," Fred stated.

The song was a considerable hit in the United Kingdom, spending six weeks at number two on the charts behind Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" and three months in the Top 10. The song also went to number one in 32 countries, including the United States, where it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of #1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications) The song earned the band a nomination for an Ivor Novello award. "I'm Too Sexy" has subsequently been used in over 40 television shows and movies, including My Wife and Kids, The Simpsons, The West Wing, and EastEnders.

Their second single, "Don't Talk Just Kiss", with background vocals by soul singer Jocelyn Brown, was released in October 1991. It made number 3 on the United Kingdom Christmas charts, entered the top five in many countries, and reached number eight on the United States dance chart.Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974–2003, (Record Research Inc.)

In February 1992, the band released its third single, "Deeply Dippy". This was number one in the United Kingdom for three weeks and peaked at number nine on the United States dance chart.

The success of the singles resulted in the band's multi-platinum debut album, Up, reaching number one on the United Kingdom album charts as well as charting worldwide. The album remained in the Top 40 for almost a year. In Germany, a fifth single, "Love For All Seasons", charted at number 65 in 1993.

In 1992, Heavenly Records released an EP that featured the label's acts covering Right Said Fred songs for charity. The Fred EP includes Saint Etienne (performing "I'm Too Sexy"), The Rockingbirds ("Deeply Dippy"), and Flowered Up ("Don't Talk Just Kiss").

Remainder of the 1990s 1993–1994: Sex and Travel Early in 1993 Fred, Richard, and Rob wrote and recorded the Comic Relief single "Stick It Out", which was a top-five hit in the United Kingdom and in many European countries. In September 1993, Right Said Fred released its second album, Sex and Travel, which included the singles, "Bumped" and "Hands Up (for Lovers)". The band received its second Ivor Novello award for "Deeply Dippy" in 1993.

1995–1996: Smashing! Right Said Fred parted company with Tug Records and then released their third album Smashing! in 1996 on the band's own label Happy Valley Records. It included the singles, "Living on a Dream", "Big Time", and "Everybody Loves Me".

1997–2001: Manzoli leaves, "You're My Mate" and Fredhead Rob Manzoli left the band on friendly terms in 1997. In 1998, Fred and Richard set up their own recording studio in London and started writing and recording what became the album Fredhead.

In 2000, Right Said Fred signed to Kingsize/BMG Berlin in Germany. The first single from Fredhead was "You're My Mate" (co-written with hard rock guitarist Myke Gray). Other singles from Fredhead were "Mojive" (written by Ninfa, Ena, Klein, Frame) and "Love Song" (Agostino Carollo).

21st century 2002–2003: Stand Up The second Kingsize/BMG album Stand Up was released in 2002. The lead single was "Stand Up (For the Champions)", composed by Clyde Ward and the Fairbrass brothers.

2004–2006: For Sale Due to family ill-health, Fred and Richard took some time out from travelling to write and record the single "We Are the Freds" and the album For Sale for the Ministry of Sound. In late 2004, Right Said Fred toured extensively in Europe.

2007–2010: I'm a Celebrity

During 2007 and 2008, Fred and Richard collaborated with Clyde Ward to write and record their sixth album I'm a Celebrity. The album was produced by Ward, and for the United States release, Right Said Fred worked with David Levine at Promark Music. In late July 2009, Right Said Fred released "Sexy Bum" in Germany, the first single from the band's HITS! album. The band toured in support of the album in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

2011–2012: Sexaholic Right Said Fred collaborated with Norwegian writers/producers Dsign Music to record Sexaholic, released in 2011.

2013–present Richard spoke at an Oxford Union debate. TV appearances included an acoustic performance on the UK's Celebrity Big Brother TV show.

RSF began writing and recording new tracks with Paul Statham (who had previously worked with artists such as Dido, Jim Kerr, Kylie Minogue, The Saturdays). The band released the single "Sweet Treats" in January 2017 from the album Exactly!"Sweet Treats" , RSF Official website In August 2017, Richard and Fred were credited as songwriters on the Taylor Swift single "Look What You Made Me Do" alongside Jack Antonoff and Swift herself. The song's chorus is an interpolation of the famous chorus from "I'm Too Sexy".

In May 2022, Phoenix Music International released the band's single "Godsend", dubbing the duo the 'UK's most controversial band' after a number of anti-COVID-19 vaccine-themed Twitter posts and appearances in the press during the UK pandemic lockdowns. In 2022 they were involved in leafletting for British anti-climate change activist group, Not Our Future, in Oxford.

Awards and nominations {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Nominee(s) ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| |- !scope="row" rowspan=3|BMI London Awards | 2018 | "Look What You Made Me Do" | rowspan=3|Award-Winning Songs

| 2022 | "Way 2 Sexy"

| 2025 | "Alien Superstar"

!scope="row" rowspan=2|BMI Pop Awards | 1993 | "I'm Too Sexy" | College Award

| 2019 | "Look What You Made Me Do" | Award-Winning Song

| 1993 | "Deeply Dippy"

!scope="row"|Silver Clef Awards | 1992 | Themselves | Best Newcomer

Discography

Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales threshold) UKUK chart peaks: Top 100 peaks: N.B. this site displays compressed chart peaks (exclusion rules applied) for positions 76–100. Top 200 peaks from November 1994 to December 2010: N.B. This site displays uncompressed chart peaks (no exclusion rules) for positions 76–200. AUS N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. AUT GER NL NZ SWE SWI US Up Release date: 16 March 1992 Label: Tug Formats: Vinyl, CD, cassette 1 39 1 8 9 23 16 22 46 BPI: 2× Platinum MC: Platinum RIAA: Gold Sex and Travel Release date: 1 November 1993 Label: EMI Formats: CD, cassette 35 145 35 88 91 — — — — Smashing! Release date: 1996 Label: Happy Valley Formats: CD, cassette — — — — — — — — — Fredhead Release date: 23 October 2001 Label: Sony BMG Formats: CD, cassette — — 4 2 — — — 75 — Stand Up Release date: 26 August 2002 Label: Kingsize Formats: CD, cassette — — 29 9 — — — — — For Sale Release date: 23 January 2006 Label: Ministry of Sound Formats: CD, music download — — — 61 — — — — — I'm a Celebrity Release date: 14 October 2008 Label: Promark Music Formats: CD, music download — — — — — — — — — Stop the World Release date: 1 May 2011 Label: Luv Formats: CD, music download — — — — — — — — — Exactly! Release date: 24 February 2017 Label: PMI Digital Formats: CD, vinyl, music download — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums Title Details Greatest Hits Release date: 23 December 2003 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, cassette Hits! Release date: 2009 Label: Sexy Records, EMI Formats: CD, music download The Singles Scheduled: 2 June 2023 Label: Sexy Records, EMI Formats: CD, 2×LP, music download Singles (The Original Hits) Release date: 9 January 2024 Label: Sexy Records Formats: music download

Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications(sales threshold) Album UK AUSAustralian (ARIA Chart) peaks: Top 50 peaks: Top 100 peaks: "Bumped": AUT BEL(FLA) GER IRE NL NZ US USDance 1991 "I'm Too Sexy" 2 1 1 3 14 1 19 1 1 4 BPI: Gold ARIA: Platinum MC: Gold RIAA: Platinum Up "Don't Talk Just Kiss" 3 18 5 11 2 8 3 16 76 8 1992 "Deeply Dippy" 1 38 6 14 15 1 9 11 — 9 BPI: Silver "Those Simple Things/Daydream" 29 121 29 27 48 21 23 — — — 1993 "Stick It Out" 4 — — — — — — — — — Single only "Bumped" 32 88 — 25 54 — 37 29 — — Sex and Travel "Hands Up (4 Lovers)" 60 176 — — 82 — — — — — 1994 "Wonderman" 55 — — 50 — — — — — — 1995 "Living on a Dream" 91 147 — 17 66 — — — — — Smashing! 1996 "Everybody Loves Me" — 187 — — 74 — — — — — "Big Time" 77 — — 53 — — — — — — 2001 "Mojive" — — 35 — 46 — — — — — Fredhead "You're My Mate" 18 101 4 — 6 — — 43 — — 2002 "Love Song" — — — — 21 — — — — — "Stand Up (For the Champions)" — — — — 14 — — — — — Stand Up "I Love You (But I Don't Like You)" — — — — 61 — — — — — 2003 "We Are the Freds" — — — — 68 — — — — — — "We Are the Champs" — — — — 92 — — — — — 2004 "The Wizard" (vs. Doris Dubinski) — — — — 52 — — — — — Der Wixxer OST 2006 "Where Do You Go to My Lovely?" — — 40 — 36 — — — — — For Sale 2007 "I'm Too Sexy" (re-release) 56 — — — — — — — — — — 2008 "I'm a Celebrity" — — — — — — — — — — I'm a Celebrity 2009 "Sexy Bum" — — — — — — — — — — Hits "Right on the Kisser" — — — — — — — — — — 2010 "Viva Südafrika" (Höhner featuring Right Said Fred) — — — — 54 — — — — — — 2017 "Sweet Treats" — — — — — — — — — — Exactly! "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Right Said Fred

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