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Bucks Fizz (band)
Encyclopedia
Bucks Fizz are an English pop
group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up
". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G
, Cheryl Baker
, Mike Nolan
and Jay Aston
. They achieved instant attention with the dance routine which accompanied the song, involving a skirt-rip and for the gimmick that they were all blond
. The group went on to have a successful career around the world (albeit ignored in the United States), while the UK remained their biggest market, where they had three No.1 singles and became one of the top-selling groups of the 1980s. Among their other best-known songs are "The Land of Make Believe" and "My Camera Never Lies
". Their worldwide record sales have exceeded 15 million.
The line-up of the group has changed a number of times over the years, most famously when Jay Aston quit the group in 1985 and was replaced by Shelley Preston
. Today, two versions of the group exist; the official version which includes original member Bobby G and a three-member version consisting of Mike Nolan, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston under the name The Original Bucks Fizz.
sought to create a new group to enter their song "Making Your Mind Up
" in the Eurovision Song Contest. The first member to be recruited was Mike Nolan
, who was known to Martin. Together, they recorded a demo of the song and entered it for inclusion in A Song for Europe
- the preliminary heats for the contest. Realising that a name was needed for the performing artists, Martin quickly decided on Buck's Fizz, as it was her favourite drink. In January, Martin contacted Cheryl Baker
to join them, as she remembered her from her the 1978 Eurovision group, Co-Co
. Concurrent to this, Martin was holding auditions for another male vocalist and female vocalist, should Baker turn down the position (which she didn't). At the end of these auditions, Martin had found a male singer, Stephen Fischer
and female, Jay Aston
. Unsure of which female vocalist to use, she ultimately decided to use both Baker and Aston as she felt their vocals complemented each other and Martin stepped down from the group in order to team up with Hill for another line-up as they had two songs in the competition. Fischer then became unavailable as he was starring in a musical at the time and Martin hired another auditionee, Bobby G
for the group. The four members met for the first time on 11 January 1981. An associate of Martin's, Jill Shirley agreed to manage the group.
, although Martin, Baker and Aston have all since laid claim to the skirt-rip idea.
On 11 March, A Song for Europe took place with the unknown Bucks Fizz competing against well-known act Liquid Gold
, as well as Hill and Martin's own group, Gem. "Making Your Mind Up" became an easy winner and the group recorded the song with Hill as producer. Later in the month it was released as a single and entered the charts at No.24. By the time the contest was staged, the single had risen to No.2.
On 4 April, Bucks Fizz represented United Kingdom in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest
, which was held in Dublin. Although they were favourites to win, the song faced stiff competition and after a vocally unsound rendition, the early votes were poor. Halfway through the voting process, Bucks Fizz took the lead, although they remained close throughout. Ultimately, Bucks Fizz won the contest by a small margin of four points, beating Germany
into second place. "Making Your Mind Up" became a major hit around the continent, reaching No.1 in the UK as well as eight other countries. It charted highly in other countries such as Australia
, eventually selling four million copies worldwide.
. A follow-up single was recorded amid promotional tours and the group's image was revamped. In May, the single "Piece of the Action
" was released. The song boasted a contemporary pop sound and high production values, in contrast to the rock'n'roll style of "Making Your Mind Up". As Baker has stated:
"Our follow-up single was nothing at all like 'Making Your Mind Up', it was a good, strong, contemporary pop song" "Piece of the Action" became an immediate hit and quickly rose to No.12 in the UK charts, making it the most successful follow-up to a Eurovision song ever. It also charted highly across Europe. Buoyed by this success, the group launched into recording their debut album with producer Andy Hill. Released in July, the self-titled album
also became a top 20 hit in the UK charts as did their third single, "One of Those Nights
". In November 1981, they performed for the UK at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo
, where they achieved the "Best song award" and fifth place overall with their song "Another Night". The song was released as a single there and went on to be included on their second album.
member Peter Sinfield
came up with the fourth Bucks Fizz single. Titled "The Land of Make Believe", the song was produced by Hill and featured a strong melody. Released in November, it hit the charts and by Christmas was in the top five. In January 1982, it overtook The Human League
's "Don't You Want Me
" to reach No.1. It stayed there for two weeks and remained in the UK charts for 16 weeks — becoming the group's biggest selling single and one of the top selling singles of the decade. It also reached No.1 in the Netherlands and Ireland and became the group's best-selling single in Germany. The song has since been hailed as an "Eighties classic" and is regarded as the group's best song by critics.
Early in 1982 the group were awarded 'best group' at the Daily Mirror Rock and Pop awards ceremony and received a nomination at the Brit awards
. In March they released their fifth single. "My Camera Never Lies
" swiftly rose up the charts and became their third number one single. With this they became the first British group of the 1980s to score three number ones within a year. Further success followed in May with the group's second studio album Are You Ready which went Gold and became their first top ten album. This album received particularly good reviews including a 10 out of 10 rating in Smash Hits
. Attempting diversity, an (almost) a cappella
ballad was released as the next single. "Now Those Days Are Gone
" gave the group another top ten hit, reaching number eight in the UK charts. Soon after this they were invited to appear before the Queen
and Queen Mother
in the annual Royal Variety Performance
, performing an old show tune, "You'll Never Walk Alone
". Chart success continued with the release of the hit singles, "If You Can't Stand the Heat" and "Run for Your Life"
. Bucks Fizz's third studio album Hand Cut
was released in March 1983, becoming another top twenty hit and certified silver by the BPI
. By this stage, although Bucks Fizz faced harsh criticism in the media for their lightweight pop image, the music press were acknowledging the group's highly polished performances and sturdy productions, gaining favourable mentions in the NME
and Record Mirror
. With an eye to harden their sound, the group's next single "When We Were Young
" featured a heavy production and doom-laden lyrics. With a rock-style lead vocal by member Jay Aston, the single became one of the group's biggest hits, featuring in the top 20 of many European countries, including top ten in the UK and top five in France. Towards the end of 1983 however, it seemed that the group's success was beginning to dim as singles "London Town" and "Rules of the Game" failed to reach the top twenty — their first singles to miss. Along with these came the group's Greatest Hits album, which while reached the top thirty and remained on the charts for three months, fell short of expectations.
Early in 1984, the group decided to take time out of the public eye, fearing over exposure for their recent downward trend and instead concentrated on recording, which they undertook in Switzerland for their fourth album. In May they embarked on a 40-date tour of the UK, selling out many venues. In August they revealed their new look and new harder-edged rock sound with the single "Talking in Your Sleep". The break proved to be advantageous as this single returned the group to the UK top 20, peaking at number 15. The follow-up single "Golden Days
" was released alongside their fourth studio album I Hear Talk
. However again, the group saw their fortunes tumble as neither dented the top 40. As Christmas 1984 came around, the group embarked on another UK tour and the release of their next single.
, the group's tour bus collided with some road works and crashed. While no one was killed, several members of the crew were badly injured including all the members of Bucks Fizz. Bobby G was treated for whiplash, Jay Aston was hospitalized for back injuries and severe head pains, Cheryl Baker broke three vertebrae in her spine
, but it was Mike Nolan who suffered the worst injuries. Nolan's head was badly injured, suffering internal bleeding and he fell into a coma. After an operation, he was reported to have died on the operating table but placed on a life support
machine. He remained in a coma for three days, during which time the British press kept Bucks Fizz on the front pages headlines. Surgeon Anthony Strong at Newcastle General Hospital
said that his condition was critical. On 15 December it was reported that Nolan awoke from his coma with the words "I'm all right". Following this, Nolan was ordered not to work for the next six months. The effects of the crash remain with him today, including epilepsy
, short-term memory loss and a 50% loss of vision in both eyes. Following this, Baker and Nolan helped set up the HeadFirst charity for head injuries of crash victims.
On 12 December 2009, The Original Bucks Fizz (Nolan, Baker and Aston) played a concert at Newcastle City Hall
to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the accident — the same venue they played the night of the crash. The gig was in aid of HeadFirst. The anniversary of the crash was reported on local BBC News
with the members revisiting the crash location.
in June. However, within the band, tensions had mounted to the point that Jay Aston no longer wanted to continue. After early promotion and a concert in Newcastle, she sensationally quit the band, despite still being under contract. Again, Bucks Fizz found themselves the subject of newspaper headlines, where it emerged that Aston had been having an affair with Andy Hill — the husband of the group's creator Nichola Martin. Aston sold her story to the press in an article headlined; "The hateful, bitchy world of Bucks Fizz", while member Cheryl Baker was keen to point out that they were never friends. Aston was sued by management over breach of contract while a replacement member was quickly sought to continue promotion for the current single. Auditions were held at The Prince of Wales Theatre, where 800 girls were seen. Eventually, 21-year-old Shelley Preston
was given the job and unveiled to the press and TV among much media attention.
In early 1986, the group's contract with RCA
expired and a new one with Polydor
was undertaken. The first single, "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)
" was released in May and brought the group back to prominence as it became a top 10 hit and one of their most successful singles. After two more less-successful singles and an album
, the group took a break during 1987 and regrouped in 1988. After a successful UK tour, the group released their final chart hit, "Heart of Stone
" (later a worldwide hit for Cher
) and compilation album, The Story So Far
. These proved to be the end for Bucks Fizz as a recording band and after a concert tour in 1989, Preston left the group at the end of the year.
With the focus on live work and touring, the group continued into the 1990s, now as a three-piece of Baker, G and Nolan. In 1991, celebrating 10 years together, Bucks Fizz released their last album, Live at Fairfield Halls
. By this time, Baker had embarked on a separate and successful career as a television presenter and was eager to start a family. In December 1993, she left the group. Early the following year, keen to keep the group active, Bobby G (who was now effectively taking over management of the act) and Nolan recruited two newcomers, Heidi Manton (who would later go on to marry G) and Amanda Swarzc. This line-up continued until 1996 when Nolan left and ex-Dollar
star David Van Day
joined.
. Unable to come to an agreement with G, Van Day teamed up with Mike Nolan and two new female recruits (Lianna Lea and Sally Jacks) to form a new version of Bucks Fizz. Unhappy with the situation, G put an injunction
on the name, resulting in the second group to go under the name; "Bucks Fizz starring Mike Nolan and featuring David Van Day". Under Van Day's guidance, this version released a newly recorded "Making Your Mind Up" single as well as an album of re-recorded Bucks Fizz songs. Neither found chart success and the recordings were universally derided by the group's fans.
By 2001, Nolan too had found it difficult to work with Van Day and left the group. With another male vocalist, Van Day continued to tour under the moniker "Bucks Fizz", despite never being a member of the hit-making line-up. By this time, G and co-star (and now wife), Heidi Manton had acquired the legal rights to the name "Bucks Fizz", and brought a case in the High Court against Van Day. In 2001, a judge refused to grant a court injunction against Van Day as he had been operating as Bucks Fizz for five years at the time.
The feud and legal battle between Bobby G and David Van Day as to who had the right to perform under the name "Bucks Fizz" was the subject of a BBC television
documentary, Trouble at the Top. The case was settled out of court in August 2002 when Van Day agreed to call his version of the band "David Van Day's Bucks Fizz Show". This group however was short-lived and soon Van Day returned to performing as Dollar
.
for the first time, which renewed interest in the group, leading to a brief revival of the band at the end of the year. In 2005, BBC
viewers were invited to vote on the most memorable Eurovision moments ever. Bucks Fizz won with the "Making Your Mind Up
" skirt-rip routine. A double CD collection of all the band's hits on both RCA and Polydor, The Ultimate Anthology
, was also released. In 2006 and 2008, two albums were released featuring unreleased Bucks Fizz material. These were The Lost Masters and The Lost Masters 2, issued by Sony
/BMG
and were well received by fans. In early 2009, a two-hour documentary was made entitled The Bucks Fizz Story. It featured in-depth interviews from the original band members as well as management and other behind-the-scenes personnel. A DVD of the documentary was released in August 2010 through Glassbeach Media Ltd, and saw a general release in November 2011. Bucks Fizz continue performing live today with the line-up: Bobby G, Heidi Manton, Tammy Choat and Paul Fordham. They continue to tour the UK.
2011 Saw the release of the 30th Anniversary album 'Up Until Now....the 30th Anniversary Hits Collection'.
Released on 25 April 2011 by Sony Music and Fat Dog Productions UK, it includes 9 brand new unreleased mixes, and the Anniversary Remix of 'Making Your Mind Up', produced by Darren Fox and Alan Connor, Co Produced by Dean Murphy and assisted by Kevin Newell.
The track recently was also played on The Paul O'Grady radio 2 show to a vast audience.
' of the UK. To distinguish this line-up from G's other group, they renamed themselves The Original Bucks Fizz (despite Preston not being an original member). Due to prior commitments with the current lineup of the group, G could not make all of the dates played, but did appear at some shows. Following this, Nolan, Baker and Preston subsequently performed more shows together as a three-piece under the same title and featured in the Congratulations
show, the 50th Anniversary of Eurovision in Copenhagen. In September 2008, Preston, Baker, Nolan and Aston reunited for a makeover show Pop Goes the Band for Living TV, which was screened in March 2009.
In April 2009, Preston announced that she was leaving The Original Bucks Fizz due to other commitments. Soon after it was announced that original member Jay Aston would be joining Baker and Nolan in the group for live shows — the first time she has been a part of Bucks Fizz since 1985. In October 2009, this line-up embarked on their first tour, encompassing 10 venues across the UK as well as a special gig at Newcastle to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their coach crash. The group released their debut single on 24 May 2010, which is a jazz-style reworking of their hit "I Hear Talk". In January 2011, while preparing for a 30th anniversary tour, The Original Bucks Fizz became caught up in a legal conflict with Bobby G over the use of the Bucks Fizz name. Baker, Nolan and Aston sought legal advice over the matter.
A mini 30th Anniversary tour took place in May 2011, while a larger scale gig took place at the London Palladium
on 11 July 2011 to celebrate their 30 years. This venue was chosen as it was the first place that Bucks Fizz performed a live concert at back in 1981, much publicity was undertaken around this time.
The group have also recorded their debut album, Fame and Fortune?, which is a new studio album comprising six reworked Bucks Fizz tracks along with six brand new tracks, composed by the group. The first of these, "This Day is Mine" was premiered at the May gigs and has also been played on BBC Radio
. The release of the album was put on hold until after the court case verdict.
A hearing between The Original Bucks Fizz and Bobby G took place on 15 July 2011. On 22 August 2011 the judge found in favour of G with the reasoning that since his wife (Heidi Manton, also a member of his group) owned the Bucks Fizz name, the use of the name The Original Bucks Fizz was an impediment on their trademark. The Original Bucks Fizz have decided to appeal the case.
(Also Jenny Phillips - 2006 - covering Heidi's maternity leave)
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up
Making Your Mind Up
"Making Your Mind Up" is a song by British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was the winner of the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and a UK Number-one single...
". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G
Bobby G
Bobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group...
, Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
, Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan (singer)
Mike Nolan is a singer and was one of the four original members of the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. He was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, but raised in the UK, where he still resides.- Early career :...
and Jay Aston
Jay Aston
Jay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest....
. They achieved instant attention with the dance routine which accompanied the song, involving a skirt-rip and for the gimmick that they were all blond
Blond
Blond or blonde or fair-hair is a hair color characterized by low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin. The resultant visible hue depends on various factors, but always has some sort of yellowish color...
. The group went on to have a successful career around the world (albeit ignored in the United States), while the UK remained their biggest market, where they had three No.1 singles and became one of the top-selling groups of the 1980s. Among their other best-known songs are "The Land of Make Believe" and "My Camera Never Lies
My Camera Never Lies
"My Camera Never Lies" is a 1982 single by pop group, Bucks Fizz. It became a UK number-one hit single in April 1982 and was featured on their album Are You Ready.- Background :...
". Their worldwide record sales have exceeded 15 million.
The line-up of the group has changed a number of times over the years, most famously when Jay Aston quit the group in 1985 and was replaced by Shelley Preston
Shelley Preston
Shelley Preston , is a singer who is most famous for being the new girl when she joined pop group Bucks Fizz in June 1985.- Career :...
. Today, two versions of the group exist; the official version which includes original member Bobby G and a three-member version consisting of Mike Nolan, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston under the name The Original Bucks Fizz.
Formation
In late 1980, Nichola Martin and Andy HillAndy Hill (composer)
Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s...
sought to create a new group to enter their song "Making Your Mind Up
Making Your Mind Up
"Making Your Mind Up" is a song by British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was the winner of the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and a UK Number-one single...
" in the Eurovision Song Contest. The first member to be recruited was Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan (singer)
Mike Nolan is a singer and was one of the four original members of the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. He was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, but raised in the UK, where he still resides.- Early career :...
, who was known to Martin. Together, they recorded a demo of the song and entered it for inclusion in A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe may refer to:*A Song for Europe, former name of British pre-selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest, now known as Eurovision: Your Country Needs You...
- the preliminary heats for the contest. Realising that a name was needed for the performing artists, Martin quickly decided on Buck's Fizz, as it was her favourite drink. In January, Martin contacted Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
to join them, as she remembered her from her the 1978 Eurovision group, Co-Co
Co-Co (band)
Co-Co were a five piece British band who represented the UK for the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, staged at the Palais de Congrès in Paris, France, on 22 April 1978, with the song, "The Bad Old Days". The song was written by the husband and wife team of Stephanie de Sykes and Stuart Slater...
. Concurrent to this, Martin was holding auditions for another male vocalist and female vocalist, should Baker turn down the position (which she didn't). At the end of these auditions, Martin had found a male singer, Stephen Fischer
Stephen Fischer
Stephen Fischer is a British singer famous for his participation in the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest as part of the duo Bardo. He is married with two children and lives in London....
and female, Jay Aston
Jay Aston
Jay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest....
. Unsure of which female vocalist to use, she ultimately decided to use both Baker and Aston as she felt their vocals complemented each other and Martin stepped down from the group in order to team up with Hill for another line-up as they had two songs in the competition. Fischer then became unavailable as he was starring in a musical at the time and Martin hired another auditionee, Bobby G
Bobby G
Bobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group...
for the group. The four members met for the first time on 11 January 1981. An associate of Martin's, Jill Shirley agreed to manage the group.
Eurovision
During rehearsals, a dance routine was devised for the song which went on to become famous for the moment where the girls' skirts are ripped off halfway through. The routine itself was choreographed by Chrissie Wickham, a former member of dance troupe, Hot GossipHot Gossip
-Formation:Arlene Phillips came to London to learn and teach developing American Jazz dance routines. Employed as a dance teacher, she taught at locations including the Pineapple Dance Studios and the Italia Conti Stage School. In 1974, Phillips started forming the core of a troupe; Italia Conti...
, although Martin, Baker and Aston have all since laid claim to the skirt-rip idea.
On 11 March, A Song for Europe took place with the unknown Bucks Fizz competing against well-known act Liquid Gold
Liquid Gold
Liquid Gold was an English disco group, from Brackley in Northamptonshire. Their biggest success came in 1980 with Dance Yourself Dizzy, which peaked at number two on the UK chart.-Career:...
, as well as Hill and Martin's own group, Gem. "Making Your Mind Up" became an easy winner and the group recorded the song with Hill as producer. Later in the month it was released as a single and entered the charts at No.24. By the time the contest was staged, the single had risen to No.2.
On 4 April, Bucks Fizz represented United Kingdom in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1981
The Eurovision Song Contest 1981 was the 26th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 4 April 1981 at the Simmonscourt Pavilion of the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin. The presenter was Doireann Ní Bhriain...
, which was held in Dublin. Although they were favourites to win, the song faced stiff competition and after a vocally unsound rendition, the early votes were poor. Halfway through the voting process, Bucks Fizz took the lead, although they remained close throughout. Ultimately, Bucks Fizz won the contest by a small margin of four points, beating Germany
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
Germany has participated in every Eurovision Song Contest since its beginning in 1956, although its entry in 1996 did not qualify past the pre‐selection round, and therefore was not seen in the broadcast final. No other country has been represented as often. France and the United Kingdom come in a...
into second place. "Making Your Mind Up" became a major hit around the continent, reaching No.1 in the UK as well as eight other countries. It charted highly in other countries such as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, eventually selling four million copies worldwide.
Post Eurovision success
With Shirley remaining as the group's manager, Hill as producer and Martin as co-songwriter, they worked with record company A&R head Bill Kimber to continue the group's success, determined that they would not become another Eurovision one-hit wonderOne-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
. A follow-up single was recorded amid promotional tours and the group's image was revamped. In May, the single "Piece of the Action
Piece of the Action
Piece of the Action is the second single by pop group Bucks Fizz, the follow-up to the Eurovision-winning song "Making Your Mind Up". It was released in May 1981 and became a top 20 hit.- Overview :...
" was released. The song boasted a contemporary pop sound and high production values, in contrast to the rock'n'roll style of "Making Your Mind Up". As Baker has stated:
"Our follow-up single was nothing at all like 'Making Your Mind Up', it was a good, strong, contemporary pop song" "Piece of the Action" became an immediate hit and quickly rose to No.12 in the UK charts, making it the most successful follow-up to a Eurovision song ever. It also charted highly across Europe. Buoyed by this success, the group launched into recording their debut album with producer Andy Hill. Released in July, the self-titled album
Bucks Fizz (album)
Bucks Fizz is the debut album by British pop group Bucks Fizz. Released in 1981, it features their Eurovision-winning song "Making Your Mind Up" as well as the two follow-up singles "Piece of the Action" and "One of Those Nights"...
also became a top 20 hit in the UK charts as did their third single, "One of Those Nights
One of Those Nights
"One of Those Nights" is a 1981 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. Written by Steve Glen, Mike Burns and Dave Most, it was the group's third single and their third UK top 20 hit.- Background :...
". In November 1981, they performed for the UK at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, where they achieved the "Best song award" and fifth place overall with their song "Another Night". The song was released as a single there and went on to be included on their second album.
Continued popularity (1981-1984)
In late 1981, Andy Hill with former King CrimsonKing Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
member Peter Sinfield
Peter Sinfield
Peter John Sinfield is an English poet, lyricist and artist, most famously known as the lyricist and co-founding member of early incarnations of King Crimson, whose debut album In the Court of the Crimson King has been regarded as one of the most influential progressive rock albums ever...
came up with the fourth Bucks Fizz single. Titled "The Land of Make Believe", the song was produced by Hill and featured a strong melody. Released in November, it hit the charts and by Christmas was in the top five. In January 1982, it overtook The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
's "Don't You Want Me
Don't You Want Me
"Don't You Want Me" is a single by British synthpop group Human League, released from their album: Dare on 27 November 1981.It is the band's best known and most commercially successful recording to date, and was the Christmas number one in the UK, in 1981, where it sold over 1,400,000 copies,...
" to reach No.1. It stayed there for two weeks and remained in the UK charts for 16 weeks — becoming the group's biggest selling single and one of the top selling singles of the decade. It also reached No.1 in the Netherlands and Ireland and became the group's best-selling single in Germany. The song has since been hailed as an "Eighties classic" and is regarded as the group's best song by critics.
Early in 1982 the group were awarded 'best group' at the Daily Mirror Rock and Pop awards ceremony and received a nomination at the Brit awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
. In March they released their fifth single. "My Camera Never Lies
My Camera Never Lies
"My Camera Never Lies" is a 1982 single by pop group, Bucks Fizz. It became a UK number-one hit single in April 1982 and was featured on their album Are You Ready.- Background :...
" swiftly rose up the charts and became their third number one single. With this they became the first British group of the 1980s to score three number ones within a year. Further success followed in May with the group's second studio album Are You Ready which went Gold and became their first top ten album. This album received particularly good reviews including a 10 out of 10 rating in Smash Hits
Smash Hits
Smash Hits was a pop music based magazine, aimed at teenagers and young adults and originally published in the United Kingdom by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006 and was issued fortnightly for most of that time...
. Attempting diversity, an (almost) a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
ballad was released as the next single. "Now Those Days Are Gone
Now Those Days Are Gone
"Now Those Days Are Gone" is a single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It became a UK top ten hit in June 1982 and featured on the group's album Are You Ready.- Background :...
" gave the group another top ten hit, reaching number eight in the UK charts. Soon after this they were invited to appear before the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
and Queen Mother
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
in the annual Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
, performing an old show tune, "You'll Never Walk Alone
You'll Never Walk Alone (song)
"You'll Never Walk Alone" is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel.In the musical, in the second act, Nettie Fowler, the cousin of the female protagonist Julie Jordan, sings "You'll Never Walk Alone" to comfort and encourage Julie when her husband, Billy Bigelow, the...
". Chart success continued with the release of the hit singles, "If You Can't Stand the Heat" and "Run for Your Life"
Run for Your Life (Bucks Fizz song)
"Run for Your Life" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was written by Andy Hill and Ian Bairnson and became the group's eighth consecutive top 20 hit in the UK...
. Bucks Fizz's third studio album Hand Cut
Hand Cut
Hand Cut is the third studio album by pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released in 1983 and features the UK top 20 hits, "If You Can't Stand the Heat" and "Run for Your Life".- Overview :Hand Cut was the third album released by Bucks Fizz...
was released in March 1983, becoming another top twenty hit and certified silver by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
. By this stage, although Bucks Fizz faced harsh criticism in the media for their lightweight pop image, the music press were acknowledging the group's highly polished performances and sturdy productions, gaining favourable mentions in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and Record Mirror
Record Mirror
Record Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
. With an eye to harden their sound, the group's next single "When We Were Young
When We Were Young (song)
"When We Were Young" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. Featuring lead vocals by member Jay Aston, the song became their sixth top ten hit in the UK.- Song information :...
" featured a heavy production and doom-laden lyrics. With a rock-style lead vocal by member Jay Aston, the single became one of the group's biggest hits, featuring in the top 20 of many European countries, including top ten in the UK and top five in France. Towards the end of 1983 however, it seemed that the group's success was beginning to dim as singles "London Town" and "Rules of the Game" failed to reach the top twenty — their first singles to miss. Along with these came the group's Greatest Hits album, which while reached the top thirty and remained on the charts for three months, fell short of expectations.
Early in 1984, the group decided to take time out of the public eye, fearing over exposure for their recent downward trend and instead concentrated on recording, which they undertook in Switzerland for their fourth album. In May they embarked on a 40-date tour of the UK, selling out many venues. In August they revealed their new look and new harder-edged rock sound with the single "Talking in Your Sleep". The break proved to be advantageous as this single returned the group to the UK top 20, peaking at number 15. The follow-up single "Golden Days
Golden Days
"Golden Days" is a 1984 single by the UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was originally recorded by Cliff Richard.- Background :Released in October 1984, this was the thirteenth single by the group but failed to achieve the success of the group's previous hits and stalled at No. 42 in the UK Charts...
" was released alongside their fourth studio album I Hear Talk
I Hear Talk
I Hear Talk is an album by pop group Bucks Fizz. Released in 1984, this was the group's fourth studio album and featured the singles "Talking in Your Sleep", "Golden Days" and "I Hear Talk".- Overview :...
. However again, the group saw their fortunes tumble as neither dented the top 40. As Christmas 1984 came around, the group embarked on another UK tour and the release of their next single.
Coach crash
On 11 December 1984, while on tour and returning from a sell-out gig in NewcastleNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, the group's tour bus collided with some road works and crashed. While no one was killed, several members of the crew were badly injured including all the members of Bucks Fizz. Bobby G was treated for whiplash, Jay Aston was hospitalized for back injuries and severe head pains, Cheryl Baker broke three vertebrae in her spine
Vertebral column
In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
, but it was Mike Nolan who suffered the worst injuries. Nolan's head was badly injured, suffering internal bleeding and he fell into a coma. After an operation, he was reported to have died on the operating table but placed on a life support
Life support
Life support, in medicine is a broad term that applies to any therapy used to sustain a patient's life while they are critically ill or injured. There are many therapies and techniques that may be used by clinicians to achieve the goal of sustaining life...
machine. He remained in a coma for three days, during which time the British press kept Bucks Fizz on the front pages headlines. Surgeon Anthony Strong at Newcastle General Hospital
Newcastle General Hospital
Newcastle General Hospital was for many years the main hospital for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and is managed by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust...
said that his condition was critical. On 15 December it was reported that Nolan awoke from his coma with the words "I'm all right". Following this, Nolan was ordered not to work for the next six months. The effects of the crash remain with him today, including epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
, short-term memory loss and a 50% loss of vision in both eyes. Following this, Baker and Nolan helped set up the HeadFirst charity for head injuries of crash victims.
On 12 December 2009, The Original Bucks Fizz (Nolan, Baker and Aston) played a concert at Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle City Hall is a concert hall, located in Newcastle upon Tyne which has hosted many popular music and classical artists throughout the years, as well as standup and comedy acts. Opened in 1927, the City Hall was built as a part of a development which also included the adjacent City Pool...
to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the accident — the same venue they played the night of the crash. The gig was in aid of HeadFirst. The anniversary of the crash was reported on local BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
with the members revisiting the crash location.
Line-up changes
With Nolan recuperating during the early months of 1985, the group returned to recording and released their next singleYou and Your Heart so Blue
"You and Your Heart So Blue" is a single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. Released in June 1985, the song was written by Andy Hill and Peter Sinfield and was produced by Hill. This single was the last to feature member Jay Aston, who quit the group the same month....
in June. However, within the band, tensions had mounted to the point that Jay Aston no longer wanted to continue. After early promotion and a concert in Newcastle, she sensationally quit the band, despite still being under contract. Again, Bucks Fizz found themselves the subject of newspaper headlines, where it emerged that Aston had been having an affair with Andy Hill — the husband of the group's creator Nichola Martin. Aston sold her story to the press in an article headlined; "The hateful, bitchy world of Bucks Fizz", while member Cheryl Baker was keen to point out that they were never friends. Aston was sued by management over breach of contract while a replacement member was quickly sought to continue promotion for the current single. Auditions were held at The Prince of Wales Theatre, where 800 girls were seen. Eventually, 21-year-old Shelley Preston
Shelley Preston
Shelley Preston , is a singer who is most famous for being the new girl when she joined pop group Bucks Fizz in June 1985.- Career :...
was given the job and unveiled to the press and TV among much media attention.
In early 1986, the group's contract with RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
expired and a new one with Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
was undertaken. The first single, "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)
New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)
"New Beginning " is a 1986 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was a comeback hit, achieving their highest chart placing for four years...
" was released in May and brought the group back to prominence as it became a top 10 hit and one of their most successful singles. After two more less-successful singles and an album
Writing on the Wall
Writing on the Wall is an album by British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released in 1986 and featured the comeback single "New Beginning ". It was the first album to feature member Shelley Preston and their only album released on Polydor Records...
, the group took a break during 1987 and regrouped in 1988. After a successful UK tour, the group released their final chart hit, "Heart of Stone
Heart of Stone (Bucks Fizz song)
"Heart of Stone" is a song written by Andy Hill and Pete Sinfield for the band Bucks Fizz in 1988, and recorded by the band at Abbey Road Studios in London. It was to be later recorded and popularized by Cher in 1990.-Bucks Fizz version :...
" (later a worldwide hit for Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
) and compilation album, The Story So Far
The Story So Far (Bucks Fizz album)
The Story So Far is a compilation album released by pop group, Bucks Fizz. It collected together 18 of the group's biggest hits spanning the years 1981 to 1988, including their three number ones.- Background :...
. These proved to be the end for Bucks Fizz as a recording band and after a concert tour in 1989, Preston left the group at the end of the year.
With the focus on live work and touring, the group continued into the 1990s, now as a three-piece of Baker, G and Nolan. In 1991, celebrating 10 years together, Bucks Fizz released their last album, Live at Fairfield Halls
Live At Fairfield Halls
Live at Fairfield Halls is a live album released in 1991 by pop group Bucks Fizz. It was their first and only release with Jet Records.- Background :...
. By this time, Baker had embarked on a separate and successful career as a television presenter and was eager to start a family. In December 1993, she left the group. Early the following year, keen to keep the group active, Bobby G (who was now effectively taking over management of the act) and Nolan recruited two newcomers, Heidi Manton (who would later go on to marry G) and Amanda Swarzc. This line-up continued until 1996 when Nolan left and ex-Dollar
Dollar (band)
Dollar are a pop vocal duo from the UK, consisting of David Van Day and Thereza Bazar. The duo were successful in the late 1970s and 1980s.-Career:...
star David Van Day
David Van Day
David Van Day is an English singer and media personality, formerly a member of the pop duo Dollar. He was also a member of the 1970s vocal group Guys 'n' Dolls , and a latter-day version of Bucks Fizz....
joined.
Band dispute
The partnership between G and Van Day proved to be short-lived as the two failed to gel. In 1997, Van Day quit the group after a show in the Falkland islandsFalkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. Unable to come to an agreement with G, Van Day teamed up with Mike Nolan and two new female recruits (Lianna Lea and Sally Jacks) to form a new version of Bucks Fizz. Unhappy with the situation, G put an injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
on the name, resulting in the second group to go under the name; "Bucks Fizz starring Mike Nolan and featuring David Van Day". Under Van Day's guidance, this version released a newly recorded "Making Your Mind Up" single as well as an album of re-recorded Bucks Fizz songs. Neither found chart success and the recordings were universally derided by the group's fans.
By 2001, Nolan too had found it difficult to work with Van Day and left the group. With another male vocalist, Van Day continued to tour under the moniker "Bucks Fizz", despite never being a member of the hit-making line-up. By this time, G and co-star (and now wife), Heidi Manton had acquired the legal rights to the name "Bucks Fizz", and brought a case in the High Court against Van Day. In 2001, a judge refused to grant a court injunction against Van Day as he had been operating as Bucks Fizz for five years at the time.
The feud and legal battle between Bobby G and David Van Day as to who had the right to perform under the name "Bucks Fizz" was the subject of a BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
documentary, Trouble at the Top. The case was settled out of court in August 2002 when Van Day agreed to call his version of the band "David Van Day's Bucks Fizz Show". This group however was short-lived and soon Van Day returned to performing as Dollar
Dollar (band)
Dollar are a pop vocal duo from the UK, consisting of David Van Day and Thereza Bazar. The duo were successful in the late 1970s and 1980s.-Career:...
.
Recent years
In 2004, BMG Records released all of Bucks Fizz's original studio albums on Compact discCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
for the first time, which renewed interest in the group, leading to a brief revival of the band at the end of the year. In 2005, BBC
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
viewers were invited to vote on the most memorable Eurovision moments ever. Bucks Fizz won with the "Making Your Mind Up
Making Your Mind Up
"Making Your Mind Up" is a song by British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was the winner of the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and a UK Number-one single...
" skirt-rip routine. A double CD collection of all the band's hits on both RCA and Polydor, The Ultimate Anthology
The Ultimate Anthology
The Ultimate Anthology is a compilation album by pop group Bucks Fizz.Released in 2005, this album was significant in that it was the first release that contained all of Bucks Fizz's 20 hit singles together on one disc...
, was also released. In 2006 and 2008, two albums were released featuring unreleased Bucks Fizz material. These were The Lost Masters and The Lost Masters 2, issued by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
/BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
and were well received by fans. In early 2009, a two-hour documentary was made entitled The Bucks Fizz Story. It featured in-depth interviews from the original band members as well as management and other behind-the-scenes personnel. A DVD of the documentary was released in August 2010 through Glassbeach Media Ltd, and saw a general release in November 2011. Bucks Fizz continue performing live today with the line-up: Bobby G, Heidi Manton, Tammy Choat and Paul Fordham. They continue to tour the UK.
2011 Saw the release of the 30th Anniversary album 'Up Until Now....the 30th Anniversary Hits Collection'.
Released on 25 April 2011 by Sony Music and Fat Dog Productions UK, it includes 9 brand new unreleased mixes, and the Anniversary Remix of 'Making Your Mind Up', produced by Darren Fox and Alan Connor, Co Produced by Dean Murphy and assisted by Kevin Newell.
The track recently was also played on The Paul O'Grady radio 2 show to a vast audience.
The Original Bucks Fizz
In December 2004, G, Nolan, Baker and Preston reformed briefly after 15 years to be part of 'The Here and Now TourHere and Now Tour
The Here and Now Tour is a series of concert tours, which began in 2001, featuring groups and singers famous in the 1980s. The Tour takes in arenas and theatres around the UK and still runs today. The tours are organised by Tony Denton Promotions...
' of the UK. To distinguish this line-up from G's other group, they renamed themselves The Original Bucks Fizz (despite Preston not being an original member). Due to prior commitments with the current lineup of the group, G could not make all of the dates played, but did appear at some shows. Following this, Nolan, Baker and Preston subsequently performed more shows together as a three-piece under the same title and featured in the Congratulations
Congratulations (Eurovision)
Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest was a television programme organised by the European Broadcasting Union to commemorate the Eurovision Song Contest's fiftieth anniversary and to determine the Contest's most popular entrant of its fifty years. It took place at Forum,...
show, the 50th Anniversary of Eurovision in Copenhagen. In September 2008, Preston, Baker, Nolan and Aston reunited for a makeover show Pop Goes the Band for Living TV, which was screened in March 2009.
In April 2009, Preston announced that she was leaving The Original Bucks Fizz due to other commitments. Soon after it was announced that original member Jay Aston would be joining Baker and Nolan in the group for live shows — the first time she has been a part of Bucks Fizz since 1985. In October 2009, this line-up embarked on their first tour, encompassing 10 venues across the UK as well as a special gig at Newcastle to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their coach crash. The group released their debut single on 24 May 2010, which is a jazz-style reworking of their hit "I Hear Talk". In January 2011, while preparing for a 30th anniversary tour, The Original Bucks Fizz became caught up in a legal conflict with Bobby G over the use of the Bucks Fizz name. Baker, Nolan and Aston sought legal advice over the matter.
A mini 30th Anniversary tour took place in May 2011, while a larger scale gig took place at the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
on 11 July 2011 to celebrate their 30 years. This venue was chosen as it was the first place that Bucks Fizz performed a live concert at back in 1981, much publicity was undertaken around this time.
The group have also recorded their debut album, Fame and Fortune?, which is a new studio album comprising six reworked Bucks Fizz tracks along with six brand new tracks, composed by the group. The first of these, "This Day is Mine" was premiered at the May gigs and has also been played on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
. The release of the album was put on hold until after the court case verdict.
A hearing between The Original Bucks Fizz and Bobby G took place on 15 July 2011. On 22 August 2011 the judge found in favour of G with the reasoning that since his wife (Heidi Manton, also a member of his group) owned the Bucks Fizz name, the use of the name The Original Bucks Fizz was an impediment on their trademark. The Original Bucks Fizz have decided to appeal the case.
Band members chronology
There have been 15 members of the group since its formation in 1981. Bucks Fizz operated as a trio between 1990 and 1993.- Bobby GBobby GBobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group...
1981 – present - Mike NolanMike Nolan (singer)Mike Nolan is a singer and was one of the four original members of the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. He was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, but raised in the UK, where he still resides.- Early career :...
1981 - 1996 (The Original Bucks Fizz 2004–Present) - Cheryl BakerCheryl BakerCheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
1981 - 1993 (The Original Bucks Fizz 2004–Present) - Jay AstonJay AstonJay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest....
1981 - 1985 (The Original Bucks Fizz 2009–Present) - Shelley PrestonShelley PrestonShelley Preston , is a singer who is most famous for being the new girl when she joined pop group Bucks Fizz in June 1985.- Career :...
1985 - 1990 (The Original Bucks Fizz 2004 - 2009) - Heidi Manton 1994 – present
- Amanda Szwarc 1994 - 1996
- David Van DayDavid Van DayDavid Van Day is an English singer and media personality, formerly a member of the pop duo Dollar. He was also a member of the 1970s vocal group Guys 'n' Dolls , and a latter-day version of Bucks Fizz....
1996 - 1997 - Karen Logan 1996
- Louise Hart 1996 - 2002
- Graham Crisp 1997 - 2002
- Nikki Winter 2003
- Wayne Chinnery 2003 - 2006
- Tammy Choat 2004 – present
- Paul Fordham 2006 – 2012
(Also Jenny Phillips - 2006 - covering Heidi's maternity leave)
Discography
| Release date | Title |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Bucks Fizz Bucks Fizz (album) Bucks Fizz is the debut album by British pop group Bucks Fizz. Released in 1981, it features their Eurovision-winning song "Making Your Mind Up" as well as the two follow-up singles "Piece of the Action" and "One of Those Nights"... |
| 1982 | Are You Ready |
| 1983 | Hand Cut Hand Cut Hand Cut is the third studio album by pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released in 1983 and features the UK top 20 hits, "If You Can't Stand the Heat" and "Run for Your Life".- Overview :Hand Cut was the third album released by Bucks Fizz... |
| 1984 | I Hear Talk I Hear Talk I Hear Talk is an album by pop group Bucks Fizz. Released in 1984, this was the group's fourth studio album and featured the singles "Talking in Your Sleep", "Golden Days" and "I Hear Talk".- Overview :... |
| 1986 | Writing on the Wall Writing on the Wall Writing on the Wall is an album by British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released in 1986 and featured the comeback single "New Beginning ". It was the first album to feature member Shelley Preston and their only album released on Polydor Records... |