Biography
Fat Statues are a Wiltshire, UK-based mainly-acoustic based duo consisting of Ronnie (Guitar/Vocals) & Moz (Vocals/Guitar) who were formerly one half of the 2000s band Tragic Pleasure. After their breakup, Ronnie and Moz took a 15 year hiatus from music , but in 2020, they rekindled their love of songwriting as a means of getting through lockdown.
Now, with an impressive catalogue of original material, the duo are gigging regularly and publishing live footage on YouTube. Their first album is due for release this year. With a constant flow of inspiring new songs, a second is sure to follow.
The complimentary talents of two accomplished songwriters produce a marriage of complex chord structures with pop sensibilities and punk attitude, cerebral lyrics with singalong choruses, heartbreak and whimsy, all wrapped up with a healthy dose of self-aware British tongue-in-cheek humour. Their music has drawn comparisons with The Barenaked Ladies, Billy Bragg, Talking Heads and The Kinks.
Fat Statues share a mutual love of storytelling and pride themselves on a distinctive sound that is all their own.
The Band
Ronnie
I started my musical journey at 8 when I inherited a piano from my aunt. I couldn’t play it so I started having lessons. Several years later I still couldn’t play it so the lessons ceased. That may have been that but for my secondary school offering a term’s worth of free tuition on an instrument of my choosing. The drum lessons were oversubscribed so I decided to have a crack at guitar. I found it much more natural than piano, so I sold it and spent the money on an electric guitar, and soon after, an acoustic guitar (which I still own, over 35 years later).
Incidentally, I ended up teaching myself the drums using the school’s crappy kit, a large collection of pirated cassettes, and a Walkman. Who needs lessons?!
My musical taste was undoubtedly influenced by my older brother who was heavily into Queen and Dire Straits. Whilst my taste is wide and varied, to this day, my favourite music is lyrically erudite, expertly played, and meticulously produced.
I’d love to say that my guitar playing is as great as Brian May’s and that my songwriting could rival Mark Knopfler. I’m not that deluded. However, I pride myself on writing interesting songs, both lyrically and musically.
What’s your role in Fat Statues?
Guitarist, songwriter, backing and occasional lead vocalist
What do you enjoy most about being a Fat Statue?
Playing live and meeting other musicians.
Which musicians inspire you the most?
Steve Hackett, Roger Waters, Dark Star, Tom Waits
If you weren’t in Fat Statues, which band would you like to be in?
Barenaked Ladies
What’s your favourite Fat Statues song?
Murder at Worthy Farm
Who would you most like to do a cover version of a Fat Statues song?
The Flaming Lips
What’s the other Fat Statue’s greatest strength?
Writing melodies and thought-provoking lyrics.
Desert Island Discs:-
Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets To The Wind In Copenhagen) – Tom Waits
Dogs – Pink Floyd
Paradise City – Guns n’ Roses
Brian Wilson – Bare Naked Ladies
About 3am – Dark Star
The Battle of Epping Forest – Genesis
Tonight Tonight – The Smashing Pumpkins
Love You – Syd Barrett
(Luxury item – an acoustic guitar, book – The Hitchhikers’ Guide to The Galaxy)
Musical guilty pleasure?
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time when you’re not being a Fat Statue?
Going to concerts, driving my classic car, travelling.
Ronnie plays Taylor acoustics, Fender, Danelectro, Tanglewood & self-built electrics, and Laney amplification.
Moz
For as long as I can remember, my life has been filled with music. There’s a big age gap between me and my siblings, and their teenage record collections filled the house and was the soundtrack to my childhood. My musical tastes have always been a very broad church, and metal and dance music sits side by side with synth pop and country. Music is always best when it’s live, so much of my spare time is spent watching gigs as well as performing. I was lucky enough to see over 100 acts last year.
Unlike Ronnie, I’m not a natural musician. I took up the drums as a teenager and got pretty good, but it took until I was in my thirties to play a musical instrument that actually plays a tune! I have zero music theory, and can barely play, but I like to think I have a natural ability as an arranger, to see how each part fits together as a whole. I’m able to write melodies and arrangements in my head before picking up an instrument.
Being a frontman of a band doesn’t come easily to me. Being an introvert with a stammer doesn’t help, but I’m a stammering introvert that likes to show off! Songwriting has been a huge source of comfort to me through really tough times over the years, and some songs that I’m really proud of have come out of those dark times.
Fat Statues works because we’re musical polar opposites, Ronnie is very clinical and precise, and I’m much more about soul and feel. He adds interest to my songs and I add warmth to his. We’ve learnt so much musically from each other, I’ll throw in some complex chords to please him, and he’ll write a great chorus uplift.
What’s your role in Fat Statues?
(In order) Songwriter, arranger, singer, guitarist, occasional bassist
What do you enjoy most about being a Fat Statue?
Writing something that provokes a reaction to a listener, I’ve been so lucky to have written songs that make people laugh. And cry. In a good way.
Which musicians inspire you the most?
Brian Wilson, Kate Bush, Beth Orton, Boo Hewerdine, Suzanne Vega, Harriet Bradshaw. As a drummer, Phil Collins, he had the chops.
If you weren’t in Fat Statues, which band would you like to be in?
Tragic Pleasure!
What’s your favourite Fat Statues song?
It’s like trying to ask which is your favourite child!
Who would you most like to do a cover version of a Fat Statues song?
Reckon The Pogues in their prime would have done an entertaining Teetotal Drinking Song.
What’s the other Fat Statue’s greatest strength?
Being able to write and play music that sounds genuinely unique. Ronnie has no idea how talented he is.
Desert Island Discs:-
Story – Leddra Chapman
Sweet Little Mystery – John Martyn
Saviours And All – Thea Gilmore
The Hunter – Jennifer Warnes
Christ’s Entry Into Govan – Trembling Bells
A Question Of Lust – Depeche Mode
All I Have – Beth Nielsen Chapman
My Finest Hour – The Sundays
(Luxury item – Piano, Book – Piano for Beginners)
Musical guilty pleasure?
Fascination – Alphabeat. Perfect pop.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time when you’re not being a Fat Statue?
Dreaming of being anywhere but here, enjoying the journey more than the destination, seeing far too many gigs.
Moz plays Lâg acoustic guitars and basses, self-built electric guitars and basses, Vox amplification, Premier drums, Zildjian cymbals & LP percussion.
History
Ronnie and Moz met at college back in 1993, and bonded through a shared musical taste and sense of humour. They met brothers Rich and Charles and all formed a long lasting friendship. In 1995, they all went on a life-changing holiday to Butlins in North Wales. This was a last hurrah of childhood before going off to work, university and responsibility. The mascot for the holiday was a small orange workman toy, who lost his road-drill, and as a result struck a vey sexy pose.
In 1999, in need of a collective evening off from home life and responsibilities, the 4 formed a band. Ronnie and Moz had played music since their teens, but the two brothers were had never picked up an instrument in their lives. Tragic Pleasure was born, the band name taken from a quote from Aristotle from Ronnie’s girlfriend’s University syllabus. Tragic Pleasure consisted of Rich (Vocals and occasional Keys/Bass from 2005), Charles (Bass, left December 2004), Ronnie (Guitars) and Moz (Drums/Vocals)
The first song they wrote together, The Orange Man was written about the Butlins holiday, and was the lead track from the Tragic Pleasure EP. The Orange Man is still a favourite in Fat Statues’ concert repertoire, a fitting way to celebrate its 25th birthday.
Tragic Pleasure split up after 6 years in 2005, Moz and Ronnie lost contact with the brothers, but it always felt there was unfinished business.
An accomplished drummer, Moz started playing guitar following Tragic Pleasure’s split, kept songwriting, and always keen to get back into music. Ronnie was a little more reluctant. There was lots of talk, a few rehearsals, but no action. The Fat Statues band name was coined back then, named after the 2 statues either side of the stage in Cheltenham Town Hall.
Then, in 2020, there was a global pandemic. Ronnie and Moz picked up their guitars and started to write again as a means to keep sanity and stave off the loneliness of lockdown. Regular Zoom calls ensued, and finally Fat Statues got off the ground. The early songs were solo compositions, but their first composition together, Has Beens looked back and told the story of Tragic Pleasure.
Hoping to work with other musicians, rehearsals eventually proved unfruitful. Fat Statues are a duo, and will remain that way.
After far, far too long, Fat Statues played their first gig, 18 years after their last with Tragic Pleasure.
Good things come to those who wait.