English pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood are set to reunite next month to open this year’s edition of Eurovision.
The Liverpool based group are set to play together for the first time in 36 years, having disbanded in 1987, and Eurovision 2023 seems to be the perfect place for just an occasion, given the fact that this year’s contest will be held in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine, thereby making this a hometown gig for the 80s synth-pop heavyweights.
The band’s lead vocalist Holly Johnson made the announcement in an instagram post, stating that “I’m happy to announce that Frankie Goes To Hollywood will reunite to perform at the opening concert of this very special event“.
The show that will kick things off in Liverpool is set, then, to be a spectacular one, featuring the classic Frankie Goes to Hollywood line-up, including vocalists Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford, and the so-called ‘Lads': Mark O’Toole (on bass), Brian Nash (on guitar), and Peter Gill (on drums).
The group was formed in Liverpool in 1980, rising to prominence and national fame in 1983 with the release of their first major hit, “Relax“. Deemed to be lyrically obscene with a theme of an overtly sexual nature, the track was banned by the BBC on all of its platforms, but this only created publicity for the band and soon the record reached number one of the UK Singles Chart.
Watch a live performance of “Relax” on Top of the Pops in 1984 below:
They followed this with their second single, “Two Tribes“, released in May 1984 to more success, with this song too reaching number one in the UK. The band then released their debut album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome, later that year in October, easily reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart after advanced sales of the LP of more than a million copies.
Watch the music video for “Two Tribes” below:
Their third single, “The Power of Love“, was released in November 1984 to yet more success, reaching number one and marking a defining and record-breaking year for the group, being the first music act to reach number one of the UK Singles Chart with their first three singles since fellow Liverpool band Gary and the Pacemakers in the 60s.
Their second and final album, Liverpool, was released in 1986 and, despite reaching number five on the UK Albums Chart, was considered a commercial failure, owing naturally to their previous unprecedented success. The band subsequently disbanded the following year and haven’t performed together since.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood will perform in the opening concert of Eurovision 2023 on May 7th, see here for the songs that will follow throughout the semi-finals.
