Thirty-two years after winning the Eurovision Song Contest, Mike Nolan of Bucks Fizz is to release his debut album as a solo artist.
The album is called In my life and is due out on 13 May. Its fourteen tracks, all influenced by the music of the 70s, chart Mike’s difficult and emotional journey back to health after the 1984 coach crash that nearly ended his life.
Following their Eurovision triumph, Bucks Fizz were touring the UK when their coach collided with a lorry after a gig in Newcastle’s City Hall. All four members of the band were injured, with Mike being thrown through the coach’s windscreen with Cheryl Baker. Mike, who was four days short of his 30th birthday at the time, suffered serious head injuries and put on a life support machine. The accident robbed him of 50% of his vision in both eyes and left him with memory loss, mood swings and epilepsy
He said recently of the accident, For my family, the impact was massive. They did not know if I was going to live or die and I came so close to dying. It was worse for them than it was for me in some respects because they could do nothing but wait for an outcome – will he or won’t he survive and if he comes through this will he be brain damaged. I am still affected today by the crash today but at least I am alive.
Incredibly, Mike was back on stage again with Bucks Fizz after only nine months.
Mike is due to make his first live solo appearance in thirty years at the Soldiering on Awards next Saturday, 23 March, at London’s Park Plaza Hotel. There, he’ll perform two songs from In my life. On top of this, he’ll be promoting the album with a series of radio appearances, starting on the Sunday Supplement Show on BBC Radio Kent, 23 April. Listeners of the Ken Bruce Show on BBC Radio 2 will get to hear an interview with Mike during which he discusses his experiences at Eurovision, which is to be aired as part of a Eurovision special during the week beginning 13 May.
As well as the album, Mike has been heavily involved with BUSK, the British road safety organisation, and in particular, their campaign to encourage vehicle passengers to wear seat belts.
Mike Nolan won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 as part of the band Bucks Fizz in 1981 with the song Making your mind up. The band had a string of hits in the 80s, including Land of make believe and Piece of the action. Mike still performs with original band members Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston although the band is now known as OBF (Original Bucks Fizz). In May 2012, OBF released their first album of new material in over 20 years. The album was called Fame and fortune? and was available through their website.
Mike’s album is available to pre-order now through his website.
Bucks Fizz in 1981 –
