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.
Lost Angels
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who'll sing the song if melody should end
You're dead my friend.
Lost angel come and take control
Lost angel gotta keep on
Hold on
hold on
Gotta get on back to the love in the street
Gotta get down 'cause I'm dead on my Feet
Gotta get on back to the love in the street
We're lost angels
Listen to the way to rock'n'roll.
Insanity
I can feel the knives inside my brain
I stand alone at the threshold of my pain.
Lost angel come and take control
. . .
Gotta get on back to the love in the street
Gotta get down 'cause I'm dead on my feet
Gotta get on back to the love in the street
We're lost angels.
How I see it now all my friends inside my life
Appeared before my eyes
And returning to space to see myself disappear
Lost angel come and take control
. . .
Gotta get on back to the love in the street
Gotta get down 'cause I'hn dead on my feet
Gotta get on back to the love in the street
We're lost angels.
Gotta get on back to the love in the street . . .
The lyrics to Sweet's song Lost Angels are a cry for help, a desperate plea for redemption from a life of uncertainty, confusion and pain. The opening lines of "Infinity like time without a friend" speak to a feeling of endlessness, of being trapped in a cycle of life with no escape. The following line "Who'll sing the song if melody should end" suggests a feeling of despair, as if the singer is questioning if anyone will care if they are gone. Then the line "You're dead my friend" implies that the singer is feeling isolated, abandoned, and alone.
Throughout the rest of the song, the singer is fixated on the idea of a "lost angel" coming to take control and lead them to safety. The chorus repeats that the singer needs to "get on back to the love in the street," suggesting that they have strayed far from the path of righteousness and need to find their way home. The line "Listen to the way to rock'n'roll" acts as a sort of plea for direction and guidance.
The second verse continues with the theme of pain and isolation. "Insanity, I can feel the knives inside my brain" is a powerful metaphor for the agony the singer is experiencing. "I stand alone at the threshold of my pain" speaks to the feeling of being on the brink of collapse, and without anyone to help them through.
Overall, Lost Angels is a powerful piece of songwriting, a plea for help from someone struggling to find their place in the world. The raw emotion and powerful imagery used throughout the song make it a classic for fans of 70s rock.
Line by Line Meaning
Infinity like time without a friend
Endless loneliness like an infinite amount of time without anyone to share it with.
Who'll sing the song if melody should end
Who will continue to sing and enjoy life if the joy and pleasure of life vanishes like an ending melody.
You're dead my friend.
Life without happiness and pleasure is like being dead, my friend.
Lost angel come and take control
I need someone to take control and help guide me through the struggles of life, like a lost angel.
Gotta get on back to the love in the street
I need to return to the simple joys and kindness of life found in the streets.
Gotta get down 'cause I'm dead on my feet
I need to push myself to keep going despite my exhaustion and lack of energy.
We're lost angels
We are all struggling to find our way in this world, like lost angels.
Listen to the way to rock'n'roll.
In the midst of the struggles of life, we can find joy and comfort through the music and rhythm of rock'n'roll.
Insanity
Mental instability and chaos is consuming my mind.
I can feel the knives inside my brain
I am experiencing immense mental pain and anguish.
I stand alone at the threshold of my pain.
I am confronting my pain and facing it head on, even though it feels like I am standing at the edge of a cliff.
How I see it now all my friends inside my life
I have come to realize that my friends are an integral part of my life and have influenced my experiences.
Appeared before my eyes
It has become clear to me through reflection that my friendships were always present and important.
And returning to space to see myself disappear
Upon looking back on my life, I see that I, like everyone, will eventually disappear into the vastness of space and time.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, BRIAN CONNOLLY, MICHAEL TUCKER, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Horst Lemke
Was für ein Song voller Power und Emotion, die Gitarren von Andy gehen direkt ins Blut, aber vor allem die emotionalen Vocals von Brian und das dynamische Zusammenspiel wzischen Mick Tucker und Steve Priest, solche Songs gibt es heutzuateg gar nicht mehr, allein diese Mischung zwischen Mini-Moog und Harmony Gitarren, einfach klasse. Beste Grüße, Horst Lemke, Musikproduzent, Germany Ps. Allein die Temposteigerung im Song, unglaublich diese Mega Power!!!
EDUARD KUNZ
Sweet waren immer sehr gut,hoffe das Andy noch lange lebt
Will
Great track! The Sweet's downfall is one of Rock's great tragedies. Such a hugely talented and charismatic band
Rosanna G.
Yes, that's true !
Pink Champagne
I'm just now hearing this song for the first time. I'm blown away again by the Sweet!!! Brian looked like an angel no matter how tough he tried to look. I love Andy's talent and definitely Steve and Mick too. They all are so talented in different ways and that's what made it all work. They made magic.
Rina Ticson
I love that description of Brian
Sergey Alekseev
Одна из лучших их песен, и один из лучших вокалистов в мире.
Фаина
Супер!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robin Gardner
Dont think most ppl understand how talented these guys are. Great song!!
Arja Kolehmainen
Great rock bands and good rock music. Thank you very much.👍👍👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤