They were managed by Paul Nicholas, who later went on to star in Hair'. The quartet made its public debut at the Pavilion in Hemel Hempstead on 9 March 1968 and they gradually developed a following. Frank Torpey was again recruited to play guitar. Priest had previously played with mid-'60s band the Countdowns who had been produced and recorded by Joe Meek. They recruited bass guitarist and vocalist Steve Priest from a local band called The Army. In January 1968 Connolly and Tucker formed a new band calling themselves The Sweetshop. When the Gentlemen eventually broke up, Hills and Box joined White Plains who eventually scored a big hit with " My Baby Loves Lovin'". Tucker and Connolly remained with Wainwright's Gentlemen until January 1968. Searle, regarded by many as the most talented musically, disappeared from the scene. Torpey only lasted a few months, and in late 1967 Robin Box (born 19 June 1944) took his place. Fairminer's position was eventually assumed by Frank Torpey (born Frank Edward Torpey, 30 April 1945, Kilburn, North West London) - a schoolfriend of Tucker's who had just left West London group The Tribe (aka The Dream). Tony Hall had joined on saxophone and vocals and when Fripp left he was replaced by Gordon Fairminer. Gillan's and Cully's eventual replacement, in late 1966, was Scots-born vocalist Brian Connolly, who hailed more recently from Harefield. Cully remained as vocalist before departing some time later. Gillan quit in May 1965 to join Episode Six, and later, Deep Purple. The track includes Gillan on vocals, Tucker on drums and, according to band bassist Jan Frewer, is thought to have been recorded in 1965. The band recorded a number of tracks including a cover of the Coasters- Hollies hit "Ain't That Just Like Me", which was probably recorded at Jackson Sound Studios in Rickmansworth. Mick Tucker, from Ruislip, joined on drums replacing Phil Kenton. A female vocalist named Ann Cully soon joined the band. Chris Wright left the line-up in late 1964 and was replaced by Ian Gillan.
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Highlights of the show were presented on BBC1 by Alan Freeman. In January 1964 the band came fifth in a national beat group contest, with finals held at the Lyceum Strand on. By 1964 the group was also playing in London, including at the Saint Germain Club on Poland Street. Managed by Frewer's father, the band performed in the Hayes, Harrow and Wembley area. Phil Kenton joined on drums as the band changed its name to Wainwright's Gentlemen (due to there being another band known as Unit 4). Founding members included Chris Wright (vocals), Jan Frewer (bass), with Jim Searle and Alfred Fripp on guitars. Mark Lay's history of that band states they formed around 1962 and were initially known as Unit 4. Sweet's origins can be traced back to British soul band Wainwright's Gentlemen. ( January 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Sweet have since sold over 35 million albums worldwide. Andy Scott is still active with his version of the band. Connolly died in 1997, Tucker in 2002 and Priest in 2020. From the mid-1980s, Scott, Connolly and Priest each played with their own versions of Sweet at different times. Connolly left the group in 1979 to start a solo career and the remaining members continued as a trio until disbanding in 1981.
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The Sweet had their last international success in 1978 with "Love Is Like Oxygen". They also achieved success and popularity in the US with the top ten hits " Little Willy", "The Ballroom Blitz", "Fox on the Run", and " Love is Like Oxygen". These results were topped in West Germany and other countries on the European mainland. " Fox on the Run" (1975) also reached number two on the UK charts.
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The band turned to a more hard rock style with their mid-career singles, like 1974's " Turn It Down". The band first achieved success in the UK charts, with thirteen Top 20 hits during the 1970s alone, with " Block Buster!" (1973) topping the chart, followed by three consecutive number two hits in "Hell Raiser" (1973), " The Ballroom Blitz" (1973) and "Teenage Rampage" (1974). During 19, their musical style followed a marked progression from the Archies-like bubblegum style of "Funny Funny" to a Who-influenced hard rock style supplemented by a striking use of high-pitched backing vocals. The band were formed in London in 1968 and achieved their first hit, " Funny Funny", in 1971 after teaming up with songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and record producer Phil Wainman. The group were originally called The Sweetshop. Their best known line-up consisted of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker. The Sweet (often shortened to just Sweet), are a British glam rock band that rose to prominence in the 1970s.