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Singer Simon Fowler, nicknamed Foxy, used to be a journalist on his local Birmingham paper and didn't leave home until he was 26. His ambition was to be a football commentator. |
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Bassist Damon Minchella, a big Everton fan, spent his first royalty cheque from Moseley Shoals on a sports car. Guitarist Steve Cradock collects vintage scooters. He used to be the proud owner of Paul Weller's scooter - until somebody stole it. |
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Steve Cradock formed Brummie mod group The Boys when he was 17. They released the Happy Days EP on their own label in 1988. Drummer Oscar Harrison started out in the eight-piece soul and reggae collective Echo Base, who were signed to UB40's label DEP International. |
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Damon Minchella formed the Fanatics with Oscar Harrison and Simon Fowler. Steve Cradock joined in 1989 and, inspired by The Stone Roses, they morphed into OCS. |
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OCS are managed by Steve Cradock's dad, Chris. They released their debut single, Sway, in 1990 on their own label. They promptly signed to Fontana and recorded an album with Jimmy Miller, who had worked with the Stones and the Spencer Davies Group. The label rejected it. |
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The debut album was finally released in 1992. The band disowned it. Cradock and Minchella began moonlighting with Paul Weller, another artist managed by his dad. |
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After years of constant gigging the band finally hit the big time with Moseley Shoals, named after their studio in Birmingham, which itself is a nod to the legendary Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama. |
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Simon Fowler formed part of England United alongside Echo And The Bunnymen and the Spice Girls for England's Official World Cup 1998 anthem (How Does It Feel To Be) On Top Of The World, which reached Number Nine. |
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The Riverboat Song is the walk-on music on TFI Friday and Hundred Mile High City is featured on the soundtrack to Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. |
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The band covered the Small Faces' Song Of A Baker for the album Long Agos And Worlds Apart A Tribute To The Small Faces, and Steve joins Liam Gallagher on a fine version of Carnation for the Jam tribute, Fire & Skill. |
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