Fiction Factory - The Most Fascinating Facts ... Anywhere

Kevin Patterson's Previous Band Was Called Street People

Before Fiction Factory, singer Kevin Patterson played in a new wave group called Street People with keyboard player Eddie Jordan. Patterson recalled that they performed original material alongside covers of Magazine and John Foxx-era Ultravox. Their musical interests already extended beyond straightforward pop, even before Fiction Factory took shape.

The Rude Boys Played More Than 300 Gigs in a Year

Patterson and guitarist Chic Medley were members of a Scottish band originally called The Rude Boys, later known as The RB's. Patterson recalled that during the final year of the group they played well over 300 gigs, with some members holding down full-time jobs at the same time.

The RB's Had Eight Members

The RB's were a much larger outfit than the eventual Fiction Factory line-up, with eight members. Patterson said musical differences developed as some members wanted to follow changing musical fashions. He and Medley left, followed by Jordan, and the smaller group began working out what to do next.

Chic Medley Came Up with the Name Fiction Factory

Medley drew up a list of possible names for the new band, and Fiction Factory was the one that stuck. Patterson explained that the name reflected their idea of a group that could write songs without being trapped by fixed musical roles. The concept of a “factory” also suggested making music for other people.

The Band's Original Aim Was Not Simply to Become Pop Stars

When Fiction Factory began, Patterson and his colleagues were interested in songwriting and experimentation as much as performing. Patterson later explained that the idea of a band that did not have to exist in a conventional sense appealed to them after the relentless gigging of The RB's.

The Members Were Already Experimenting with Electronics Before Fiction Factory

Patterson said he and Jordan had been experimenting with electronic music before the end of The RB's. Their early methods included using several cassette recorders, reel-to-reel machines and inexpensive synthesisers. The move towards synth-pop was therefore less a sudden change of direction than a return to an existing interest.

Kraftwerk Were a Major Influence on Patterson and Jordan

Patterson recalled that he and Jordan had been fans of Kraftwerk since the German group's early records. He singled out “Ruckzuck”, from Kraftwerk's 1970 debut album, as a track that particularly fascinated him. Orchestral and experimental electronic music helped shape their ambitions for Fiction Factory.

OMD Were Another Important Influence

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark were among Fiction Factory's favourite contemporary electronic groups. Patterson noted that he played bass and Jordan played keyboards, making OMD's combination of rhythmic bass lines and synthesiser melodies particularly relevant to their own approach.

Feels Like Heaven Took Two Years to Reach the Charts

Patterson explained in a 2022 interview that he and Jordan had developed the main themes of “(Feels Like) Heaven” well before its commercial breakthrough. He said they lived with the song for around two years before its success in several countries made it a recognised hit.

The Song's Writing Came Together Almost Effortlessly

According to Patterson, once he and Jordan found the main musical ideas for “(Feels Like) Heaven”, the song seemed to develop naturally. He recalled that they did not have to debate or agonise over the composition in the way songwriters sometimes do. They both sensed that the result was something special.

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Feels Like Heaven Was About a Break-Up That Hadn't Happened

Despite the song's emotional tone, Patterson said it was not based on an actual break-up. He was in a good relationship at the time, but described himself as something of a pessimist who could easily imagine things going wrong. The lyrics came from that imagined emotional scenario rather than a specific romantic disaster.

The Walker Brothers Influenced Patterson's Vocal Style

Patterson named the Walker Brothers as an influence on his singing. Their dramatic, wide-ranging vocal approach helped shape his willingness to move across several octaves within a single song, a feature that is particularly noticeable in “(Feels Like) Heaven”.

Sparks Were Another Vocal Influence

Patterson also cited Sparks as an influence on his singing. The band's theatricality and unusual vocal delivery helped widen his sense of what a pop singer could do, beyond the more restrained styles common in much contemporary synth-pop.

Howard Devoto Inspired a Line in the Hit Single

Patterson specifically linked the lyric “twisting the bones until they snap” in “(Feels Like) Heaven” to Howard Devoto of Magazine. The reference is a revealing connection between Fiction Factory's polished synth-pop and the darker, more angular British post-punk music that had influenced Patterson earlier.

The Debut Album Did Not Sound Like the Hit Single

Fiction Factory's debut album, Throw the Warped Wheel Out, appeared in 1984. Patterson later suggested that listeners may have been confused when the album contained many songs that did not resemble “(Feels Like) Heaven”. The hit had created expectations that the rest of the album was never intended to fulfil.

Patterson Blamed a Difficult Relationship with CBS

In a later interview, Patterson described the band's relationship with its record company, CBS, as adversarial by the time the debut album was released. He felt that the label and band were no longer listening to one another, and believed poor decisions and uncertainty at the company affected the album's prospects.

Their OMD Tour Had a Personal Connection

Fiction Factory toured with OMD, a group they already admired. Patterson said that the shared management arrangement made contact between the bands inevitable. He got to know OMD's Andy McCluskey and even visited the studio while the group were mixing their album Crush, hearing the title track before its release.

The Weir Brothers Were Originally Intended for Fiction Factory

Patterson revealed that brothers Graham and Neil Weir had originally been expected to become members of Fiction Factory. Instead, they ended up playing with OMD. Their involvement provides a small but intriguing link between the two Scottish and English synth-pop acts during this period.

Half the Band Left in 1984

Following the success of “(Feels Like) Heaven”, Fiction Factory underwent a major line-up change. Several members departed in 1984, leaving Patterson and Medley to carry the project forward. The changes disrupted the original group just as the hit single had brought it wider attention.

The Second Album Was Written in About Ten Days

Patterson recalled that the basic ideas for the songs he wrote or co-wrote for Another Story came together in roughly ten days. The 1985 album was made after the group had been reduced largely to Patterson and Medley, but the rapid writing process meant the loss of the original line-up did not stop the songs from emerging quickly.

Another Story Was Released on the Management's Own Label

Another Story appeared in 1985 on Foundry Records, the label associated with the band's management. Patterson said the budget was limited and there was little promotion, but he considered it important simply to get the album released. Its relatively small sales later helped make it a sought-after collector's item.

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