The Fools (Massachusetts party rock band)

The Fools are a Massachusetts rock band best known for the party atmosphere of their live performances and tongue-in-cheek original songs, covers and parodies. Hailing from Ipswich, Massachusetts, the band was previously named "The Rhythm A's", where future Nervous 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 of Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer", and it was an immediate hit on Boston radio stations. 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 with The Knack. Shortly after, they recorded their debut album, Sold Out. In 1981, the band released their second album Heavy Mental, which featured a cover of Roy Orbison's "Running Scared" that reached #50 on the Billboard Hot 100. That year, The Fools were the opening band for Van Halen on their Fair Warning tour. Shortly before being dropped by EMI, 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 released World Dance Party on the independent label PVC. Four of the album's songs - "World Dance Party", "Life Sucks...Then You Die", "She Makes Me Feel Big", and a remake of Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy" - received considerable radio airplay throughout New England and the video for "Do Wah Diddy" was shown extensively on MTV. 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 the Beatles tribute band Beatlejuice. Holaday does, however, continue to make occasional appearances with the band. In 2010, Mike Girard's book Psycho 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. Albums Sold Out, EMI America, 1980 First Annual Official Unofficial April Fools Day Live Bootleg (Live), EMI America, 1980 Heavy Mental, EMI America, 1981 Out Of My Head, Invasion Records, 1983 World Dance Party, PVC, 1985 Wake Up It's Alive (Live), PVC, 1988 Rated XXX, Ouch Records, 1990 World Dance Party Too (Reissue), Ouch Records, 1990 Show 'Em You're Nuts, Ouch Records, 1991 Christmas Toons, Ouch Records, 1992 Wake Up It's Alive Again (Live/Reissue), Ouch Records, 1993 Y2K (EP), Ouch Records, 1999 Coors Light Six Pack (Live), Ouch Records, 2000 World Dance Party 2003 (Re-reissue), Ouch Records, 2003 The F in Beach Album (Live), Ouch Records, 2003 10, Ouch Records, 2007 Lost And Found, Discark (digital download), 2017 Video World Dance Party, Ouch Records, 2010 (filmed in 1985) Singles Sold Out, review, Allmusic. Accessed on line December 6, 2007. Great shows far and near, Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg, Massachusetts), July 24, 2003. Heavy Mental, review, Allmusic Fair Warning Tour. Accessed on line December 6, 2007. Bio, The Fools web site. Accessed on line December 6, 2007. "The Fools Story - The Fools Band". "Discark: Lost And Found, by The Fools". "The Fools Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 22, 2011. "Fools, The Discography at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 8, 2018. Official web site The Fools at Allmusic. The Fools at Lost bands Of The New Wave Era. The Fools at IMDb