Frankie Goes To Hollywood

About Frankie Goes To Hollywood

English pop group, formed in Liverpool, UK in 1980.

Members were:
William Holly Johnson (vocals – b.February 19, 1960),
Paul Rutherford (vocals, keyboards – b.December 8, 1959),
Brian Nash (guitar – b.May 20, 1963),
Peter Gill (drums – b.March 8, 1964)
Mark O'Toole (bass – b.January 6, 1964).

The band gained notoriety following the banning of Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax by BBC 1 Radio DJ Mike Read. “Relax” was a smash hit across Europe and the USA. “Frankie Says” T-shirts became the fashion statement of the year. Each subsequent FGTH release that year – two singles and a double-LP – went straight in at number one in England.

Their follow-up album “Liverpool” came out in October 1986 but failed to reach the sale levels of “Welcome To The Pleasuredome”. In 1987 Johnson left the band to pursue a solo career. Following litigation, ZTT lost their claim of contract-breaking against Johnson. Rutherford quit too, leaving a diminished group who subsequently disbanded.

The original line-up reunited to play one song, “Welcome To The Pleasure Dome”, during the National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome concert on 7th May 2023.