Fruit Eating Bears - 2002 - Gentle Creatures Despite Their Fierce Appearance (UK)

Fruit Eating Bears - 2002 - Gentle Creatures Despite Their Fierce Appearance (UK)

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Formed in true punk rock style in late 1976 as the Tricycle Turds, the band found it difficult to get gigs, so renamed themselves The Fruit Eating Bears and started gigging in London in June 1977. They played all the favourite haunts (The Vortex, 100 Club, Red Cow, Hope & Anchor etc.) and supported all the major punk bands (The Clash, The Damned, The Adverts etc.) and they made it on to News At Ten when they headlined the City Rock ‘77 punk festival in Chelmsford (Saturday 17th September). The compere, John Peel, later said in the press: "I thought the Fruit Eating Bears to be thoroughly jolly".

All this activity brought them to the attention of record producer Vic Maile who, having seen them live, took a keen interest. Vic was one of the most successful producers of the time (working on hit records by Eddie & The Hot Rods, Dr Feelgood, Tom Robinson etc.) and he worked his magic on the Fruit Eating Bears, recording their debut single "Chevy Heavy"/"Fifties Cowboy". Released on Lightning Records in February 1978, it reached No.5 in the Sounds New Wave chart.

This success encouraged Vic Maile to record an album and 15 tracks were set to tape. One of these tracks "Door In My Face" stood out. Unbeknown to the band this track was entered by their publisher into the Eurovision Song Contest and was chosen as one of the twelve finalists.

Come the big day the band refused to wear stage clothes and make-up and came joint last, causing compere Terry Wogan to describe them as "gentle creatures despite their fierce appearance".

The Fruit Eating Bears turned down an album deal with CBS deciding instead to release the single "Door In My Face"/"Going Thru’ The Motions" on DJM Records in April ‘78. Sales weren’t great and the band soon decided to call it a day, but not before writing "1.30, 2.30, 3.35" for Lew Lewis (a Radio 1 Record Of The Week) on the Paul Burnett show and "Indian Giver" for The Pirates and backing Hazel O’Connor on her 'Albion' recordings.

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This 32 track album features both singles, the unreleased Vic Maile album, demos, a live gig from Margate and a bonus final track of their Eurovision Song Contest appearance. Superbly packaged in a full colour 12 page booklet with previously unseen photos and detailed band sleeve notes.

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