Bucks Fizz in Horsham as part of major tour

Internationally famous quartet Bucks Fizz will be stopping off at Horsham in November as part of their Land of Make Believe tour.
Bucks FizzBucks Fizz
Bucks Fizz

In the early 1980s, Bucks Fizz were everywhere.

Originally put together as four young performers for A Song For Europe, they became a global phenomenon, when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Making Your Mind Up’ an instant hit around the world, reaching the No 1 spot in nine countries and selling 4 million records.

Their iconic dance routine which saw the two boys ripping off the two girls¹ skirts halfway through the song rocked the Eurovision stages as judges pinged in score after score. Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan, Jay Aston and Bobby G became overnight household names.

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The band went on to sell over 15 million records, win countless industry Awards, including an Ivor Novello and Best Group Award in the 1982 Brit Awards, (Then known as The Rock & Pop Awards) With three No 1 singles; Making Your Mind Up, The Land of Make Believe and My Camera Never Lies, plus a further eight top 20 hits, they became a British Institution.

Touring extensively, disaster struck in December 1984 when at the peak of their success, their tour coach was involved in a collision which resulted in Mike Nolan sustaining a serious head injury. Following his recovery, they were hit by more bad news; Jay Aston wanted to leave the group.

Although they had another top ten hit, with Jay’s replacement, Shelley Preston, it proved to be their last and, over the next few years, each member left to pursue solo careers.

It wasn¹t until 2007 when they were asked to reunite for the TV series, Pop Goes The Band that they met up again. Bobby decided not to be involved, but Cheryl, Mike and original member Jay began working together on stage again for the first time in 24 years in 2009.

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They celebrated 30 years since winning the Eurovision with a sell-out performance at The London Palladium in 2011. Although vocally they still sounded like Bucks Fizz, without a fourth member the band felt there was a link missing. The dance routines their fans know and love, have to be performed in a group of four, so they decided to recruit a new member to carry on the legacy.

In August, 2014 Mike rang an old friend, Bobby McVay to see if he would like to join the trio for a forthcoming tour. Bobby had also been a Eurovision contender for the UK in 1983 with the group Sweet Dreams. Bobby jumped at the suggestion.

The popularity of 80s music continues to reign in the UK. The band regularly appear at festivals and 80s events around the country in autumn this year they are embarking on a major UK tour entitled, ‘The Make Believe Tour’ following the sell out success of 2015’s, ‘Paradise Regained’.

Bucks Fizz are at The Capitol, Horsham, on Saturday November 12.

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