Billy Fury – The Sound of Fury
The cult singer has had his life story documented in an 85 minute film due for its TV premiere later this month, Getintothis’ Del Pike is here to tell you all about it.
One of the greatest mysteries in the history of British pop music is the fact that the enigmatic Liverpool crooner Billy Fury somehow failed to ignite a major following like that of his Liverpool peers; The Beatles or even Cilla.
It has become an overused piece of trivia, but it cannot be ignored that Fury equalled the Fab Four in achieving 24 chart hits during the 1960s. He certainly had the looks – that of a British James Dean and the rich quality of those singles still astounds, but outside of his hometown Fury still remains to many, something of a curiosity.
Thirty-two years after his untimely death at the age of 42, Alan Byron and Mark Sloper’s straight to DVD documentary following the incredible story of Fury’s rise and fall, receives its televised premier on BBC4 April 22, 10pm.
Liverpool has not forgotten Billy Fury and echoes of his legend can be heard in the sounds of Liverpool artists like The Coral and Edgar Jones. Unlike others at the time, Fury resisted the late 60s pull of experimentation and stayed true to his rock and roll roots and Elvis stylings.
While this may have been lost to the hipsters of the day, bequiffed traditionalists Morrissey and Imelda May, the latter appearing in the movie, have found much to appreciate. Mozzer famously placed Fury’s face on the cover of The Smiths’ swansong single Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me, a title that could easily have been a Fury track.
Such patronisation of Fury has helped to create something of an overdue cult status. Fury’s statue at the Albert Dock is proof if needed that Liverpool is still proud of its long lost son.
Byron and Sloper are veterans of music documentary making with John Lennon, punk and Northern Soul projects already under their belts so Fury’s legacy should be in safe hands.
