Frankie Goes To Hollywood reunion leaves fans wondering
“The future is unwritten”
Depending on which article you read, the brief reunion of Frankie Goes To Hollywood for Monday’s Big Eurovision Welcome left fans happy but also “puzzled” (the BBC), “confused” (The Guardian) or “baffled” (The Independent).
It seems that reason for this apparent state of bewilderment, is because the band only played the one song for Monday’s broadcast and the track wasn’t any of their three UK number ones (‘Relax’, ‘Two Tribes’ or ‘The Power of Love’) from their chart-dominating period in 1984, but their 1985 ‘flop’ single ‘Welcome to the Pleasuredome’, which peaked at number two.
From some of the commentary, you’d think the group played their last single ‘Watching The Wildlife’ which reached No 28 in 1987. It’s like a-ha playing ‘Take On Me’ (also No 2 in the UK) and fans decrying that they didn’t play “their biggest hit”, which is chart-topper ‘The Sun Always Shines On TV’. Okay, it isn’t quite like that, but you get the point.
The ‘Welcome’ element of ‘Welcome to the Pleasuredome’ was surely self-explanatory, given the event was called the Big Eurovision WELCOME and, in truth, the title track of Frankie’s first album remains one of the band’s very best songs, performed virtually fully-formed – pre-Trevor Horn – on a David ‘Kid’ Jensen radio session back in early 1983.
The Eurovision performance was excellent. No, it wasn’t completely live, but was anyone expecting that for this kind of TV format? Holly and Paul did both sing live (very well) and that gave it the freshness and vitality needed. There was an undeniable energy from the performers and a buzz, if you’re a fan, from seeing the five men (Holly Johnson, Paul Rutherford, Mark O’Toole, Brian ‘Nasher’ Nash and Peter ‘Ped’ Gill) performing together on stage again after more than three-and-a-half decades.
As for the band’s motivations, guitarist Nasher was clear enough about what he thought in a recent social media post, writing: “This was for me and not for y’all and I apologise for such a selfish outlook, but this was always about me and my band members being here in Liverpool where it all began”. He continued even more plainly: “Someone was prepared [to] pay to bring all of my friends back home and I couldn’t refuse that or exclude myself from that moment”. The last sentence is a reference to the fact that some of the band are not longer based in the UK; Paul Rutherford now lives in New Zealand and bass player Mark O’Toole (Nasher’s cousin) lives in Florida.
Holly Johnson is of course the one member of Frankie who has enjoyed a commercially successful solo career, scoring two top 10 UK singles with ‘Love Train’ and ‘Americanos’, in 1989. A day after the FGTH reunion performance was shown on the BBC, Holly announced two solo dates in the UK to celebrate 40 years of ‘Relax’ and 35 years of his first solo album ‘Blast’.
The big question is whether the Eurovision performance will lead to anything else. Can we expect a Soft Cell style ‘one last concert’ at a massive arena venue such as London’s O2, for example? Surely the renewed interest, the money that would be put on the table by promoters and the relative brevity of such an event, would make this a tempting proposition to all concerned. Cordial though relations between band members appear to be, any kind of tour would seem unlikely.
Nasher perhaps said it most succinctly when he ended his post yesterday with the following lines: “The future is unwritten but don’t hold your breath”.
71 Comments
71 thoughts on “Frankie Goes To Hollywood reunion leaves fans wondering”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Fantastic! This is indeed a blast from the past. Too bad it was just one song, but it felt somehow incredibly satisfying. Being there must’ve been amazing. It’s strange to see them as old as they look now, but even this enhanced my nostalgia. Loved to watch this video, each second of it. Thanks for writing about it!
As for Frankie, I HIGHLY recommend Trevor Horn’s EXCELLENT new book “Adventures In Modern Recording” which includes a long and candid chapter on FGTH. But the rest is also a wonderful read. One of the best books I’ve read all year.
Did Nash refer to Jeff Beck with the RIP JB on his guitar?
Jules, that was the first thing I thought of when I read the message – I’m pretty sure the ‘JB’ referred to Jeff Beck.
More likely James brown!!
I mean wot would Nash have in common with Jeff beck???
I think it was a reference to his mother in law.
The original WTTPD 7” single and associated b-sides have just been re-released as digital downloads and on streaming services, so that seems to suggest there is a co-ordinated release ‘campaign’ getting underway?
The papers just want to make stories from nothing. Welcome to the Pleasuredome is a great song and certainly no flop – Hoo Ha ! It did not look like anyone was having much fun there so I think this is a one off à la Pink Floyd live 8. I think the controversy and the mystique Frankie created are best left in the past. I don’t think a Frankie tour would do anything to improve the legacy. But of course, empty bank accounts may require it.
“Vienna” by Ultravox is another UK number 2 single and that’s not considered a flop.
Yeah, but it also has a funny punchline of what single stopped it getting to number one for three weeks.
Did Ultravox 3 previous singles get to number 1?
Frankie where a bit old hat by then, people’s relax t shirts where never meant to see the summer of 85, a flash in the pan,no live aid performance, gone but never forgotten that’s for sure, now is the guy on the left in top picture the same guy that looked like a harry Enfield Scouser back in the day????
“Golden Brown” by The Stranglers is another song that “only” made it to number 2 in the UK (along with a bunch of other great songs: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-20881216)
I appreciate this might just be a basic comment but as a kid who grew up with FGTH I would have loved to see them perform any of their number ones however, I take it back to Eurovision. “We’re on our way home” they certainly were, some more than others! “Welcome of the pleasuredome” the arena of Eurovision is how I saw it. It tied in with the event more than what we as fans probably wanted. Not saying I agree, but just my take on the why this was the choice.
Unfortunately I can clearly remember the edition of THE SUN newspaper front page announcing that he had “AIDS” and would be dead within days.
So it’s good to see so many comments (here and elsewhere) on how good he looks “living with HIV”.
But alas, there is still a long way to go to remove the stigma.
Agreed. I’m amazed when people speak of the 80s with such reverence as if it was such a great time. It wasn’t. That’s why we had the New Romantics and the explosion of creativity: the world was grey and dull and sad. Being gay was something to hide, to be ashamed of and to suffer for. I hope things are better for new generations. The hate for gay people is muted but not gone. We should never forget that. We should strive for a free and fair society and Holly and Paul were brave and I don’t think they ever got enough recognition for not just giving visibility to being gay but actually making it something not to be ashamed and afraid of. They were cool and built on the good work done by Jimmy Sommerville or Marc Almond to create awareness and acceptance. The in your face marketing was a part of this but they were just themselves: honest, hedonistic and hopeful. It made a huge difference to me growing up reading their comments about being gay and seeing them “up there”. It gave me hope in a very hopeless moment.
There was – very much – an ‘explosion of creativity’ in the early 80’s and a big burst of freeing openness. It was a fantastic time music wise – and as far as -what would now be termed ‘queer’ artists – we had loads. Boy George, Pete Burns, Marc Almond, Steve Strange, Marilyn, Jimmy Sommerville – along with Frankie.
Others too.
All brave heroes.
Bronski Beat’s ‘Age Of Consent’ was a revelation – and I fancied the pants off Paul Rutherford.
Everyone seemed to be ‘accepted’.
(Good of them!)
But then AIDS came along – the ignorant and uninformed masses turned – and it all went a bit pear shaped.
The sad truth is – there will always be homophobia. So many just don’t get us. At best – we’re a curiosity.
‘Let’s go to Pride – have a laugh – watch the gays!’
I must say – having been around my 60 odd years – it’s interesting to note that the straightest men are – very very often – the least homophobic.
I must say too – I knew with absolute certainty – from the very first moment – that there was absolutely nothing wrong with me.
For some inexplicable reason, there are people who feel threatened by gay people minding their own business. It was the case in the 80’s and still today. In Republican states, they are now passing anti-transgender laws. They think by passing a law, people won’t get the idea to transition their gender. And if you do change your gender, we are going to make your life a living hell. Just like those same states pushed for conversion therapy (converting gay people to become heterosexual). It makes me want to move back to the Netherlands. I think a lot of progress has been made and pop stars have definitely helped push the needle. Because of people like Jimmy Somerville, Boy George, Madonna, Frankie GTH, etc, the world has become a better place but still sooo much to be done.
I was really happy when I read the announcement and waited for the performance with excitement.
It was great, though also a slight disappointment for the recorded tracks (fully justified and well noted by other contributors to this post) and for the fact that Nash, Gill and Rutherford really look so much their age (differently, say, from Duran Duran. Well, at least seen from a distance)…
It’ s the usual problem: they are indelibly stamped in my memory with their 1984 – 87 appearances… But not only: there’ s also the 2004 “Produced by Trevor Horn” performance, which is simply spectacular (Ryan Molloy an EXCELLENT replacement for Holly’ s voice) and where they were all still in great physical form (plus orchestra, chorus, etc.)… But sadly, yet another 20 years have already passed from those days, and it shows.
For this reason (at least for me), if they really were to consider a phonographic comeback project (highly improbable), this should be done with all the maximum ZZT effort: a carefully studied look and shaping up for the lads, Morley on brilliant propaganda duties and Horn in all his production 80s Frankie pomp (in this respect I only recently discovered the content of Liverpool bar the singles, and it is actually really good: but even if it was curated by Lipson it lacks that special something, that brutal Horn spark). As regards the latter, Trevor has given that up ages ago, he simply doesn’ t want to do it any more (look at Simple Minds: he forced them to be all “traditional folk” yet again thirty years later on his Reimagines The Eighties album…).
Ultimately, Mission Impossible.
If you can’t add to the legacy, leave it alone.
It was short and sweet – wasn’t it always that way with Frankie?
With Holly using the occasion to promo solo gigs, I won’t hold by breath for a full reunion. Was fortunate enough to have attended (the not very well attended) Produced by Trevor Horn Princes Trust concert at Wembley back in 2004. Frankie (without Holly) were superb. In retrospect, possibly one of the best gigs of all time – certainly the best sound ever. Worth checking out the Slaves to the Rhythm DVD if you haven’t already – even just for what Grace Jones says in front of the (now) King & Queen!
Without Nasher, either, unfortunately.
Hi thanks for this I would be interested to watch Slaves to the Rhythm but can only find region 0 which will not play on UK players.
For those complaining about the part- live set up it is worth noting that the band does not have a keyboard player and literally every tune has several layers of keyboard built into it.To perform just one song it really is too expensive and too much hassle to employ several decent session musicians to be all live.So it is obvious they would use some/ a lot of pre-recorded sounds/ samples.If they were to tour or do a full show it is clear they would need probably at least 3 session musicians (probably two keyboard players/ another guitarist)to create a decent all-live rendition of their tunes. i.e it is obvious 3 musicians ( a drummer,lead guitarist,bass guitarist) would NEVER be able to recreate the Frankie sound in a live performance.
Their debut (covers and all) is still in the rotation. The title track is my favorite.
I couldn’t be happier for them. They really seemed to enjoy themselves and I’m glad they got to “cash in” a little. They’ve given us so much joy and undoubtfully they got ripped off by their label & manager at least a little bit (I have no idea but that was the norm during those times it seems), so I’m glad they got something out of this. Hopefully they will give us more live shows going forward. If so, don’t forget about NYC boys. Lots of fans here. I wish them well!
Surprised how much I enjoyed seeing that. Watched the rehearsal and show clips on youtube a number of times and it just put a huge smile on my face. I was at University in the midlands in 84 sharing a house with a bunch of rock/metal fans (Of which I was also one) and faced a lot of friendly abuse about my love for that ‘gay dance crap’ when I was playing the Relax 12″ over and over again.
Two Tribes turned them around a little. It’s possible the Two tribes 12″ Annihilation mix is the most played piece of Vinyl in my collection.
I’m loving the rumours of Live and/or session releases. Take my money now.
Back in the day I always preferred “Carnage” but I’ve come to appreciate “Annihilation” as the superior mix.
A great example of their live chops, a clip of War/Two Tribes from The Tube, June 29, 1984: https://youtu.be/KbF5hKVfaC4
Not completely live ! , well no surprise there as they barely played on the original.
I’m old enough to have seen FGTH live back in the golden days – Hammersmith 1985 to be precise. It was a good show – far better than I expected. I’ve never bothered to track down any Frankie bootlegs, but I just might have a search to see if my memory wasn’t deceiving me, but I do remember thinking that musicianship was lacking in some areas and I suspected backing tapes in use. Enjoyable none the less.
Anybody expecting a Frankie tour of some sort is likely to be disappointed. Frankie simply didn’t do touring well – in those days anyway. Lots of alcohol abuse and in band fighting. In total, Frankie probably played no more than about 40 dates during their entire career.
I would think that an O2 type is highly likely though to tie in with the film
Nasher in his book is quite open about using backing tracks for their shows. Several years ago in my BitTorrent days, I downloaded an audience-shot video of a German show on the Liverpool tour, and they actually put on a great performance. I was hugely impressed that they performed the full version of “Pleasuredome.”
There’s more chance of a Eurythmics reunion tour before FGTH even get into a room to talk about it – of which incidentally, I would also sell the shirt off my back for.
However it was wonderful just to see them share the same stage after so many years. Even with the turmoil between them it still warmed my heart.
The closest it’s been was when Ryan Molloy took centre stage at The Princes Trust charity gig in 2004. Thought he did very well.
Still, nothing like the real McCoy and Holly saved the day with his live vocal. I hope the band have practised performing – just in case they decide to tour! I’ll be disappointed if they mimed again.
I never understood why a Number 2 was considered by some to be a “Flop.” I never hit Number 2 on the charts. If a band hit Number 2 on the Charts these days we would never hear the end of it on social media or in press releases.
It was good to see them perform…and actually perform not lip synch or do the old Top of The Pops “Live vocals, fake playing, ” routine. Ill say this. I did not get the warm and fuzzy vibe from them watching on stage, which I imagine is hard to do after all they’ve been through. I am doubtful that anything performance wise comes of it. What I do hope is that it reinvigorates and interest in their music and perhaps that leads to some additional backcatalog stuff.
I’m watching all this excitement from the States and am completely in awe of Holly’s magnificent voice! He sounds as fresh as ever! You can’t say that about many of his peers.
For those pondering whether “Two Tribes” might have been a more suitable choice of song, it’s interesting to note that Trevor Horn is performing it nightly (as The Buggles) opening for Seal on his current U.S. tour (which I’m excited to be seeing on Friday).
It’s an incredible track (with one of THE greatest intros of all time), but a song about warfare, as celebration for a song contest supporting Ukraine’s current situation, really wouldn’t have been the most apposite choice, and neither would a song celebrating intense sex!
‘Welcome To The Pleasuredome’ was the only real option and I think it worked out really well.
At least they sang live and did not mime or use ‘auto tune’ like a lot of ‘so called’ singers do these days (I wonder how many of them will be appreciated and remembered in 40 years from now). As for them not singing ‘The Power Of Love’, ‘Two Tribes or ‘Relax’, maybe they thought people have heard enough of those over the years on radio stations, so went for a track that gets less air play, if any at all. As far as I am concerned, ‘Welcome To The Pleasure Dome’ is as much a classic as the other three, and most certainly not a ‘flop’ single, if reaching number two in the UK chart.
It was a great performance and seeing them back together certainly warmed my heart. But, Holly, Mark and Ped all looked like they’d rather be anywhere but there. Only Paul and (surprisingly) Nasher seemed to be animated – I thought their kiss mid-song was a beautiful moment. So, I’m glad it happened but I don’t really see any reason they should continue when their collective heart’s not in it. I still want a singles box and a radio sessions comp, though…
There is a video on youtube where Fish reunited with Marillion in 2007 at Aylesbury, Market Square to play Market Square Heroes and all I could think was “awkward”. It felt karaoke-ish. Same here. Golden Girls / Boys Karaoke.
Bring on the 12″ Box set, though. Peace.
I’ve seen that footage and thought it was great – a band reunion doesn’t have to involve everyone hugging on stage and playing the best gig of their lives; sometimes you just get up there and do it. A reunion with Fish could fill a hefty venue if Marillion really wanted to make a thing of it, but the Aylesbury thing (just like Frankie, or most of the Split Enz original lineup playing a couple of songs in a boat club for their 30th anniversary) was more just a chance to mark a moment for the band.
The awkwardness was also palpable when they did an interview with Fish and the band for the Clutching at Straws SDE.
Given that Fish has retired, I don’t think we’ll have to witness that again.
This performance was indeed a karaoke with the best FGTH imitation band ever but nevertheless fun to watch the lads. Unless Lipson/Horn team is at the helm again, any new work would not pique my interest. As for 5.1/Atmos, I’d submit that the original albums were sonically excellent and we may be gilding the Lily.
Frankie biopic has been announced directed by Bernard Rose who directed the Relax video
Fingers crossed for a Dolby Atmos SDE of Welcome to the Pleasure Dome
I found it was great to see them playing. It shows me how old we are… lol After ABBA and FGTH now we wait for more great Reunions…
I wasn’t expecting this one:
https://deadline.com/2023/05/frankie-goes-hollywood-relax-movie-its-sin-callum-scott-howells-working-title-cannes-1235360208/amp/
Not Frankie related but there was an amazing moment last night in the first semi-final show of Eurovision where they use the classic 80’s song ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ and the lyrics take on a completely different meaning.
https://youtu.be/zg5EOvVPwMQ
Releases are being rumoured as ZTT have sold to universal, BBC live content from 80s and a box of all 12” CD singles being mentioned
A Box with al the 12 Inches is a great Idea, but I only trust this Info when I hold the Box in my Hands…
Can only think of what the cost would be as well. Long gone are the days of the £3.49 12″ single. I assume it would be closer to around £15/disc for the 7 singles, then they would need a mopping up single for all the outliers, and that nice book you get. So £120 to £150 for the set?
I can see Universal holding fire on any big ticket given the announcement of the Relax movie. They might wait especially they also own Working Title, the production company making the film, and do big campaign on all fronts when that comes out.
I was there, they were great, sure it would have been even better if they’d done more songs but I’m just glad I finally got to see them perform. I live in Liverpool city centre and the whole Eurovision vibe is great, the city is buzzing. Well done to all the organisers. Fingers crossed Frankie may return home again one day.
The media’s coverage has been awful of this event which I attended and enjoyed tremendously. One critic even mentioned “rain soaked fans” it didn’t rain all day so the article was clearly written before the event and quickly edited on the day by someone who didn’t attend the actual event. I agree with Paul’s comments that WTTP is the only really appropriate song they could perform given they could only perform one song. If people were confused then they clearly didn’t read the socials before the event. I really hope that it wasn’t the last time we’ve seen all five members together on a stage performing as the atmosphere was electric when they were on stage.
But at least it IS Frankie, and Frankie only!
Get in, get the job done, get paid, go home… that was all that was needed. Nothing else required and fair play Nasher for saying it. If Holly Johnson wants to ride the Gravy Train, sorry, Love Train on the back of it then that’s fine too. Nothing wrong with earning a pay day despite some dewy-eyed nostalgia for the glory days.
By adding in Holly Johnson’s solo hits the band can create a decent set list that will make a great show. i.e Americanos and Love Train are great audience pleasing 80’s hits that would improve a Frankie setlist. If they fail to tour now it will be a massive lost opportunity, especially since some members seem very cash-oriented,and a full Tour will sellout and make them decent money.
For all the talk of band acrimony,they looked happy on stage and still have the ‘charisma’ and ‘swagger’to inspire audiences to have a goodtime.So if they bothered to tour both fans and band would have a fabtime.
What also fascinated me is how the guitarists and Holly are easily recognisable as older versions of their younger selves,while the other two have visually changed to be very different looking to their younger selves.
Also,if they could write or find at least one decent new song they could also add something more to any comeback than just 80’s nostalgia.
it looks surprisingly low-key from the fan footage, there they are milling around on stage waiting for the cue from the TV producers, no big showbiz entry or Eurovision style theatrics. I thought a ‘Superbowl’ style medley of hits could have worked (and carefully sidestepped some lyrical issues) but suspect there wasn’t time to put that together.If Frankie say ..no more…at least they played my favourite song!
To a non-fan, this is indeed a puzzling and underwhelming choice of song. (I remember the title, but I can’t say I remember the song). I can imagine this performance leaving someone scratching their head, thinking ‘who are these people and why are we listening to them?’. To fans, on the other hand, this was probably heaven … That’s how it is!
When Pink Floyd reunited for Live 8 I said my dream was for them to go onstage and do a 20 minute version of “Careful With That Axe Eugene” and then leave, which would have made about 5% of the folks watching ecstatically happy beyond their wildest dreams and the rest doing what you felt many did here. So maybe FGTH fans got a touch of what I was hoping for.
Nasher also mentioned yesterday after some idiots were questioning could the band play live, to look out for some forthcoming Kid Jensen and John Peel sessions to be released soon.
Indeed. In his book, Trevor Horn is full of praise for the lads playing, particularly the rhythm section and he’s clear that it’s them you hear on Power of Love, Born to Run etc. He says he regrets not using their performances on Relax, Two Tribes and Pleasuredome
The Peel session of Two Tribes has all the elements of the released version. Trevor Horn has copied the bassline and as a producer normally does, polished the end product as only Horn can. It’s unfortunate that the public perception at the time was the band couldn’t play their instruments when it wasn’t the case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-AUwwSR-bg&t=17s Two Tribes, Peel Session
The choice of song was perfect – Welcome To The Pleasuredome, as you say, is self explanatory. Also the lyric “We’re a long way from home” is particularly apt as Liverpool is hosting on behalf of Ukraine who are, indeed, a long way from home!!! Surely the British media aren’t that dumb, or are they just churning put AI generated clickbait articles by the bucket load, with no actual human involvement??
Excellent points! I also think the ‘we’re a long way from home’ lyric could also be relevant to two fifths of the band who are living in New Zealand and The States.
The thing is… (and I say this as a very passionate fan of WTTP)… the nostalgia factor surrounding Frankie is so intensely bright that it rather obscures the stark fact that, when all is said and done, the band’s musical legacy is primarily a quartet of absolute crackers that unquestionably defined the zeitgeist of 1984-5 … but I am not too sure that makes a ffull show. I mean, let’s be honest, WTTP was padded with covers as it was. It was great (and genuinely surprising) to seem them active again – the magic was still there – but it’s not like they have a significant catalogue to mine. Holly Johnson at least has the wonderful BLAST! and other solo fare to work with, alongside the Frankie fare to provide some rocket fuel.
FGTH could play a few of Holly’s solo songs as well. The Eagles did this with the solo hits by Don Henley, James Walsh and Glenn Frey. Simon & Garfunkel both sang some solo hits at their concert in Central Park.
It showed to me how brilliant the music and the production is. A few 90 minute concerts would go down an absolute storm. People would want that, they can plainly still perform to the very highest level. They would not only sell out several nights but there would be a lot of worldwide media interest. They would sell a shedload of “Product”.
Any remix or version of Pleasuredome is my absolute favourite FGTH track so they chose well. And to those who suggested they should have played “Relax” or (god forbid) “Two Tribes” the evidence is there before your eyes. Stunning.
Holly’s voice was excellent and Paul is ever the showman who can take centre stage any time he likes. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a mega fan. I haven’t played the second LP of Pleasuredome in years or Liverpool and will happily plump for one of the many good compilations when they can get space among the Abba-fests or Bush-a-thons. But as a “Joe Average” fan I would absolutely want to be there.
4 or 5 nights at the Apollo would be an absolute hoot. The time is right to welcome everyone back in to the Pleasuredome.
It was the right song to use for the event. “Relax” is still too explicitly sexual for a ‘family’ event, “Two Tribes” whilst incredibly relevant to the Ukraine situation, too ‘political’, “The Power of Love” too slow, and (without ever being a Christmas song), too, er Christmassy, and too slow. If they’d been allowed (or agreed to?) a second song, “Ferry Across The Mersey” or “…Wildlife” would have suited given their lyrical subject matter, relating to Liverpool and homecomings It was obviously a cautious test of whether five very different men could function as a unit, however briefly, and an opportunity to bury any hatchets. This is nothing like Tears For Fears re-forming, which took years of preparation, and false starts, until eventually they reached a point where they had new material that wasn’t a poor relation to the catalogue. Also, remember, as explosive as the original FGTH were, lets remember the key element was the production of TCH (that’s why ‘WTTP” was largely preformed using the original 1984/5 instrumental. If I was involved, I’d sound out the possibility of a ‘proper’ hometown concert next summer, make sure they rehearsed and signed binding contracts. Even then, any kind of new music would be a long way off. I think it’s pretty much down to Holly, the others don’t have as much to lose. I wish them well but I think the recorded legacy is pretty much untouchable. As a live act, some potential.
Nasher´s autobiography clearly demonstrated his disdain towards Holly. It is hard to see them touring together, but a few shows here and there might be realistic. Then again, Midge Ure more or less trashed some of his Ultravox bandmates in his autobiography; they seem to have buried the hatchet since its publication.
Well what do you expect from the UK media?
The event was to kickstart the Eurovision Song Contest with is being held in Liverpool due to the fact that the winning country is currently at war. So would it have been a good idea for them to perform Two Tribes? Or the sexually explicit Relax? They could have done The Power of Love but I think it needed to be upbeat. WTTP was the perfect song and it was fantastic to see them all together performing. I think there will be an announcement soon of something else.
Also isn’t Liverpool doing a fantastic job. If you haven’t been, go there, don’t listen to all the negative things, every city in the UK has their problems but Liverpool’s always seem to get highlighted.
Totally agree. It was the most appropriate song anyway regardless of the issues with Relax and Two Tribes – and The Power Of Love has become “a Christmas song”.
Well Holly Johnson is doing some solo gigs so being as he probably has the final say maybe it was a one off to promote those dates… or maybe a FFTH reissue campaign is on the cards?