5ft Fez gaining height on their 10ft Fez elders
Reporter: Simon Smedley
Date published: 08 November 2013
IN the 1990s the big music rivalry saw Britpop duo Oasis and Blur constantly trying to get one over one another.
Now, in 2013, there is an equal rivalry on the Oldham music scene that is much less fiery and a whole lot friendlier.
That is because hugely popular new wave tribute aces 10ft Fez are being checked by a band — 5ft Fez — which features two sons of the ‘senior’ outfit.
10ft Fez are a loud and proud four-strong band which formed some eight years ago by 40-somethings vocalist Paul Fearns, from Royton, and drummer Gary Leach, from Chadderton.
They are joined by Burnley-based bassist Chris Beckett and Ian Brennan on guitar.
Their mod, borderline punk and ska covers have been wowing excited pub and club audiences for some time, but now their dominance is being threatened by none other than 5ft Fez.
They are led by multi-talented 16-year-old vocalist and lead guitarist Matt Cummings, but also feature Paul’s son — 15-year-old Ross — on bass and 14-year-old drummer Joe Leach — son of 10ft drummer Gary!
Amazingly, 5ft Fez originally got together in 2007 when the trio were aged only 10, nine and eight, but after a break they reformed in 2011 and now, although still exciting their crowds with covers of new wave and more recent power pop classics, the emphasis is moving more towards performing their own, energy-fuelled songs.
It looks as though Paul Fearns may well be preparing himself and the senior band to be overtaken by the juniors, but, as he explained before a brilliant joint show at the Hunt Lane Tavern in Chadderton recently, there will only be encouragement from the elder statesmen, despite some of the cheeky banter.
Paul said: “The five-footers have come on in leaps and bounds since they got back together a couple of years ago, there’s no doubt about that.
“They’re starting to put us to shame to be honest, particularly so since they started writing their own material.
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