‘What'd you ask 'em, for instance?’‥‘Curiosity killed a cat! Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies.’ [1921 E. O' neill Diff'rentii. 252]
‘A curiosity death,’ said Tommy. ‘Curiosity killed the cat.’ [1973 A. Christie Postern of Fatei. iv.]
‘I'm curious, that's all.’ ‘Curiosity killed old tom.’ [1984 J. R. Riggs Last Laugh iii.]
‘Well, you've probably heard the saying, “curiosity killed the cat”. Well that's what I'm doing here.’ For one horrible minute, I thought that he was about to‥reveal that he was Ben Vol-au-Vent from Curiosity Killed the Cat, killing a cat. [2002 Times 2 17 May 9]
Related to: curiosity
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
It's best to mind one's own business. For example, Don't ask about his divorce--curiosity killed the cat. This cautionary expression sounds like the moral of some fable or folktale, but any such origin for it has been lost. The first recorded use was in O. Henry's Schools and Schools(1909).
Representative Albums: "Best of Curiosity Killed the Cat", "The Very Best of Curiosity Killed the Cat", "Their Very Best
Biography
They appeared out of nowhere, as if they were transported from a parallel universe wherein blue-eyed soul was seen as rock & roll's salvation in the late ‘80s. Likeminded groups like Johnny Hates Jazz, Waterfront, Living in a Box, and Curiosity Killed the Cat all debuted and disappeared at the same time. Of the four Curiosity Killed the Cat leaned more towards the teen girl population that hung "Smash Hits" posters on their bedroom walls. The band's lightweight funk and photogenic looks rewarded them with mainstream acceptance in their native England but America didn't budge. Curiosity Killed the Cat was formed in 1984 by Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot (vocals), Julian Godfrey Brookhouse (guitar), Nicholas Bernard Throp (bass), Michael Drummond (drums), and Toby Anderson (keyboards). While in art school Volpeliere-Pierrot met Throp, who was then in a post-punk group called Twilight Children with the other future members of Curiosity Killed the Cat. After inviting him to sing Volpeliere-Pierrot became the band's new lead singer. They recorded a track entitled "Curiosity Killed the Cat" which caught the interest of businessman Peter Rosengard, who eventually renamed the band after their song and became their manager. In 1985, Curiosity Killed the Cat was signed to Phonogram, and the group began making their first LP. However, producers Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare were taken off the project, replaced by Stewart Levine; as a result, the album was delayed for nearly a year. The toe-tapping single "Misfit" was released in July 1986, but it was not successful. The band gained much attention after Andy Warhol became a fan; he even did a cameo for the "Misfit" video. In early 1987 "Down to Earth" became a Top-10 hit in the U.K. Two years later the group shortened their appellation to Curiosity. 1992's "Hang On In There Baby" peaked at No. 3 on the British charts, and the band disappeared from the music scene until they joined the ‘80s nostalgia Here and Now tour in 2001. ~ Michael Sutton, All Music Guide
The band's first album, Keep Your Distance, entered the UK Albums Chart at number one in May 1987, and stayed in the Top Ten for 13 weeks, although the release of that album's "Free" as a single only reached number 56 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] Just before that, a re-release of the first single, "Misfit", had reached Number 7, continuing the group's Top Ten placement which ended with "Free".[1] "Misfit" was also their only U.S. chart single, peaking at number 42.
The band's second album, Getahead, was led by an upbeat funky track called "Name and Number". This record was a hit, reaching number 14 in 1989,[1] but the "Hey How You Doin'" refrain would find itself in the Top Ten two years later as part of the De La Soul song "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)".
After the lack-lustre performance of Getahead and second single "First Place", Curiosity (as they were now billed) found themselves dropped from Mercury Records. However, three years after the release of that single they returned to the UK Top Ten as a three piece on RCA Records, with a cover of Johnny Bristol's "Hang On In There Baby".[1] However, the band's follow ups (covers of "I Need Your Lovin'" and "Gimme the Sunshine") flopped, which resulted in the album Back to Front only being released in Japan and selected overseas markets.
In the 2000s, the band reformed for an appearance on a National Lottery midweek show on BBC 1, and since then Volpeliere has toured under the name Curiosity Killed the Cat, on a number of 1980s revival packages[citation needed].
Band members
Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot (vocals; born Martin Benedict Volpeliere-Pierrot, 19 May 1965, Earls Court, London)
Julian Godfrey Brookhouse (guitarist; born 15 May 1963, Putney, London)
Volpelierre-Pierrot was best known for wearing a Frank Spencer-style beret in most pictures of the band. He later revealed it was in fact a peaked fisherman's hat, turned round with the peak to the rear so that it resembled a beret.
Ben VP (as he was billed on a number of solo singles in the mid 1990s) was frequently referred to as Ben Vol-au-vont-Parrot in Smash Hits magazine.
Volpelierre-Pierrot appeared as a male model on the front of Mike Read's Pop Quiz board game.
In 1995, Migi Drummond and Nick Thorp set up Naked Records which was acquired a year later by software maker Eidos Plc.
Like Wet Wet Wet, the band had an additional 'fifth member' called Toby Anderson. However, unlike that Scottish band, Toby Anderson was a 'mystery member', and the band was accused of not only hiding Toby due to his looks, but also being a front for his writing, as in the case of The Brothers credit for Bros.
On Name and Number, the band and co-writer get writing credits; however, on De La Soul's "Ring Ring Ring" only the co-writer gets a credit, even though it utilises the chorus of the Curiosity song.
Session drummer Jeff Porcaro played on three tracks on their Getahead album
References
^ abcdefgh Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 130. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
