The Fizz singer Mike Nolan has revealed the real reason he is leaving the band after 43 years.
Joining host Michael Ball on his BBC Radio 2 show on Sunday, the Eurovision star, 69, first announced he was leaving saying: ‘I’m going to be leaving, it’s for personal reasons. I have decided to go, to leave.
‘I’ve been thinking about it for a long long, long time and I just thought: ‘this is the time to do it’. We’ve been together for 43 years.’
The Fizz are a British pop music group formed in 2004 as a spin-off from the original group, Bucks Fizz. The core of the group consists of Cheryl Baker, 70, Mike and Jay Aston, 63.
And The Fizz appeared on Monday’s Good Morning Britain where Mike elaborated on the reason why he is leaving.
The Fizz singer Mike Nolan has revealed the real reason he is leaving the legendary band after 43 years
The Fizz are a British pop music group formed in 2004 as a spin-off from the original group, Bucks Fizz. The core of the group consists of Cheryl Baker, 70, (left) Mike (right) and Jay Aston, 63 (centre)
The Bucks Fizz reached stardom in the 1980s after winning the historical Eurovision Song Contest with the song Making Your Mind Up in 1981 (pictured in 1982)
And The Fizz appeared on Monday’s Good Morning Britain where Mike elaborated on the reason why he is leaving
Mike said: ‘It’s actually personal reasons why I’m leaving but also as well I was getting fed up with the amount of travelling you’ve got to do.
‘Everyone has to travel but because I can’t drive anymore, I’ve got to get into a cab, onto a train, onto another train, meet up with the band, do the gig, stay overnight, two trains back, another cab and forty years of it…’
The rest of the band then revealed that Mike has been talking about leaving for the last three years as they joked: ‘Just go, for goodness’ sake!’
They did then sweetly add however: ‘Of course, it’s not going to be the same.’
The band also revealed they have plans to replace him and they will be holding a farewell concert before Mike’s exit.
Bucks Fizz reached stardom in the 1980s after winning the historical Eurovision Song Contest with the song Making Your Mind Up in 1981.
Their banger catapulted to No1 in the UK charts and sold four million copies worldwide.
The group was originally formed solely for the contest and was comprised of vocalists Mike, Bobby G, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston.
Mike said: ‘It’s actually personal reasons why I’m leaving but also as well I was getting fed up with the amount of travelling you’ve got to do’
He added: ‘Everyone has to travel but because I can’t drive anymore, I’ve got to get into a cab, onto a train, onto another train, meet up with the band, do the gig, stay overnight, two trains back, another cab and forty years of it…’
The rest of the band then revealed that Mike has been talking about leaving for the last three years as they joked: ‘Just go, for goodness’ sake!’
The band also revealed they have plans to replace him and they will be holding a farewell concert before Mike’s exit (L-R in 1985 Bucks Fizz Mike, Cheryl, Shelley Preston, Bobby G)
In 2004, a spin-off group of the band as The Fizz was formed after Bobby G, 70, won a court case preventing his former bandmates to perform under the name The Original Bucks Fizz.
The remaining three bandmates were said to be ‘extremely disappointed’ by the ruling, which happened in August 2011 after a long legal battle.
The judge ruled in favour of Bobby on grounds that since his wife (Heidi Manton, also a member of his group) owned the Bucks Fizz name, the use of the name The Original Bucks Fizz was therefore an impediment on their trademark.
Fans of the iconic British band flooded X – formerly Twitter – with comments, as many admitted to be ‘sad’ and ‘gutted’ the singer has opted to leave the band after 43 years.
‘Sad to hear Mike Nolan has decided to leave The Fizz at the end of the year. Two new boys coming;’ ‘Will miss @mikenolanfizz so much. I’ve never seen a band line up without him in it (yet). All the best for the future Mike! Thanks for all the wonderful memories xx’;
‘Really sad to hear this. Bucks Fizz were the first band I saw live back in the 80’s and I’ve been lucky to see them many times since. Gonna miss you @mikenolanfizz and best wishes to @jayastonc and @cherylbaker for the future. Love you guys XX’;
‘Such sad news that Mike will be leaving the band. He’s been such an important part of the Fizz. Cheryl & Jay are fabulous and I wish them the very best of luck but do feel that they need a male voice if they are to continue with the unique Fizz sound Good luck to all 3 of you’;
‘I am so sorry to hear this, however, if its a choice he is happy with then I can only wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Much love to you all in what must be a challenging time xxx’; ‘That’s a shame, but if it’s best for him, then good luck. Happy birthday to Jay for yesterday x’;
‘Such sad news! If there are auditions for male members (ooer missus), would love to try out! Can think of nothing better than singing some of the greatest pop songs for a living. Just picked up the 5CD Definitive Collection so can start practicing with the backing tracks too x’;
‘Sorry to hear this, hope he is alright and looking forward to his retirement x’; ‘Wishing you all the best, and wishing Mike good luck in his next adventure x’.
‘Sad day but we still has the gigs with Mike this year. Cannot wait… will we be getting a new album at all?; It has been a long long run. I am sad though I completely understand. Sending lots of love (since 1981)’;
‘Awwww. I hope everything is ok with you all – iconic people who will always leave such treasured memories with us’; ‘Love you guys and good luck to the girls ❤️❤️❤️’.
‘Ah sad news but wishing him all the best. Look forward to seeing all 3 of you in June!’ ; ‘Very sad that he’s leaving but I’m sure we wish him all the best’; ‘Good luck mike , thank you for the music’;
‘Sorry to hear, sending you all best wishes and love to you all’; ‘That’s so sad he is such a good guy always with a cheery smile and a great stage presence’; ‘So sad. Mike was always my favorite. You can’t replace him’.
‘Sad news but the best of luck for the future Mike x; Sad times but thank you for 43 years of music and memories’; ‘Oh! Gutted. Wish you all the best Mike’.
The Bucks Fizz story has been consistently dramatic with various members coming and going throughout the years.
In 1985, Aston left the group which led Bobby to perform as a three-piece with Nolan and Baker.
But when Baker left in 1993, Bobby largely took over management and hired new members Heidi Manton and Amanda Schwartz.
Heidi would later become his wife in 2000, with the couple going on to have daughter Millie in 2006.
Singer Cheryl revealed in May of last year that she didn’t get a single penny – or any perks for that matter, for winning Eurovision with the group in 1981.
She told The Sun: ‘The artists make nothing from the contest, not a single penny. We have one trophy to share, which I’ve never had in my house ever after forty-two-years. You don’t win any money, it’s the prestige.
‘It opens so many doors. By winning Eurovision, our single was a global hit and we got to travel the world. We had loads of hit singles and hit albums. We were always travelling around the world to perform and that was because we won Eurovision.
‘Maybe there was money, but if there was we didn’t see it and, it wouldn’t have been a lot. It was all about the prize and the trophy, the fact that you’ve won, that is a big enough prize – we didn’t need any money.’
Cheryl added that she doesn’t recall any perks and certainly no goody bags when you win.
In a previous interview, she said it was the tearaway skirts the ladies wore during their routine which secured them their first place win.
Fans of the iconic British band flooded X – formerly Twitter – with comments, as many admitted to be ‘sad’ and ‘gutted’ the singer has opted to leave the band after 43 years
The original group was originally formed solely for the contest and was comprised of vocalists Mike, Bobby G, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston
‘I think it changed how people think of Eurovision because up until then it had been all about the song, she said.
‘And then suddenly we came along and it was not just about the song, it was about the performance and the outfit.’
Meanwhile, Cheryl claims Mike currently has ownership of the trophy and won’t let anyone else have it – but he has left it to her in his will.
Cheryl has said there is ‘no downside to winning’ and admits she is still earning her living from the fact she was in a band that won.
