We’ve Got a Fuzzbox and We’re Going to Use It
We’ve Got a Fuzzbox and We’re Going to Use It formed in Birmingham in 1985 as an incredibly raw, all female post-punk act with a knack for outrageous dress and catchy hooks. Their initial style, a devil-may-care attitude fostered on punk rock fury and a dose of playful sexuality, initially caused a controversial buzz upon their debut.
After a double-a side single for the songs ‘XX Sex’ and ‘Rules and Regulations’ reached number 41 in the British charts, the band took to the studio and recorded their first full length record. Released in 1986, their self-titled record hit the charts, airwaves, and dance floors in England, but failed to make much of an impact outside of Europe, where their name was truncated simply to ‘Fuzzbox’ and the album retitled to Bostin’ Steve Austin.
Their second record, 1989’s Big Bang! featured a revamp of style and sound, the band trading in their punk rock ethics for a sound more in line with slick dance pop. Despite an attempt to adapt to the times, the band split almost immediately after the album’s release, and lead singer Vickie Perks would form Vix And The Kix after a failed solo effort.
After a few listens, I’m not too keen on their second record, so with that being the case, I’ve instead uploaded two of the singles from their debut record, Bostin’ Steve Austin for your consumption.
download Fuzzbox- ‘Love is the Slug’
download Fuzzbox- ‘Rules and Regulations’
The video for ‘Love is the Slug’ may very well be one of the most amusing, fun, and strange videos I’ve ever seen, so approach below with caution and perhaps a love for sheer wackiness.
Most of their output is seemingly out of print, but available on LP via various auction and second-hand sites. If you like it, seek it out!
September 24, 2007 at 8:19 pm
ah, c’mon!
there’s choreographed dance moves, mice on sinks, fuzzbox girls liking normal jock boys, lots of colors…
how can you complain?
their voices remind me of 1987 in such a good way. ah, youth.
September 24, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I am going to get one of those fancy dresses to wear to your cd release party!
September 24, 2007 at 9:00 pm
can you get star-shaped sunglasses, too?
September 24, 2007 at 9:07 pm
The sad thing? I used to have those…in red. They still might be around but I have a feeling they fled my possession at one of the stoop sales.
September 25, 2007 at 2:50 pm
HOLY CRAP! I lurrrrv Fuzzbox! Its all about the Fuzzy Ramblings track.
September 26, 2007 at 6:26 pm
and joe and i would know all about those! if you need anything in mp3 format of basically every and anything, let me know !
🙂
rockin with rita head to toe!
(oh the blissful audio montage of Mr Nightingales and Fuzzbox)
January 16, 2008 at 12:50 am
love it!
February 29, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Best thing they ever did was appear on the BBC’s Saturday morning kids show at the (brief) peak of their popularity…one of them chose to wear the shortest of short skirts and no undies––leaving countless kiddies doubtless wondering exactly what kind of fuzzbox their name referred to…priceless..
June 18, 2008 at 11:01 pm
WOW i love this band so much. Ever since i first heard their Bostin’ Steve Austin album, I have totally immersed myself in their music (which is probably not healthy)
You should post “Spirit In The Sky”, or their awesome acapella rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody”!
Great post! thanks for the video!!!
November 17, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I have still have a set of Fuzzbox badges with each of their faces on Just like the back of the first single,
Also i still have a T shirt which i got when the played the Astoria in london.
To a unpacked crowd of about 20, And as support that night was a very early line up of Pop will Eat Itself. When PWEI was still dong all the “Now for a feast” , stuff
I rememeber that as soon as fuzzbox came on some mohawked chap threw his pint at them and narrowly missed mags and vikky.
The gig what i remember was fun. It was the first time i had been to the Astoria. But it certainly wasn’t the last
April 25, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Picked up a good compilation of theirs back in 2004 called "Look At The Hits On That" which I've noticed is still readily available. Includes a DVD of 9 of their videos so is well worth getting.
April 13, 2012 at 8:24 pm
[…] reminds me, I should probably put a rip of the Fuzzbox LP up in full, to flesh out the post I made a ways back, but more on that soon. Here’s the details on this fine […]