Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/The Fancy Lads
doesn't meet WP:MUSIC notability test --WAvegetarian 21:32, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Untrue, featured prominently in Wisconsin State Journal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel & other major media outlets. Scanned copies can be provided if necessary. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.170.5.187 (talk • contribs) 21:48, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Good point. Also in the Milwaukee Magazine regarding their social satire. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.246.83.58 (talk • contribs) 21:59, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
- Comment That's good for them but irrelevant to this discussion. Pleaseread the notability test linked to in my nomination. I don't believe any of those qualify this group. WAvegetarian 22:15, 21 November 2005 (UTC)
Article Below: The show was billed as the "Love Takes a Holiday" performance, yet the group was showered with affection from fans. The rabid reaction intrigued club owners and left some wondering if The Lads are ready to be Madison's next big thing.
Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI) THESE LADS LAY CLAIM TO MADISON MUSIC FAME
By Natasha Kassulke
It was the first and only date of The Fancy Lads' "Professional Men of Leisure Tour 2001." Yet, it positioned them on the brink of fame.
The Lads, as they are known to most, enjoyed the distinction of opening for The Know-It-All-Boyfriends recently at Cafe Montmartre. In fact, The Lads, a quirky Madison group, are the first act to ever open for the Know-It-All Boyfriends (KIAB), a cover band comprised of Butch Vig and Duke Erikson of Garbage, Freedy Johnston, Jay Moran and James Cowan.
Before the show, The Lads' manager, Stu Styptycz (real name Scott Adrian), beamed at the business and social opportunity.
The show was billed as the "Love Takes a Holiday" performance, yet the group was showered with affection from fans. The rabid reaction intrigued club owners and left some wondering if The Lads are ready to be Madison's next big thing.
Perhaps. That is, if they can keep it together.
"The Lads decided it was best to put their historic differences behind them and get back to what they do best," Styptycz insists. "The time is nigh for healing. And for music. And booze."
The invitation to open for the KIAB was just the incentive The Lads needed to reunite after months of rocky negotiations. According to Styptycz, The Lads broke up early this year when a bitter fight erupted over the band's direction. The battle pitted drummer Jay Fabulous, guitarist Prof. Henry "Hank" Hemlock, and guitarist Kid Pump against bassist Big Steak and lead singer Rev. Sexy Fang.
"They thought the band was all about abusing alcohol and seducing women," Steak quips. "We thought it should be the other way around. In the end, we compromised and decided to make both a priority."
According to Fang, the invitation to play with the KIAB had nothing to do with the fact that The Lads might "have something" on the KIAB members.
"I don't want to say that we have incriminating photographs, but ..." Fang trails off as Fabulous picks up.
"When you're a band like us, you have to know all the tricks," Fabulous insists.
Actually, Styptycz says, the KIAB were looking for someone to make them look good, and The Lads came to mind.
"We're willing to go the extra mile," Hemlock promised before the show. "We plan on making them look great."
Big Steak, Sexy Fang, Jay Fabulous, Kid Pump, Prof. Hemlock. Those aren't The Lads' real names, of course. But when you play songs with titles like "Take Down Your Pants," it's probably not in your best interest to divulge your real identity.
They will reveal this much, though: Most of the group works for the Assembly Democratic Caucus. Big Steak and Kid Pump also performed with the popular local pop-rock outfit, Danger Prone Daphne. To prepare for the show, the group penned bogus biographies. While replete with lies, they make for fascinating fiction.
According to his bio, Fang's primary interest as a young lad was worshipping Jesus. But when puberty set in, Jesus fell by the wayside. Joining the Fancy Lads culminated a lifelong dream he had of becoming a rock star - a dream that began the day he bought K-Tel's "Star Power" collection.
Kid Pump claims to be a former champion professional badminton player who hit rock bottom after his career took a downturn. Playing guitar rescued him from a life of misery.
Prof. Hemlock was born in a quiet English village. His life spun out of control, however, after studying under Timothy Leary and he dropped out of his post-doctoral program to play guitar. The Lads rescued him from the coffeehouse circuit.
Unlike other members of the group, Big Steak refuses to discuss his early years. "Let the music tell my story," he insists in his bio.
Jay Fabulous claims to have moved to Milwaukee from New Orleans hoping to take Wisconsin's capital by storm. When told that Madison was the state capital, he moved here. He answers to "Fabulous" to avoid paying his parking tickets.
It's nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction.
But what is known about The Lads is that they have performed several other shows in Madison and may be heard on the Genna's Lounge jukebox. The group has been together two years.
When asked about pre-show jitters, Fang laughs a deep and wicked laugh.
"We're not necessarily nervous," Fabulous interjects. "We're drunk."
The Lads opened their hour set noting that they were in town compliments of the Illinois prison work release program and then broke into Garbage's "Stupid Girl." Highlights included a remake of "Chicken," which was written as a commercial for Culver's by Jay Moran. Throughout the song Fang thrust his neck like a chicken, pecking in time to the music.
"The song has been an inspiration to us for years," Fang notes.
"Susan Lucci" paid tribute to the soap opera star who was nominated for 19 daytime Emmys before finally winning one.
"Hot Buttered Love" was a flavorful sing-along. They group played an homage to Miller Park.
"We love you, Sexy Fang," female fans gushed.
"When it comes right down to it," Rev. Fang notes, "we do it for the stalkers ... I mean, the fans."
And, yes. They made the KIAB look pretty good. Though they didn't look too bad themselves.