21 June 2016 (released)
21 June 2016
Music-News.com caught up with Cheryl & Jay formerly of Bucks Fizz as they announce their new 'Land Of Make Believe' tour. Check out the whole uncut interview above.
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 9 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 Land Of Make Believe'G became overnight household names.
They 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 8 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. 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 and the new Bucks Fizz popped its cork!
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’. Cheryl, Mike, Jay and Bobby are as energetic, youthful and as dazzling today as they were back in the 80s. The cheeky fun filled harmonies, hi energy dance routines and even Cheryl and Jay’s legs are still in enviable shape. The skirts come off and the smiles are still blazing!
LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE TOUR DATES 2016
September
Fri 16 The Redhill Surrey
Fri 23The Radlett Radlett
Sun 25 Palace Theatre Southend
Thu 29 Civic Theatre Rotherham
Fri 30 Customs House South Shields
October
Sat 1 The Phoenix Blyth
Thu 13 Town Hall Falkirk
Fri 14 The Brindley Runcorn
Sun 16 Churchill Theatre Bromley
Thu 20 City Varieties Leeds
Fri 21 Platform Morecambe
Sat 22 Marine Hall Fleetwood
November
Fri 4 Westcliff Theatre Clacton
Sun 6 Prince of Wales Cannock
Fri 11 The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury
Sat 12 Capitol Theatre Horsham
Sun 13 Lyceum Theatre Crewe
Tue 15 Epsom Playhouse Epsom
Wed 16 The Apex Bury St Edmunds
Thu 17 Garrick Theatre Lichfield
@cherylmikejay @cherylbaker
