Today, iconic singer and songwriter Holly Johnson has announced two exclusive UK concerts celebrating 40 Years since Frankie Goes to Hollywood ripped through the 80's music scene with the release of their debut single RELAX.
The dates follow Frankie Goes To Hollywood one off special reformation to open the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool at the weekend. Holly Johnson’s headline live shows will take place on Saturday 21st October in his hometown at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and on Saturday 27th October at the legendary London Palladium.
RELAX proved to be one of the decade’s most successful and controversial singles, it sold in excess of two million copies in the UK alone ranking it among the 10 biggest selling singles ever. It remained in the charts for a record 37 weeks. The BBC famously banned Relax, refusing to play it due to the perceived sexual content.
Relax re-entered the charts following the release of their second single Two Tribes further cementing the bands place in music history with 2 singles sitting at chart positions Number 1 and 2. The band started to unravel following the release of Welcome to the Pleasuredome.
Holly moved on to solo success with the release of Blast which also celebrates 35 years and produced hits such as Love Train, Americanos, Heavens Here and Atomic City. Blast will be released on a special-coloured vinyl reissue this coming autumn.
These new dates will be packed with Frankie hits including Relax, Two Tribes, The Power of Love, Welcome to the Pleasuredome and tracks from Holly’s smash hit solo career. On the shows, Holly said;
“I’ve been working for months on this autumn UK and European solo shows to Celebrate 35 years since BLAST went to number 1 in the UK and 40 years since RELAX by FGTH was released.
All of a Sudden with a Boom Bang A Bang the Eurovision Song Contest asked Frankie to reform for a one-off exclusive performance at their Opening Ceremony, it’s all gone Ballistic ever since we said yes!
I’m delighted to be playing my hometown gig at the Liverpool Philharmonic plus the London Palladium in October this year. I’ll be performing all the Frankie and solo hits so come and celebrate with me!”
Tickets are on sale Friday 12th May at 10am via www.gigsandtours.com
Saturday 21st October 2023 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Friday 27th October 2023 – London Palladium