1989–1991: Formation Prior to forming Right Said Fred, the Fairbrass brothers had been playing music since the mid-1970s: as part of a band called the Actors, the brothers had toured with
Suicide and supported
Joy Division at the
Factory club in Manchester. The Fairbrass brothers formed the group in 1989, with Richard on lead vocals and bass and Fred on guitar. Prior to that, Richard was employed as a session bassist for artists including
Boy George,
Mick Jagger, In 1987, Fred appeared as a guitarist in the
Bob Dylan vehicle
Hearts of Fire. The song was a considerable hit in the United Kingdom, spending six weeks at number two on the charts behind
Bryan Adams' "
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" and three months in the Top 10. The song also went to number one in 32 countries, including the United States, where it topped the
Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song earned the band a nomination for an
Ivor Novello award. "I'm Too Sexy" has subsequently been used in over 40 television shows and movies, including
My Wife and Kids,
The Simpsons,
The West Wing, and
EastEnders. Their second single, "
Don't Talk Just Kiss", with background vocals by soul singer
Jocelyn Brown, was released in October 1991. It made number 3 on the United Kingdom Christmas charts, entered the top five in many countries, and reached number eight on the United States dance chart. In February 1992, the band released its third single, "
Deeply Dippy". This was number one in the United Kingdom for three weeks and peaked at number nine on the United States dance chart. In Germany, a fifth single, "Love For All Seasons", charted at number 65 in 1993. In 1992,
Heavenly Records released an EP that featured the label's acts covering Right Said Fred songs for charity.
The Fred EP includes
Saint Etienne (performing "I'm Too Sexy"),
The Rockingbirds ("Deeply Dippy"), and
Flowered Up ("Don't Talk Just Kiss").
Remainder of the 1990s 1993–1994: Sex and Travel Early in 1993 Fred, Richard, and Rob wrote and recorded the
Comic Relief single "
Stick It Out", which was a top-five hit in the United Kingdom and in many European countries. In September 1993, Right Said Fred released its second album,
Sex and Travel, which included the singles, "Bumped" and "Hands Up (for Lovers)". The band received its second Ivor Novello award for "Deeply Dippy" in 1993. In late 2004, Right Said Fred toured extensively in Europe.
2007–2010: ''I'm a Celebrity'' During 2007 and 2008, Fred and Richard collaborated with Clyde Ward to write and record their sixth album ''
I'm a Celebrity''. The album was produced by Ward, and for the United States release, Right Said Fred worked with David Levine at Promark Music. In late July 2009, Right Said Fred released "Sexy Bum" in Germany, the first single from the band's
HITS! album. The band toured in support of the album in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.
2011–2012: Sexaholic Right Said Fred collaborated with Norwegian writers/producers Dsign Music to record
Sexaholic, released in 2011.
2013–present Richard spoke at an
Oxford Union debate. TV appearances included an acoustic performance on the UK's
Celebrity Big Brother TV show. RSF began writing and recording new tracks with Paul Statham (who had previously worked with artists such as Dido, Jim Kerr, Kylie Minogue, The Saturdays). The band released the single "Sweet Treats" in January 2017 from the album
Exactly! In August 2017, Richard and Fred were credited as songwriters on the
Taylor Swift single "
Look What You Made Me Do" alongside
Jack Antonoff and Swift herself. The song's chorus is an
interpolation of the famous chorus from "I'm Too Sexy". In May 2022, Phoenix Music International released the band's single "Godsend", dubbing the duo the 'UK's most controversial band' after a number of anti-
COVID-19 vaccine-themed Twitter posts and appearances in the press during the UK pandemic lockdowns. In 2022 they were involved in leafletting for British anti-climate change activist group, Not Our Future, in Oxford. ==Awards and nominations==