History
2005–2006: Origins and The Fratellis EP
The band's name came from the criminal family in The Goonies and received their first radio playing in 2005, on central Scotland's Beat 106 (later XFM Scotland, now Galaxy Scotland) Beatscene show hosted by Jim Gellatly. They were signed by Fallout Records.
They played their first show on 4 March 2005 in the O'Henry's bar in Glasgow across the road from the Horseshoe bar. The Fratellis EP was released on 3 April 2006, featuring the tracks "Stacie Anne" and "The Gutterati?". "Creepin' Up the Backstairs" was never a single released by the band, even though a video was made for it. The first single released by the band was Henrietta, which was released on 12 June 2006 and charted at number 19 on the UK Charts.
2006–2007: Costello Music and mainstream success
Costello Music was the debut album for the Fratellis and was released on 11 September 2006. It charted at number two in the UK album charts for three weeks. The success of the album led to the Fratellis winning the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act in 2007, an award that was voted for by BBC Radio One listeners.
The Fratellis perform in Scotland.
The Fratellis supported Kasabian in December 2006 on their UK tour before playing 10 dates by themselves in February and March 2007. The tour of the UK festival circuit, playing at Glastonbury and headlining at festivals such as NME's Rock 'n' Riot tour, OXEGEN 2007 and T in the Park 2007, amongst others. They also opened for The Police Reunion Tour in the summer of 2007 in some of the North America dates. The Fratellis also recorded some cover songs during the year including "All Along the Watchtower" for Radio 1's 40th Anniversary Double Album, Radio 1: Established 1967, and "Solid Gold Easy Action" for the soundtrack of the film Hot Fuzz, which also included the single "Baby Fratelli".
The band released their first live DVD, Edgy In Brixton, in the UK on 1 October 2007, which was recorded at the Brixton Academy in London. The DVD contains a locations included Nottingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London. Following the release of the album, the Fratellis embarked on a full live performance of the debut album Costello Music, B-sides from various singles and a new song called "Pretty Like a Girl". Extras on the DVD include the band being asked questions by members of the Fratellis' website, and on the deluxe edition, . It was released in the United States on 30 October 2007.
2007–2009: Here We Stand
The band's filmed on 18 June 2008 at the Fillmore, San Francisco; performances of "Milk and Money", "Flathead" and "Mistress Mabel" from Abbey Road Studios and the videos for second album, Here We Stand, was first mentioned in November 2007 on the Fratellis' official website, which stated that work had begun on the album in a rehearsal space in Glasgow. The band said that they were self-producing the album and had their own studio to record in. Recording finished on 13 January 2008.
On 22 February 2008, they played a highlights from the T in the Park 2007 festival small show for fans at Queen Margaret Union to debut new songs from the upcoming album. About eight new going towards the Teenage Cancer Trust. The third single was "A Heady Tale", released on 22 December. The Fratellis released a deluxe edition of Here We Stand internationally songs from their new album were played, including "Mistress Mabel", "Acid Jazz Singer", and "Look Out Sunshine!". This performance introduced two new touring members, a guitarist, Robin Peringer and a keyboard player, Will Foster. However, after the Teenage Cancer Trust show in 2008, Robin departed the tour for unknown reasons. Will Foster subsequently played both keyboard and guitar during live performances.
The album, was released on 9 June 2008 in the UK and 10 June 2008 in the United States. The band marked the US release of the album with sold-out shows in New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles. The first single from the album,"Mistress Mabel", was released on 26 May 2008. The next single, "Look Out Sunshine!", released on 18 August 2008 and with money on 8 December. The CD included a new song titled "Moriarty's Last Stand" and the accompanying DVD which features "The Year of the Thief" (a documentary of the band on the road in the US), a live show the singles "Mistress Mabel" and "Look Out Sunshine!".
During 2009, the band did a mini-tour of Australia and Japan during February and March. The Fratellis headlined the Island Records 50th anniversary show on 27 May 2009 where they debuted their new track to be included on the Island 50: 50 Years of Island Records which was Bob Marley's "Stir It Up". The band also headlined the Hop Farm Festival 2009 on 4 July, with a gig at the Middlesbrough Empire on 3 July to prepare for the upcoming headline slot.
2009–2012: 'Indefinite' hiatus and side projects
After the Hop Farm show in 2009, the band were going to take an extended break citing exhaustion and relationships within the band turning sour after a series of prolonged touring and working together. Jon went on to form a new band with singer/songwriter Lou Hickey called Codeine Velvet Club. He released an self-titled album with the band in December 2009 and toured during late 2009 and early 2010. The band came to a finish and he decided to become a solo artist. He released his debut solo album, Psycho Jukebox in 2010 and intended to release a second, titled Bright Night Flowers in 2012 but this was shelved due to the Fratellis reuniting. It would eventually be released in 2019, in a re-recorded form after the fifth Fratellis album In Your Own Sweet Time.
Barry initially stated that he was starting his own musical project and would let Fratellis fans know about it via the Fratellis website. He didn't let fans know his musical ventures until November 2011, where he revealed he had joined Birmingham band the Twang, who he played with until August 2012 when he rejoined the Fratellis. He is also a regular on the DJ circuit, and still DJs now when he can.
Mince initially joined a heavy metal band called Throne o' Diablo, before leaving the band for unknown reasons. He would go on to join Jon's solo band as a second drummer, backing vocalist and occasional guitarist during live shows for his Psycho Jukebox tour.
2012–2014: We Need Medicine
The Fratellis played their first show since 2009 to raise money for the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund on 15 June 2012, marking nearly 3 years since they last shared a stage together. They then performed at O2 ABC Glasgow on 26 September 2012 and announced a UK tour in April 2013. During the UK tour, 3 more songs were debuted live; "She's Not Gone Yet But She's Leaving", "Seven Nights Seven Days" and "Whiskey Saga". The band went on to perform dates in Oxford, Leicester and Sheffield with another date at Loopallu festival, forming a small September tour. During the tour, the band debuted 2 new tracks, "This Old Ghost Town" (previously played by and mainland Europe. With 2014, the band played festivals across the world, returning to the US, UK and Europe and also headed over to Japan before finishing the We Jon in a solo show) and "Rock n Roll Will Break Your Heart".
On 4 February 2013, the Fratellis finished recording their third album, which was to be called We Need Medicine with a release date of 7 October 2013. "Seven Nights Seven Days" was released as a single on 29 September. The album was recorded in Glasgow with Jon Fratelli and Stuart McCredie on production duties.
The band saw out 2013 with a highly successful tour of the US, UK Need Medicine album campaign with two shows in Russia in September 2014. The band released a brand new EP in September 2014 called The Soul Crush EP, which was released for free on their website.
2014–2016: Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied
During Christmas break 2013, the band started writing new material, and two of the songs debuted live in 2014. "Too Much Wine" was played on the early 2014 US tour, with "All the Live Long Day" (later to be known as "Impostors (Little By Little)") turning up later on. Upon releasing The Soul Crush EP in 2014, the band stated they would be heading to LA to record their fourth album, with Barry confirming on Twitter it was once again with Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air), producer-architect of both their debut album and of Jon's solo album Psycho Jukebox.
News stayed quiet until 1 June 2015, when the band announced their new album would be called Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied and would be released through Cooking Vinyl on 21 August 2015. The band revealed the first song from the album "Me and the Devil" through their website, and later announced the first single "Baby Don't You Lie To Me" on 29 June. Both tracks were made available as instant downloads with your pre-order of the album. The band shared a new video for "Baby Don't You Lie To Me!" on 24 July 2015.
In late 2016, the Fratellis launched a UK-wide tour to mark the 10-year anniversary of Costello Music, playing 16 shows through November and December.
2017–2019: In Your Own Sweet Time and Bright Night Flowers
In 2017, the band headlined posts since 30 April, the band confirmed on Instagram that they were in Los Angeles to record their fifth album with Tony Hoffer once again producing.
On 29 September 2017 the band announced their the Vicar's Picnic music festival 14–15 July, as well as the Lindisfarne Festival, which ran 31 August to 3 September.
On 8 May, after hinting through several fifth studio album, In Your Own Sweet Time which was released on 16 March 2018 and followed by with a UK concert tour in March 2018. The album was released on CD, LP, limited edition orange LP and cassette. They also toured the U.S. in late Spring 2018 and early Summer.
After the recording of In Your Own Sweet Time, Jon had quietly re-recorded his shelved 2012 solo album Bright Night Flowers and after the main bulk of touring was finished for In Your Own Sweet Time, Jon announced his solo album would be released in February 2019, supported with two shows in London and Glasgow. His first solo shows in 6 years featured nearly the entirety of Bright Night Flowers with only one song from his previous solo album showing up along with Fratellis' favourites "Whistle for the Choir" and "Laughing Gas" in rearranged forms and a series of covers.
Lonesome Anti-Christmas Blues
The Fratellis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ghosts around my door
What's with all these singers
Who's this moonlight for
Nothing's gonna change her
Bring her back again
'Tis the season to be lonely
Bells wont ring, believe me
Drink wont get me through
All the girls wont thrill me
If I can't have you.
Is there a reason, tell me only
Why has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
Has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
Shut off the streetlights you shakers and movers
This place is filled with a hundred bad losers
I think I blew it, you think I'd remember
Sometime round about last night
I lost her
Tell me why has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
Has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
Tell me why has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
Has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
The Fratellis’s song Lonesome Anti-Christmas Blues explores the loneliness and isolation that can sometimes arise during the holiday season. The lyrics paint a picture of a desolate individual who is haunted by ghosts and is without any company on Christmas day. The singer feels disconnected from everybody else, wondering why everyone else has somebody except for him, and he laments about the hollowness of the season.
The singer tries to muster some holiday spirit by observing the season's traditions such as awaiting Santa Claus' arrival and listening to Christmas carolers, but those things only remind him that he is alone. The chorus serves as a melancholic reminder that not everyone gets to experience the warm embrace of companionship during the holiday season.
In essence, the song is a reflection of how even the most festive moments and traditions can only remind one of their isolation, which can be a challenging reality to face, especially in a season that is meant to be shared with loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
No one at my window
There's no one around to keep me company and my life feels empty.
Ghosts around my door
I'm haunted by my loneliness and my past mistakes.
What's with all these singers
Why are there so many songs about love and joy when I feel so miserable?
Who's this moonlight for
The romantic atmosphere of the moonlight is wasted on me because I have no one to share it with.
Nothing's gonna change her
No matter what I do, I can't bring back the person I loved and lost.
Bring her back again
I wish I could turn back time and make things right with the one I let slip away.
'Tis the season to be lonely
Even though it's supposed to be a time of joy and togetherness, I feel more alone than ever.
Why does everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
I can't help but feel envious of all the happy couples and families enjoying each other's company while I'm all alone.
Bells wont ring, believe me
Nothing can cheer me up, not even the sound of jingle bells.
Drink wont get me through
Trying to drown my sorrows in alcohol won't make me feel any better.
All the girls wont thrill me
I know that even if I went out and tried to meet someone new, they wouldn't compare to the one I lost.
If I can't have you
My heart is still set on the person I lost and I can't move on.
Is there a reason, tell me only
I'm searching for an explanation as to why I'm so unlucky in love.
Why has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
Once again, I can't help but feel isolated when I see everyone else happy with their loved ones.
Shut off the streetlights you shakers and movers
I want the world to stop moving around me and for everything to just be still and quiet.
This place is filled with a hundred bad losers
I feel like I'm surrounded by people who are in the same boat as me, all alone and unhappy.
I think I blew it, you think I'd remember
Looking back, I realize that I messed up and lost the person I loved, but it's too late to fix things now.
Sometime round about last night
I can't pinpoint exactly when things went wrong, but I know that I lost her recently.
Tell me why has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
Once again, I'm feeling sorry for myself and wondering why everyone else seems to have found love while I haven't.
Has everybody got someone but me on this Christmas day?
I can't help but ask the question, knowing that the answer is likely yes.
Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lee Forster
I truly love this song
Dave Bradley
Destructively powerful depressing song but strangely uplifting. One of my Fratellis favourites ... saying that, there isn't a song I don't like. How come they don't get more acknowledgement. They're much better than the media make out. new marketing director anyone? Look Out Sunshine! completely flopped for no reason, Heady Tale was played about twice on radio. I would rather listen to this all day on Christmas than Lady feckin' GaGa.
BexyLovesQueen
I love this! <3
Naomi Brash
Best Christmas song ever! :) Mon The Fratellis!
Lila Smith
LOVE IT
Sarah Beth
great song, can't wait to get my Heady Tale single in the mail... just a question though, is the fuzziness just because it's off the radio, or is that part of the song?
Ian Willis
The pogues has just been scrubbed as my all time favourite christmas song. Does this band ever release a bad song. They Remind me of early oasis, when even their b sides kicked the shit out of other bands a sides. Merry Xmas!!!
Michal Pisarski
Wow... beautiful. Lyrics anyone?
sockpuff
Thanks for uploading! am crying now...
Dave Bradley
Wouldn't we all love that?! But unfotunately, on Soccer AM, John said "never listen to anything I say (!)" and kind of dismissed that idea...gutted.