Curiosity Killed the Cat
Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot of Curiosity Killed the Cat at the Lafayette Parc Hotel, Lafayette, California – 1987
Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot of Curiosity Killed the Cat at the Lafayette Parc Hotel, Lafayette, California – 1987
Background information
Also known asCuriosity
OriginLondon, England
GenresFunk,[1] sophisti-pop[2]
Years active1984–1994, 2000–2016
LabelsMercury, RCA, BMG
Past membersBen Volpeliere-Pierrot
Julian Brookhouse
Nick Thorpe
Migi Drummond

Curiosity Killed the Cat were a British pop band that achieved success in the UK in the late 1980s, with hit singles such as "Down to Earth", "Misfit" and "Ordinary Day", from their No. 1 debut album, Keep Your Distance. This was followed by Getahead with the accompanying hit "Name and Number", that was recreated by De La Soul in "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" in 1991, Jaheim in "Ain't Leavin Without You" in 2010, and Little Mix in "How Ya Doin'?" in 2012. In the early 1990s, the band's bassist left, and billed as 'Curiosity' they collaborated with Simon Cowell recording "Hang On in There Baby" on the album Back to Front.[3]

Career

The band played soulful, jazzy and funky pop music,[4][5] and was initially signed to Mercury Records. They first came to notice of the UK music press when they worked with Andy Warhol for the video of their 1986 single "Misfit". This featured the band in New York City and at one point featured frontman Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot dancing down a side street whilst Andy Warhol referenced Bob Dylan's 1965 long-form promotional film for "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by dropping pieces of white card in time to the music.

The single was initially unsuccessful but the release of their next single, "Down to Earth", gave the band a Top 3 hit in early 1987.[3] The band's first album, Keep Your Distance, entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 1 in April 1987, and stayed in the Top Ten for 13 weeks.[3] Further singles included "Ordinary Day" (UK No. 11), "Free" (UK No. 56) and a re-release of "Misfit" (UK No. 7).[3] "Misfit" was also their only U.S. charting single, peaking at No. 42.[6]

The band's second album, Getahead, was released in 1989, led by the single "Name and Number" (UK No. 14),[3] and its "hey how you doin'" refrain found itself in the Top 10 two years later as part of the De La Soul song "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)". The album, however, was not as successful in comparison to their first album, peaking at No. 29.[3]

After the lacklustre performance of Getahead and its second single "First Place", the band shortened their name to 'Curiosity' but were dropped by Mercury Records. Bass player Nick Thorpe then left the band. However, in 1992, the band (now a three-piece and signed to RCA Records) returned to the UK Top 3 with a cover of Johnny Bristol's "Hang On in There Baby".[3] Despite this, the band's follow up singles (covers of "I Need Your Lovin'" and "Gimme the Sunshine") were unsuccessful, which resulted in the album Back to Front only being released in Japan and selected overseas markets. The band then split up.

In 2001, the band reformed for an appearance on a National Lottery midweek show on BBC 1, and since then Volpeliere has toured under the name Curiosity Killed the Cat, on a number of 1980s revival packages.

In November 2015, a compilation album, called 80's Recovered featured many groups. Curiosity Killed the Cat did a cover of The Doobie Brothers track "Long Train Runnin'", with a regular version, and a remix.[7]

Band members

  • Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot – vocals (born Martin Benedict Volpeliere-Pierrot, 19 May 1965, Earls Court, London)
  • Julian Godfrey Brookhouse – guitar (born 15 May 1963, Putney, London)
  • Nick Thorpe – bass guitar, keyboards (born Nicholas Bernard Thorp, 25 October 1964, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex)
  • Migi Drummond – drums (born Miguel John Drummond, 27 January 1964, Strawberry Hill, Middlesex)

Lead singer Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot was best known for wearing a beret in most pictures of the band. He later revealed it was in fact a peaked fisherman's hat, turned round with the peak to the rear so that it resembled a beret. Ben VP (as he was billed on a number of solo singles in the mid-1990s) was frequently referred to as 'Ben Vol-au-vent Parrot' in Smash Hits magazine,[8] with 'Bendy Ben' (or 'Boozy Ben') also used. He also appeared as a model on the front of Mike Read's Pop Quiz board game.

In 1995, Migi Drummond and Nick Thorp set up Naked Records which was acquired a year later by software maker Eidos Plc.

Toby Andersen co-wrote all tracks and played keyboards on the album Keep Your Distance. Session guitarist/keyboard player Mike McEvoy (Michael J McEvoy) co-wrote the songs on their Getahead album and Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro played on three tracks ("Cascade", "Can't Grow Trees on Money" and "Who Are You").

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[9]		 AUS
[10][11]		 AUT
[12]		 GER
[13]
 IT
[14]		 NL
[15]		 NZ
[16]		 SWE
[17]		 SWI
[18]		 US
[19]
Keep Your Distance 1 47 20 29 8 9 19 32 7 55
Getahead
  • Released: 23 October 1989
  • Label: Mercury
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
 29 136 — — 19 90 — — — —
Back to Front
  • Released: 24 March 1994
  • Label: RCA/BMG
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Title Album details
Their Very Best
The Very Best Of
Down to Earth: The Collection
  • Released: 16 February 2015
  • Label: Spectrum Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Misfits: The Mercury Years 1986–1990
  • Released: 21 September 2018
  • Label: Caroline
  • Formats: 4xCD box set

Video albums

Title Album details
Running the Distance
Live from the Camden Palace
  • Released: April 2013
  • Label: The Store for Music
  • Formats: DVD

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[9]		 AUS
[10][11]		 BE (FL)
[21]		 GER
[13]		 IRE
[22]		 IT
[14]		 NL
[23]		 NZ
[24]		 SWI
[25]		 US
[26]
"Misfit" 1986 76 — — — — — — — — — Keep Your Distance
"Down to Earth" 3 88 24 32 5 — 14 13 — —
"Ordinary Day" 1987 11 — — — 13 9 31 42 24 —
"Misfit" (re-release) 7 97 — 53 8 16 48 — — 42
"Free" 56 — — — 26 — — — — —
"Name and Number" 1989 14 131 — — 16 13 31 — — — Getahead
"First Place" 86 — — — — — — — — —
"Hang On in There Baby" (as Curiosity) 1992 3 — 38 42 10 23 — — — — Back to Front
"I Need Your Lovin'" (as Curiosity) 47 — — 55 — — — — — —
"Work It Out" (as Curiosity) 1993 — — — — — — — — — —
"Gimme the Sunshine" (as Curiosity) 73 — — — — — — — — —
"Long Train Runnin'" 2015 — — — — — — — — — — 80's Re:Covered – Your Songs with the 80's Sound
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References

  1. ↑ Sutton, Michael. "Curiosity Killed the Cat – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Inskeep, Thomas; Soto, Alfred. "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop". Stylus. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 130. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ Mills, Ted. "Curiosity Killed the Cat - Keep Your Distance (1987): Review". AllMusic.
  5. ↑ LeRoy, Dan. "Curiosity Killed the Cat - Get Ahead (1989): Review". AllMusic.
  6. ↑ "Curiosity Killed the Cat – US Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "80s Recovered". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ "Seven bands from the 80s we wish would reunite". BBC News. 24 April 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Curiosity Killed The Cat | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  10. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 80. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. 1 2 "Week commencing 11 December 1989". Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli" or "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Curiosity".
  15. ↑ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade - hitparade.ch". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "Curiosity Killed the Cat – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  20. 1 2 "British certifications – Curiosity Killed the Cat". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 June 2022. Type Curiosity Killed the Cat in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  21. ↑ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  22. ↑ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  23. ↑ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  24. ↑ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  25. ↑ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade - hitparade.ch". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "Curiosity Killed the Cat – Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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