The Fab Faux

Articles :: News :: Pictures :: Upcoming Appearances :: Reviews :: Miscellaneous

Members: Frank Agnello (Guitar, Vocals), Will Lee (Bass, Vocals), Rich Pagano (Drums, Vocals), Jack Petruzzelli (Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals), Jimmy Vivino (Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals).

Location: New York City, NY

Website: www.thefabfaux.com

Beatlefest Appearances:
Liverpool Beatleweek 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005
Abbey Road On The River 2004

Biography: (from the Beatleweek 2005 Programme)

Last year they gave us two completely contrasting shows - the astounding Psychedelia show at the Royal Court, and the back-to-basics rock 'n' roll fest in the Cavern Club. Previous years have seen the performance of some of the Beatles most complex albums: The White Album and Abbey Road in their entirety. So what next for the truly Fab Faux? Well, as they edge ever closer to the milestone of having performed every one of the 211 released Beatles songs, they've accepted Bill Heckle's challenge to raise the bar and include the songs the four Beatles wrote and recorded after the band broke up. Yes, for 2005 The Faux bring us the Ex-Factor solo years show.

The band has played some solo Beatles material before - back in October 2001 they played a John Lennon birthday tribute show which included 6 of the man's solo records, and Frank Agnello gave fans a little taster last year when he played a solo set in the American Bar which was made up entirely of songs recorded by John, Paul, George and Ringo post-1970. But to learn an entire solo years show certainly is a momentous challenge. Mind you, if anyone can do it, it's The Fab Faux!

The band are no doubt well-known to regular conventioneer's, but just in case you're new here, it's time to meet The Faux! Jimmy Vivino plays guitar for the Max Weinberg 7 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Will Lee is bassist in the Late Show with David Letterman band, Rich Pagano runs a busy Manhattan recording studio, Jack Petruzzelli has been touring Australia, Europe and North America this year with Rufus Wainwright, and Frank Agnello works for the major music performance rights society ASCAP.

Since last Beatle Week, the band has been busier than ever. In October last year, Will Lee was honoured to receive a Lifetime Achievement award from Bass Player magazine. The Faux were honoured to be asked to perform a set at that event, for Will's peers, which included some of the world's best bassists including Anthony Jackson & Jerry Jemmott, amongst others. The following month The Faux were interviewed by famous NY radio host Pete Fornatale for his long-running Mixed Bag series. In addition, the 90-minute program features the band in concert at The State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ, also recorded that month. As of this writing, the show has not yet aired, but we hope it will be soon! That New Brunswick concert was also the source of a Will Lee interview & band photo session for Joe Johnson's famous Beatle Brunch radio program, which was broadcast nationwide, and webcast as well.

In January, The Fab Faux had the pleasure of playing "Twist and Shout" with John Mellencamp and his guitarist, long-time "6th Faux" Andy York, at a bash for MTV in San Juan, Puerto Rico. An honoured guest at the bands' February Abbey Road show at Webster Hall in NYC was Rolling Stone Magazine editor and publisher, Jann Wenner. Mr. Wenner casually asked if his magazine had ever done a piece on The Fab Faux. When told they hadn't, he replied "Hmmm..." A few days later, they received word that Rolling Stone wished to do a story on the band. The magazine's Senior Editor, David Fricke, did a series of interviews with each Faux member, and a photo shoot took place at the band's May-June Bowery Ballroom shows. The full-page story was in the August 11th issue of the magazine (with Jimi Hendrix on the cover).

Just a few weeks ago on August 2nd, The Faux were honoured to take part in a benefit show at BB King's in NYC for Dave Clark 5 keyboardist/lead vocalist/songwriter Mike Smith, who was tragically paralyzed in 2003 after an accident at his home in Spain. The event was organized by Late Show with David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer, and featured The Zombies, Billy J. Kramer, Denny Laine, The Fab Faux, and the first reunion in over 35 years of Peter and Gordon. Each act performed a Dave Clark 5 song, and the show was filmed for a DVD and TV broadcast.

The Fab Faux are:
Jack - quietly seducing the entire room....
Rich - the heartbeat of the Faux....
Will - funny clothes....
Frank - sorry girls, he's taken....
Jimmy - master of all, jack of none....


Articles

Pablo Faques Faux :: TWIL Issue One, July 2000

All Fauxed Up :: TWIL Issue Two, October 2000

An interview with Will Lee :: TWIL Issue Four, May 2001

Liverpool Beatleweek Setlists :: Liverpool Beatleweek 2001

Close Encounters of the Faux Kind :: TWIL Issue Five, August 2001

Fab Faux returning to Liverpool for Beatleweek 2003 :: July 2003

They Don't Really Want To Stop The Show... :: Jaunuary 2005


News


Pictures

Poster for July 2001 Bowery Ballroom Shows
Poster for October 2001 Bowery Ballroom Show
Poster for December 2001 Bowery Ballroom Shows
Poster for April 2002 Bowery Ballroom Shows
Poster for October 2002 Bowery Ballroom Shows
Poster for February 2003 Bowery Ballroom shows
Poster for May 2003 Irving Plaza Show
Poster for September 2003 Irving Plaza shows
Poster for December 2003 Bowery Ballroom shows
Poster for May 2004 Bowery Ballroom shows
Poster for September 2004 Bowery Ballroom shows
Poster for December 2004 Bowery Ballroom shows
Poster for February 2005 Webster Hall show
Poster for May/June 2005 Bowery Ballroom shows
Poster for September 2005 Webster Hall Solo Years show
Poster for December 2005 Webster Hall White Album shows
 
Poster for May 2006 Webster Hall shows
 

These original posters are by artist Bill Nollman for The Fab Faux. All inquiries to Bill should go to www.musicagraphica.com


Upcoming Appearances

August 2007
4: Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Westhampton Beach, New York. Two shows - 19:30 & 22:00
11: The State Theatre Easton, Pennsylvania 20:00
12: The State Theatre Easton, Pennsylvania 19:00

September 2007
15: The Beacon Theater New York City, New York 20:00

October 2007
13: The Keswick Theatre Glenside, Pennsylvania. Two shows - 16:00 & 20:00


Reviews

Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool :: 26 August 2000

Liverpool Beatleweek :: 1999 & 2000

Liverpool Beatleweek :: 2001

Bowery Ballroom, NYC :: 8 October 2001

Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY :: 9 & 10 April 2002

World Financial Center :: 17 June 2003

Count Basie Theatre Benefit, NJ :: 28 June 2003

Liverpool Beatleweek :: 2003 (Bengt Warmlind's site)

See pictures from The Fab Faux at the Hudson River Festival, NYC 17 June 2003 on StrawberryFieldsNYC.com [here]

State Theatre, Easton, PA :: Express Times Review (January 2005)


Miscellaneous

Other musicians who play with The Fab Faux include guitarist Andy York, the Creme Tangerine Strings (featuring Sibel on cello) and the Hogshead Horns (Tom 'Bones' Malone, Jerry Vivino, Lew Soloff and Ed Marrion.)

See The Fab Faux Beatleweek setlists here: [2001] [2003] [2004] [2005]
See The Fab Faux USA 2004 setlists here: [2004]