Frank Sidebottom

Frank Sidebottom was the fictional persona of Chris Sievey, an English musician and comedian. The character became an icon in British musical circles, representing the eternally optimistic aspiring pop star whose ambition exceeded his talent. Frank was easily recognized by his large, spherical head, wide eyes and sharp suit. He appeared on several albums and DVD’s, a video game and his own television show on Channel M in the Manchester area.

Beginnings

Originally designed as a rabid fan for Chris Seavey’s band The Freshies, Frank soon took on a life of his own. His popularity soared after several live tours in the 1990’s, where Frank would sing (he had a particular fondness for Beatles tunes in addition to his own originals) and perform standup comedy with a considerable amount of crowd interaction. He sometimes appeared with his puppet companion, “Little Frank”, an exact replica of Frank himself.

Recordings

Frank’s first album “Fantastic Tales” was released in 1987 and was followed up by three more releases through 1990. Several singles were also released, and a compilation, “Frank Sidebottom’s Fantastic Show Biz Box Set” was released in 2010.

Frank Sidebottom disappeared from the stage for some time in the late 1990’s, reappearing and apparently mounting a comeback in December 2005. He once again brought his unique song stylings to Manchester area television in 2006, and further appearances occurred through early 2010. Chris Seavey died in June 2010 after a short battle with cancer, bringing the amazing career of Frank Sidebottom to a premature end.