The band that turned a fan club name into a global hit

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1989, a group of musicians from the Forest of Dean music scene adopted a name from a New Order fan club. They didn't just find success; they blended indie rock with dance beats to create a unique sound that topped charts in both the UK and the US.

Formed in Cinderford in October 1989, EMF (an initialism for Epsom Mad Funkers) quickly rose to prominence. Their debut single, "Unbelievable," became a massive international success, reaching number 3 in the UK and hitting number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1991. Their debut album, Schubert Dip, followed this momentum by reaching number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. The album's title was a nod to songwriter Ian Dench's habit of borrowing chord sequences from the composer Franz Schubert. The band's creative output was often defined by its eclectic use of samples and genre-blending. "Unbelievable" featured utterances from comedian Andrew Dice Clay, while the single "Lies" famously included a voice sample of Mark Chapman, the murderer of John Lennon. This specific inclusion led to a legal injunction from Yoko Ono, forcing the band to release a modified version in later pressings.

Beyond pop success, the band also engaged in activism, contributing a remix of "Unbelievable" to the Red Hot + Dance compilation in 1992 to raise funds for AIDS charities. Despite early success, the band's trajectory was marked by frequent hiatuses and lineup changes. Following the release of their third album, Cha Cha Cha, in 1995, the group split, with members pursuing various projects like the indie band Whistler and the trio Cooler. After a tragic loss in 2002 when bassist Zac Foley passed away, the band underwent several reunions. They eventually returned to full-scale recording in 2022 with Go Go Sapiens, and in 2024, they released The Beauty and the Chaos, featuring a guest appearance by Stephen Fry.

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