Fruupp Discography

It's a challenge keeping things lively on a Tribute Site created for a band that broke up more than 3 decades ago...thus, a new page on "New News". Check here from time to time to see postings on "new news" about Fruupp. News tidbits are listed chronologically, when they come in.

September 18, 2012. Paul Charles re-releases Prince of Heaven's Eyes booklet as a Kindle e-book, with a new Intro. I received the following email message from Paul today: "I just wanted to let you know that I felt it was time to edit the original The Prince of Heaven's Eyes book and it's just been published as a Kindle title e-book with a new intro. I've attached the cover art for it and at present there are no plans to do a printed version although I'd love to do a limited edition illustrated version at some point. Cheers! pc"
June, 2011. Fruupp wins the Friars Heroes Award, a tribute to the band headlining the venerable Friar's Club in Aylesbury on five occasions after having gigged with Queen twice in 1974. Martin Foye receives the award on behalf of the band.
April 20, 2011. Fruupp wins the First Annual GBTECFIE Award!! On his "Record Rewind" blog, Trent the blogger writes: "Fruupp’s mixing of atmospheric organs with melodic, British Invasion style guitars is meticulous and well crafted, kind of like a more accessible version of Pink Floyd...While Fruupp’s obscurity many 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.
March 24, 2011. A relative of John Mason shared a bit of news on his physical set back...though mentally, he seems as musically connected as ever. His brother-in-law writes: "I see John regularly at his flat in south London. Sadly John had a brain aneurism & stroke in October 2008 and is now confined to a wheelchair...paralysed all down his left side. He remains reasonably well and is still very interested in music....although mainly now classical, opera and jazz. Sadly he plays piano only one handed now but can still sound remarkably good."
September 1, 2010. Not so much news as a tribute to this tribute site. Today marks the 10th anniversary of this "old school" (and minimally maintained) tribute site. May the music of Fruupp live on! Rob Cervero
December 30, 2009. Fruupp is now on Facebook. Check out the Wall to see who else is a Fruupp fan and check out posts on Fruupp's best album.
August 26, 2009. Paul Charles recently rolled out his new homepage that chronicles his life as a mystery writer ("Agatha Christine that Inhales", according to one critic). Of particular note is the page on "Fruupp Stories: I through IV" that chronicles the band's early years and the making of Fruupp's four celebrated albums (also in booklet of the recent re-master CD releases by Esoteric Records). Included in the nuggets of information in these memories are Paul's mentioning that Fruupp regularly played two songs -- The Steam Machine (a tooth-rattling encore) and Be Glad -- that never made it on vinyl.
June 17, 2009. Another live Fruupp gem has been discovered, recorded at the venerable Friars Aylesbury on April 19, 1975. Vincent Lyons treats us to one of the songs from this show at his "Fruupp Live" page on MySpace: "The Perfect Wish", featuring John Mason on keys. This show was recorded by Roger Pettit, who unearthed the cassette tape from his digs in Africa. Roger Pettit writes the following about this show: "Back in 1975, then only 16, music lover Roger Pettit and friend Chris Partridge went to see Fruupp perform at their fave local venue the Friars in the small town of Aylesbury, UK. They had a cassette recorder with them, which did a very adequate job of capturing some of the concert. This was about the 3rd or 4th time the two lads had seen Fruupp perform live, their first experience being at Wycombe Town Hall back when Stephen Houston was still with them."
April 13, 2009. Fruupp's recently re-released CD, Future Legends (Cherry Red), chartered at #29 (out of more than 200 new and reissued CDs) for the number of plays by DJs at KALX in Berkeley, California for the week ending April 13, 2009. Who could have ever guessed that some 35 years after its release, Future Legends would once again appear on a music chart!
March 27, 2009. A Fruupp show of the new 4-set release by Esoteric Records will play from midnight to 1AM, March 27 PST (Pacific Standard Time) on KALX Radio in Berkeley, CA, with "yours truly", the Fruupp webmaster, providing commentary. You can listen to the show live on the Internet at KALX's web site. Writes the DJ of the Midnight Express show, Jon Berke: "Friday midnight on March 27, the Berkestir and UC Berkeley Professor Rob Cervero present an hour special on Fruupp, an early 1970s progressive rock band from Northern Ireland".
February 15, 2009. Esoteric Records releases CDs of each of Fruupp's four albums, re-mastered from the original tapes. Wonderful commentary provided by Paul Charles and this Tribute Site (and your friendly web-master, Rob Cervero) are credited with "getting this project going". The Prince of Heaven's Eyes CD includes a miniature copy of the full 15-page booklet chronicling Mudd's search for his pot of gold.
February 7, 2008. Check out the psychedelic animation of Mudd in his search for a pot of gold, backed by Fruupp's live performance of "Song for a Thought" (recorded by Vince Lyons, 5 November, 1973, Ulster TV studios, Belfast).
January 30, 2008. Hear Fruupp's drummer, Martin Foye, sing and play guitar on YouTube, performing Mexico Way & The Emigrant Song.
October 16, 2007. From Ian Best, about the pre-Fruupp days:
This is a photo of one of the pre-Fruupp offshoots probably called Stetson Kirby (why, I don't know!!) post Blues by Five, pre Fruupp days. The photo was taken in The Golden Slipper Ballroom, Magilligan, Co Derry. (I think) We were probably doing support act to "Big Tom and the Mighty Mainliners" -- a most unlikely pairing as BT&MM were the most Irish of Irish Country and western acts! The photo is L to R: Vince McCusker (lead G), Ivan "Touche" Vallelly (Rhythm G), myself, Ian "The Beast" Best (Bass) ,Miles "Tinhead" McKee (very dodgy vocals!) and Marty O'Connor (Drums). Touche and Marty later went on to be Fruupp Mk1's roadies.

I am presently head of the Art and Design Dept. in Killicomaine Junior High School, Portadown. www.killicomaine.co.uk and playing guitar in Seagoe Parish Church once or twice a month! (What a rocker!) I would still see Vince fairly often in danny Ottersons music shop in Maghera, talk to Miles and Terence Superkey McKee by phone, but havent really seen Touche since he moved from the area and my mother sees Marty "who hasn't changed a bit2 regularly around Maghera. Any other queries about Fruupp Mk ! or Blues by Five or about how a small country town at the foot of the sperrins was grooving to john Lee Hooker and muddy Watters in the mid 60s just ask.
September 5, 2007. From long-time Fruupp fan Vincent Lyons: "Here is the track on YouTube, called 'Soon the New Day' featuring Taleb Kweli and Norah Jones."
September 3, 2007. John Mason's whereabouts and more on the adaptation of Sheba's Song by Talib Kweli. Writes Peter Bennett: "My fiancee found your website and sent it to me. I can bring you up to date re the whereabouts of John and also some hot-off-the-press news that you may find hard to believe! John lives a very quiet life in South London, UK - in the area called Honor Oak. I live in Dulwich and can walk over to John's - we spend evenings chilling and sometimes play music together. I've known him since around 1984. He doesn't play in public these days but certainly has all his chops up on the piano and recently he's been playing a nice classical guitar which he loves and is spending a lot of time on (just this Saturday gone we were duetting with Bach's "Jesu joy of man's desiring")

Attached is a pic of John and me enjoying a night of classical music at the Albert Hall in London in 2005 (John's in the red shirt).

The news is that a Fruupp tune 'Sheba's Song' has been adapted by rap start Talib Kweli and feature's on his new album 'Eardrum' as the track "Soon the New Day" in which Talib duets with Norah Jones! It's at #2 in the Billboard chart. John's sister phoned him with the news and he called me last night. The story is covered in the Belfast (Northern Ireland) newspaper: http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/article2919710.ece

Ok Robert, happy to deal with any enquiries and can give you his contact info with his consent. He doesn't really use the internet (but he has a phone!). I'll be moving out to LA later this year and will miss John a lot - maybe we can bring him out there as a 'star'.
August 31, 2007. The latest from Paul Charles: "The album, Ear Drum, I mentioned (see August 22 below) has just entered the Billboard album charts at No 2!!!! Who'd have thought a Fruupp song near the top of the album charts in 2007!!! Still trying to track down John Mason."
August 31, 2007. A plea from a Fruupp Roadie: "Hi, I am an old roadie of FRUUPP's and would like get in touch with stevie, vince, peter, and marty or even the other roadie that was with us "LITZ"; if there's any way you could help I would appreciate it. It's been a long time, there's some great sites on the lads. I've not long been on line it's my first pc so you see I am completely green so if there's any way you help it would be great, if not I will keep searching ... walk in peace my friend ... Bob Harvey.
August 22, 2007. Paul Charles writes: "Warner Bros released an album by an American Rap artists Talib Kweli. The album is called Ear Drum and contains a track called "Soon The New Day" which is based on Fruupp's Sheba's Song which I wrote with John Mason (keyboards) Talib's version contains a guest vocalist appearance by Nora Jones."