Fritz Fryer
Fritz Fryer | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Fritz |
| Born | David Roderick Carney Fryer 6 December 1944 Oldham, England, UK |
| Died | 2 September 2007 (aged 62) |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupations | Musician, producer |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1962–2007 |
| Formerly of | The Four Pennies |
David Roderick Carney "Fritz" Fryer[1] (6 December 1944 – 2 September 2007) was a British guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for The Four Pennies from 1962 to 1965.
Early life
Fryer was born in Oldham, the son of a father who was architect and church organist and a mother who ran the Blackburn Salvation Army, and the grandson of pianist Herbert Fryer.[2][3][4]
Career
He formed The Four Pennies in 1962 with school friend Mike Wilsh.[5] In 1964, the band got to number one in the UK charts with "Juliet".[6] Fryer left the band in 1965 and formed the trio "Fritz, Mike and Mo" with Mike Deighan and Maureen Edwards.[1] They released two unsuccessful singles for Phillips records. He then returned to The Four Pennies in 1966 however the band ended soon after.
Fryer worked as a producer in the 1970s, and produced records for artists including Motörhead, Dusty Springfield, Marty Wilde, Harry Secombe, Clannad, Horslips, and Stackridge.[1][7] Fryer bought a barn in Rockfield, Monmouthshire and converted it into a recording studio.[1]
Personal life and death
Fritz opened a restaurant in Monmouth in the 1970s and then opened a lighting shop in Ross-on-Wye literally called "Fritz Fryer" with his wife Joan in 1982.[1][8] He sold the shop in 2004 and retired, and as of 2025 the company is still called Fritz Fryer.[8]
Fritz was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2007 and died on 2 September 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal during surgery to remove a tumour that caused uncontrolable internal bleeding.[1][9] His funeral was held at St Luke's Church in Santa Barbara, Lisbon five days later.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Ross-on-Wye - Fritz Fryer
- ^ "Fritz Fryer Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ^ "Fritz Fryer". The Telegraph. 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
- ^ "Four Pennies". www.cottontown.org. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
- ^ The Independent
- ^ "FOUR PENNIES". Official Charts. 1964-01-22. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ^ "The Four Pennies Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio &..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ^ a b "About Us - Luxury Lighting Specialists – Fritz Fryer". www.fritzfryer.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
- ^ "Four Pennies guitarist Fritz dies". Lancashire Telegraph. 2007-09-05. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-09-11.