The Fools are aMassachusetts rock band best known for the party atmosphere of their live performances and tongue-in-cheek original songs,covers andparodies.
Hailing fromIpswich,Massachusetts, the band was previously named "The Rhythm A's", where futureNervous Eaters' Steve Cataldo, Robb Skeen, and Jeff Wilkinson were joined by singer Mike Girard and guitarist Rich Bartlett. By 1976, Girard and Bartlett teamed up with Stacey Pedrick (guitar), Doug Forman (bass), and Chris Pedrick (drums), becoming The Fools.
In 1979, the band released "Psycho Chicken", a parody ofTalking Heads' "Psycho Killer", and it was an immediate hit onBoston radio stations.[1] The group followed it up with "It's a Night for Beautiful Girls," which peaked at #67 on the Billboard charts.EMI signed the band and sent them on a U.S. tour withThe Knack.[2] Shortly after, they recorded their debut album,Sold Out.
In 1981, the band released their second albumHeavy Mental, which featured a cover ofRoy Orbison's "Running Scared" that reached #50 on the Billboard Hot 100. That year, The Fools were the opening band forVan Halen on theirFair Warning tour.[2][3]
Shortly before being dropped byEMI, Chris Pedrick departed and was replaced by drummer Leo Black. Shortly after, Forman decided to leave, his void filled by bassist Joe Holaday.
In 1985, The Fools releasedWorld Dance Party on the independent label PVC.[4] Four of the album's songs - "World Dance Party", "Life Sucks...Then You Die", "She Makes Me Feel Big", and a remake ofManfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy" - received considerable radio airplay throughout New England and the video for "Do Wah Diddy" was shown extensively onMTV.[5]
In 2003, after seven years of part-time duty, the band returned to a full schedule. Bassist Lou Spagnola had replaced Joe Holaday, who by then was working with theBeatles tribute bandBeatlejuice. Holaday does, however, continue to make occasional appearances with the band.
In 2010, Mike Girard's bookPsycho Chicken & Other Foolish Tales published by Sons of Liberty Publishers hit the stores, which outlined the sometimes hilarious history of the band. The band continues to tour today.
In February 2012, Lou Spagnola left the band and was then replaced by Bassist Eric Adamson.
| Year | Single | Hot 100 | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "She Looks Alright In The Dark" | – | single only | Castle Music |
| 1979 | "Psycho Chicken" | – | EMI America | |
| 1980 | "It's A Night For Beautiful Girls" | 67 | Sold Out | |
| "Easy For You" | – | |||
| 1981 | "Running Scared" | 50 | Heavy Mental | |
| "Talk To Loretta" | – | |||
| 1982 | "Hook In You" | – | single only | Johnny Apollo |
| 1983 | "Out Of My Head" | – | Invasion | |
| 1984 | "Life Sucks, Then You Die" | – | World Dance Party | PVC |
| 1985 | "World Dance Party (Remix)"/ "Doo Wah Diddy" | – |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
