'There was lots of things left to say' - Fairground Attraction on reunion
- Published
Chart-topping folk pop band Fairground Attraction believe they still have "lots of things left to say" after reuniting 34 years on from their split.
The group reached No 1 with their single Perfect in 1988 and won two BRIT awards the following year.
However a dispute between band members saw an acrimonious split in 1990, with Glaswegian singer Eddi Reader going on to enjoy a lengthy solo career.
Now they are to release a new single and album, followed by a lengthy tour in the autumn.
Ms Reader told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We just realised that we were very important to one another in our experience on this planet, and there was lots of things left to say."
New single, What's Wrong With The World, has already received airplay and an album is planned for later in 2024.
Guitarist Mark Nevin added that the four piece had been able to "remember how much fun it was" since they started to play together again last year.
He said: "There’s something about the chemistry between people in a real band. You can’t create it out of session musicians.
"We just slot together and make a sound that’s ours."
Eddi Reader has had a lengthy solo career since the band broke up
The band originally formed when Mr Nevin needed a backing vocalist at short notice for his Motown covers band. Ms Reader was suggested to him by a mutual friend.
After hitting it off, the duo began playing shows around London, including at alternative cabaret nights alongside the city's emerging comedy talent.
They expanded to a four piece with the addition of drummer Roy Dodds and Simon Edwards on guitarrón - a large six-string acoustic bass more commonly used with mariachi bands.
Success followed rapidly, with Perfect hitting No 1 in the charts in May 1988 and follow-up Find My Love also cracking the top 10.
Mr Nevin recalled: "My dad said to me the greatest words he ever said - ‘I was wrong that you should have got a proper job’".
However the sudden success brought with it a number of issues.
Ms Reader explained: "We were in the middle of a maelstrom of 'wow everybody likes us, this is great'... what do we do with this?"
By 1990 the band had broken up while trying to record their second album, having struggled with the pressure.
'Time was passing'
Ms Reader joked that none of the band could recall what actually started their dispute in the first place.
The singer then focused on a solo career while Mr Nevin made solo records and collaborated with artists such as the late Kirsty MacColl.
Both Mr Dodds and Mr Edwards worked as session musicians.
The group's reformation came about after Ms Reader contacted Mr Dodds and learned her former bandmate had been in hospital.
She told Nicola Meighan on BBC Radio Scotland's The Afternoon Show: "I realised time was passing and that I loved these men.’
"I’d missed them and the ease with which we played music together."
Within a week of playing together, a number of new songs were written, and a tour of Japan, where the group had a devoted fanbase, was booked.
Dates have now been announced for the UK, including a run of Scottish shows in Perth, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
However the group are not concerned with trying to replicate their chart success.
Ms Reader added: "As long as we’re mates that’s all that matters."