Richard Fairbrass

Infobox musical artist
Name = Richard Fairbrass


Img_capt =
Img_size = 220
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name = Richard Peter John Fairbrass
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1953|9|22
flagicon|England Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England
Died =
Origin =
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = Popular music
Occupation = Singer and television presenter
Years_active = 1989–present
Label =
Associated_acts = Right Said Fred
URL = [http://www.rightsaidfred.com www.rightsaidfred.com]
Current_members = Richard and Fred Fairbrass
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Richard Peter John Fairbrass (born 22 September 1953) is an English singer and television presenter.

Biography

Fairbrass was born on 22 September 1953 in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, in England, and raised in East Grinstead, West Sussex. He is the lead vocalist of the band Right Said Fred which he formed with his brother Fred Fairbrass. The band became very popular in the UK from 1991.

Fairbrass is open about his bisexuality and once co-hosted, with Rhona Cameron, a TV series aimed at a lesbian and gay audience called "Gaytime TV" (1995–1999) on BBC2.

In 1984, Richard appeared in Jazzin' For Blue Jean, a David Bowie video, as the bass player, which can be found on Best Of Bowie.This video appears as an easter egg on that DVD.

In 1994 he was joint winner of Rear of the Year with Mandy Smith.

In 2001 he co-presented the television game show "The Desert Forges" with Gabrielle Richens for Five.

In April 2007 Fairbrass was reported to be planning to run for Mayor of London in the 2008 election. [cite news|last=Barney|first=Katharine|title=Right Said Fred : I'll Stand for London Mayor|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23393091-details/Right%20Said%20Fred:%20I'll%20stand%20for%20London%20Mayor/article.do|publisher=Evening Standard|date=2007-04-18 cite news|title=Rich in Bid to be London Mayor|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2007170741,00.html|publisher=The Sun|date=2007-04-18]

In November 2007 he announced that he and his brother, Fred Fairbrass, will be taking part in the next series of "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!", [cite news |first=Sara |last=Nathan |coauthors=Emma Cox and Colin Robertson |title=We're too sexy for this show |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/im_a__celebrity/article438717.ece |work=The Sun Newspaper |publisher=News Group Newspapers Ltd. |date=2007-11-08 |accessdate=2008-08-13 ] however the pair did not make it onto the show. [cite news |coauthors=Online Reporters |title=That's it we're off, said Fred |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/im_a__celebrity/article483101.ece |work=The Sun Newspaper |publisher=News Group Newspapers Ltd. |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-08-13 ]

Incident at gay rights rally in Moscow in May 2007

During a gay rights rally in Red Square, Moscow, on 27 May 2007 commemorating the 14th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Russia, Richard and Fred Fairbrass were assaulted by members of a counter-demonstration staged by ultra-nationalists and members of the Russian Orthodox Church. [cite news|last=Levy|first=Mike|title=Eggs and Punches at Russia Gay March|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6696329.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=2007-05-27] cite news|title=Moscow Anti-Gay Attack Condemned|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6698173.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=2007-05-28] Richard Fairbrass sustained a cut under his eye.

According to a post by Richard and Fred Fairbrass on their website, they had flown into Moscow the day before for an evening show. On the day of the incident they had been invited by their Russian show promoter to attend what was termed a "civil liberties/freedom of speech" rally in Red Square. The Fairbrass brothers were not aware that this was a gay pride demonstration and that it had been denied a licence by the Moscow authorities; they were assured that the demonstration was safe and its main purpose was to hand in a petition to the Mayor of Moscow. When they arrived they were interviewed by reporters. Suddenly, a man pushed his way through the press and punched Richard in the face. The Fairbrass brothers tried to move away but were prevented from doing so by the police. Richard was struck in the face another three or four times, while Fred had his body kicked and punched. The brothers managed to break away, but were chased by what they termed "Neo-Nazis" and attacked again. Two policemen intervened and arrested one of the attackers, and protected the brothers until their promoter came with a car to pick them up.cite web|title=News : The Moscow Incident|url=http://www.rightsaidfred.com/htdocs/news.php?name=News|publisher=Rightsaidfred.com|accessdate=2007-05-31]

Fred Fairbrass said that his injuries and those of his brother were healing "a lot faster than the deeper and more worrying wounds that fester inside the heads of those who attacked us and of those who were happy to watch and let it happen". Speaking about the incident upon his return to the UK, Richard Fairbrass commented, "When it was over I actually felt more sorry for the guy that whacked me than I did for me... How threatened can he be, how insecure is he to be threatened by a bisexual pop singer who's most famous for singing "I'm too sexy'?"

Notes

External links

* [http://www.rightsaidfred.com Official website of Right Said Fred]
* [http://www.myspace.com/rightsaidfred Right Said Fred at MySpace]
* [http://www.right-said-fred.com Right-Said-Fred] – a fansite

Persondata
NAME = Richard Fairbrass
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Richard Peter John Fairbrass
SHORT DESCRIPTION = British singer and television presenter
DATE OF BIRTH = 22 September 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH = Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =