The Fabulous Poodles were a British new‑wave group formed in 1975 in the United Kingdom, fronted by Tony de Meur on lead vocals and guitar, with Richie Robertson on bass, Bobby Valentino on violin and mandolin, and Bryn Burrows on drums; the line‑up was rounded out by Bob Suffolk on piano. The band’s breakthrough came with the 1977 single "When The Summer's Thru" / "Bike Blood" released on Pye Records, which established their image and led to a contract with the label. Their debut album Fabulous Poodles (1977) was produced by John Entwistle and featured tracks such as "The Ending" and "Doctor", while the follow‑up album Unsuitable (1978) yielded the singles "Mirror Star" and "Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)", the latter written by John Parsons. In 1979 the group released Think Pink, produced by Muff Winwood, and embarked on an American tour supporting acts such as the Ramones and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. After a brief period of touring and the release of the single "Stompin' on the Cat" (1980), the band disbanded. A 1995 compilation His Masters Choice: A Personal Best Of The Fabulous Poodles revived interest in their catalog, and in 2009 the American Beat Records imprint issued a combined CD of Mirror Stars and Think Pink. The Fabulous Poodles remain noted for their stage antics and contributions to the late‑1970s British new‑wave scene.
