Countdown to Forever Young Festival: The Chart Toppers

Holly Johnson

Johnson made his name as frontman of subversive new wave crew Frankie Goes To Hollywood, who scored such mega-hits as ‘Relax’, ‘Two Tribes’ and ‘The Power Of Love’. Subsequently, the Scouse hero went platinum in the UK with his solo debut Blast, and saw more chart success with the storming single ‘Love Train’.

 Marti Pellow

The Scot was the lead singer of pop sensations Wet Wet Wet from their formation in ‘82. Pellow finally departed the band – whose smash hit version of ‘Love Is All Around’ was famously featured in Four Weddings And A Funeral – in 2017. He found his feet as a solo artist and musical theatre performer, continuing to produce well-received albums.

Bananarama

Who hasn’t danced to the chart-topping hits of the London stars? The name is synonymous with brightly coloured leotards, leg warmers and yellow-blonde hair – the very essence of the ’80s. They are perhaps best remembered for their ‘83 hit ‘Cruel Summer,’ which climbed – in spandex, probably – to the upper reaches of the charts.

Paul Carrack

Joined by former Ace singer Paul Carrack, Mike + The Mechanics struck gold with the haunting ‘The Living Years’, which emphasised the importance of family. The band’s crowning achievement was a number one hit and radio smash in 1989.

Johnny Hates Jazz

The Anglo-American duo enjoyed breakthrough success with their 1987 hit, ‘Shattered Dreams’. Reaching the top five in countless countries, the song also boasts over 3.5 million plays on American radio. The band reunited in 2010 to record a new album, which spawned the UK radio hit ‘Magnetized’.

Limahl

As lead singer with Kajagoogoo, Limahl scored a global hit with ‘Too Shy’, and then repeated the trick with the likes of ‘Ooh To Be Ah’, ‘Hang On Now’ and ‘Big Apple’. 1984 saw him going solo and topping the charts again with the theme tune to the blockbusting Never Ending Story film.

Tony Hadley

Having fronted ‘80s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet, there’s no better synth-pop heartthrob than Tony Hadley. The band had numerous chart-topping singles and albums all over the world, including the epic Through the Barricades and No. 1 True, featuring ‘Gold’. In 2018, the singer released his anticipated solo album Talking To The Moon, with June this year seeing Hadley release new single ‘Obvious’.

For more, see foreveryoungfestival.ie – and read the full Forever Young special feature in the current issue of Hot Press: