Fat Les

Fat Les
250x200px 1998 "Vindaloo".
Background information
Genres	Pop, football chant
Years active	1998 (1998)–2002, 2012
Labels	Telstar, Turtleneck, Parlophone
Past members	Alex James Keith Allen Damien Hirst

Fat Les was a British band consisting of Blur bassist Alex James, actor Keith Allen, and artist Damien Hirst. Vocals on their singles were provided by Keith Allen (all), Alex James ("Vindaloo"), Lily Allen ("Who Invented Fish & Chips?"), Andy Kane ("Who Invented Fish & Chips?"), Lisa Moorish ("Naughty Christmas (Goblin in the Office)") and Michael Barrymore ("Jerusalem").

Fat Les created the England national football anthem "Vindaloo" as an unofficial theme song for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The song reached number two in the UK Singles Chart. and along with the band members featured Paul Kaye, Rowland Rivron, Ed Tudor-Pole, Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Fat Les also provided a song for the England football team at Euro 2000, held in Belgium and the Netherlands, with a rendition of the hymn "Jerusalem". It was again fronted by Allen, alongside Barrymore. The track was credited to Fat Les 2000. The recording was partly a reaction to the appropriation of the hymn by far right political groups. Keith Allen chose the London Community Gospel Choir and London Gay Men's Chorus to feature on the track.

In 2012 Fat Les changed their name to "Fit Les" and recorded "The Official Fit Les Olympic Anthem". Alex James has left the group and Rowetta of Happy Mondays fame has joined the lineup along with producer Matt Eaton.

Discography

• June 1998 "Vindaloo (Carnival de Paris sample)"
• December 1998 "Naughty Christmas (Goblin in the Office)"
• June 2000 "Jerusalem"
• 2002 "Who Invented Fish and Chips"
• July 2012 "The Official Fit Les Olympic Anthem"

External links

• Vindaloo sung by a crowd of England Supporters during the European Championships in Portugal 2004