November 22nd 2024.
Mike Nolan, the Eurovision Song Contest winner, recently expressed his sadness at having to say goodbye to his time with the 80s group, The Fizz. After more than 40 years on stage, either as Bucks Fizz or as their spin-off group, the 69-year-old played his final gig with original members Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston on Wednesday.
The group has been a force in the music industry, achieving the rare feat of turning Eurovision success into overall success. Their winning entry "Making Your Mind Up" took the UK by storm in 1981 with its iconic dance routine and led to three number one singles and a top 10 album. But their success didn't stop there, and they continued to delight audiences with their performances for years to come.
After their recent concert at The Stag in Sevenoaks, Nolan shared with the PA news agency how bittersweet the experience was. "It was stressful, not in a horrible way, just a bit worrying because we wanted it to be perfect. Our drummer had an accident and couldn't perform, but we were lucky to have a brilliant replacement step in."
The band usually opens their shows with a mash-up of 1980s covers, but for their final performance together, they decided to focus solely on their Bucks Fizz hits. Nolan admitted that there were a few moments where they couldn't remember the lyrics, but it all fell into place and the crowd went wild. "It was a great way to end for me. I was sad, but also very happy. It was a brilliant night."
As a central member of the group since its inception, Nolan shared that it was time for him to move on to other projects. "I will miss it, but I'm also not sorry. During the lockdown, when the whole world came to a standstill, it made me realize that I was ready for a change. I didn't want to go back when we resumed our performances."
Nolan also revealed that his departure had caused some upset within the group, with Cheryl being particularly emotional about it. However, Jay understood his decision. Nolan has now been replaced by Matthew Pateman, former lead singer of 1990s boy band Bad Boys Inc, and Nikk Mager of Phixx, who appeared on ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals.
The news of Nolan's replacements was first announced on BBC Radio 2, creating a buzz of excitement for the group's new era. Earlier this year, after Nolan announced his departure, Cheryl and Jay put out an ad seeking two experienced male singers to join the legendary 80s pop group. It seems they have found the perfect fit in Pateman and Mager.
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