Big Fun were a British boy band that was active between 1988 and 1994. The band consisted of Phil Creswick, Mark Gillespie and Jason John (a.k.a. Jason Herbert). Their album was produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, though many tracks on the album were produced by other PWL members.
Career
Before they were Big Fun, Creswick and John were in another regroup of Ian Levine's boy band Seventh Avenue with Mark Long.[citation needed] The other member of the group at that time was Steve Crawley who provided lead vocals for the group, and sang live at nightclub appearances across the UK.[citation needed] Other original Big Fun members include Keith Davies from Stretford in Manchester.[citation needed]
The band were dumped by Jive Records in 1990, despite achieving a top 10 album and two top 10 singles over the prior 12 months.[2] Creswick said the band never made any significant money from their hit records, claiming the band were "screwed" by the music industry, with only their record label and producers benefiting financially from their success.[2]
Their final single, "Stomp!", was issued on a small label in 1994, under the name 'Big Fun II', as Jason John had left the band. Although this failed to obtain the commercial success of their earlier work, it reached the dance chart in the United States.[3]
All three members of the band were gay and had been advised by Pete Waterman to keep their sexuality quiet, as he believed it would ruin their careers.[4]
After disbanding, Creswick became a painter and decorator; he was convicted of drug supply and possession.[5] John returned to being a model booker and music manager; he died in Brazil in 2019.[6][7]
Members
Personnel
Phil Creswick (born 12 October 1965) - backing vocals
Mark Gillespie (born 16 November 1966) - lead vocalist
Jason John (born 18 March 1967; died January 2019) - backing vocals
