Cult band Fun Lovin’ Criminals will perform four dates in Scotland from this week.
The concerts are part of a 50-date world tour to publicise their first album in 15 years.
Founding member, multi instrumentalist and lead vocalist Brian ‘Fast’ Leiser, drummer and producer Frank Benbini and guitarist Naim Cortazzi will play songs from A Matter of Time and classic hits in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
A Matter of Time is a bold return to the trio’s gritty sound infused with rock and hip-hop and the first album of new music since 2010’s Classic Fantastic.
For three decades, Fun Lovin’ Criminals have gained a cult following thanks to their electrifying live shows and have released six studio albums, two cover albums, a triple CD live album and an LP of rarities and remixes.
The band, founded in New York City in 1993, is best known for the track Scooby Snacks, which sampled dialogue from Quentin Tarantino’s films Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.
Their debut album, Come Find Yourself, peaked at No.7 in the UK album chart in 1996, was certified platinum and is considered by critics to be one of the best albums of the decade.
And the second album, 100% Colombian, released in 1998, peaked at No.3 in the UK and spawned the hits Love Unlimited, Korean Bodega and Big Night Out. Former frontman Huey Morgan quit the band in 2021 over creative differences.
Since Morgan’s departure, Fun Lovin’ Criminals have performed more than 200 live shows around the world and shared festival stages with Jamiroquai, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Faithless, released two EPs of new music and returned to the studio to produce the new album.
Fast said: “Making A Matter of Time was a very personal and introspective experience for Frank and I.
“This album is a reflection of where we are as a band and the music we have created is about staying true to ‘this here song’, which is a line from one of the songs on the album.
“Throughout our 30 years in the biz, we have written and performed music that our fans love and we’re continuing to do that.”
New album
The new album was mixed and mastered by Grammy-award winning engineer Tim Latham ISP, who has worked with Britney Spears and A Tribe Called Quest among many others.
Drummer and producer Frank has also turned filmmaker and his autobiographical film To Be Frank, which was 10 years in the making, was released to critical acclaim in September.
Frank said: “We have played everywhere from the west coast of the USA to the east coast of New Zealand. The reason we have been able to do this is because we now have a renewed creative freedom.
“Fun Lovin’ Criminals are not going anywhere – except on tour. Our fans have been wanting to hear new music from us for years and we can’t wait to release this album and hit the road.”
A Matter of Time is out now and available on digital platforms, vinyl and CD.
Tickets are available here: https://www.seetickets.com/tour/fun-lovin-criminals
Scotland and Ireland tour dates
November
27th – Aberdeen – The Tunnels
28th – Dumfries – The Venue
29th – Edinburgh – La Belle Angele
30th – Glasgow – St Luke’s
December
2nd – Newcastle West – Cleary’s Bar
4th – Listowel – Mike The Pies
5th – Galway – Monroe’s Live
6th – Donegal – The Social
7th – Dublin – Whelan’s
9th – Cardiff – The Globe
11th – Newport (Isle of Wight) – Strings Bar & Venue
Picture: Pieter Voor
