Before they began Fiction Factory in 1982, Kevin Patterson (vocals) and Eddie Jordan (keyboards) had played in the band Street People around 1978, performing original songs and covers of Magazine and Ultravox! songs, before forming ska band the Rude Boys (later shortened to the RBs) with Grant Taylor (trumpet) and Chic Medley (guitar). The eight-piece RBs played numerous live gigs, released an album and two singles, but due to musical differences Patterson, Jordan and Medley left the band to form Fiction Factory.
Prior to founding Fiction Factory in 1982, Kevin Patterson (vocals) and Eddie Jordan (keyboards) had been part of the band Street People from around 1978, performing original songs and covers of Magazine and Ultravox! tunes before forming the ska group Rude Boys (later shortened to RBs), with Grant Taylor (trumpet) and Chic Medley (guitar). The eight-piece RBs played numerous live shows, released an album and two singles, but eventually split due to musical disagreements, leading Patterson, Jordan, and Medley to form Fiction Factory.