The Wiseguys were a British electronic duo active from 1994 to 2001, originating in London, England. The group is associated with the genres big beat, breakbeat, and trip hop, and was signed to the Wall of Sound record label.
History
The duo consisted of Touché (Theo Keating) and Regal (Paul Eve), who had been music production partners since 1990. They released their debut EP, Ladies Say Ow!, in 1994 on the Blackmarket International label before being signed by Wall of Sound. Their first single for the label, a double A-side "Nil by Mouth" / "Too Easy", was released in 1995.
Their debut album, Executive Suite, was released in 1996 to critical acclaim. The album featured downtempo jazz beats and optimistic hip-hop numbers and has since been regarded as a cult classic.
Regal left the group in 1997 to pursue a career as co-founder of the Bronx Dogs. Touché subsequently worked on the second album, The Antidote (1998), which contained the group's two best-known songs: "Ooh La La" and "Start the Commotion". "Ooh La La" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1999 after being used in a Budweiser television commercial. "Start the Commotion" was featured in a Mitsubishi Motors advertisement in the United States in 2001 and entered the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Disbandment and Later Work
The Wiseguys disbanded in 2001. Touché continued as a solo artist producing house music on Fatboy Slim's Southern Fried record label and later performed under aliases including Fake Blood and as one half of the Black Ghosts. Regal released solo material on Unique Records, including the debut solo album Loop Dreams (2007). On 30 April 2024, Touché announced via Instagram that Regal (Paul Eve) had died.
Discography
Albums
- Executive Suite (1996, Wall of Sound)
- The Antidote (1998, Wall of Sound) – UK No. 124, AUS No. 89, US No. 133
EPs
- Ladies Say Ow! (1994)
Singles
- "Nil by Mouth" (1995)
- "The Sound You Hear" / "We Keep On" (1996)
- "Casino 'Sans Pareil'" / "A Better World" (1997) – UK No. 88
- "Ooh La La" (1998) – UK No. 2
- "Start the Commotion" (1998) – UK No. 47, US No. 31
