Editing Moxy Früvous

{{Short description|Canadian comedic folk rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Moxy Früvous
| image           = Moxy Früvous.jpg
| caption         = Moxy Früvous, 1993 (left to right: Dave Matheson, [[Jian Ghomeshi]], [[Murray Foster]], [[Mike Ford (musician)|Mike Ford]])
| background      = group_or_band
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Thornhill, Ontario|Thornhill]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| genre           = [[Folk rock]], [[comedy rock]], [[soft rock]]
| years_active    = {{start date|1989}}–{{end date|2001}}
| label           = [[Warner Music Canada]], Bottom Line, [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], [[True North Records]]
| associated_acts =
| website         = {{official URL}}
| current_members = {{ubl|[[Jian Ghomeshi]]|[[Murray Foster]]|[[Mike Ford (musician)|Mike Ford]]|Dave Matheson}}
}}

'''Moxy Früvous''' was a Canadian [[Political satire|politically satirical]] [[Folk music|folk-pop]] band from [[Thornhill, Ontario]], Canada. The band was founded in 1989, and was active until 2001.  Common themes in Früvous songs include Canada and the "human experience."

==History==
The band formed in 1989 when [[Jian Ghomeshi]] (then going by Jean Ghomeshi),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/M/Moxy_Fruvous.html |title=CANOE -- JAM! Music - Pop Encyclopedia - Moxy Fruvous |access-date=2010-04-09 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713022227/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/M/Moxy_Fruvous.html |archive-date=2012-07-13 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> [[Murray Foster]] and [[Mike Ford (musician)|Mike Ford]], former classmates at the local [[Thornlea Secondary School]] and playing in a pub band called The Chia Pets at the time, joined with David Matheson to [[busking|busk]] in Toronto. They drew crowds, and, eventually, the attention of Toronto-based [[CBC Radio One|CBC Radio]], which commissioned songs about political and local issues for the radio show ''Later the Same Day.'' Some songs written for the show later appeared on their albums; these songs include "The Gulf War Song" and "[[My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors]]", which was written for a Toronto authors' festival.

The band released a self-titled six-song demo tape in 1992, and that year performed at the [[SOCAN]] Awards celebration.<ref name="Inc.1992">{{cite magazine|author=Larry LeBlanc|title='Do it for you' does it at the SOCAN Awards|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QhAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48|date=14 November 1992|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=48–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> The band's success led to a bidding war and the band signing with [[Warner Music Canada]]. The demo sold over 50,000 units and was certified Gold in Canada in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Moxy%20Fruvous&_gp_date=1993-06-29%2C1993-06-29|title=Gold/Platinum|access-date=January 21, 2024}}</ref> Their first major-label album, ''[[Bargainville]]'', was released the same year. ''Bargainville'' was also successful, and was certified Platinum in Canada in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Moxy%20Fruvous&_gp_certification=platinum-albums|title=Gold/Platinum|access-date=January 21, 2024}}</ref>

On August 14, 1997, their song "[[You Will Go to the Moon]]" was used by [[NASA]] to wake the crew of [[STS-85]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030219140915/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/audio/shuttle/sts-85/wakeup.html STS-85 Wakeup Calls], Spaceflight.nasa.gov</ref>

The band sometimes sang with little or no accompaniment in a style similar to [[contemporary a cappella]]. A number of their songs also express the band's [[Progressivism|progressive]] political leanings ("The Greatest Man in America", for instance, mocks [[Rush Limbaugh]], and "Big Fish" lambastes former [[Premier of Ontario]] [[Mike Harris]]). Früvous was also known for their close relationship with their fans and their live shows, which were full of political commentary, humorous banter, and musical improvisation.

On July 27, 1999, the band released ''Thornhill''. The album was released by [[True North Records]].

The band gave its last concert in 2000 (excepting a performance at an annual fan convention in 2001).

===Post-breakup activity===
On September 5, 2005, Ford, Foster and Ghomeshi performed on [[CIUT-FM|CIUT]], the [[University of Toronto|U of T]]'s [[campus radio]] station, as part of the morning program ''Toronto Unlocked,'' an ad hoc program produced and hosted by [[lockout (industry)|locked-out]] CBC Radio One staff.

The last update to the band's website occurred on September 26, 2018. The website was replaced by a default webserver page in mid-2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fruvous.com/ |title=Great Success! Apache is working on your cPanel® and WHM™ Server |website=Fruvoüs Dot Com |year=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903034738/http://www.fruvous.com/ |archive-date=2009-09-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The page eventually returned, and as of February 2024 was still available.

Ghomeshi, Foster, and Ford performed on CBC Radio One on March 1, 2010, as a goodbye to ''Metro Morning'' host [[Andy Barrie]].

In late 2014, Ghomeshi was arrested and charged with four counts of sexual assault, and one count of choking, in relation to three complainants.<ref name="np4counts">{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/11/26/jian-ghomeshi-charged-with-four-counts-of-sexual-assault/ |title=Jian Ghomeshi charged with four counts of sexual assault, released on $100K bail |newspaper=National Post |first1=Josh |last1=Visser |first2=Natalie |last2=Alcoba |date=November 26, 2014 |access-date=November 26, 2014}}</ref> He was charged with three additional counts related to three more women on January 8, 2015.<ref name="jan">{{cite news|title=3 more sex assault charges against Jian Ghomeshi|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/01/08/jian_ghomeshi_trial_date_to_be_set_today.html|access-date=January 8, 2015|work=Toronto Star|issue=January 8, 2015|archive-date=January 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109182107/http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/01/08/jian_ghomeshi_trial_date_to_be_set_today.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 31, 2014, [[Murray Foster]] posted an "official response from the other former Moxy Fruvous members":<ref>{{cite web|title=Official response (Facebook post)|date=October 31, 2014|url=https://www.facebook.com/murray.foster1/posts/10154784958170564 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/886715563/10154784958170564 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|work=Facebook.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MurrayFoster1/status/528280419771629568|work=[[Twitter.com]]|title=After a rough week, here's the official response from the three other former Moxy Fruvous members: ow.ly/DE8uL|access-date=2014-11-02|archive-date=2015-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104142419/https://twitter.com/MurrayFoster1/status/528280419771629568|url-status=live}}</ref>

<blockquote>"As former colleagues of Jian (our last show was in 2000), we are sickened and saddened by this week's news. We had no inkling that Jian engaged in this type of behaviour. We abhor the idea of a sexual relationship of any sort being entered into without full consent from both parties and condemn violence against women in any form. We wish only health and healing to everyone involved. We have no further comment on this matter at this time."</blockquote>

Ghomeshi was acquitted of five assault charges on March 24, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jian-ghomeshi-judge-ruling-1.3504250|title=Jian Ghomeshi not guilty decision triggers outrage online, outside court|work=CBC News|date=March 24, 2016|archive-date=March 24, 2016|access-date=March 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324192502/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jian-ghomeshi-judge-ruling-1.3504250|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 11, 2016, the Crown withdrew the last remaining charge after Ghomeshi signed a peace bond and apologized to the plaintiff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jian-ghomeshi-trial-peace-bond-1.3575912 |title=Jian Ghomeshi trial: Ex CBC radio host signs peace bond, Crown drops sex assault charge |last=Fraser |first=Laura |date=May 11, 2016 |website=CBC News |publisher=CBC/Radio Canada |access-date=May 11, 2016 |archive-date=May 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511233447/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jian-ghomeshi-trial-peace-bond-1.3575912 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Later projects==
* [[Jian Ghomeshi]] worked for [[CBC Radio One]], primarily as the host of the arts and cultural program ''[[Q (radio show)|Q]]'' until October 2014, when he was fired. He also wrote a book, ''[[1982 (book)|1982]]'', published by [[Penguin Books]].
* [[Murray Foster]] is part of the band Great Atomic Power, with Dave Matheson, Tory Cassis, [[Mark Mariash]] and Jason LaPrade.  He also performs in a vocal jazz standard group called The Lesters.  Most recently, Foster toured as part of [[Great Big Sea]], replacing bass player and singer Darrell Power.
* Dave Matheson performs solo and with Murray Foster in [[Great Atomic Power]].
* [[Mike Ford (musician)|Mike Ford]] often performs in schools, singing his songs about the history of Canada.
* [[Murray Foster]] and [[Mike Ford (musician)|Mike Ford]] formed [[The Cocksure Lads]] in 2011. They have released two albums and have performed live in the Toronto area. Dave Matheson also makes occasional appearances with The Cocksure Lads.

==Album discography==
* ''Moxy Früvous'' (1992, demo, rare)
* ''[[Bargainville]]'' (1993)
** includes the single "King of Spain"
* ''[[Wood (Moxy Früvous album)|Wood]]'' (1995)
* ''The 'b' Album'' (1996, [[b-side]]s and other oddities)
* ''[[You Will Go to the Moon]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Live Noise]]'' (1998, live)
* ''Thornhill'' (1999)
* ''The 'c' Album'' (2000, b-sides and other oddities)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official}}
* [https://archive.org/details/MoxyFruvous Moxy Früvous collection] at the [[Internet Archive]]'s live music archive
* {{musicbrainz artist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moxy Fruvous}}
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1989]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2001]]
[[Category:Musical groups from the Regional Municipality of York]]
[[Category:Canadian folk rock groups]]
[[Category:Canadian comedy rock musical groups]]
[[Category:Canadian comedy folk musical groups]]
[[Category:Canadian satirists]]
[[Category:Canadian satirical musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian buskers]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:2001 disestablishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Toronto]]