I remember vividly all of the talk about a “second” British Invasion in popular music in the early 1980s. It was around the time when I first started getting into music during the spring and summer of 1982.
Throughout that pivotal year, one couldn’t turn on the radio, and especially MTV, without seeing bands like A Flock of Seagulls, The Human League, Culture Club and Eurythmics to name a select few.
However, it’s not far-fetched to say that the “face” of the Second British Invasion undoubtedly belonged to Duran Duran.
And yet, there was one band at the time in particular that arguably stood out among the pack during that time. Yes, there’s no denying that The Fixx benefited from the association with other new wave acts.
However, make no mistake. They were significantly more guitar-oriented than many of their synth-pop contemporaries. Truth be told, that’s probably why the music of The Fixx has held up better over time than the music of some of those bands previously mentioned.
Songs like Saved By Zero, Red Skies, One Thing Leads to Another and Are We Ourselves? captivated an entire generation of young music fans in the 80s, something that I don’t say lightly or matter-of-factly.
By the way, I’ll personally add Driven Out as the “lost classic” from them. But I digress.
Even more impressive is the fact that all five members that many fans consider to be the definitive recording lineup of The Fixx (lead vocalist Cy Curnin, drummer Adam Woods, keyboardist Rupert Greenall, guitarist Jamie West-Oram and bassist Dan K. Brown, respectively) has remained intact since 2008.
Not content with simply cashing in on past glories, The Fixx have been touring behind their 12th studio album Every Five Seconds, released in 2022. Expect to hear a few cuts from that album, and of course, a decent helping of hits that fans expect to hear.
In the bigger picture, I contend that The Fixx have more in common, artistically speaking, with bands like U2 and INXS. For those who are curious, perhaps it’s time to see what you’ve been missing if you’ve never seen them. In short order, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
IF YOU GO:
WHO: The Fixx w/ special guest Dizzy Mavis
WHEN: This Sat. Sept. 6
WHERE: Marquee Theatre, Tempe. 730 N. Mill Ave.
DOORS: 6:00 p.m. SHOWTIME: 6:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $35-$61 plus tax, available at luckymanonline.com and the Marquee Theatre box office
