UFX

UFX
UFX – L-R Johnny Volume, Ratfink, Chad Spandosa, Dunk Rock
Background information
Also known as	Uncle Fester
Origin	Blackpool, Lytham St Annes and Fleetwood, England
Genres	Gothic Rock Punk Alternative Psychobilly rock n roll
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Thundersqueak
Associated acts	Alien Sex Fiend Section 25 Zoo Boutique Mockingbone Shining Sons Pink Torpedoes Uncle Fester The Crawlin' Hex' Boneyard Zombies Vince Ripper and the Rodent Show Inner Temple Puppet Master Final Solution Lucifer Dog Food Another Dimension Urban Void
Members	Dunk Rock Rat Fink Johnny Volume Chad Spandosa
Past members	Doc Virus

UFX are an Alternative Rock band formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in 2000.

In 1977, Vi Brator (Stephen Rosser) and Duncan Disorderly (Jowitt) formed short-lived punk rock band Urban Void. Following the band's demise, Jowitt was invited to replace Phil Denton as guitarist in Section 25 just as the band were beginning to make their first live appearances. After they parted company in October 1978, Jowitt formed his own band Final Solution as vocalist/guitarist with David Foster on bass. Final Solution opened the show at the 1979 Blackpool charity concert organised by Section 25, which featured Joy Division and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and ultimately led to Section 25 being signed to Manchester's influential Factory record label. By 1980, after a series of line-up changes, the band had changed its original inflammatory name to Another Dimension and had settled around a core personnel of Jowitt and Foster with Steve Grice on drums.

In 1982, with the addition of John "Sid" Hayward on synthesisers and Bill Fogel on guitar, the band became Zoo Boutique, after the New York boutique called Zoo that was opened by Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits and Graham Gouldman (later of 10cc in 1969. The name was misspelt as Zoo Bootique on their first release "Love Like a Clown", which was included on the compilation EP "A Drop in the Ocean" on Lightbeat Records. With Fogel replaced by a second keyboard-player in Phil Denton of The Tins, who had released the DIY album "Buying In Bulk" to positive reviews in 1981, Zoo Boutique's sound became increasingly electronic rock and their debut single "Forgive and Forget"/"Happy Families" (also on Lightbeat Records) received national UK prime-time airplay on BBC Radio 1 but failed to chart. This proved to be the height of Zoo Boutique's commercial success and without a record deal, the band persisted through further line-up changes before Jowitt finally folded the band in 1985 to form Gothic Rock/rockabilly band (Snakeman And The) Headhunters, with Mark Channing on bass, Paul Jepson on guitar and Hayward reverting to drums. In 2014, Zoo Boutique's singles and a number of previously unreleased recordings were compiled by Thundersqueak and released as the "Forgotten" album along with an album "Two Sane Men", which was recorded in 1985 and shelved for almost 30 years.