Huey Morgan and Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ ‘Come Find Yourself’ Turn 30: A Tour and a Legacy
Three decades after its release, the debut album from Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Come Find Yourself, remains a sonic time capsule and a testament to a band that defied genre boundaries. Its founding frontman, Huey Morgan, is commemorating this landmark anniversary not with a nostalgia trip, but by reuniting with a new group to perform the entire record across a 13-date UK tour this October. The celebration offers both long-time fans and new listeners a chance to experience an album that helped define an era’s cool.
An Album That Bridged Continents and Genres
In the mid-1990s, the UK music landscape was largely dominated by the sounds of Britpop. Into this scene, a trio from New York City arrived with a sound that was both familiar and entirely new. Released in 1996, Come Find Yourself was a masterclass in cinematic, genre-blending. It seamlessly fused rock, funk, blues, soul, hip-hop, jazz, and Latin rhythms into a cohesive, effortlessly cool whole. The album’s streetwise lyricism and sharp storytelling provided a transatlantic perspective that resonated deeply with British audiences, offering a stylish alternative that aged remarkably well. Its commercial success was substantial, remaining in the UK charts for nearly two years, a testament to its enduring appeal.
The Cult Classic and a Star’s Ascent
The album’s breakout single, “Scooby Snacks,” became an instant cult classic. Its ingenious sampling of dialogue from Quentin Tarantino’s films Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction captured a generation’s cinematic cool and propelled the band from New York club staples to international stars. This momentum led to landmark moments, including a seminal performance on the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage in 1999, tours with U2, and a notable collaboration with blues legend B.B. King. These achievements cemented Fun Lovin’ Criminals as one of the most distinctive and versatile acts of their generation.
From Bandfront to Broadcaster: Huey Morgan’s Evolving Platform
Huey Morgan’s unmistakable voice and charisma have been the constant through the band’s evolution and his own multifaceted career. He has successfully transitioned into a respected broadcaster and cultural commentator, hosting weekend shows on Virgin Radio and building a parallel career as an author and television presenter. His deep knowledge of music and film history, cultivated through decades in the industry, lends significant authority to his current project. This tour is not merely a rehash; it is a performance by an artist who has lived the culture he sings about, bringing added layers of context and connection to the material.
Reclaiming the Classics: The 2024 UK Tour
This October, Morgan will reclaim the songs that defined a generation, performing Come Find Yourself in its entirety. The promise is to deliver the same swagger, groove, and storytelling that made the original a classic, now filtered through three decades of lived experience. As Morgan himself reflects, “After 30 years, this record seems as fresh as it did when I first released it. I am so happy to be playing this again.” The tour will visit the following cities and venues:
- October 14 – Edinburgh La Belle Angele
- October 15 – Glasgow St Lukes
- October 16 – Leeds Brudenell Social Club
- October 17 – Nottingham The Level
- October 18 – Manchester Band On The Wall
- October 20 – Brighton Concorde 2
- October 22 – London Electric Ballroom
- October 23 – Southampton The 1865
- October 24 – Norwich Waterfront
- October 26 – Southend Chinnerys
- October 27 – Cambridge Junction
- October 28 – Exeter Phoenix
- October 29 – Bristol Electric
Presale tickets go on sale at 9am on March 3, with general sale tickets released at 9am on March 5 from hueymorgan.com.
Image Credit: www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk
