Megan Brooks
The Sweet, sometimes known as Sweet, are a British glam rock band that rose to fame in the 1970s. The band consisted of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bassist Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker. Despite the band's flamboyant and androgynous image, none of the band members were gay. The band's bassist, Steve Priest, who wore heavy makeup and outrageous costumes, including a Nazi officer's uniform, recalled that his look was not meant to be subtle, contrary to the advice of fellow musician David Bowie. The band's legacy continues today, with Andy Scott still touring with a lineup of Sweet and Steve Priest forming his own version of the band before his death in 2020.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Band name | Sweet (sometimes known as The Sweet) |
| Genre | Glam rock |
| Sexual orientation of members | None of the band members are gay |
| Founding members | Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Mick Tucker, Frank Torpey |
| Founding year | 1968 |
| Origin | London, UK |
| Status | Disbanded in 1981 |
| Hit songs | "Block Buster!", "Hell Raiser", "The Ballroom Blitz", "Fox on the Run", "Little Willy" |
| Albums sold worldwide | Over 35 million |
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What You'll Learn
- Band members Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott and Mick Tucker were not gay
- Steve Priest's flamboyant persona was criticised by David Bowie
- Connolly's ill health and diminishing status caused tensions within the band
- Connolly's final concert was at the Bristol Hippodrome in 1996
- The band's manager, David Walker, attributed the break-up to musical differences
Band members Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott and Mick Tucker were not gay
Steve Priest, the bassist, wore heavy make-up and outrageous costumes, including a swastika armband and a German military uniform on the Christmas 1973 edition of Top of the Pops. In a 2010 interview, Priest commented on the irony of his costume, saying, "I mean, a gay Hitler. Hello?!". In the same interview, he also referenced the band's golden-haired singer, Brian Connolly, and guitarist Andy Scott, saying, "Scott blew him kisses".
In his 1994 autobiography, Are You Ready Steve?, Priest recalled talking to David Bowie backstage on Top of the Pops about his make-up routine. He said, "I was plastering this make-up on, and Bowie's going: 'Oh no, no, no. You've got to be subtle.' Bowie just didn't get it. It isn't supposed to be subtle. I'm supposed to look like an old tart."
The band's image and on-stage antics were part of their appeal, and they often performed with other glam rock acts like Alice Cooper. However, their look and sound evolved over time, and they became known for their hard rock style and high-pitched vocals.
Despite their success, the band faced challenges, including Connolly's struggles with alcoholism and his eventual departure from the group in 1978 or 1979. Connolly passed away in 1997, Tucker in 2002, and Priest in 2020. Scott is the sole surviving member of the classic line-up and continues to tour with his version of the band.
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Steve Priest's flamboyant persona was criticised by David Bowie
Steve Priest, the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the glam rock band Sweet, was known for his flamboyant persona and outlandish performances. Priest's onstage persona not only impacted the band's image but also their sound. Priest's distinctive vocal style, with short high-pitched vocal leads and hysterical interjections, became a key part of Sweet's musical style.
Priest's flamboyant image included wearing heavy makeup and outrageous costumes. He once recalled a conversation with David Bowie backstage on *Top of the Pops* in which Bowie criticised his excessive use of makeup:
> "I was plastering this make-up on, and Bowie's going: 'Oh no, no, no. You've got to be subtle.' Bowie just didn't get it. It isn't supposed to be subtle. I'm supposed to look like an old tart."
Priest's adoption of a camp image and his unapologetic embrace of androgyny challenged traditional masculine norms and pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in mainstream popular culture at the time.
Bowie, himself a pioneer of glam rock and androgynous fashion, seemed to believe that Priest's overt display was excessive and detracted from the artistry of the music. This criticism highlights a tension within the glam rock genre, which can be categorised into "high glam" and "low glam". "High glam" artists like Bowie prioritised artistic credibility and the influence of literature, theatre, and visual arts on their work, while "low glam" artists like Sweet unapologetically embraced commercial appeal and shock value.
Despite Bowie's criticism, Priest's flamboyant persona and unapologetic attitude had a significant impact on the band's success and the evolution of glam rock as a genre. Sweet's influence extended beyond their time together, impacting 80s metal bands like Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe, whose members viewed themselves as "metaphorically Steve Priest's offspring".
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Connolly's ill health and diminishing status caused tensions within the band
Brian Connolly, the vocalist of the glam rock band Sweet, suffered from ill health and a decline in his status within the band, which led to tensions within the group. Connolly's health issues were likely due to his excessive alcohol consumption, heavy smoking, and use of prescription diuretic medicine. These problems resulted in him being hospitalized in 1981 with bloating and multiple heart attacks, leaving him with some paralysis on his left side and a subsequent nervous system condition. Despite his health issues, Connolly continued to tour with the band, now known as The New Sweet, from 1984 onwards. However, his health remained an issue, and during a tour of Australia, Connolly was hospitalized again for dehydration and related problems, forcing the band to perform without him.
Connolly's health issues and diminishing status within the band caused tensions and ultimately led to the band's decline in popularity. The band's bassist, Steve Priest, recalled that Connolly's health was revealed in a 1996 Channel 4 documentary, 'Don't Leave Me This Way', which examined the impact of Connolly's time as a pop star on the band and its members. Priest himself had adopted a camp image, wearing heavy makeup and outrageous costumes, and was known for his on-stage antics, such as snapping microphone stands over his knee.
While Priest and Connolly had once worked closely together, with Priest often backing up Connolly's vocals and taking short, high-pitched vocal leads, their relationship deteriorated over time. Priest went on to form his own version of Sweet in 2008, playing mainly in the US and Canada. He refused to associate with guitarist Andy Scott, who continued to tour with a separate lineup of Sweet. Scott, on the other hand, faced challenges from Connolly's New Sweet in the 1980s and 1990s and had to defend his trademark in Britain and mainland Europe.
Connolly's health issues and the resulting decline in his status within the band likely contributed to the tensions and eventual disbandment of Sweet. The band's members went their separate ways, with Connolly continuing to perform until his death at the age of 51, caused by his recurring health problems and bad habits.
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Connolly's final concert was at the Bristol Hippodrome in 1996
None of the band members of Sweet, the glam rock band, were gay. The band included vocalist Brian Connolly, bassist Steve Priest, drummer Mick Tucker, and guitarist Andy Scott.
Steve Priest, who wore heavy makeup and outrageous costumes, recalled talking to David Bowie backstage on Top of the Pops. He also wore a swastika armband and a German military uniform on the 1973 Christmas edition of the show, which caused some controversy.
Brian Connolly, the golden-haired singer of Sweet, also had a solo career and fronted a few rival bands in the 80s and 90s. Connolly's final concert was at the Bristol Hippodrome in 1996. The Bristol Hippodrome is one of the largest theatre stages in Britain and is known as Bristol's West End Theatre. Although the specific show for Connolly's final performance is not known, "The Rocky Horror Show" was performed at the venue from April 2nd to 6th, 1996.
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The band's manager, David Walker, attributed the break-up to musical differences
The Sweet, a British glam rock band, formed in London in 1968 and rose to fame in the 1970s. The band's best-known line-up included lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bassist Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.
The band went through several ups and downs, and in 1979, lead singer Brian Connolly quit. By the early 1980s, The Sweet had disbanded. However, the band's legacy continued with various iterations of the group emerging over the years.
In 1985, two versions of the band existed: 'New Sweet', fronted by Connolly, and 'Andy Scott's Sweet'. Scott's version of the band continues to perform to this day. Connolly's version came to an end with his death in 1997.
In 2008, Steve Priest formed his own version of The Sweet, primarily focusing on touring in North America. Priest's widow, Maureen O'Connor, took over management of the band after his passing in 2020, and they decided to continue performing despite having no original members.
Throughout the years, The Sweet has endured various changes in its line-up and has faced challenges due to internal disputes and musical differences. The band's manager, David Walker, attributed the break-up to these musical differences, which may have stemmed from the band members' differing aspirations and ideas about their musical style and image.
David Walker's perspective on the break-up highlights the creative divergences within the band, suggesting that the members struggled to reconcile their varying artistic visions. This could have led to a disconnect in their collaborative process, impacting their ability to create cohesive music and perform cohesively.
Additionally, the band's desire to evolve their sound and image may have contributed to the musical differences. The Sweet's early bubblegum pop style, exemplified by their 1971 hit "Funny, Funny," transitioned to a harder rock sound influenced by bands like The Who. This stylistic shift may have caused tensions within the band, with some members embracing the change while others preferred their earlier sound.
Furthermore, the band's outlandish and controversial stage personas, which included heavy makeup, outrageous costumes, and provocative symbolism, may have also played a role in the musical differences. Some members, like Steve Priest, embraced the campy and provocative aspects of glam rock, while others may have felt uncomfortable with the limelight and the extravagant image the band portrayed.
The impact of these musical differences extended beyond the band's break-up. The Sweet's legacy is marked by the existence of multiple iterations of the band, each with its own interpretation of their musical style and image. This ongoing division highlights the lasting impact of the musical differences that initially led to their disbandment.
While David Walker's attribution of the break-up to musical differences provides insight into the creative conflicts within the band, it is also important to acknowledge the complex interplay of personal dynamics, industry changes, and individual aspirations that likely contributed to the dissolution of The Sweet.
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Frequently asked questions
No, none of the members of Sweet are gay.
No, none of the past members of Sweet were gay.
No, none of the members of Sweet identified as gay. Bassist Steve Priest, who wore makeup and flamboyant costumes, was thought by many to be gay. However, he stated that he only leaned into this perception for his persona.
No, the band Sweet did not explore themes of homosexuality in their music.
