Bio

Fat Freddy’s Drop is internationally regarded as one of the world’s finest live draws, captivating audiences with euphoric diaphragm-wrecking music.

Resolutely independent, Freddys formed in 1999, emerging from Wellington’s underground dance music scene into an 8-piece juggernaut whose influences have not only been formed by the band’s individual predilections, but also experiences on the road.

Fat Freddy's Drop is doing it for the love of music in 2026, embarking on 'Based On A True Story' 21st Anniversary Tour around Australia, Aotearoa and Europe and UK. These will be the first shows since Freddys talismanic founding member, production maestro, selector and brother, Chris Ta’aloga Faiumu aka DJ MU aka Fitchie suddenly passed away in July 2025.

The band's debut studio album ‘Based On A True Story’ won eight NZ Music Awards and Giles Peterson’s Worldwide Music Awards in the UK. It also claimed the nod for Aotearoa’s Longest-Charting Album with 111 weeks in the Top 40.

‘The 21st Anniversary Tour will pay tribute to the music, to MU and the band he established. And, of course, we want to play to our fans around the world who have supported us through everything’  saxophonist Scott Towers says.

Fat Freddy’s appearance at Detroit’s Movement festival in 2004 was a watershed moment for the band. The hi-tek soul movement stoked producer DJ Fitchie’s love of analog techno, balancing and fusing vocalist Joe Dukie’s adoration of soul and reggae with the band’s collective passion for Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Rock, Disco, House, Post Punk and Balearic oddities.

The band’s toured UK/EU annually since 2003, morphing from small clubs to headlining the likes of the Roundhouse and Alexandra Palace in London, Zenith and L’Olympia in Paris and Waldbuhne and Zitadelle in Berlin alongside numerous iconic summer festival fixtures.

Fat Freddy’s Drop is:
DJ Fitchie aka Chris Faiumu – MPC, Live Mix, Producer (1999 - 2025)
Joe Dukie aka Dallas Tamaira - Vocals & Guitar
Chopper Reeds aka Scott Towers - Saxophone
Tony Chang aka Toby Laing – Trumpet
Kuki Blaze aka Iain Gordon – Keyboard & Synths
Hopepa aka Joe Lindsay - Trombone, Tuba
C-Way Green aka Conway Jeune – Guitar
MC Slave aka Mark Williams – MC

Fat Freddy’s Drop Album Releases
‘Live at the Matterhorn’ E.P. (2001) – x1 Platinum
‘Based on a True Story’ (2005) – x18 Platinum
‘Dr. Boondigga & The Big BW’ (2009) - x2 Platinum
‘Live at Roundhouse’ (2010)
‘Blackbird’ (2013) - x2 Platinum
‘BAYS’ (2015) - x2 Platinum
Special Edition Part 1’ (2019)
‘LOCK-IN’ (2020)
‘WAIRUNGA’ (2021)
‘Blackbird Returns’ remix album (2023)
'SLO MO' (2024)

And a stash of limited edition vinyl singles and remixes including ‘Midnight Marauders’ 12” 2002, ‘HOPE’ 10” 2003 ‘Wandering Eye’ single 2005 - x6 Platinum and The Raft’ 7” single - 2010 x1 Gold, ‘HOPE’ remaster 12” 2017.

Fat Freddy’s Drop Milestones

Sold in excess of 500,000 albums

‘Based On A True Story’ spent 108 weeks consecutively in the Top 40, the most weeks in the NZ Album.

Based On A True Story, voted Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Album of the Year (2005)

RIANZ New Zealand Music Awards;
Best Group, People’s Choice Award, Based on a True Story’ Album of the Year, Best Aotearoa Roots Album (2005)

People’s Choice Award (2006)
‘Based on a True Story’ Highest Selling NZ Album Award (2006)

Nominated Best Group, People’s Choice Award (2009)

‘Dr Boondigga & The Big BW’ Best Aotearoa Roots Album Award. Nominated Album of the Year, Best Cover (2009)

Nominated Design, Best Engineer, Best Producer (2009)

Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards;

‘Blackbird’ Best Aotearoa Roots Album Award, Best Cover Award. Nominated Album of the Year, Best Producer, Best Group (2013)

‘Blackbird’ - Deluxe Edition Nominated Highest-selling NZ Album (Top 5) (2014)

Nominated Best Group (2016)

‘BAYS’ (2016) Nominated Album of the Year, Highest-selling NZ Album (Top 5), Best Aotearoa Roots Album

International Achievement Award (2016)