Frankie Goes To Hollywood

One of the most spectacular - and controversial - bands of the 1980s, Frankie Goes To Hollywood hit the UK Number 1 spot with each of their first three singles (the first time anyone had achieved this since Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1964) and launched a fashion trend with their run of Frankie Says... T-shirts. They originally emerged from the Liverpool punk scene, developing an overtly sexual image, high energy dance music and risqué stage show. First single Relax was released late in 1983 and became a club favourite, but didn't break into the mainstream until the following January when, enraged by its sexual innuendo, Radio 1 breakfast DJ Mike Read very publicly banned it. The resultant publicity rocketed the track to Number 1 and Frankie became fashion icons and one of the most influential bands of the decade; they were rarely out of the headlines as, promoted by startling videos, the next two singles Two Tribes and the ballad The Power Of Love also hit Number 1, with an equally successful album, Welcome To The Pleasuredome. However, in the midst of internal wrangles, they disappeared almost as fast as they'd arrived, as Holly Johnson launched a solo career. They briefly reunited in 2003 without Johnson, who concentrated on painting.

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