{{Short description|British pop group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Fast Food Rockers | alias = | origin = Folkestone, England | instrument = | genre = {{hlist|Bubblegum pop|novelty}} | occupation = | years_active = {{hlist|2003–2004|2024–present}} | label = Better the Devil Records | associated_acts = The Honeytraps | website = [https://www.instagram.com/fastfoodrockersofficial?igsh=MWp3d3MzZGM3MndjNg== Instagram] | current_members = * Ria Scott-Blyth * Lucy Meggitt * Martin Rycroft | past_members = }}
The '''Fast Food Rockers''' are a British bubblegum pop pop group known briefly in 2003 for their novelty music. The band met at a fast-food convention in Folkestone in the summer of 2003.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3188000/3188922.stm |title=CBBC Newsround | MUSIC | Full interview: Fast Food Rockers |publisher=BBC News |date=2003-10-13 |access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref> thumb|The ‘Fast Food Rockers’ backstage at Nissan Family Fun Festival, Sunderland, August 2024
==Career== Their most successful hit was their 2003 release "Fast Food Song", which parodies the traditional folk melody "A Ram Sam Sam". The Dutch DJ Eric Dikeb claims to have made a Dutch song out of that traditional melody in 2001, called "Pizzahaha", explaining that at that moment, he was taking part in the Dutch television show ''Big Diet'', in which contestants had to lose as much weight as they could over a few months. Dikeb further claims to have come up with the idea to use the names of his favourite fast-food restaurants in the song. Pizzahaha did not make it to the Dutch charts, but in Belgium the band Dynamite made a big hit out of it, with a Belgian version called "De Pizzadans". It also topped the charts in Germany, called "Burgerdance", by DJ Ötzi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/eric-dikeb_profile.html|title=Emimusicpub.com|publisher=|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927025524/http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/eric-dikeb_profile.html|archive-date=2007-09-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The Fast Food Rockers' version, adapted by Mike Stock, Steve Crosby and Sandy Rass, was the first release of independent record label Better The Devil Records. In June 2003 it reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart, despite the criticism of cultural analysts who lamented the "collapse of culture into product placement".<ref>{{Cite news|author=Stuart Jeffries |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2003/jun/28/artsfeatures |title=Stuart Jeffries: Pizza pop | Global |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 2003-06-28|accessdate=2018-11-11}}</ref> The single would go on to sell 150,000 copies in the UK, and was in the year-end Top 40.<ref>{{cite web |title=ChartsPlus YE2003 |url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2003.pdf |publisher=ChartsPlus |accessdate=20 April 2020}}</ref> Their second single, "Say Cheese (Smile Please)", reached #10.
After their attempt at a Christmas single only reached #25, and an album that failed to make the charts, the group disbanded in March 2004. After the disbandment, the band members found non-music-related jobs,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3586000/3586559.stm |title=CBBC Newsround | MUSIC | The Fast Food Rockers are axed |publisher=BBC News |date=2004-03-31 |access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref> and in 2006, former band member Martin Rycroft left his job as a bartender to take part in the Channel 4/E4 show ''Boys Will Be Girls'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/boyswillbegirls/index.html|title=Channel4.com|publisher=|access-date=2006-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307084133/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/boyswillbegirls/index.html|archive-date=2007-03-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> where three former male popstars (including Russ Spencer from Scooch) tried to convincingly create a new girl band by former Brother Beyond star Nathan Moore.
In 2003, rumours surfaced that the band did not sing on their own records. However, in an interview with CBBC ''Newsround'', Meggitt stated she "trained for three years at a performing arts school, Ria's been in the business for a long time, Martin's been in the business for a long time and we're very proud to say we do sing on [this] song".<ref name=":0" />
In April 2024, the group members unofficially announced on Instagram that they were planning a long-awaited reunion since their 2004 disbandment.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} Their first Live public performance in 21 years was at the ‘Lincoln Pride 2024’ festival event in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, on the 17th of August.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2UCw6-3Nfo |title=The Fast Food Rockers - Lincoln Pride 2024 Full 21 Years Anniversary Reunion Performance |date=2024-08-18 |last=Jackpot ButtonLewis |access-date=2024-08-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
Other live on stage appearances and performances from the group as of 2025 include Nissan Family Fun Festival 2024 in Sunderland, Wythenshawe Town Centre Christmas Light Switch On 2024 in Wythenshawe, South Manchester and Hereford Christmas Light Switch On 2025 in Hereford, Herefordshire.
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''It's Never Easy Being Cheesy'' | * Released: 17 November 2003 * Label: Better the Devil * Formats: Digital download, CD |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/550/fast-food-rockers/|title=FAST FOOD ROCKERS {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=21 November 2019}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUS<br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|edition=pdf|pages=100}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SCO<br /><ref>Peak positions on the Scottish Singles Chart: * For "Fast Food Song": {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20030622/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100: 22 June 2003 - 28 June 2003|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=21 November 2019}} * For "Say Cheese (Smile Please)": {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20031012/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100: 12 October 2003 - 18 October 2003|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=21 November 2019}} * For "I Love Christmas": {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20031221/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100: 21 December 2003 - 27 December 2003|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=21 November 2019}} </ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Fast Food Song" | rowspan="3"| 2003 | 2 || 56 || 1 | rowspan="2"| ''It's Never Easy Being Cheesy'' |- ! scope="row"| "Say Cheese (Smile Please)" | 10 || – || 10 |- ! scope="row"| "I Love Christmas" | 25 || – || 22 | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== ===Band=== *[http://www.myspace.com/thefastfoodrockers Fast Food Rockers] at Myspace
=== Members=== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070204061038/http://www.martin.rycrofts.co.uk/ Martin Rycroft's official homepage] *[http://www.myspace.com/missriascott Ria Scott's official Myspace page]
===Songwriters and producers=== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110511233853/http://www.mikestockmusic.com/ Mike Stock official website]
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Category:English pop music groups Category:English musical trios Category:Musical groups established in 2003 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2004 Category:Musical groups from Kent Category:British Eurodance groups Category:British mixed-gender vocal pop groups Category:Mixed-gender musical trios