The group's initial years were characterized by bubblegum songs that they were only allowed to sing on, with heavier self-penned rock songs as the b-sides. They achieved their first hit in 1970 with the release of Funny Funny. In the following months, Sweet released "Co-Co" and Poppa Joe, both achieving huge success in the charts. In 1971 they released the album "Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be", which consisted mostly of songs written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman.
Sweet's success continued with more glam rock and power pop oriented tunes, such as "Little Willy", "Wig Wam Bam", Hellraiser and Ballroom Blitz. By this time Sweet had a world-wide following, clocking up no less than 18 top 20 hit singles, and the guys were most notably popular in Germany and the U.K.
The group's members are perhaps best remembered for their very 'glam' outfits, featuring a lot of glitter, platform boots, chain mail shirts, and plenty of makeup. The group practically defining the camp extreme of the glam rock look, Steve Priest would later say it was very short-lived and only happened by accident, as some sort of ongoing rivalry between them and artists such as David Bowie and T. Rex. Everyone tried to outdo each other’s ridiculousness on Top Of The Pops. Sweet’s glam rock era lasted from 1972 to 1973.
In 1974, Sweet released Teenage Rampage, The Six Teens and Turn It Down, showing their desire to take a more hard rock direction. By this time tensions between the band and the songwriters and producer started to grow. The guys also pushed for more songwriting control, which increased tensions between them, the songwriters and producer.
In 1975, Sweet wrote, recorded and produced the smash hit Fox on the Run on their own, essentially severing ties with Chinn and Chapman. Following the song’s success, they released the acclaimed track Action. Their momentum went on, the band embarking their first U.S. tour.
After their recent success, Sweet released the “Give Us A Wink” album in 1976, which was notably heavy. It contained the single The Lies In Your Eyes, which achieved moderate success. A year later, in 1977, they released the album “Off The Record”, but singles such as Fever Of Love and Lost Angels failed to gain traction, partly due to bad marketing from their label. Despite this, the band continued to distance themselves from their earlier commercial ventures.
Sweet’s career was revitalized with the release of Love Is Like Oxygen in 1978. By this time Connolly had developed a drinking problem and started to be increasingly unreliable during recording sessions. Following a disastrous U.S. tour, he left the band officially in early 1979. The band continued on as a three piece band for three more years, releasing “Cut Above The Rest”, “Waters Edge”, and “Identity Crisis”. Priest took over most of the lead vocals until Sweet’s disbandment in 1981.
In 1985, Andy Scott and Mick Tucker re-formed Sweet with various new vocalists and bass players, the most notable being a 1986 reunion featuring Paul Mario Day (the first singer of Iron Maiden), keyboardist Phil Lanzon, and bass player Malcolm McNulty (who is now lead singer for fellow glam rock band Slade). Steve Priest was asked to join Tucker and Scott for the 1985 Australian tour, but declined at the last moment. Vocalist and bass player Jeff Brown joined in 1988. In 1991, Mick Tucker departed due to ill health, leaving Andy Scott as the only original member. He was replaced by German Bodo Schopf, and subsequently, Bruce Bisland. After Tucker's departure, Andy Scott changed the band's name to 'Andy Scott's Sweet'.
During this time, Brian Connolly, now in bad health, also performed with his version of Sweet. In 1981, he suffered multiple cardiac arrests, which permanently affected his health. He died on 9 February 1997, aged 51. He was cremated after a ceremony at Most Holy Name Roman Catholic Church at Old Mill Lane, Denham, Buckinghamshire and his ashes were scattered over the water by his adult daughters Nicola and Michelle. He also left an ex-wife, Marilyn, and a two-year-old son called Brian Junior (BJ) by his girlfriend Jean.
Michael Thomas (Mick) Tucker died 14 February 2002 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire from leukemia, aged 54; his funeral took place 25 February 2002. He is buried in an unnamed grave in Chorleywood House cemetery. It is marked by a sleeping angel. A wooden bench with a brass plaque funded by fans as a dedication to Mick is also positioned in the grave's vicinity.[2] He left behind a widow, Jan, and a daughter Ayston from his first marriage to Pauline (†1979). According to Steve Priest: "He was the most underrated drummer that ever came out of England. He was the powerhouse of the band. He was technically marvellous. His timing was impeccable, but he had a lot of soul as well and he really felt what he was playing."
In 1994, Steve Priest published his autobiography “Are You Ready Steve?”, which was a raw expose of his time with Sweet and pre-Sweet. In 2006 he released Priest's Precious Poems, a CD of tracks largely consisting of his more recent material. In 2008, he came out of retirement to form his own version of Sweet, based in the US. A year later this band released a live CD called Live In America. In March 2020, he was admitted to a hospital in L.A. After battling pneumonia for a few months, he died on June 4th 2020 at the age of 72.
Andy Scott currently continues to tour with Sweet. In 2002, Sweet released a new album called Sweetlife. February 2006 saw the release of a new Suzi Quatro album, Back To The Drive, which was produced by Scott. In March 2012, Scott released a covers album called New York Connection. Scott teamed up with Suzi Quatro and Don Powell to release a CD called Quatro, Scott and Powell in 2017. Scott has continued to produce for bands throughout the years, currently being the producer for Novatines.
In recent years, Sweet's popularity has surged again. The song Ballroom Blitz was featured in 2016's Suicide Squad, while Fox on the Run was featured in the trailer for 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy 2.
Burning
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the night is bright
And it's cold outside
I'm burning
The feeling inside
That I just can't hide
Now it's for you I'm yearning
Just a simple touch of you
But you won't have me
I sit right here
And my only fear is you
And all you can be
At the third stroke
It will be five thirty
I'm a simple man
And a simple man
Can't get to you with feeling
Even if I might
Then it wouldn't be right
To you love has no meaning
The lyrics of Sweet's song "Burning" depict a man who is longing for someone who he can't have. The first verse talks about a cold and bright night where there is no light but the stars shining. The singer of the song is burning inside with the feeling that he just can't hide. His yearning is directed towards the person who he can't have. The second verse talks about how he just wants a simple touch from this person he desires, but they don't want him in return. He sits there and his only fear is the person and all they can be.
In the bridge of the song, there is a shift in the lyrics where time is mentioned. The man sings that at the third stroke it will be five thirty. This shift in the lyrics can signify how time is passing by, and he is still yearning for this one person. In the last verse, the man reveals that he is a simple man and just can't express his feelings to the person he is attracted to. Even if he could express them, it wouldn't be right as their love has no meaning.
Overall, the lyrics of this song are quite beautiful and display the hidden desire of a man who cannot have the person he yearns for. The lyrics have a melancholic element to them, as the singer is unable to attain the love he desires which can be relatable to many people.
Line by Line Meaning
When there ain't no light
When there is darkness in my life
But the night is bright
But the surroundings are still lighted
And it's cold outside
And the atmosphere is unwelcoming
I'm burning
I'm feeling the heat of my emotions
The feeling inside
My strong emotions within
That I just can't hide
That I'm unable to suppress or conceal
Now it's for you I'm yearning
I'm longing for you
I ain't asking much
I don't have big demands
Just a simple touch of you
Just a little affection from you
But you won't have me
But you don't want me
I sit right here
I remain here
And my only fear is you
And my only concern is you
And all you can be
And all the possibilities of what you may become
At the third stroke
After the third sound
It will be five thirty
It will be half past five
I'm a simple man
I'm an uncomplicated person
And a simple man
And as an uncomplicated person
Can't get to you with feeling
I can't reach you emotionally
Even if I might
Even if I try
Then it wouldn't be right
Then it still wouldn't be appropriate
To you love has no meaning
You don't value love
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, BRIAN CONNOLLY, MICHAEL TUCKER, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffreyflint6286
I love these guys and have since I was 10 and now I'm 63. Awesome band!
@TheDaftric
Ditto
@lindahubbuck6451
The Sweet had the best B sides
@cosmicman621
...Man From Mecca...
@lindahubbuck6451
@Cosmic Man Burning , Burn on the flame my favourites
@debbielee4343
Best band of all time,wish I could go back in time!
@rosannag.8172
There's no other band like Sweet
🎶🎤🎸🎸🥁👍💕
We need a time machine 😉😉😉
@jeffreyflint6286
Yes indeed. Love them and everything they've ever done.🤟🤟
@1969myke
I really believe you are correct! They were way ahead of there time. All there songs are really really great!
@petebest22
And they say John Bonham is the best 70s rock drummer 😚 Mick Tucker was just a monster on them drums like John 😊