Holly Johnson was the lead vocals and frontman of the 1980’s synth-pop band Frankie Goes To Hollywood, a band which saw huge success with their 1983 debut single “Relax”, which, although banned by the BBC for a time, still managed to top the UK singles charts for 5 weeks in a row, and becoming the seventh best-selling UK single of all time. It won the 1985 Brit Award for Best British Single. The bands next two singles “Two Tribes” and “The Power of Love” also reached number one in the UK singles chart, making Frankie Goes To Hollywood only the second band in the UK chart history to reach number 1 with their first three singles. The other band being Gerry and the Pacemakes during the 1960’s.
The groups debut album, which featured their 3 hit singles also reached number 1 in the UK Album Charts with over a million records sold in advanced sales.
Johnson, along with bandmates Mark O’Toole and Peter Gill received the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for Two Tribes, which in 2015 was voted as Britain’s 14th favourite 1980’s number 1 song.
Holly Johnson left Frankie Goes To Hollywood in 1987 due to disagreements over the bands musical direction, however by 1989 he was back on the scene releasing his debut solo album Blast, which reached number 1 in the UK album charts with hits such as “Americanos” and “Love Train”.
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