Blue Plate Special: The Fixx
The Fixx is a rock band from London, England, founded in 1979. Known for their distinct sound and thought-provoking lyrics, the band achieved significant success in the 1980s with hits such as “One Thing Leads to Another,” “Saved by Zero,” “Are We Ourselves?” and “Secret Separation,” all of which charted in the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Their mainstream rock chart hits include “Red Skies,” “Stand or Fall,” “Driven Out,” and “Deeper and Deeper,” the latter featured on the soundtrack of the 1984 film “Streets of Fire.”
The band was initially formed as Portraits by college friends Cy Curnin (vocals) and Adam Woods (drums), later recruiting keyboardist Rupert Greenall, guitarist Jamie West-Oram, and bassist Charlie Barrett. After changing their name to The Fixx and securing a deal with MCA Records, they released their debut album “Shuttered Room” in 1982. Their follow-up album, “Reach the Beach,” produced by Rupert Hine, became their most commercially successful, achieving Platinum status. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, they continued to release successful albums, including “Phantoms,” “Walkabout,” and “Calm Animals.” The band experienced lineup changes but maintained their core members, with bassist Dan K. Brown rejoining in 2008. They celebrated their 25th anniversary with a double-CD compilation and continued to produce new music, including their 10th studio album, “Beautiful Friction,” in 2012, and “Every Five Seconds” in 2022.
The Fixx remains active, regularly touring and releasing new music, cementing their legacy as a pivotal band in the rock genre.
Some of my favorites from their catalog:
One Thing Leads to Another – from the album Reach the Beach (1983)
Less Cities, More Moving People – from the album Phantoms (1984)
Saved By Zero – from the album Reach the Beach (1983)
Are We Ourselves? – from the album Phantoms (1984)
Stand Or Fall – from the album Shuttered Room (1982)
Secret Separation – from the album Walkabout (1986)
Question – from the album Phantoms (1984)
Red Skies – from the album Shuttered Room (1982)
