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.
Stairways to the Stars
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And climb that stairway to the stars
With love beside us to fill the night with a song
We'll hear the sound of violins
Out yonder where the blue begins
The moon will guide us as we go drifting along
Can't we sail away on a lazy daisy petal
Over the rim of the hill?
And settle high on the crest of a thrill!
Let's build a stairway to the stars
A lovely stairway to the stars
The lyrics of Sweet's song "Stairways to the Stars" evoke an ethereal and romantic imagery of aspiring to reach great heights with a loved one. The opening lines express a yearning to build a stairway leading to the stars, symbolizing an ambitious and dream-like desire to transcend earthly limitations and soar to a higher realm filled with beauty and wonder. This depiction of reaching for the stars can be seen as a metaphor for seeking greatness, fulfillment, and transcendent experiences in life, with the stairway acting as a pathway to these lofty aspirations.
The repeated motif of climbing the stairway with love beside us reinforces the idea of unity and companionship in the pursuit of dreams. Love is portrayed as a guiding force that enhances the journey towards the stars, filling the night with a melodious song that uplifts and inspires. The imagery of hearing the sound of violins and being guided by the moon emphasizes the magical and enchanting quality of this celestial voyage, where music and celestial bodies serve as companions on the journey through the vast expanse of the universe.
The imagery of sailing away on a lazy daisy petal and a little dream conveys a sense of lightness, whimsy, and escapism, suggesting a desire to float effortlessly and gracefully towards the heavens. The idea of settling high on the crest of a thrill speaks to the exhilaration and ecstasy that can be found in embracing the unknown and taking risks in pursuit of one's deepest desires. This sense of adventure and daring is echoed in the whimsical notion of sailing away on a dream, highlighting the power of imagination and fantasy in propelling us towards greater heights.
The closing lines of the song serve as a reaffirmation of the central theme of building a stairway to the stars, emphasizing the beauty and allure of this lofty goal. The repetition of the phrase "A lovely stairway to the stars" reinforces the enchanting and romantic nature of the journey, inviting listeners to join in the fantastical quest for transcendence and elevation. Overall, the lyrics of "Stairways to the Stars" convey a sense of longing, romance, and aspiration, inviting us to dream big, reach for the stars, and share in the magic of a love-filled voyage towards the heavens.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's build a stairway to the stars
Let's strive towards achieving our dreams and aspirations, aiming for success and greatness.
And climb that stairway to the stars
Let's put in the effort and determination to reach our goals and make our dreams a reality.
With love beside us to fill the night with a song
With support and compassion from loved ones, we can find joy and inspiration even in the darkest of times.
We'll hear the sound of violins
We'll be surrounded by beauty and art, experiencing the sweet music of life.
Out yonder where the blue begins
Venturing into the unknown and starting fresh, embracing new beginnings and possibilities.
The moon will guide us as we go drifting along
We'll find guidance and tranquility in the moonlight as we navigate through life's journey.
Can't we sail away on a lazy daisy petal
Can't we escape from reality and float away on a carefree journey towards happiness and peace?
Over the rim of the hill?
Beyond the obstacles and challenges, can we find a path to new and exciting adventures?
Can't we sail away on a little dream
Can't we pursue our hopes and ambitions, aiming for something bigger and better than our current reality?
And settle high on the crest of a thrill!
Finding satisfaction and fulfillment at the peak of excitement and enjoyment, embracing the thrill of accomplishment.
A lovely stairway to the stars
A beautiful and inspiring path towards reaching our goals and dreams, filled with hope and determination.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Frank Signorelli, Matt Malneck, Mitchell Parish
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind