Fruupp (Martin Foye)
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Interviews
Forum Description: Original interviews with Prog artists (which are exclusive to Prog Archives)
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=79452
Printed Date: December 22 2024 at 13:44
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Topic: Fruupp (Martin Foye)
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Subject: Fruupp (Martin Foye)
Date Posted: July 03 2011 at 06:31
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Irish guitarist, singer and writer Vince McCusker had spent some months in London to find musicians for his musical ideas. Disappointed he returned to Belfast and recruted musicians to play his material: Miles McKee (lead vocals), Stephen Houston (keyboards/oboe), Peter Farrelly (bass/vocals) and Martin Foye (drums). This interview was done by Brian O'Neill, one of Martin Foye's friends who got in touch with throug a PM in ProgArchives. He interviewed Martin Foye and sent the handwritten interview in a mail to me. I have transcribed it to a file and added it in here. I have been promised some breaking news about Fruupp in the coming weeks. I will bring them when I get them. Here is the interview. #################################################################################
Fruupp was set up in the middle of the
civil war in Northern Ireland. How was the early days of the band and
how did http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Troubles" rel="nofollow - affect your band ?
Fruupp was born in the small rural town
of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungannon" rel="nofollow - , County Tyrone. Two brothers, Jim and Malaghy both
played guitar and bass in a showband called “The Dynamic Sounds”.
They lived above the family greengrocers shop, which was always full
of musical instruments + musicians. Pearse Kelly, who was still a
school boy, was drummer in the band and later was to become the
drummer with Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore Band etc. Idolised Pearse and
used to practice on his drumkit. Played occasionally with “The
Dynamic Sounds”.
Fossets Sound came to town and needed a
drummer, someone mentioned me so I played with them for a few days
while they were in Dungannon. Then they offered me a permanent post
and toured Ireland and England with them for a few months.
In 1969, the first civil rights march
ever took place in Dungannon and that is really when The Troubles
began. The “Summer Of Love” even affected those that were more
interested in music and having fun than politics or religion. During
those dark days very few of the big English bands visited Northern
Ireland apart from the likes of John Mayall's Bluesband, Fleetwood
Mac, Jethro Tull etc.
Belfast had become the place where we
looked to for regular appearances of Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher
who thought of it as his second hometown. Went to the Isle Of Wight
festival in 1970 with Brian O'Neill and spent the best 5 days ever.
Then there was Fruupp. Successfully
passed the audition along with Vince, Peter and Stephen. We were from
diverse backgrounds, myself from a small rural town, Vince from the
small rural town Maghera. Peter from republican west Belfast and
Stephen the public schoolboy type and classic trained musician from
the affluent leafy suburb of Belfast's Malone Road.
We were put together in a squat house
in loyalist east Belfast at the height of The Troubles in order to
rehearse before going on tour. We started off with a short tour of
Ireland before heading to England.
Over to the Fruupp name. Why did you
choose that name and who came up with it ?
The name Fruupp came from the name of
the friendly female ghost who haunted the squat we lived in east
Belfast.
How did you get your record deal ?
The record deal was left to Paul
Charles, the manager, as was everything else apart from playing
music. Dawn Records was the prog rock offshot of Pye Records. We were
given a 4 albums deal.
Paul Charles was the machine and
nothing would have happened without him.
For those of us unknown with your
music; how would you describe you music ?
I would describe Fruupp's music as
Irish classical rock or “Shamrock”.
Let's move onto your four studio albums
for the benefits of the current and upcoming generations of Fruupp
fans.
 Your debut album was Future Legends
from 1973. Please tell us more about this album.
Future Legends was definate the best as
for sales and critics acclaim.  Your second album was Seven Secrets
from 1974. Please tell us more about this album.
My personal best. After being kicked
out of the band, I came back in and did my best ever.
 Your third album was The Prince of
Heaven's Eyes from 1974. Please tell us more about this album.
Can't remember. Tried to play like
Ringo, my idol.  Your fourth and final studio album was
Modern Masquerades from 1975. Please tell us more about this album.
Can't remember. Apart from John Mason
and Ian McDonald.
There is also a couple of Fruupp
compilation albums out and the four studio albums has been made into
two x two-albums-for-one CDs.
Haven't seen or heard them (doesn't
have internet)
I am also aware of a at least one
Fruupp live bootleg in circulating. Is there any more other
unreleased stuff in the vaults and is there any plans to release a
Fruupp live album or even take a bootleg and officially release it ?
Possible bootleg recorded in Trinity
College, Dublin (mine is from Liverpool, England -tf). No plans at the moment.
Fruupp split up after these four studio
albums. What really happened and why did you split up ?
Paul Charles and Dawn Records lost
interest after John Mason left. He was replaced by Robert Wilson
(brother of John Wilson who played with Taste and Van Morrisson). Gus
Devlin was my choice to replace John Mason. This was just prior to a
six week tour of the USA. Robert only played two gigs.
What have you and the other band
members been up to since the split up and have you stayed in touch
with the band members ?
I have played with several small bands
but haven't played for years. Haven't been in touch with any other
members for years.
Vincent is working in a music shop,
teaching & repairing guitars back home in Maghera. Stephen became
a church minister in Dallas, Texas but is he meant to be back in
London now ? Peter is back in west Belfast.
Have you ever entertained the thought
of coming together again and play some gigs ?
Stephen seems to have shown interest. A couple of new generations has been
born since you split up and some of them have discovered Fruupp
through your old albums and in particular the two-for-one CDs with
your four studio albums. Do you have any contact with the new Fruupp
fans and what is your view on the new interest in Fruupp ?
Don't use internet. But Brian and Gus Devlin keep me informed. Nice to know ! They are helping out on Facebook and Myspace etc What is your best and worst memories from Fruupp ? Best memories: Touring and on the road. Biggest touring band at the time (260 days in one year). Recording. Peter best friend. Travelling the world. Met Lemmy and became friends (Peter and I got him the job with Motorhead). Worst memories: Locked up in jail in Limerick, now the drug capitol of Ireland. Sacked after “Future Legends” but taken back. To wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this interview ? Would love to write a book but need help. Working on an album with one of my best friends, Gus Devlin. Need a record deal. Working on my other best friend Brian O'Neill trying to sell Fruup merchandise etc. I have never received royalities from the Fruupp albums. Thank you to Martin Foye & Brian O'Neill for the interview I got a lot of newspaper clippings along with the interview & I will publish them in a Fruupp gallery later this summer Their PA profile is http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=140" rel="nofollow - & the Fruupp merch website is http://www.groovycart.co.uk/cart.php?c=1098" rel="nofollow - |
Replies:
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: July 03 2011 at 11:52
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What a nice interview. I have Seven Secrets which is a pretty good album. ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: July 05 2011 at 13:03
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He's got a great sense of humour anyway.I have the debut which i like a lot. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: trackstoni
Date Posted: July 05 2011 at 16:45
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in fact , i had no idea about these facts !! i've got the vinyl album << Future Legends >> in 1970 , for my musical magazine ( from Dawn company ) , and I Was only 17 !!!!!!! and Yes , this band is really remarkable , and if this album doesn't exist !! well , i would never existed the way i am !! ------------- Tracking Tracks of Rock |
Posted By: lordoneill
Date Posted: July 05 2011 at 18:12
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Hi memowakeman,
Glad you liked it, took me days if not weeks just to get Martin to sit down!
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Posted By: lordoneill
Date Posted: July 05 2011 at 18:15
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Hi trackstoni, Many thanks for liking this!
Brian.
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Posted By: lordoneill
Date Posted: July 05 2011 at 18:25
| Hi Mellotron Storm, Glad you liked this. Brian. |
Posted By: ProcolWho?
Date Posted: September 18 2011 at 23:28
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Hard to believe this is the only thread here mentioning this great prog band. I never get tired of listening to their work after many decades. Profoundly underrated. |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: September 18 2011 at 23:53
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One of those hidden gems from the 70's. Definitely worth checking, at least for curiosity sake.
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Posted By: Jozef
Date Posted: September 19 2011 at 17:00
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Great interview. It's nice to see to this band finally receiving some attention. "Seven Secrets" and "The Prince of Heaven's Eyes" were excellent symphonic prog albums. ------------- 
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