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.
Fox on the Run
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before
Okay, you think you got a pretty face
But the rest of you is out of place
You looked alright before
Fox on the run
Take a run and hide yourself away
Foxy on the run
F-foxy
Fox on the run
And hide away
You, you talk about just every band
But the names you drop are second hand (second hand)
I've heard it all before
I don't wanna know your name
'Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before
Fox on the run
You scream and everybody comes a running
Take a run and hide yourself away
Foxy on the run
F-foxy
Fox on the run
And hide away
F-foxy
Fox on the run
You scream and everybody comes a running
Take a run and hide yourself away
Foxy is on the run
F-foxy
Fox on the run
And hide away
(Fox on the run)
(Fox on the run)
(Fox on the run)
(Fox on the run)
The lyrics in Sweet's song "Fox on the Run" speak to the theme of superficiality and the danger of getting wrapped up in someone's exterior appearance. The singer begins by stating that they don't want to know the person's name because they don't look the same as they did before. This implies that the singer knew the person before, but their appearance has changed and it's not for the better. The person may have undergone cosmetic changes or taken on a fake persona. The singer goes on to say that the person may have a pretty face, but the rest of them is out of place, suggesting that there's more to a person than just their looks.
The chorus, "Fox on the run", speaks to the idea of a sly, cunning person who is always on the move and never stays in one place for too long. The person is described as screaming, and everyone comes running, which can be interpreted as people being drawn in by this individual's charm or attractiveness. However, the singer advises them to take a run and hide themselves away, suggesting that this person can be dangerous and it's best to avoid getting involved with them. The repeated refrain of "F-foxy" underscores this idea of someone being deceptive and untrustworthy.
Overall, "Fox on the Run" is a cautionary tale about being too caught up in appearances and being wary of people who seem too good to be true. It warns against being drawn in by someone's superficial charm and reminds us that there's more to a person than just their looks.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna know your name
The singer is uninterested in knowing the name of the person he is singing to
'Cause you don't look the same
The person he is singing to has changed and is not recognizable to him
The way you did before
The person he is singing to used to look a certain way that the singer preferred
Okay, you think you got a pretty face
The person he is singing to believes they are attractive
But the rest of you is out of place
Despite thinking they are attractive, the person does not fit in with the singer's preferences
You looked alright before
The person was attractive to the singer in the past
Fox on the run
The singer is referring to the person they are singing to as a fox on the run
You scream and everybody comes a running
The person attracts attention from others when they vocalize their opinions
Take a run and hide yourself away
The singer suggests that the person should hide themselves
Foxy on the run
The singer reiterates that the person is a fox on the run
F-foxy
The singer is emphasizing the fox-like nature of the person
You, you talk about just every band
The person likes to talk about various music bands
But the names you drop are second hand (second hand)
The person is not original in their opinions on music bands
I've heard it all before
The singer has heard similar opinions from the person before
Foxy is on the run
The singer reiterates that the person is a fox on the run
And hide away
The singer wants the person to hide themselves away
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN FRANCIS CONNOLLY, STEPHEN NORMAN PRIEST, MICHAEL THOMAS TUCKER, ANDREW SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ronnietarnacke5153
The year, 1975 ... I was 8 , at the bowling alley . Had a quarter , this kid I knew who was a couple years older than I. Suggested we play 2 songs on the juke box . Me I was kind of naive about music . So of course I let him choose the songs . The two songs he chose were sweet , Fox on the run and kiss , rock and roll all night . Opened me up to a whole world of audio bliss . I'll never forget that moment .
@kathryndogoloff5297
That's an awesome story the music then was SO much more creative than the Shit now. I wish I had a time machine. Where are you from AND what's going on there with THE VIRUS? I'M from Arizona and things every day are being closed or limited. Eating out is now banned but you can still order pick up and I think delivery.
@ronnietarnacke5153
@@kathryndogoloff5297 I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. I am living in Albuquerque, NM , now . Yes that is a great memory. Sweet kinda fell off after 75 , but I definitely became a huge kiss fan . But fox on the run will always hold a special place in my heart . I can still feel that joy I felt that day . With the opening key board and the vocals bursting in I...I...I DONT WANNA KNOW YOUR NAME . the Corona virus here , schools shut down , converts and other large events canceled. Grocery stores empty of stock , starting tomorrow all restraunts will be carry out only . Me I was between jobs and my new job has been put on hold. My wife works from home so no change there .
@kathryndogoloff5297
@@ronnietarnacke5153 memories like that are literally priceless. They are what we can always turn to if we want that warm happy feeling. I never got into Kiss I was really young then I listened to rock because thank God of my much older sister so whatever she liked I liked. I needed to hear this to escape the scary present where viruses are spreading music sucks AND I'm SO far away from my mom and dad who are my BEST FRIENDS and I miss them incredibly right now and worry for them SO much everyday. Be safe and keep listening to awesome music.
@TheEricroberson
I was 5
@romeovictor954
Good Choices: can't ever go wrong with Kiss
@jeffreyboyd958
No smoke machines, no laser shows, no giant screens...just pure talent, charisma and stage presence. God I miss the world I grew up in.
@davidkillawee6
Same world dude, ever see the Wings Over America concert, that tour started only a year after Fox was recorded. Smoke, lasers, at least for Live and Let Die. Anyway FOTR is my favourite revenge song ever, and before they were ever called revenge songs, although Weird Al's One More Minute is probably close enough to tie. At any rate I largely agree with you, with the exception of Disco ( especially Disco ), and 99% of Country music I miss those radio years, hell I even miss the Bubblegum Pop.
@birgitkruse8923
Ich vermisse die Welt von damals auch. Das war wenigstens noch gute Musik!😁
@GODCONVOYPRIME
Thanos?! Is that you?!