Fiction Factory


Fiction Factory were a Scottish new wave band from Perth. Formed in 1982, they are best known for their single "(Feels Like) Heaven", which peaked at #6 on the UK Singles Chart. The band originated from members of the ska group The Rude Boys, with the core lineup consisting of Kevin Patterson, Eddie Jordan, Chic Medley, Graham McGregor, and Mike Ogletree. Fiction Factory’s sound combined melodic synthesizer textures with introspective lyrics, characteristic of early 1980s new wave music.
Their debut album, Throw the Warped Wheel Out, received moderate critical attention but did not replicate the commercial success of their debut single. A follow-up album, Another Story, failed to chart significantly, leading to the band’s dissolution shortly afterward. Although Fiction Factory’s active career was brief, " Heaven" has endured as a defining example of 1980s synth-pop, frequently appearing on compilations and retrospective collections from the era.

History

Breakthrough (1982–1987)

Before they began Fiction Factory in 1982, Kevin Patterson and Eddie Jordan had played in the band Street People around 1978, performing original songs and covers of Magazine and Ultravox! songs, before forming ska band the Rude Boys with Grant Taylor and Chic Medley. The eight-piece RBs played numerous live gigs, released an album and two singles, but due to musical differences Patterson, Jordan and Medley left the band to form Fiction Factory. Initially thought of as a song writing unit for other artists, they eventually enlisted Graham McGregor and Mike Ogletree, a former member of Simple Minds and Café Jacques, to form a proper band. Influences on Fiction Factory included Magazine, Kraftwerk, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, whom Patterson described as "a big favourite". Patterson's vocal style was influenced by the Walker Brothers, Sparks, and Magazine's Howard Devoto.
The band frequented Bandwagon Music Supplies in Perth. "They would come into my shop wanting to hear their recording on my wee cassette recorder that turned out to be a number six single that still gets played today," said Pete Caban, the shop's owner. "I still see the guys, they still come in." The shop closed in 2020 after 37 years in business.
The band's single "(Feels Like) Heaven" became a UK Top 10 hit in 1984 ; it was their only success in the UK. The follow-up single "Ghost of Love" only reached no. 64 on the singles chart, while the parent studio album Throw the Warped Wheel Out did not reach the chart at all. Fiction Factory had more success in Europe with " Heaven" reaching no. 2 in Switzerland and the Top 20 in several countries, "Ghost of Love" spending 11 weeks on the German singles chart and Throw the Warped Wheel Out charting in Switzerland, Sweden and Germany.
In 1984 Fiction Factory toured Europe as support for OMD, but the same year Jordan, McGregor and Ogletree departed from the band. Patterson and Medley recorded the next studio album with session musicians, including keyboardist Paul Wishart and brothers Graham and Neil Weir of OMD.

''Another Story'' and split (1987–2011)

Fiction Factory disbanded in 1987 after the release of their second studio album Another Story had become a commercial flop. Patterson formed the short lived duo The Dearhearts with singer Karen Smyth and left the music industry soon afterwards. He now works in IT and is married with two children. Patterson and Jordan reunited to perform " Heaven" with a backing band at the latter's wedding in August 2007. Medley went on to work with the Scottish world music project, Mouth Music.

Re–unions (2011, 2022)

In 2011, the original line-up reformed for the first time since 1984 for their performance at that year's Rewind Festival. In 2016, Manic Street Preachers covered " Heaven" for the album BBC Radio 2 Sounds of the 80s, Volume 2.
In 2022, Fiction Factory reunited and performed at the Belgian "W-Festival" in Ostend.

Band members

  • Kevin Patterson – vocals
  • Chic Medley – guitars
  • Graham McGregor – bass guitar
  • Eddie Jordan – keyboards
  • Mike Ogletree – drums and percussion
  • Grant Taylor – trumpet
  • Paul Wishart – keyboards
  • Graham Weir – trombone
  • Neil Weir – trumpet
  • James Locke – drums and percussions
  • Pim Jones – guitar
  • Marwenna Laidlaw –
  • Fiona Carlin –
  • Bill Montague – bass guitar
  • Leon Thorne – guitar and saxophone