Roy Chubby Brown is an English stand-up comedian whose act consists of blue humour, constant profanity, a free speaking style and lack of concern for political correctness. Prior to his entertainment career, Vasey had a rough upbringing and left home at the age of fourteen, moving from job to job, eventually ending up imprisoned. Once released, he began his performing career alongside his cousins as a drummer in their band The Pipelines, who mainly featured at working men's clubs. When the group split, Vasey formed a comedy duo with a fellow ex-Pipelines bandmate. The duo named themselves 'Alcock and Brown, as they shared the same surnames of the pilots of the first transatlantic flight, therefore wearing goggles during their performance. The group eventually disbanded, with Vasey continuing as a comedic act by himself, retaining the goggles. In 1972, Vasey's manager asked him whether he would try performing blue comedy, to which Vasey agreed. His initial performances as 'Roy "Chubby" Brown' were met with offended attendees, mainly Vasey being assaulted and sworn at. He eventually began to perform at larger venues, with his breakthrough coming in 1990, as Universal Pictures signed him to a home video contract, where he would release concerts annually every Christmas, eventually going on to sell 250,000 copies. They would also release U.F.O. in 1993, a film about Vasey's character being kidnapped by aliens. In 1995, his parody of Living Next Door to Alice hit the UK charts. From 1999, he starred in The League of Gentlemen as the town's mayor, of which the town was named Royston Vasey'. He released his most recent home release in 2017, and continues to perform concerts in the United Kingdom, and occasionally overseas at British tourist destinations. As well as his stand-up performances, Vasey also releases music albums.
Early life
Brown was born at 78 Broadway in Grangetown, North Riding of Yorkshire. He has a sister named Barbara. He left home at the age of 14, spent time living rough, and moved from job to job, at one point joining the Merchant Navy. He also spent time in a borstal and prison. While in prison Brown read I Owe Russia $1200 by Bob Hope which made him decide he wanted to be a stand up comic. When he saw Ken Dodd live he thought he was so good it inspired him to try comedy himself. Brown later found work as an entertainer in working men's clubs during the 1960s, first as a drummer in the local group Pipeline along with his two cousins and a friend and later as a comedy act under the name "Alcock & Brown". Brown appeared on the UK television talent show New Faces in the 1970s, coming second to a country and western band. He failed the audition for another television talent show, Opportunity Knocks, after saying the word 'arse' during his interview. In 1971 Brown took to the stage and said, "Good evening! My wife's got two cunts and I'm one of them." Brown has said he was nearly beaten up, but that following that performance: "I knew I had something. I took the building site mentality and banter and took it to the stage. I was the first person ever to say the 'C' word on stage in the UK. To be honest I never looked back."
Career
Comedy
Brown's image is characterised by a clown-like stage costume consisting of a flying helmet and goggles, a multicoloured patchwork jacket and trousers, a white shirt, a red bow tie and moccasin slippers. During his career, his shows have revolved around various right-wing views and insulting numerous groups and individuals, primarily ethnic minorities and women. In 2002, during the recording of Standing Room Only he mocked the Queen Mother who had died just hours before. He maintains a loyal fan base in the north of England. Brown's live shows are rarely seen on television; however, a programme about Brown called Roy Chubby Brown: Britain's Rudest Comedian was broadcast on Channel 4 in May 2007.
Film
In 1993, Brown released U.F.O., a science fiction film starring himself, Roger Lloyd-Pack and Sara Stockbridge. It was reviewed poorly, with Empire calling the film "a stand-up show, allowing the comedian to tell his sexist jokes to a race of aliens who charge him for being a misogynist" and rating it 1/5. In 2012, Brown voiced a talking lamppost in Robin Sheppard's film adaptation of Richard Milward's novel Apples.
TV
Brown appeared in the second series of The League of Gentlemen as the town's mayor. The fictional town where the characters were based had been named Royston Vasey from the start.
Music
One of his best known songs is "Living Next Door to Alice ", a cover version of "Living Next Door to Alice", recorded with Smokie. The record spent 27 weeks in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 3 in August 1995. He released a solo single in the winter of 1996 called "A Rocking Good Christmas", written by Ray Hedges; this reached number 51. Brown has also released two albums, Take Fat and Party and Fat Out of Hell ; they achieved positions 29 and 67 in the UK Albums Chart respectively.
Personal life
Brown has seven children from three marriages. He met his current wife Helen in Scarborough in the late 1990s, and lives with her and their two children in Tetney, Lincolnshire. Brown was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002 and had a vocal cord removed. In 2006, he released an autobiography entitled Common as Muck: The Autobiography of Roy 'Chubby' Brown. In December 2011, he self-published a collection of memoirs from his life and career called It's Funny Being Me. He is a supporter of Middlesbrough Football Club. He is a co-owner of the racehorse Rasaman. In 2003, Brown was fined £200 in Blackpool for assaulting a heckler by pulling him from his seat, dragging him across the floor and proceeding to attack him with a golf umbrella. Brown later claimed, "I just wanted the man to stop swearing and being abusive in front of women and children who were on the pier." In 2014, he was fined for reading The Sun newspaper whilst driving on the A19 road in North Yorkshire.
Stand up releases
While Brown has been performing for over 30 years, his live shows have been released around Christmas time since 1990. They have been released by Channel 5 Video Distribution, PolyGram Video and Universal Pictures, they were released on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray. The release due for November 2011 was delayed until 2012 due to the venue, technical and timing issues.
