The Fizz

Last updated

The Fizz
The Fizz 2020.jpg
The Fizz in 2019
Background information
Also known as
  • The Original Bucks Fizz
  • Cheryl, Mike & Jay
OriginUnited Kingdom
Genres
Years active2004–present
Spinoff of Bucks Fizz
Members
Past members
Website thefizzofficial.com

The Fizz are a British pop music group formed in 2004 as a spin-off from the original group, Bucks Fizz. The core of the group consists of Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston, who are all former members of Bucks Fizz and performed as OBF (Original Bucks Fizz) initially with Shelley Preston and then replaced by Jay Aston. The group then performed as Formerly of Bucks Fizz, and Bobby McVay later became a member in 2015, making the group a quartet, and then renaming as The Fizz until he left in 2018. To date, the group have released four albums, three of which have charted in the Official UK Albums Chart. Their 2017 album The F-Z of Pop reached No.25, becoming the highest-charting Bucks Fizz related album in 33 years. In 2018, Christmas with the Fizz was released. In 2020, Smoke & Mirrors was released, reaching number 29 in the Official UK Albums Chart and number 6 on the Official Sales Chart. In May 2024, Mike Nolan announced his departure from the group effective later in the year.

Contents

The Original Bucks Fizz

Mike Nolan, Cheryl Baker, Shelley Preston & Bobby G at Wembley Arena in 2004 Bucks Fizz2004.jpg
Mike Nolan, Cheryl Baker, Shelley Preston & Bobby G at Wembley Arena in 2004

In December 2004, Bobby G, Mike Nolan, Cheryl Baker and Shelley Preston reformed briefly after 15 years apart to be part of 'The Here and Now Tour' of the UK. [1] To distinguish this line-up from G's other group, they renamed themselves The Original Bucks Fizz (although Preston was not in the original four, she was the only other member to have been in a recording contract with chart success whilst in the group). 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 the Eurovision Song Contest 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 left The Original Bucks Fizz. 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. [2] [3] [4] 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. [5] The group released their debut single on 24 May 2010, which was a jazz-style reworking of their hit "I Hear Talk". [6] 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. The group also recorded their debut album, Fame & Fortune?, which was a new studio album comprising six reworked Bucks Fizz tracks along with six original tracks composed by the group. The first of these, "This Day is Mine" was premiered at the May gigs and was also played on BBC Radio. [7] 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. [8] 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. [9] The Original Bucks Fizz sent an appeal to the high courts but was subsequently dropped.

OBF

On 3 April 2012, the group re-launched as OBF. They performed some shows around the weekend of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest and released the debut album on Saturday 26 May. [10] It was made available through their official website. [11] During 2014, the group rebranded as Cheryl, Mike and Jay - Formerly of Bucks Fizz. In 2014, the group gained a temporary fourth member, singer Stephen Fox who had been a member of their supporting band at live shows. In 2015, the group embarked on an extensive tour of the UK, [12] now officially as a four-piece with former vocalist of 1980s group Sweet Dreams, Bobby McVay. This was the group's biggest undertaking with more than 40 dates throughout the year, ending on 30 October 2015. [13]

The Fizz (2016–present)

On 1 April 2016, the group, including McVay, performed at the London Hippodrome theatre to celebrate 35 years since Bucks Fizz won Eurovision. A UK tour titled "Make Believe Tour 2016" took place during 2016. In December 2016 the group released a re-recording of Bucks Fizz's biggest hit, "The Land of Make Believe", produced by Mike Stock. The limited edition CD sold out on pre-release. This was followed by a digital download version.

Rebranded "The Fizz" the group released an album The F-Z of Pop via Pledge Music in September 2017. The album, also produced by Mike Stock, contains three re-imagined Bucks Fizz tracks and eight original songs, some co-written by the band, one written by band member Cheryl's daughter. The album entered the charts at No.25, their highest chart position for 31 years. [14] The group also performed a third tour throughout 2017 and released three singles during the year.

In February 2018, McVay departed from the group as, living in Italy, he found it challenging to be constantly travelling between the UK and Italy. Baker, Nolan and Aston decided to continue to perform as a trio until they find a replacement. [15]

In June 2018, Aston was diagnosed with mouth cancer and was to undergo surgery in July to have part of her tongue replaced. [16] By November she had returned to performing with the group. Before her surgery she completed her vocals for the group's next album Christmas with the Fizz . Consisting of Christmas standards and original tracks with a festive theme, this was released in November 2018 and entered the UK albums chart at No.93. [17]

In 2019, the group recorded a third studio album, Smoke & Mirrors, which was released in the UK and digital platforms on 6 March 2020. The album was released on CD, standard vinyl, limited edition blue vinyl and cassette.

On 19 August 2022, the group announced that their fourth studio album would be called Everything Under the Sun . It was released on 8 September 2022 and was once again produced by Mike Stock. It was released on CD, vinyl and digital download via their official website. [18]

In May 2024, Nolan announced he would be leaving the band at the end of the year due to "personal reasons". He told Michael Ball on BBC Radio 2: "I have decided to go, to leave. I've been thinking about it for a long long, long time and I just thought: 'this is the time to do it'." Nolan will continue to perform with the Fizz until the end of the year. [19] On 3 October 2024 it was announced during Scott Mills' Radio 2 show that Matthew Pateman (Bad Boys Inc, Let Loose) and Nikk Mager (Phixx) would be joining the band.

Members


The Fizz

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details and peak chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[20] 		SCO
[21] 		UK Sales
[22] 		UK Ind.
[23]
Fame and Fortune? (as OBF)
  • Released: May 2012
————
The F–Z of Pop
  • Released: 22 September 2017
2523146
Christmas with the Fizz
  • Released: 16 November 2018
9365549
Smoke & Mirrors
  • Released: 6 March 2020
29663
Everything Under the Sun
  • Released: 8 September 2022
———25

Singles

List of singles
TitleYearAlbum
"I Hear Talk" (live)2010Non-album singles
"The Land of Make Believe 2016"2016
"Dancing in the Rain"2017The F-Z of Pop
"Amen"
"Home for My Heart" (featuring Rick Wakeman)
"Up for the Fight"2018
"Don't Start Without Me"Christmas with the Fizz
"Don't Start Without Me" (2019 Radio Edit)2019
"Winning Ways"2020Smoke & Mirrors
"TOTP" (promo)
"From Here to Eternity" (promo)
"The World We Left Behind"
"Everything We Do (We Do It for You)" [24] 2022Everything Under the Sun
"This One"
"Treasure Forever"2023

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Making Your Mind Up</span> 1981 song by Bucks Fizz

"Making Your Mind Up" is a song by the British pop group Bucks Fizz with music composed by John Danter and lyrics written by Andy Hill. Released in March 1981, it was Bucks Fizz's debut single, the group having been formed just two months earlier. It represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, held in Dublin, winning the contest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheryl Baker</span> British singer

Rita Maria Stroud, known professionally as Cheryl Baker, is an English singer and television presenter. She was a member of pop group Bucks Fizz, which won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and, following legal disputes, now performs under the name the Fizz. Bucks Fizz had 20 singles reach the UK top 60 between 1981 and 1988, including three number one hits with "Making Your Mind Up" (1981), "The Land of Make Believe" (1981) and "My Camera Never Lies" (1982).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bucks Fizz</span> English pop group (1981–2018)

Bucks Fizz were an English pop group, that 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 received attention for the dance routine which accompanied the song, in which the male members of the group ripped the female members' outer skirts off to reveal much shorter mini-skirts beneath. The group went on to have a successful career around the world, but the UK remained their biggest market, where they had three No.1 singles with "Making Your Mind Up" (1981), "The Land of Make Believe" (1981) and "My Camera Never Lies" (1982) and became one of the top-selling groups of the 1980s. They also had UK Top 10 hits with "Now Those Days Are Gone" (1982), "If You Can't Stand the Heat" (1982), "When We Were Young" (1983) and "New Beginning " (1986). Bucks Fizz have sold over 50 million records worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Aston</span> Musical artist

Jay Hilda Aston is a British singer and occasional songwriter. She was a member of the British pop group Bucks Fizz from 1981 to 1985. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, aged 19 when they won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest. During Aston's membership, the group had 12 of their 13 UK top 40 hit singles, including three number one hits. Since 2009, she has performed alongside fellow original Bucks Fizz members Cheryl Baker and Mike Nolan. The group used to perform under the name the Original Bucks Fizz but are now known as the Fizz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Nolan (singer)</span> Irish singer (born 1954)

Michael Mary Nolan is an Irish singer who is best known as one of the four original members of the British pop group, Bucks Fizz, who now perform as The Fizz. He was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, but brought up in the UK, where he still resides. As a member of Bucks Fizz, he won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and achieved 20 UK top 60 singles between 1981 and 1988, including three number one hits. He was a member of the group until 1996. Since 2004, he has been a member of the group The Fizz, along with other former Bucks Fizz members Cheryl Baker, Shelley Preston and Jay Aston.

Bobby G, also known as Bobby Gee, is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz, best known for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and for achieving three UK number one hits with "Making Your Mind Up" (1981), "The Land of Make Believe" (1981) and "My Camera Never Lies" (1982).

<i>Bucks Fizz</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Bucks Fizz

Bucks Fizz is the eponymous debut studio album by the British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released in July 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". The album was produced by Andy Hill and released on RCA Records. Bucks Fizz has been re-released twice on CD, first in 2004 with bonus tracks and as a two-disc edition in 2015.

<i>Are You Ready</i> (Bucks Fizz album) 1982 studio album by Bucks Fizz

Are You Ready is the second studio album by the British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released on 26 April 1982 and features the UK No. 1 singles "The Land of Make Believe" and "My Camera Never Lies" as well as the follow-up "Now Those Days Are Gone". It was produced by Andy Hill and released by RCA Records. It was the group's most successful album. It went on to be re-released on compact disc three times between 2000 and 2015.

<i>Hand Cut</i> 1983 studio album by Bucks Fizz

Hand Cut is the third studio album by the British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was released on 1 March 1983 and features the UK top 20 hits, "If You Can't Stand the Heat" and "Run for Your Life".

<i>I Hear Talk</i> 1984 studio album by Bucks Fizz

I Hear Talk is the fourth studio album by the pop group Bucks Fizz and their last under contract to RCA Records. Released in November 1984, the album featured the singles "Talking in Your Sleep", "Golden Days" and "I Hear Talk".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Land of Make Believe</span> 1981 song

"The Land of Make Believe" is a 1981 single by British band Bucks Fizz. It reached No.1 in the UK in early 1982 - the second single by the band to do so. The song was produced by Andy Hill with music by Hill and lyrics by ex-King Crimson member Peter Sinfield. Despite the apparent sugar-coated style of the song, Sinfield later claimed it was a subtle attack on Margaret Thatcher and her government's policy at the time. "The Land of Make Believe" became a big hit across Europe in early 1982, topping the charts in Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland as well as the UK. The song was later covered by pop band allSTARS* for a 2002 single release.

Shelley Preston is a singer who is known for being a former member of the pop group Bucks Fizz, when she replaced Jay Aston in June 1985. Preston's biggest hit as a member of the band was the 1986 track "New Beginning", which reached the UK top ten. She left the group in 1990. From 2004 to 2009, she was a member of the group The Original Bucks Fizz, along with former Bucks Fizz members Cheryl Baker and Mike Nolan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When We Were Young (Bucks Fizz song)</span> 1983 single by Bucks Fizz

"When We Were Young" is a 1983 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. The track features lead vocals by band member Jay Aston. The song became their sixth top-ten-hit in the UK and it is one of their biggest hits in Europe.

<i>The Story So Far</i> (Bucks Fizz album) 1988 compilation album by Bucks Fizz

The Story So Far is a compilation album by British pop group Bucks Fizz, released in 1988. The album collects together 18 of the group's biggest hit singles spanning the years 1981 to 1988, including their three number ones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Hear Talk (song)</span> 1984 single by Bucks Fizz

"I Hear Talk" is a 1984 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz, written by Andy Hill and Peter Sinfield, the team responsible for the group's biggest hit in the UK, "The Land of Make Believe". It was also produced by Hill. Released as a single in December 1984, it is the title track from the group's fourth studio album. In 2010, the song was chosen as the first single by the Original Bucks Fizz in a live jazz-style reworking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You and Your Heart So Blue</span> 1985 single by Bucks Fizz

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now Those Days Are Gone</span> 1982 single by Bucks Fizz

"Now Those Days Are Gone" is a single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It became a UK top ten hit in July 1982 and featured on the group's album Are You Ready. The song was nominated for an Ivor Novello award the following year.

<i>The F–Z of Pop</i> 2017 studio album by The Fizz

The F–Z of Pop is a studio album by British pop group The Fizz, released in 2017. It is the second album by the group and the first by the four-member line up of Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston, Mike Nolan and Bobby McVay. Released in September, the album entered the UK albums chart at No.25, the highest chart position achieved by a Bucks Fizz line-up since the "New Beginning " single in 1986, 31 years earlier.

<i>Christmas with the Fizz</i> 2018 studio album by The Fizz

Christmas with the Fizz is a 2018 album by British pop group The Fizz. It is a festive-themed album, the group's first and was released in November 2018. The album features the line-up of Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston, fourth member Bobby McVay having parted with the band earlier in the year. Christmas with the Fizz was produced by experienced hit producer Mike Stock.

<i>Smoke & Mirrors</i> (The Fizz album) 2020 studio album by The Fizz

Smoke & Mirrors is a 2020 studio album by The Fizz, formerly Bucks Fizz. It is the third album by the group under the name The Fizz and the second as a threesome consisting of original members Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston. Released on 6 March 2020, the album entered the overall UK Albums Chart at No. 29, the UK Album Sales Chart at No. 6, the Official Vinyl Albums Chart at No. 5 and the UK Independent Albums Chart at No. 3. Its sales chart position of No. 6 is the highest entry of any previous Bucks Fizz/the Fizz albums.

References

  1. ↑ "Stars still run for the sun". Chronicle live. 15 December 2004. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Rosy Moorhead (22 June 2015). "Former Bucks Fizz star Mike Nolan talks to Rosy Moorhead about the group's gig at Watford Colosseum". Watford Observer. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  3. ↑ "Bucks Fizz star Jay Aston 'positive' after cancer surgery". London: BBC News. 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  4. ↑ The Original Bucks Fizz – News
  5. ↑ The Original Bucks Fizz October 2009 tour
  6. ↑ The Original Bucks Fizz. "Blog – May 2010". Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  7. ↑ BBC Radio Two, "The Steve Wright Show" (hosted by Chris Tarrant), 11 May 2011
  8. ↑ Sky News (17 July 2011). "Bucks Fizz acts in legal battle". UK. Retrieved 22 July 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ IPO (18 August 2011). "Trade Marks Act 1994, Court case hearing" (PDF). London. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  10. ↑ RTÉ TV50 (24 May 2012). "Four Blondes and an Armed Escort". RTÉ News. Dublin. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ theobf.co.uk. "OBF website". Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  12. ↑ Official website. "Where to see us". Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  13. ↑ Official website - Formerly of Bucks Fizz Archived 17 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "Fizz | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  15. ↑ "News". www.thefizzofficial.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  16. ↑ "Bucks Fizz star has mouth cancer". BBC News. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018– via www.bbc.com.
  17. ↑ "Fizz | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  18. ↑ "The Fizz announce brand new album 'Everything Under The Sun'". Retro Pop. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "Broadstairs' Mike Nolan, original member of Bucks Fizz and more recently The Fizz, confirms he is quitting". Kent Online - kentonline.co.uk. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Fizz | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  22. ↑ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  23. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart 13 January 2023 – 19 January 2023". officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  24. ↑ "The Fizz release 'Everything We Do (We Do It for You)' from latest album Everything Under the Sun". Retro Pop Magazine. 21 October 2022. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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