The Fratellis
Biography
The Fratellis are a Scottish rock band from Glasgow, formed in 2005. The band's lineup consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Jon Fratelli (John Lawler), bassist and backing vocalist Barry Fratelli (Barry Wallace), and drummer and backing vocalist Mince Fratelli (Gordon McRory). The members are not related, having adopted their collective surname from the antagonist family in the 1985 film "The Goonies".
Formation and Breakthrough
The band was formed after the members placed advertisements in Glasgow music shops. They played their first show in March 2005 and were quickly signed to Fallout Records. Their debut EP, "The Fratellis EP," was released in April 2006. This was followed by their debut album, "Costello Music," in September 2006. The album was a major success, reaching number two on the UK Albums Chart and spawning the hit singles "Chelsea Dagger" and "Whistle for the Choir". The success of "Costello Music" led to the band winning the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 2007.
Subsequent Albums and Hiatus
Their second album, "Here We Stand," was self-produced and released in 2008, reaching number five in the UK. Following extensive touring, the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2009, citing exhaustion and strained relationships. During the break, Jon Fratelli formed the band Codeine Velvet Club and later pursued a solo career. Barry Wallace joined the band The Twang for a period, and Mince Fratelli was involved in a heavy metal project.
Reunion and Later Work
The Fratellis reunited in 2012 for a charity event and subsequently began touring again. They released their third album, "We Need Medicine," in 2013, which showcased a blues-rock sound. This was followed by "Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied" in 2015 and "In Your Own Sweet Time" in 2018, both of which performed well in the Scottish charts. Their sixth studio album, "Half Drunk Under a Full Moon," was released in 2021.
Discography
Studio Albums:
- Costello Music (2006)
- Here We Stand (2008)
- We Need Medicine (2013)
- Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied (2015)
- In Your Own Sweet Time (2018)
- Half Drunk Under a Full Moon (2021)