I have read
that both you and Mike were working on tracks for your own albums. Any chance of you both
persueing or becoming a duo in the pop world. I always thought you two sounded great
together ?
(Submitted by SJK)
D’you know, I can’t remember half the stuff I’ve recorded.
When I received the new albums from Dean and Ian it was one of those ‘blimey,
I’d forgotten I did that one!’ moments. However…..I am planning an album of
sort-of jazzy stuff. I’ll record it at home in my own time, which means it may never
see the light of day! As for Mike, I don’t believe he ever recorded solo stuff
although I could be wrong. I think he should do an album of easy-listening songs, like
that O’Donnell bloke. I know it would be selling his soul down the middle-of-the-road
river, but I honestly think he would do a brilliant job. Did any of you ever hear him sing
Danny Boy?! And no, we won’t be becoming a duo. Mind you, the two of us have sung
together on the odd occasion, usually at a charity gig.
I was
wondering if you can remember why it was decided to scrap plans to release Love In A World
Gone Mad as a single, especially when so much effort had gone into re-recording it?
(Submitted by Waldo)
Fancy asking me if I can remember why it was decided to scrap plans to release it as a
single! Me! The bird who forgets to wake up in the morning! No, I can’t remember why
not, but I agree with you. It should have been a single. I love it too. Shelley reminded
me when we listened to it in the car that on the first Writing On The Wall album it was
just my vocal. I don’t remember that either! I think it sounds great with both us
though. Shelley’s voice is soft and sultry where mine is….well, you never like
the sound of your own voice!
I know that u
have a huge GAY following & Jeremy Joseph wants u & Bucks Fizz (Bobby, Shelley
& Mike) to appear there,
1) Would u do it?
2) What do u think of having such a huge GAY fanbase
3) Y were "I'd like to say I love u" & 'Tears on the ballroom floor"
& "Breaking me up" left as album tracks
(Submitted By Mart)
I know Jeremy for
G.A.Y. would love us to do the club again. It was my last gig with Bucks Fizz, 11th
December 1993.
1: Yes, I would do it.
2: I think it’s great we have such a huge gay fan base. Some of my best friends are
gay and they are a great audience.
3: Dunno, you’d have to ask Andy and Nichola that one.
Can't believe
the girls are 11 in June!! Where has the time gone! Are they excited or nervous about
changing schools! I've been there & done it two years ago, the entry exams always
happened at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning & you could guarantee that it
would be horrible weather! Good luck Kyla & Natalie in September next year, enjoy your
last Christmas at Juniors & all the fun it brings!
(Submitted By Katharine)
Thanks for your good wishes for the girls. Natalie is taking her 11+ on Monday and Tuesday
10/11 January. Kyla has chosen not to take it. I want them to go to a particular school
but we might be out of its catchment area. I’ll do my best to get them in, though.
We’ve chosen to put them into state schools by –the-way, because I think they
will benefit from being in the ‘real’ world. Apart from that, private schools
are expensive!
I think it's
time you buried the hatchet with Jay. You always seem to be having a 'dig'. Even in
Saturday's Daily Mirror you were quoted as saying that when Shelley joined how nice it was
to at last have a female you could talk. The inference being that you could not talk to
Jay.
Jay has never said a negative thing about you.
(Submitted by Ben)
Sorry if you’re disappointed in my relationship with Jay. It’s true to say we
hardly ever talked. We were two very different people with completely different interests.
Professionally, I think Jay was fantastic. She had a great sense of style and performed
really well on stage. As part of Bucks Fizz, Jay, Cheryl, Mike and Bobby worked well. Off
stage was a different matter. Do you get on well (or even like) every one you work with?
When Shelley joined, not only was there someone who worked well with us on stage but she
gelled with us off-stage as well. I can’t bring myself to lie and say that everything
was fine with Jay, because it wasn’t.
If Bucks Fizz
were still recording today is there any current chart material you would have like to have
sung as a group?
(Submitted by Kevin D)
If BF were still recording
today….? Hmm….I think it would have to be similar to the sort of stuff we used
to do. Early stuff, that is. Any of the current pop bands could be singing a Bucks Fizz
song, in my opinion. Girls Aloud, S-Club (when they still were), Liberty X. You name
‘em, they could have been us!
What do the
twins think of having a famous mum(and dad!) are they fizz fanatics like us lot if so what
fizz songs do they like ?
(Submitted by Gary)
Here are the girls:
I’m Natalie and I like having a famous mum although sometimes it feels like she is
putting fans before me (no offence!) I know she isn’t though. Once my mum had to have
a picture taken and the photographer pushed me aside. It made me a bit upset but mum made
me feel better, dad is really cool on stage I don’t know how he can juggle the 6
bands he’s in! I love all mum’s songs but my favourite is probably new
beginning. I am also interested in music and have a little band at school! We are called
Attitude. Well lets put it this way when she is at home she’s my mum, when she’s
out she is Cheryl baker.
Out of all the
songs you recorded (that have been released so far - so I don't spoil anything Ian and
Dean have in store for us next year!!)
1 - which was your favourite?
2 - which one didn't you like?
3 - what one was most fun to perform on tour / TV?
4 - what one did you all as a group say, "We're not doing that on Tour" ?
5 - What do you think of the recently released 'new versions' of Love in a World Gone Mad?
I think your vocals sound better on this than the original.
(Submitted by Mark)
I remember you, you cheeky monkey!
1. My favourite BF song……that’s a toughy. I used to get my biggest kicks
singing in the studio, so I s’pose it would be one with loads of harmonies on. Mind
you, most of them had loads of harmonies on! I love 20th Century Hero, Now
Those Days Are Gone, Land of Make Believe and New Beginning best, I think.
2. I didn’t like any songs that sounded miserable. One Of Those Nights, When We Were
Young, even Rules Of The Game. I like songs that make you smile.
3. Oh, I think that has to be Land Of Make Believe. Did you ever see t he Christmas Top of
the Pops we did where we all dressed up? It was such fun. Plus, because it was a hit over
Christmas and New Year we got to do some really good TV’s. And live, we used to have
a snow machine that would gush fake snow over us and the front rows of the audience. Happy
memories!
4. Honestly can’t remember.
5. I love the new version of Love In a World Gone Mad. I can’t compare it to the
original, ‘cause I can’t remember it!
Are there any
BF songs you would have liked to have sung lead on? Which was your own favourite track
featuring your lead vocal? (I love "This Fragile Heart" best)
(Submitted by Alanbill1074)
I’ve never been bothered with singing lead. I don’t think I have a
‘lead’ voice. My forte is harmonies. I prefer to use my voice like an
instrument. Mind you, I think Fragile Heart is a lovely song. Some of the stuff I did solo
(which wasn’t that much!) was really nice, some of it wasn’t. We were asked to
sing in voices that just weren’t us and personally, I don’t think it worked.
What is your
favourite bucks fizz song that you most enjoy or enjoyed performing?
(Submitted by Kev)
Sorry I didn’t get to meet you when I did How Dare You. Hope you enjoyed the gig at
Newcastle. We signed autographs there. I wonder if yours was one of them? Anyway…
I used to love performing Heart of Stone. Another one I enjoyed, although it wasn’t
one of ours, was We Built This City. Does Bobby still do that one? But my all-time
favourites we did on the Here and Now tour. Land of Make Believe and New Beginning.
I have often
wondered what your daughters think of 'mum' being a pop star, before they were born. Do
they get the giggles when a BF video comes up?
(Submitted by Handcut)
Here are Kyla and Natalie to answer yours:
I’m Natalie and it is usually great having a pop star as a mum, you get to go to the
premiers and cool places, but on the other hand she works! I love her videos and music. I
actually have a video of mums music and watch it loads! Thankyou!
I'd like to
ask what part of performing again as Bucks Fizz (at Here and Now) you are most looking
forward to? Will it be singing those songs, the venues or simply being on stage with Mike,
Shelley and Bobby again? Maybe something else completely.
P.S. Is the message that says you've been rehearsing in your lounge true?
(Submitted by Dean)
The best part of getting together with BF again was definitely the performing. Actually
being on stage, in front of an audience that seemed to be full of Bucks Fizz fans! I
enjoyed the whole experience, but that was waaaay the best. And yes, we rehearsed in my
living room!
I've been
wondering if there are any Fizz songs that you would have liked to have had released as
singles? Either instead of the ones that were released, or as well as?
(Submitted by Steve)
I’ve read a few of the fans’ comments recently about the choice of later BF
songs and the fact that they were all Bobby leads. As much as I think Bobby has a superb
voice, I agree with the fans. I think we should have stuck to the winning formula of
‘ boys singabit / girls singabit ‘ Therefore…..I wouldn’t have
released songs like Love The One You’re With although I like it loads. Following New
Beginning, we should have endorsed that winning boy/girl formula. Dunno what with though.
I’d have to listen to the album.
In an
interview a couple of years back I think it was now, you mentioned you were thinking of
doing a Jazz album. I thought that would be a brilliant idea and your voice would be
perfect for that. Has the idea been forgotten or are there still plans?
(Submitted by Steve Jacks)
Yes, I am thinking of doing a jazz
album – still! Soon my Steve and I will have the studio up and running so
there are a few projects that need doing. One is the jazz album, another is a kids’
album (after listening to all the poo on offer for my own children) and another is
recording Kyla and Natalie, who are much better singers than their mum and dad!
Any song that
makes you cringe?
(Submitted by Zanzii)
I s’pose you mean BF songs? I fast-forward quite a few! As I mentioned in an earlier
answer, I don’t like songs that are dreary – music to slit your throat by, I
call it. But to be honest, I don’t really listen to BF. Looking back, there are a few
‘filler’ tracks on our first album that shouldn’t have seen the light of
day like Right Situation, likewise, on Writing on the Wall there are a couple that
weren’t good enough, though I can’t remember what they’re called now.
I just wanted
to say a very big thank you for doing the tape for my surprise 40th birthday party on
Saturday. It made my day as did the signed photo.
(Submitted by Paul/Pauline)
No probs! Hope the party was a big
success.
Can you tell
us what tracks you'll be performing?? Or is it a surprise?
(Submitted By Mullo1)
Bit late to tell you what songs we’re performing now, aren’t I? Hope you managed
to get to one of the gigs and you enjoyed it as much as we did.
I'd love to
know what it was REALLY like both in the dressing room and on the stage for the 4 of you ?
Did you really all enjoy being together again?
Had you missed each other more than you thought?
What was it like performing with Bucks Fizz at a large arena in 2004?
(Submitted by Matt)
Hope you’ve both got over your
colds. Thanks for coming to support us, considering your health!
In the dressing room….well, it’s just a room really. Nothing much happened other
than me and Shelley put our make-up on and took ages! We had a crate with water, soft
drinks, a couple of beers and a bottle of wine in it each night in our dressing room. On
the first night (Sheffield – Bobby wasn’t there) we had a bottle of champagne to
celebrate being on the road again.
On stage was just like it used to be, it felt really comfortable. And yes, we really
enjoyed working together again. I think even Bobby enjoyed it, although it must have been
hard for him as he has two different acts in his head – very confusing!
No, I don’t think we missed each other more than we thought ‘cos life goes on,
doesn’t it. You do other things, meet other people. T he funny thing was, though,
that when we got back together for the first time it felt as if we had seen each other
just a few days before, rather than years and years!
It was great working the big arenas as we hadn’t done it before. In our day (I sound
like my gran!) tours went on for weeks or months, and you did a different venue in every
town rather than just a few arenas dotted around the country. I think for the audience,
the theatre tours are better than the arenas.
We had great feed-back after the tour, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we were asked to
do more gigs in the future.
Just a note to
say thanks for last night! I was the one in the MAMBA SEYRA t shirt, front row who was
jumping up and down manically!
I would like to know if a reunion tour does come off, would you be playing up here at all
??
(Submitted by Emmeline)
Yup, saw the t-shirt. Actually, at every venue there were some very ancient BF t-shirts!
Reunion tour? I honestly don’t think that could happen because of Bobby’s Bucks
Fizz. It was great that he agreed to do the H & N tour and I think the fact that we
only did 30 minutes along with other 80’s acts diluted the impact we would have had
if we had been the sole act. To go on tour simply as Bucks Fizz would be too confusing for
Bob and I feel sure he wouldn’t do it.
I’ll tell him hi from you though! He’s in the Caribbean at the moment. It’s
a tough life, but someone’s gotta do it!!
I think one of
your recorded highlights is "Tears on the ballroom floor". "I hear
talk" is an incredible album. What are your memories of making that album, and how do
you think its fate would have differed had the accident not happened?
(Submitted by Ben)
Hi Ben, glad you enjoyed the shows.
I agree – I Hear Talk was a great album. However…..even if the accident
hadn’t happened, I don’t think it would have been a hit. Even I Hear Talk the
single, which I thought was brilliant. You have to face facts. Bucks Fizz were losing
their popularity at that time. Our singles had been steadily reaching lower and lower
chart positions and our albums never did particularly well. We were definitely a
singles’ group.
Aside from any
possible further Fizz reunions, what other plans do you have for 2005?
(Submitted by Gareth)
Plans for 2005? D’you know, I’ve hardly any. I have loads of irons in the fire
(whatever that means!) like Eastenders (yet again!), The Bill, touring with a play, doing
some gigs myself but nothing really concrete. That’s how it’s been these last
couple of years though.
Oh yes, I’m
recording some stuff for a series called ‘What Women Really Want’ so I’ll
be on a few of those. I’ve been asked to do a naked reality show offering loads of
money!! I turned it down!
You’ll just have to wait and see what I’m doing, same as me!
looking back,
what has been your best and worst fizz outfit over the years?
(Submitted by 20thcenturyhero)
I think my fave outfit was a rubber
suit I had. I loved it. It was in the Shelley years. I don’t think I did any TVs
wearing it though, so unless you saw us live you won’t know the one I’m talking
about. It was double-dear but worth every penny. I used to have to put talc all over the
inside to get it on, then when I took it off after the gig, where I had been sweating, the
talc would go into little round balls of wet grey stuff. Disgusting! Blokes used to think
the suit was really sexy, when in fact in made you smell like a Wellington boot! I had to
shower immediately I took it off. It was still my fave, though.
My least favourite
is a sixties-style dress with flat boots that we wore for a photo session. Did me no
favours at all, especially my thunder thighs!
How many songs
did you record for your solo career when you were signed to WEA. Was an album completed?
Will we ever get to hear your version of the brilliant "If you're right"?
(Submitted by Magritte)
I’ve absolutely no idea how many
tracks I recorded when I was with WEA. I tell you who would probably know – Dean who
put the latest BF albums together.
Do you ever
get annoyed with radio stations/other media outlets not playing Bucks Fizz? I often feel
the fizz have been left out
(Submitted by the_doctor)
Yes, I do get annoyed when they don’t play us. I also get annoyed when we’re
never on 80’s compilation albums yet tracks that were far less popular and sold less
get on. And when you do hear a BF track, it’s always Making Your Mind Up! When I do
radio interviews I especially ask them not to play MYMU and to give one the others a
blast, like New Beginning.
I was
wondering what was it like being back together again. did it feel like you'd been together
forever and nothing had changed? did the old routines and harmanies just fall into place,
or was a strange feeling, or was it hard work learning everything over again? was it
emotional for you all?
(Submitted by Mark)
It was really lovely working together again. But oh no, the dance routines and harmonies
didn’t just fall into place! We really struggled to remember some of them, but I
think we did a pretty good job in t he end. And yes, it was emotional. We rehearsed and
reheased each and every song so many times but the first time we put them all together as
though it was the gig, I filled up! Especially when we sang Land of Make Believe. That was
when I had to stop singing, wipe my eyes and blow my nose!
Thanks for your really kind words. You don’t know how much they’re appreciated.
Did your girls
enjoy seeing Mum up on stage with Bucks Fizz? Do they now look at you in a new light? What
do they think of Bucks Fizz?
(Submitted by Tracey)
The girls were thrilled to come and see me working with BF. They came to the Brighton gig
and anyone who was there would have seen them with a few of their friends come on stage
for ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ at the end. I think they love some of the
celeb side of my life like meeting Duncan from Blue (I enjoyed that as well!) but
sometimes, as Natalie mentions in a previous answer, they don’t like it. If I’m
doing an interview or a photo session and I can’t give them my attention they really
get humpy. I try to involve them as best I can but although they like Cheryl Baker, they
prefer mum!
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