Fried Egg Records was a record label set up in 1979 by Andy Leighton, administrator of the

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

-based Crystal Theatre. Its first release was by the Theatres anarchic "house band" Shoes For Industry. In its short two-year existence the label did manage to produce records from some of Bristols' more notable bands, plus a compilation LP, 1.

Artists

Art Objects A work of art, artwork, art piece, piece of art or art object is an artistic creation of aesthetic value. Except for "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as art in its widest sense, including works from literature ...

: New wave "art band" (1978–1981). Fronted by Bristol beat poet Gerard Langley, brother John Langley on drums, dancer Wojtek Dmochowski (all later of

Blue Aeroplanes The Blue Aeroplanes are an English rock band from Bristol, the mainstays of which have been Gerard Langley, brother John Langley, and dancer Wojtek Dmochowski. All three had previously been members of the new wave "art band" Art Objects from ...

), Bill Stair, and brothers Jonjo and Robin Key (both simultaneously in the band Various Artists). After their Fried Egg single they released another single and the album ''Bagpipe Music'' on

Heartbeat Records Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington, Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of L ...

. * Various Artists: Pop band fronted by Jonjo Key, brother Robin Key, bassist Christian Clarke and drummer John Langley. Released a track on

Avon Calling ''Avon Calling'' is an album of tracks featuring bands from Bristol, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979. All but 2 of the tracks were recorded at Crescent Studios in Bath by David Lord and Glenn ...

, a Fried Egg single and the 'Solo Album' LP (VA 1) on their own label (this was later released in Japan on CD in 2002). Jon Jo and Robin later became Either/Or and released a single in the Netherlands before signing to

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...

as Lovetrain and releasing an LP and 3 singles. According to Andy Leighton of Fried Egg, "...we got Trevor Horn...to see Various Artists for the second time, he wanted to sign them and record them. ... the dream remained for a break out band, unfortunately Jon Jo ... turned Trevor Horn's overtures down and the main chance was gone." * Pete Brandt's Method: Large jazz-funk band, this was their only single. Pete Brandt is now producing melodic acoustic folk. * Electric Guitars: Esoteric pop/funk band (1979–1983). After initially recording singles for Fried Egg and

Recreational Records Recreational Records was a British record label set up in 1981 by the Bristol record shop and distributor Revolver Records. Originally formed as an independent record label with its own distribution as part of the Cartel. Revolver Records an ...

, and contributing live tracks to the first edition of

The Bristol Recorder The English city of Bristol has, since the mid-1970s, had a fertile music culture, resulting in not only influential musicians and bands, but also its own sound, Bristol sound or trip hop. Along with the music, a number of local record labels al ...

, the band was signed to and then dumped by

Stiff Records Stiff Records is a British independent record label formed in London, England, by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Originally active from 1976 to 1986, the label was reactivated in 2007. Established at the outset of the punk rock boom, Stiff ...

. They released a total of 5 singles and 2 post break-up albums. * Exploding Seagulls: Manic guitar based band from Hampshire. Nick Jacobs (guitarist) joined up with ex-members of Art Objects to form

The Blue Aeroplanes The Blue Aeroplanes are an English rock band from Bristol, the mainstays of which have been Gerard Langley, brother John Langley, and dancer Wojtek Dmochowski. All three had previously been members of the New wave music, new wave "art band" Ar ...

. * The Fans: Guitar band formed in 1978 in Bristol, England. Consisting of George Smith, Barry Cook, Tony Bird and Rob Williams, their first release was an EP with 'Giving Me That Look in Your Eyes/Stay The Night' and a version of

Jim Reeves James Travis Reeves (August 20, 1923July 31, 1964) was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well known as a practitioner of the Nashville Sound. Known as "Gentleman ...

' song 'He'll Have To Go'. A second single in 1980 had 'You Don't Live Here Anymore/Following you', the band then split up. The Fans singles were picked up by Japanese indie label 1977 Records and re-released in 2001. A CD album containing the singles, demos and live recordings from a Bristol gig was released on 1977 Records in 2004. Japanese metal/punk band

Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...

recorded a version of 'You Don't Live Here Anymore' in 2008 and The Fans have reformed to tour Japan in 2010. * Shoes for Industry: Crystal Theatres' anarchic "house band". Fried Egg Records was formed to release their 2 singles, and an album called 'Talk Like A Whelk'. Their singer P. B. Davies provided the 'Ideas Are Animals' quintet of tracks on Bristol Recorder 3, he also performs at the Edinburgh Fringe and writes for radio. * The Stingrays: New wave band (1977–current). First single was on Fried Egg, second was on

Circus Records Circus Records is an independent record label founded by Joshua "Flux Pavilion" Steele, Shaun "Doctor P" Brockhurst, Simon Swan and Earl Falconer in 2009. Kanye West and Jay-Z sampled the Flux Pavilion song "I Can't Stop" in "Who Gon Stop Me" ...

, they also contributed a track to the LP

. Band are still gigging, but out of Wales now. * The Untouchables: Youthful R&B band in the Dr. Feelgood model, so much so that Wilko Johnson produced their single for Fried Egg. Post break-up the vocalist Jerry Tremaine was filmed by

Julien Temple Julien Temple (born 26 November 1953) is a British film, documentary and music video director. He began his career with short films featuring the Sex Pistols, and has continued with various off-beat projects, including ''The Great Rock 'n' Roll ...

singing with the original Feelgood line-up at Southend on 9 May 2008, as part of the annual Lee Brilleaux memorial. * The Viceroys: Rock band including

Nick Sheppard Nick Sheppard is a British guitarist. He played lead guitar for The Clash from 1983 until the band's breakup in 1986. Life and career Sheppard was educated at Bristol Grammar School, one of Bristol's leading public schools, and was in the same ...

and Mike Crawford, their only release was 'Angels in the Rain' on the Fried Egg World Tour EP, which was sold exclusively at gigs. Another Sheppard and Crawford band, The Spics, went on to play 'Angels in the Rain' at their very last appearance, on the BBC West TV arts show RPM. * Wild Beasts: R&B band, only released one single. Bassist and vocalist Andy Franks became a Tour Manager for Depeche Mode and drummer Ken Wheeler became a producer and ran Sound Conception recording studios.

Releases

Singles

EP (EAT 001, Fried Egg World Tour 1980)

# The Viceroys – "Angels in the Rain" # Shoes For Industry – "Sheepdog Trial Inna Babylon" # The Stingrays – "Countdown" # Exploding Seagulls – "Johnny Runs For Paregoric" # Various Artists – "Original Mixed Up Kid"

Albums

Reissues on other labels

Bristol Archive Records The English city of Bristol has, since the mid-1970s, had a fertile music culture, resulting in not only influential musicians and bands, but also its own sound, Bristol sound or trip hop. Along with the music, a number of local record labels als ...

are currently providing Fried Egg back catalogue tracks for download, through the usual outlets (Amazon, iTunes, etc.). In February 2010 they released a CD of The Best of Fried Egg Records (Bristol 1979–1980), which consists of the LP 1 (FRY 002) plus 8 additional tracks.

The Best of Fried Egg Records (Bristol 1979–1980)

# Shoes For Industry – "Jerusalem" # Pete Brandt's Method – "Positive Thinking" # Art Objects – "Hard Objects" # Exploding Seagulls – "Johnny Runs For Paregoric" # The Wild Beasts – "Minimum Maximum" # Shoes For Industry – "Invasion of the French Boyfriends" # Various Artists – "Original Mixed Up Kid" # The Fans – "Following You" # The Stingrays – "Exceptions" # Various Artists – "Unofficial Secrets" # The Untouchables – "Keep on Walking" # Electric Guitars – "Continental Shelf" # The Fans – "Giving Me That Look in Your Eye" (Additional Track) # The Stingrays – "Countdown" (Additional Track) # Art Objects – "Fit of Pique" (Additional Track) # Electric Guitars – "Health" (Additional Track) # The Viceroys – "Angels in the Rain" (Demo/Additional Track) # Various Artists – "Stephens Body" (Additional Track) # Electric Guitars – "Work" (Demo/Additional Track) # Shoes For Industry – "Sheepdog Trial Inna Babylon" (Additional Track)

References

{{Authority control Record labels established in 1979 Record labels disestablished in 1980 British independent record labels New wave record labels Indie rock record labels Post-punk record labels Pop record labels Music in Bristol