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.
Live for Today
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you took a walk right through the door
They don't know the reason
You just couldn't take it anymore
The lies that they told you
And the times that they sold you
Down the line
Live for today - don't want no inquisition
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away
You gotta, you gotta
Live for today - don't need your politician
Live for today - don't want no inquisition
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away
Counterfeit city
Spending your life in their charade (sorry for yourself)
Sincerely phony
This musical masquerade has gone too far far far
You sold your clothes
Now it's cold up your nose
And you froze
Live for today - don't need your politician
Live for today - don't want no inquisition
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away
Live for today - don't need your politician
Live for today - don't want no inquisition
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away
Gotta gotta gotta gotta
Live for today - don't need your politician
Live for today - don't want no inquisition
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away
You gotta live for today
You gotta throw it away
Gotta gotta live for today
You gotta throw it away
Get out of my way
I'm only live for today
Live for today
Throw it away...
The song Live For Today by Sweet encourages listeners to live life in the present moment and throw away societal norms and expectations. The lyrics detail the singer's struggle with being constrained by the lies, tricks, and inquisitions thrown his way by politicians and other people he trusted. He breaks free from these restrictions by taking a walk right through the door, leaving his problems behind. The chorus advises the listener to live for today and not let anyone dictate their life or future.
The second verse expands the concept to the broader society, creating a counterfeit city where people are only pretending to be something they're not. Everyone is caught up in a musical masquerade, pretending to be someone else, and living life as a farce. The singer depicts the tragic picture of someone who's sold their clothes and has nothing left to give. This immoral city has left them cold and alone, lost in the midst of the chaos.
Overall, Live For Today is a song that urges listeners to be free from the societal expectations and enjoy life as it comes. The singer's journey is a call to action for anyone feeling stuck or lost in life. The song's takeaway is significant, considering the era in which it was released, a time of change and revolution that caused many people to question the norm.
Line by Line Meaning
They thought you were crazy
People doubted your actions and motives
When you took a walk right through the door
When you left or escaped from a certain situation
They don't know the reason
Others are clueless about what prompted you to leave
You just couldn't take it anymore
You were fed up with the mistreatment, lies, or deception
The lies that they told you
The false information or promises that you were given
And the times that they sold you
The instances where they betrayed or deceived you
Down the line
Over time, in the long run
Live for today - don't need your politician
Don't rely on or trust politicians or the government
Live for today - don't want no inquisition
Avoid investigations, interrogations, or intrusions into your privacy
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away
You should break free from societal norms, restrictions, or expectations
Counterfeit city
A fake or artificial environment or lifestyle
Spending your life in their charade (sorry for yourself)
Wasting your time and energy pretending to fulfill others' expectations, while feeling guilty or unhappy
Sincerely phony
Genuinely fake, with deceptive or manipulative intentions
This musical masquerade has gone too far far far
This deceptive or superficial facade has become too extreme or unbearable
You sold your clothes
You sacrificed your possessions or self-worth for an empty or temporary reward
Now it's cold up your nose
You are suffering the consequences of your actions, such as addiction or regret
And you froze
You are unable to move or act due to fear, shock, or indecision
You gotta live for today
You must focus on the present moment and not worry too much about the future
You gotta throw it away
You must discard or let go of the past or negative influences
Get out of my way
Others should not obstruct or interfere with your goals or aspirations
I'm only live for today
You prioritize experiencing life and enjoying the moment over other concerns
Throw it away...
Get rid of anything that holds you back or corrupts you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, BRIAN CONNOLLY, MICHAEL TUCKER, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Юрий Денисенко
@Иван Таранин Очень спорный
вопрос. Как по мне Фредди больше балладный вокалист
( небудем вспоминать
Love Is Like Oxigen), а вся его
команда- классика академического хардрока.
А the Sweet... Мне понравилось
определение одного роккритика
(или около рока) который
обозвал их стиль глэмметаллом.
Подтрунивал он или всерьёз,
а мне определение понравилось.
Adelardo De Narbardi
LYRICS:
They thought you were crazy
When you took a walk right through the door.
---
They don't know the reason
You just couldn't take it anymore
--
The lies that they told you
And the times that they sold you
Down the line
Live for today - don't need your politician.
Live for today - don't want no inquisition.
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away.
You gotta, you gotta
Live for today - don't need your politician.
Live for today - don't want no inquisition.
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away.
Counterfeit city
Spending your life in their charade (sorry for yourself)
Sincerely phony
This musical mascerade has gone too fucking far
You sold your clothes
Now it's cold up your nose
And you frooze
Live for today - don't need your politician.
Live for today - don't want no inquisition.
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away.
(Guitar solo)
Live for today - don't need your politician
Live for today - don't want no inquisition
Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away.
Gotta gotta gotta gotta
Live for today! - don't need your politician.
Live for today!- don't want no inquisition
Live for today! - you gotta throw the rules away
You gotta live for today!
You gotta throw it away!
Gotta gotta live for today!
You gotta throw it away!
Get out of my way!!
I'm only live for today!!
Live for today!!!
Throw it away!!!
Written by all band members.
flashtheoriginal
Sweet. One of the most underrated rock bands ever. Total class
William Aiken
Brian has such confidence, he never overplays his stage presence, just exudes cool.
Pavel Slaný
Is the best! :-)
Ana Graham
@tessa hainey I don't think so because there are other videos after the attack where he isn't wearing it. And there are songs after where his voice is smooth as silk, but it definitely affected his voice.
tessa hainey
@Lisa Anderson he was beautiful wasn't he, another earth angel. But his voice sounds different, we were just wondering if he took to wearing the neckscarf after he was attacked and his throat kicked in?
Lisa Anderson
No other front man like him. Rest easy and fly high dear Brian. Always in our hearts.
THEODORE ritola
The Sweet were so 70s COOL AS F ROCKED LIKE F
Tony Powell
Andy is up there with the best of them. Fantastic guitarist and so underrated.
Pavel Slaný
Andy je tam nahoře s nejlepšími z nich. Fantastický kytarista a tak nedoceněný.
Lisa Anderson
As it so happens. the Welsh boy outlives them all. Love the Sweet! <3