Links, Contributors & Contacts

Links

Reviews:


  In his 1st Annual GBTECFIE Award (20 April 2011), blogger Trent writes: "While Fruupp's obscurity may only be rivaled by its irrelevance, it is an interesting example of the development of early Prog Rock and is, in my opinion, THE GREATEST BAND TO EVER COME FROM IRELAND EVER".


Review by Geoffrey Feake of the 2009 Cherry Red re-mastered release of Fruupp's 4 albums: Overall Ranks -- The Prince Of Heaven’s Eyes: 9 out of 10; Seven Secrets: 8.5 out of 10; Future Legends: 8 out of 10; and Modern Masquerades: 8 out of 10.

  Review of Fruupp in the Prog Archives: " Irish band who produced four albums of pastoral, progressive rock quite similar to Genesis of that period. The music is very melodic and should appeal to those who enjoy keyboard oriented compositions. Some other interesting instruments like violin, cello and oboe add to the atmosphere. 'Modern Masquerade' is a classic band that, unfortunately, all too few people are aware of. he Prince of Heaven's Eyes" & 'Songs for a Thought'."

  Review by Mike Ohman from the Gilbralta Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock (an early and thoughtful on-line review of Fruupp)


  Under Mega-Music-Reviews, reviewers give the Future Legends/Seventh Secret combined CD 4 1/2 out of 5 stars! Prince of Heaven's Eyes/Modern Masquerades doesn't fare as well -- why not vote and bump up the average?



  Reviewers at Amazon.com's web site evidently agree, giving the first two albums a 5 out of 5 gold-star rating and the latter two a measly 3 out of 5.   (I'm a dissenting voter on this one. RC)


  Paul Collins of "All Music Guide" calls Fruupp "One of the hardest-working bands to end up languishing in relative obscurity" ... here/here to Fruupp's well-deserved place in the pantheon of obscure prog-rock bands!


  "Future Legends/Seven Secrets" CD


  A less than flattering review by a Russian wanna-be prog-rock critic.



Odds & Ends (mostly odds):

  Putting the records straight for the 'Fruuppies'!  From Stephen Houston's web site: "Fruupp's third LP 'Prince of Heaven's Eyes', song 'It's all up now', lyric 'and Killarey's still the same, as the warm west winds blow over'. The printers got it wrong. It should have 'Killarey', as in Killarey harbor Connemara in the west of Ireland. The song title 'It's all up now' refers to a picture which can be seen in Faith File, hanging behind the Doc in the segment; 'Forum for your reaction' Real Important, Right? but this has been a trivial raging argument on Fruupp's tribute website."

Say what? Fruupp actually scored 58th in a poll of all-time top prog-rock bands?


  Evidently Fruupp's even more popular in Korea, ranking 8th in someone's "Best Art Rock Group" proclamation.


  Not the most flattering commentary on Fruupp, in citing the past associations of Ian McDonald (producer of Modern Masquerades): "... ex-King Crimson stalwart Ian McDonald (onetime moneymaker with Foreigner, but also poor guy with Fruupp!) ..."


  One of Fruupp's earliest shows was at The Temple, London, September 24, 1971, accompanying Caravan and Gravy Train.


  Setting the record straight:  Houston nor Mason never played mellotron.  Fruupp used real strings (and occasionally synthesizers).  (Note: Some of the reviews above perpetuate this myth.) 


  Come on...you're pulling my leg...Future Legends was a top 20 album in Urbekistan in 1973?  


  Ever think you'd find a Fruupp-Teletubbies connection? Here's a post on a web site devoted to a Teletubbies CD, written by Andrew McCrorie-Shand: "Cheezus! Not THE Andrew McCrorie-Shand?? But it must be.... none other than the leader of Druid, the most pompous of progressive rock groups from the 70s! Their first album "Toward the Sun" from 1975 is one of the more blatant Yes rip-offs in existence, down to the pilfered songtitles and lyrics, not to mention the castrato vocalist. And Mr. McCrorie-Shand's Rick Wakeman-like synthesizer antics are another amusing highlight. Well, this only goes to show, as so many times before, that anything and anyone will sooner or later turn up on the list.... "Tales from Topographic Oceans" has been mentioned in the past, so why not Druid? What's next, Fruupp?"

  Fruupp's first two LP's made someone's self-proclaimed list of "the Greatest Rock Albums".

Contributors

Thanks to Paul Charles, Graham Wing, Frans de Heer, Vincent Lyons, Paul Johnson, Randy Hill, Dave Filby, Peter Roe, and Miles McKee for contributions to this site.  And give credit where credit is due: most of the artwork you see is courtesy of Peter Farrelly.

Contacts

This tribute site was created and is maintained (from time to time) by Rob Cervero (robertc@berkeley.edu).   Those with anything to contribute are invited to contact me.  I'm particularly interested in adding memorabilia of any and all kinds.  I do trade live music of Fruupp and other bands, however please don't contact me about trading for live Fruupp music unless you have recordings of Fruupp (or rare recordings of '70s-era progressive bands) not on my list. Cheers!