Biography
Fumble were an English Rock and roll revival group in the 1970s that formed in 1967 and disbanded in 1982. They had specialised in covering rock and roll classics. Although they were never particularly successful, the band did achieve some recognition appearing at some Festivals and in the Oh Boy TV-series.
The group was formed in 1967 in Weston-super-Mare/England by singer Des Henly and bassist Mario Ferrari under the name of The Baloons.
In 1971 they changed their name to Fumble and in September 1972 released their first LP Fumble on the EMI-Sovereign record label.
In February/March 1973 they supported David Bowie on his US leg of the Ziggy Stardust Tour. According to the New Musical Express, Bowie had been attracted by the cover of their first LP and offered them to support him on the tour. About Fumble Bowie had been quoted saying that he "adored them" and that they were very unpretentious about revamping the whole area. Five years later In 1978, their keyboarder Sean Mayes was recruited by David Bowie to join his band for the Isolar II World Tour.
The Bowie tour increased their fame and Fumble played several festivals in 1973, including the Reading Festival, the London Music Festival at Alexandra Palace and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark after their single "Hello Mary Lou" had reached number 5 in the Danish charts in June 1973. During the period from 1973 to 1976 they received some coverage in UK music weekly papers. NME, Sounds and Melody Maker.
The band had signed with RCA and released their second album Poetry in Lotion in 1974. The album sleeve was designed by Hipgnosis.
From 1977 to 1979 Fumble performed together with Shakin' Stevens and P.J. Proby in the West-End musical Elvis at the Astoria Theatre in London. This was followed by a remake of the 1959 TV-series Oh Boy! in 1979, both directed by Jack Good.
Keyboardist Sean Mayes died of AIDS in 1995 at the age of 49.
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