The band formed in 1989 when Jian Ghomeshi (then going by Jean Ghomeshi),[1] Murray Foster and Mike Ford, former classmates at the local Thornlea Secondary School and playing in a pub band called The Chia Pets at the time, joined with David Matheson to busk in Toronto.

The band released a self-titled six-song demo tape in 1992, and that year performed at the SOCAN Awards celebration.

A number of their songs also express the band's progressive political leanings ("The Greatest Man in America", for instance, mocks Rush Limbaugh, and "Big Fish" lambastes former Premier of Ontario Mike Harris).

Früvous was also known for their close relationship with their fans and their live shows, which were full of political commentary, humorous banter, and musical improvisation.

Ghomeshi, Foster, and Ford performed on CBC Radio One on March 1, 2010, as a goodbye to Metro Morning host Andy Barrie.

[8] On October 31, 2014, Murray Foster posted an "official response from the other former Moxy Fruvous members":[9][10] "As former colleagues of Jian (our last show was in 2000), we are sickened and saddened by this week's news.

We abhor the idea of a sexual relationship of any sort being entered into without full consent from both parties and condemn violence against women in any form.