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Topic History of: RIP Steve Priest aged 72
Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)

Author	Message
Little Sausage	I liked Sweet too, back then it was The Sweet.. I first remember hearing Co-Co on Radio 1 when I was gallivanting around Medway near the Thames as a 10 or 11 year old and liking the tropical drums.. Those massive hit records Co-Co, Poppa Joe, Little Willy, Wig Wam Bam, Blockbuster, The Ballroom Blitz, Hell Raiser, Teenage Rampage, The Six Teens were all Produced by Phil Wainman (Written by wealthy Mayfair Lad Nicky Chinn and Queenslander Mike Chapman). The early Sweet records featured session musicians on the records and only used the bands vocals, up until Little Willy or Wig Wam Bam and from then on the band played on their own records.. insisted on it... Chinn & Chapman tend to get all the recognition but it was Wainman who put the productions together and came up with the drum pattern in The Ballroom Blitz. Phil Wainman was first a drummer before he became a producer. Nicky Chinn had setup two production companies with Phil Wainman Chinebridge Limited (1973) and New Dawn Productions Ltd (1970) both of which are still active companies today. Although Chinn & Chapman had signed on with Mickie Most's Rak Records and gave Rak a (temporary) share of the Publishing, The Sweet were signed to RCA Records. Steve Priest was great for Top of the Pops as he became another focal point.. the outrageous one in the band.. ChinniChap tried to achieve a similar thing with Rob Davies of Mud ... but Mud were not quite as wild.. Sweet went on to do well in the USA and the rest of the world whereas Mud enjoyed some huge hits in the UK, Netherlands and Europe with some mild hits in Australia. Andy Scott and Steve Priest had some conflict over the past couple of decades.. but Scott is genuine in his tribute to Priest as I think he always wanted the band to have the two surviving members back together and to seal the old rifts. Now it's just Andy Scott left to carry the baton and keep Sweet alive. I never saw the band live, my love of music was always the songs and the records, and of course back then TOTP was essential viewing for nearly everyone in Britain. Listen to the demo of The Ballroom Blitz with Mike Chapman singing and you'll appreciate what Phil Wainman achieved Click this link youtu.be/4bHN7imfZFo?t=2836
Green Man	robbiex wrote: I saw the Sweet supporting the Bay City Rollers in 2015 at the Hammersmith Apollo (or whatever it's called now). I'm not sure whether it was Andy Scott's Sweet, or Steve Priest's sweet. It was probably Andy Scott as I would be more likely to recognise Steve Priest. I'm not a fan of groups carrying on with only one remaining member, particularly if it is not the lead singer. They don't have much credability, you may as well be watching a tribute band. The rollers at least had 3 members from the classic lineup (Les, Woody, and Alan). There was a lot of that there were 2 Barclay James Harvest, 2 Rubettes. God knows how many lineup changes Marmalade have had.
robbiex	I saw the Sweet supporting the Bay City Rollers in 2015 at the Hammersmith Apollo (or whatever it's called now). I'm not sure whether it was Andy Scott's Sweet, or Steve Priest's sweet. It was probably Andy Scott as I would be more likely to recognise Steve Priest. I'm not a fan of groups carrying on with only one remaining member, particularly if it is not the lead singer. They don't have much credability, you may as well be watching a tribute band. The rollers at least had 3 members from the classic lineup (Les, Woody, and Alan).
Green Man	I saw The Sweet about 12 years ago at a nostalgic gig. I am not sure who was is in original lineup then. They have had so many changes like Kansas. Despite the mediocre performance Steve gave it 100%. I'm not keen on their early stuff; but the stuff they did near the end of the group's tenure is terrific rock. Even breaking into America was great for them. I don't think Mud did that. Glitter Band, excellent group of guys who didn't deserve the crap they got from media and public after Gary Glitter prosecution. Glitter Band are innocent, if they come to a venue near you do go and see them. Even if it's a John Rossall solo gig.
robbiex	Steve Priest Sad to hear about the death of Steve Priest from the Sweet. They made some great pop songs mainly written by Chinn and Chapman (I think), who wrote for many other glam rock artists like Mud, Suzi Quatro, and Kenny. Steve was often the main focus of the band, due to his outlandish costumes, including wearing a hitler moustache and eye shadow on top of the pops. They were a fun band, they looked like hod carriers, but wore heavy makeup, and looked frankly ridiculous, but didn't take themselves too seriously. They and he are fondly remembered and one of their songs "Fox on the Run", recently featured in the Guardians of the Galaxy film.