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Big Fun (group)

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This article is about the real-life band started in 1988. For the fictional band in the 1988 film Heathers, see Heathers.
Big Fun
OriginLondon, England
GenresPop, dance-pop
Years active1988–1994 · 2024–present
LabelsJive
SpinoffsSonia
MembersMark Gillespie
Phil Creswick
Past membersJason John
Keith Davies

Big Fun were a British boy band duo that was active between 1988 and 1994. The band consisted of Phil Creswick, Mark Gillespie and Jason John (a.k.a. Jason Herbert). Their album was produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, though many tracks on the album were produced by other PWL members.

Career

[edit]

Before they were Big Fun, Creswick and John were in another regroup of Ian Levine's boy band Seventh Avenue with Mark Long.[citation needed] The other member of the group at that time was Steve Crawley who provided lead vocals for the group, and sang live at nightclub appearances across the UK.[citation needed] Other original Big Fun members include Keith Davies from Stretford in Manchester.[citation needed]

Their only album, A Pocketful of Dreams, was released in 1990, and reached the top 10 in the UK Albums Chart.[1] Singles released from the album include "Blame It on the Boogie", a cover version of The Jacksons' 1978 hit, "Can't Shake the Feeling", and "Handful of Promises". "I Feel the Earth Move" was intended to be their first single (and promo copies were circulated), but its release was cancelled in favour of "Blame It on the Boogie".

The band were dumped by Jive Records in 1990, despite achieving a top 10 album and two top 10 singles over the prior 12 months.[2] Creswick said the band never made any significant money from their hit records, claiming the band were "screwed" by the music industry, with only their record label and producers benefiting financially from their success.[2]

Their final single, "Stomp!", was issued on a small label in 1994, under the name 'Big Fun II', as Jason John had left the band. Although this failed to obtain the commercial success of their earlier work, it reached the dance chart in the United States.[3]

All three members of the band were gay and had been advised by Pete Waterman to keep their sexuality quiet, as he believed it would ruin their careers.[4] After disbanding, Creswick became a painter and decorator; he was convicted of drug supply and possession.[5] John returned to being a model booker and music manager; he died in Brazil in 2019.[6][7]

Members

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Personnel

  • Phil Creswick (born 12 October 1965) - backing vocals
  • Mark Gillespie (born 16 November 1966) - lead vocalist
  • Jason John (born 18 March 1967; died January 2019) - backing vocals
  • Keith Davies

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak positions Album
UK
[8] 		AUS
[10] 		BEL
(Fla)
[11] 		FRA
[12] 		GER
[9] 		IRE
[13] 		NED
[14] 		NZ
[15] 		SPN US
Dance
[3]
1989 "Living for Your Love" – — — — — — — — — — single only
"Blame It on the Boogie" 4 37 14 17 15 7 31 32 5 — A Pocketful of Dreams
"Can't Shake the Feeling" 8 97 38 47 41 7 – – 6 —
1990 "Handful of Promises" 21 110 42 – – 6 – – 9 —
"You've Got a Friend" (with Sonia) 14 157 – – – 12 — — — — single only
"Hey There Lonely Girl" 62 — — — — — — — — — A Pocketful of Dreams
1994 "Stomp!" (as 'Big Fun II') – – – – – – – – – 12 single only
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Video

[edit]
  • 1990 – A Pocketful of Dreams – The Video Hits

References

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  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 57. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ a b "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 61: Hey There Lonely Girl to Rhythm Of The Rain on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Billboard > Artists / Big Fun > Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Stock Aitken Waterman & PWL | The Hit Factory Forum v 2.5 – Phil Creswick (Big Fun) interview". Hitfactoryforum.com. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  5. ^ Saunders, Emmeline (6 September 2018). "Big Fun singer Phil Creswick avoids jail for selling chemsex drugs". mirror. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  6. ^ Live Stage Events Ltd. on Twitter: "We are sad to have to report Jason from Big Fun, has passed away in Brazil. We have no further information available at this time... This information is from within Big Fun .. Such a talent taken to soon R.I.P."
  7. ^ GRO Index: HERBERT, JOHN JOSEPH b. 1967 Reference: DOR Q2/2019 in WESTMINSTER (258-1A) Entry Number 518870346
  8. ^ a b "Official Charts > Big Fun". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  9. ^ a b German chart peaks:
  10. ^ Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  11. ^ "Ultratop Vlaanderen > Big Fun in Ultratop Vlaanderen" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  12. ^ "lescharts.com > Big Fun dans les Charts Français" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for Big Fun (from irishcharts.ie)". Fireball Media. Retrieved 6 June 2017 – via Imgur.com.
  14. ^ "dutchcharts.nl > Big Fun in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  15. ^ "charts.nz > Big Fun in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
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