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{{short description|British pop band}}
{{multiple issues|recentism =July 2010|refimprove =July 2010|copyedit =July 2010}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=April 2020}}
{{Fan POV|date=April 2023}}}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2017}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name =
| image = File:Black lace 1979.jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt =
| caption = Black Lace in 1979. Colin Gibb, Alan Barton, Terry Dobson and Steve Scholey
| alias =
| origin =
| genre = [[novelty song|Novelty]], [[Pop music|pop]]
| years_active = {{Start date|1973}}–2024
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members =
| module =
| module2 =
| module3 =
}}


'''Black Lace''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[pop music|pop group]] best known for novelty party records, including their biggest hit, "Agadoo". The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the [[United Kingdom|UK]] in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1979]] in which they finished seventh with the song [[Mary Ann (song)|"Mary Ann"]]. With numerous lineup changes, Black Lace went on to have success with a number of lightweight party anthems such as "Superman," "[[Agadoo]]" and "Do The Conga." A duo still performs under the name of Black Lace, but neither current band member was in the group when it was formed or when it enjoyed its biggest chart success.
'''Black Lace''' are a British pop band, best known for [[novelty song|novelty]] party records, including their biggest hit, "[[Agadoo]]". The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1979|1979 Eurovision Song Contest]], in which they finished seventh with the song [[Mary Ann (Black Lace song)|"Mary Ann"]]. The band had numerous line-up changes, with Colin Gibb being the longest serving original member, until retiring and dying in 2024. Currently Black Lace<ref>https://officialblacklace.com/about/</ref> are composed of Phil Temple<ref>https://www.butlins.com/bigweekenders/experience/headliners/black-lace</ref> and 2008 [[Britain's Got Talent series 2|''Britain's Got Talent'']] contestant Craig Harper.<ref>https://www.flairents.co.uk/craigharper</ref>


Over the years, Black Lace toured around the world, playing party shows throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and the US, and are known for their novelty party anthems such as "[[Superman (Black Lace song)|Superman]]" and "Do the Conga".
== Early years (1973-81) ==
[[Terry Dobson (singer)|Terry Dobson]] and school pal Ian Howarth formed The Impact as a five-piece pop group in 1969 with Alan Barton, Steve Scholey and Nigel Scott. The group also performed under the names Penny Arcade and Love or Confusion.


== Pre-Black Lace (1969–1973) ==
Howarth took a hiatus from the band to get his BA from Loyola College in Montreal, but had returned to the line-up in 1974. Dobson also left to be replaced briefly by Neil Hardcastle. Dobson then re-joined, and Nigel Scott left in 1974. That same year, the band adopted the name Black Lace. Howarth left the band for good in early 1976 after an fist fight with Dobson during a live performance. Howarth had discovered that Dobson was sleeping with his girlfriend, Mary Ann. Black Lace would later record a song named after her. Howarth was replaced by '''Colin Gibb''' (born Colin Routh, 8 December 1953).
[[Terry Dobson (singer)|Terry Dobson]] and school friend Ian Howarth formed The Impact as a five-piece pop group in 1969, with [[Alan Barton]], Steve Scholey and Nigel Scott. The group also performed under the names Penny Arcade and Love or Confusion.


Ian Howarth left the band for a short while but returned to the line-up in 1973, and Dobson also left, to be replaced briefly by Neil Hardcastle. Dobson then re-joined, and Scott left in 1973, that same year the band adopted the name Black Lace. Ian Howarth left the band for good in 1976, and was replaced by [[Colin Gibb]] (born Colin Routh, 8 December 1953).<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p477088/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography by Sharon Mawer|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=27 July 2011}}</ref>
Generally considered as the original four members of Black Lace 1976 - 1981:
*'''[[Alan Barton]] ''' (lead singer and guitar)
*'''Colin Gibb ''' (guitar, bass and backing vocals)
*'''Steve Scholey ''' (bass and backing vocals)
*'''[[Terry Dobson (singer)|Terry Dobson]]''' (drums and backing vocals)


== Black Lace (1976–1981) ==
The band was managed by Keith Mills and played their first summer season at the Beer Garten, Bottons Fun Park in [[Skegness]], Lincolnshire. In 1977, they enjoyed a number of successes playing a summer season at [[Butlins]] in Skegness & [[Filey]]. They released an EP to be sold at shows and were voted Yorkshire Band of the Year by BBC Radio Leeds and voted best clubland group at a show in the Winter Gardens Blackpool.
Ian Howarth was replaced by Colin Gibb during late spring of 1976 and after turning professional, the band toured the majority of the UK, managed by Keith Mills, commencing their first summer season at the Skegness Central Pier Bier.


The following year their summer season would take them to [[Butlin's Filey|Butlins in Filey, North Yorkshire]] and [[Butlins Skegness|Skegness, Lincolnshire]]. An [[Extended play|EP]] was recorded and produced by comedian [[Freddie Davies|Freddie 'Parrot face' Davies]] at his studio, which was to be sold at their shows. The group were voted Yorkshire Band of the Year by [[BBC Radio Leeds]], and best clubland group playing at the [[Winter Gardens, Blackpool]].
In 1978, Black Lace recorded their first single, ''"Mary Ann,"'' for [[Associated Television#ATV Music|ATV]] music and a record deal quickly followed with [[EMI]]. The song won the [[BBC]]'s [[A Song For Europe]]. Other television appearances around this time included ''BBC Nationwide, Multi-Coloured Swapshop'' with Noel Edmonds, Top of the Pops and Juke Box Jury. At the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Israel, the band finished seventh and ''"Mary Ann"'' only reached number 42 in the UK charts, one of the lowest chart positions for any Eurovision entry at that time.


In 1979, Black Lace recorded their first single, "Mary Ann", for [[ATV Music|ATV music]] and a recording contract followed with [[EMI]]. As the song required a more 'throaty' vocal, Alan Barton was moved to being lead singer, with Steve Scholey on backing vocals for the band's recordings, but remaining as lead singer on live performances. The song won the [[BBC Television]]'s [[Eurovision: Your Country Needs You|''A Song For Europe'']] and the band went on to represent the UK at the 1979 [[Eurovision Song Contest]] held in Israel, with the band finishing seventh. Other television appearances around this time included ''[[Nationwide (TV programme)|Nationwide]]'', ''[[Multi-Coloured Swap Shop]]'', ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' and ''[[Juke Box Jury]]''. "Mary Ann" reached No. 42 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="AMG" /><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]]|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=60}}</ref>
The band's follow-up single, ''"So Long Suzy Baby"'', failed to stir interest but Black Lace continued live performances, notably at the festivals Sopot in [[Poland]] and Golden Orpheus in [[Bulgaria]], and TV shows in [[East Germany]], [[West Germany]] and [[Spain]]. By this time Black Lace is said to have played to an international TV audience estimated at over 2.5 million people but the success was tarnished by a rift between the band and its manager and a split from record label EMI.


The band's follow-up single, "So Long Suzy Baby", failed to chart in the UK (as EMI could not decide on which track should be used, and delayed the planned release date), but achieved success in Europe. Black Lace found success with live performances and TV shows, notably the [[Sopot International Song Festival]] in Poland, the [[Golden Orpheus|Golden Orpheus festival]] in Bulgaria, and on TV in East Germany, West Germany and Spain.
The band toured Denmark in 1980 supporting [[Suzy Quatro]] and working with [[Tommy Seebach]], a Danish entertainer. Black Lace and Seebach recorded ''Hey Hey Jock McRay'' for the Danish singles market, but an intended 1980 tour of Poland was called off because of political unrest in the country.


The band toured Denmark in 1980, supporting [[Suzi Quatro]] and working with [[Tommy Seebach]], a Danish entertainer. Black Lace and Seebach recorded "Hey Hey Jock McRay" for the Danish singles market, but an intended 1980 tour of Poland was called off because of political unrest in the country.
== Chart success (1981-87) ==


==Chart success (1981–1987)==
In 1981, Terry Dobson left Black Lace and joined the Castleford rock band Stormer (formerly known as Method), which had a recording contract with [[Ringo Starr]]. Steve Scholey also departed, leaving the band as a duo of Colin Gibb and Alan Barton. It was this line-up that would give the band its biggest chart success.
In 1981, the band split. Dobson joined the [[Castleford]] rock band Stormer, who had a recording contract with [[Ringo Starr]]. Scholey departed and the band had to settle huge debts incurred whilst touring. The band became a duo, consisting of Gibb and Barton.<ref name="AMG"/> It was this line-up that would give the band its biggest [[Record chart|chart]] success.


The duo played the northern clubs using pre-recorded backing tracks, which was unusual at the time. Initially they used the name Lace but soon reverted to Black Lace and recruited a new manager, John Wagstaff. They released the single "The Birdie Song" under the name Busby in 1981, recorded at Neil Ferguson's Woodlands recording studio in Castleford, but the record was beaten to the charts by a recording of the song by The Tweets.
The duo played the [[Working men's club|Northern club circuit]] using pre-recorded backing tracks, which was controversial at the time. Initially, they used the name Lace, but soon reverted to Black Lace and recruited a new manager, John Wagstaff. They recorded an instrumental single based on the "[[Chicken Dance]]", released as "Birds Dance" in 1981 (using the name Buzby<ref>{{cite web |title=Buzby record release |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2769532-Buzby-2 |website=Discos |access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref> instead of Black Lace).<ref>{{Cite book|title=Wired for Sound: Now That's What I Call An Eighties Music Childhood|last=Bromley|first=Tom|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2012|isbn=9780857203236}}</ref> However, the record was beaten to the charts by another version of the song by The Tweets, released as "The Birdie Song". "Birds Dance" has since been retitled "The Birdie Song" and included on Black Lace albums.


Black Lace's 1983 "Superman" single was released on manager John Wagstaff's own Flair label and a promotional video was shot at Casanova's night club in Wakefield. One of the hired dancers was the then unknown singer [[Jane McDonald]]. "Superman" reached number nine in the UK charts, but an attempt at a follow-up single "Hey You" failed to reach the charts. Black Lace received a silver disc for sales of "Superman," toured Denmark with Danish stars [[Laban (artist)|Laban]] and Snapshots and secured a product endorsement deal with Bose amplification.
Black Lace's 1983 "[[Superman (Black Lace song)|Superman]]" single was their first one under their own name on the Flair label,<ref name="AMG"/> and a promotional [[Music video|video]] was shot at Casanova's [[nightclub]] in [[Wakefield]]. One of the hired dancers was the then unknown singer [[Jane McDonald]]. "Superman" reached No. 9 in the UK chart,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> but an attempt at a follow-up single, "Hey You!", failed to chart, despite being [[BBC Radio One]]'s Record of the Week. Black Lace received a [[Music recording sales certification|silver disc]] for sales of "Superman". They proceeded to tour Denmark with Danish stars [[Laban (artist)|Laban]] and Snapshots.


The band's biggest success came in 1984 with the single "[[Agadoo]]" selling over one million copies worldwide, and reaching number two in the UK chart. It was kept off the top spot by [[George Michael]]'s "[[Careless Whisper]]." "Agadoo" was also a hit in Europe, South Africa and Australia. Having been presented with a gold disc for sales in the UK, the duo recorded its first album ''Black Lace'' at Stuck Ranch Studios in Denmark but around their record distribution company went into receivership leading to Black Lace and Flair Records losing hundreds of thousands of pounds in unpaid royalties for "Agadoo."
The band's biggest success came in 1984 with the single "[[Agadoo]]", selling over one million copies worldwide, and reaching No. 2 in the UK chart.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Tina |last=Miles |date=26 March 2009 |title=Merseyside dad hopes for chart success with Black Lace hit Agadoo |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/merseyside-dad-hopes-chart-success-3458034 |archive-date= |access-date=10 September 2015 |work=Liverpool Echo}}</ref><ref name="everyhit">[http://www.everyhit.com/ EveryHit.com] - search for "Black Lace" as "Name of artist" and "Agadoo" as "Title of song"</ref> "Agadoo" was a hit in Europe, South Africa and Australia. Having been presented with a gold disc for sales in the UK, radio interview presenter [[Richard Whiteley]] forgot Gibb's name and referred to him as 'Mr Agadoo' (the name Dene Michael later adopted for himself, despite having no connection to the record). The duo recorded their first album, ''Black Lace'', at Stuck Ranch studios in Denmark. Around this time, their record distribution company [[Pinnacle Entertainment (United Kingdom)|Pinnacle]] went into receivership, leading to Black Lace and their record company losing an estimated quarter of a million pounds in unpaid [[royalties]] for "Agadoo".


The band's follow-up single was "Do The Conga," written by Peter Morris, who had also penned the Eurovision song "Mary Ann." "Do The Conga" reached number ten in the UK charts and UK album ''Party Party'' sold over 650,0000 copies in the first five weeks, reaching double platinum status and leading to the band doing TV shows in Germany, Luxembourg, France and Denmark.
The band's follow-up single, "Do The Conga", reached No. 10 in the UK chart,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> and the accompanying album ''Party Party – 16 Great Party Icebreakers'' sold over 650,000 copies in the first five weeks, reaching double platinum status and leading to the band doing TV shows in Germany, Luxembourg, France and Denmark.<ref name="AMG"/>


In 1985, another single, "El Vino Collapso", was released, with the video shot in Skegness. It failed to reach the top 40, stalling at No. 42 in the UK Singles Chart due to it being 'banned' by the BBC in the wake of the [[Heysel Stadium disaster]]. As it had references to "drinking whilst abroad", it was deemed unsuitable for radio play.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> Further releases "I Speaka Da Lingo" and "Hokey Cokey" reached No. 49 and No. 31 respectively.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
In 1985, the BBC proclaimed that Black Lace was the world's hardest working band—performing more than 65 shows a month—but the punishing schedule meant that the group's equipment truck was involved in several accidents and Black Lace chartered a private plane to meet TV schedules. As the strain began to show and rifts formed, Alan, Colin and the road crew stayed in separate hotels. Another single, "El Vino Collapso" was released and the video shot at Happy Days Caravan Park in Skegness. The record reached number 42 in charts. Further releases "I Speaka Da Lingo" and "The Hokey Cokey" got to numbers 49 and 31, respectively. Black Lace also participated in recording of the #1 hit ''You'll Never Walk Alone'' as part of the charity ensemble The Crowd, to raise funds for the families of the victims of the [[Bradford City stadium fire]].


[[File:Black lace 1985.jpg|thumb|Black Lace in 1985]]
Black Lace's second album ''Party Party 2'' was released for Christmas 1985 and TV appearances included a Black Lace special on the BBC 2 rock show [[The Old Grey Whistle Test]], 3-2-1, [[ITV Telethon]], Miss Yorkshire, International Disco Dance Championship, [[Pebble Mill at One]] and [[Top of the Pops]] Christmas Special but the band's success led to a tax demand of over £100,000.


Black Lace also participated in the recording of the UK No. 1 hit "[[You'll Never Walk Alone]]" as part of the charity ensemble, [[The Crowd (band)|The Crowd]] (which included members of [[10cc]], [[Thin Lizzy]], [[Motörhead]], [[The Hollies]], [[Argent (band)|Argent]], [[The Who]], [[The Nolans]], [[The Searchers (band)|The Searchers]], [[Smokie (band)|Smokie]], [[Gerry and the Pacemakers]], plus many more) to raise funds for the families of the victims of the [[Bradford City stadium fire]].<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]]|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=128}}</ref>
In 1986 Colin Gibb took a year out of live work with Black Lace, to concentrate on other projects. He returned to playing live gigs with Barton the following year.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/black-lace-rock-band-80s</ref><ref>http://www.discoogle.com/wiki/Black_Lace</ref><ref>http://rqsretrouniverse.blogspot.com/2008/09/pushing-pineapple-of-cheesiness.html</ref><ref>http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-8527665/The-awful-curse-of-Agadoo.html</ref><ref>http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080821123059AAIVwOF</ref>. During this time, Gibb toured ''Party Party'' with singer and guitarist John Strike, playing two tours of Germany, after which Gibb disbanded his new act.


Black Lace's second album ''Party Party 2'' was released for Christmas 1985, and television appearances included ''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]]'', ''[[3-2-1]]'', ''[[ITV Telethon]]'', ''Miss Yorkshire Television'', ''International Disco Dance Championship'', ''[[Pebble Mill at One]]'' and the ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' Christmas Special. Because of such a demanding work schedule, Barton and Gibb found it necessary to charter a private aircraft to meet the deadlines, but the band's success led to a tax demand in excess of £100,000.
Alan Barton was joined by singer '''Dene Michael''' to continue as Black Lace; a single, ''Wig-Wam Bam'', reached number 63, but ''Viva La Mexico'' which was released to capitalise on the [[FIFA World Cup]] football competition flopped because England was knocked out. Black Lace, now Alan Barton and stand-in Dene Michael, appeared as themselves in the 1986 film ''[[Rita, Sue and Bob Too]]'' which featured "Gangbang" and "Have a Screw," recorded by Barton and Gibb the previous year. The band had a hit with the album ''Party Crazy''.


In 1986, Dene Michael Betteridge<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/agadoo-singer-led-a-60man-conga-of-inmates-in-prison-a7238266.html</ref> (a club singer also known as Michael Dene, as well Dene Michael) replaced Gibb, who took time out of live work with Black Lace (remaining an official member of the band) to concentrate on other projects, including promoting pop act Party Party and participating in two tours of Germany, concentrating on a part-time photography business, setting up a food retail outlet, and a music equipment retail and installation business.
== 1987 - present ==


Another single, "Wig Wam Bam", (featuring Barton, Gibb and Betteridge) reached No. 63 in the UK chart,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> but "Viva La Mexico", which was released to capitalise on the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]] football competition, flopped when [[England national football team|England]] were knocked out. Black Lace (Barton and Betteridge) appeared as themselves in the 1987 film ''[[Rita, Sue and Bob Too]]'' performing "Gang Bang", which had been recorded by Barton and Gibb the previous year. The pair were also immortalised as caricatures in the TV show ''[[Spitting Image]]'' and the hit single "[[The Chicken Song]]". The band had a UK hit with their album ''Party Crazy''.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
1987 saw a switcharound; Colin Gibb returned to Black Lace, whilst Alan Barton left to join 70s hit band [[Smokie (band)|Smokie]]. Dene Michael became a full-time member of Black Lace and he and Gibb released the single ''Jammin' the Sixties'' under the name Barracuda. The record was [[BBC Radio One]] Record of the Week, but failed to hit the charts.


==Later career (1987–2023)==
Summer seasons at the Blackpool Tower followed in 1989 and 1990, along with the release of the single ''Music Man''. Distribution problems led to the record only reaching number 52 in the UK chart.
September 1987 saw a switch round: Gibb returned 'full-time' with the band, whilst Barton left to join [[Smokie (band)|Smokie]].<ref name="AMG"/> Dene Michael Betteridge became a full-time member of Black Lace, and he and Gibb released the single "Jammin' the Sixties" under the name Barracuda. The record was BBC Radio One's Record of the Week, but it failed to chart.


A summer season at the [[Blackpool Tower]] followed in 1989 and 1990, plus performances at the [[Radio 1 Roadshow|BBC Radio One Roadshow]] in the town, along with the release of the single [[The Music Man (song)|"I Am The Music Man]]" which peaked at No. 52 in the UK.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums" /><ref name="AMG" />
In 1991 Dene Michael left the band, to be replaced by session singer '''Rob Hopcraft'''. Black Lace released the single ''Penny Arcade'' penned by Sammy King, which had originally been a hit for [[Roy Orbison]]. The band appeared on the BBC’s [[Children in Need]]. Meanwhile former band member Dene Michael formed a new group using the name Barracuda but disbanded it shortly afterwards.


In 1991, Betteridge was replaced by Rob Hopcraft,<ref>https://officialblacklace.com/history/</ref> with Betteridge going on to launch his rival version of the band before re-joining the official Black Lace.
In 1992 Black Lace toured Australia, but new band member Rob Hopcraft was unhappy with a hits album released by an Australian record company, as it featured a photo of his predecessor Dene Michael.


[[File:Gibb & Hopcraft 1994.jpg|thumb|Gibb and Hopcraft in 1994]]
1994 saw the release of the single ''Bullshit (Cotton Eyed Joe)'', but the race for the charts was won by the Swedish band [[Rednex]] with another version of the same song. An album, ''Saturday Night'' followed.


In 1995 Alan Barton died as a result of a coach crash in Germany while touring with Smokie<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-alan-barton-1616108.html</ref>. His funeral was held at Wakefield Cathedral on May 3, 1995. Also in that year Black Lace shot a promotional video for the single ''Electric Slide'' in Benidorm, the first video not to be filmed in the UK, and played on British breakfast station [[GMTV]] live from [[Torremolinos]] in Spain.
In 1995, Barton died as a result of a coach crash in Germany while touring with Smokie.<ref>{{cite news|author=Pierre Perrone|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-alan-barton-1616108.html|title=Obituary: Alan Barton|work=The Independent|date=18 April 1995|access-date=21 November 2012}}</ref>


Black Lace played one-off shows in 1996 at DJ conventions in Canada and Atlantic City, USA and released ''Action Party'' and ''Best Of'' albums. Colin Gibb was presented with special Agadoo guitar to celebrate band's 20th anniversary, but in 1996 Gibb was also made bankrupt by the Inland Revenue<ref>http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-8527665/The-awful-curse-of-Agadoo.html</ref>.
Black Lace played one-off shows in 1996 at DJ conventions in Canada and [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], United States. They also released the ''Action Party'' and ''Best Of'' albums that year. Gibb was presented with a special Agadoo guitar to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary, but he was also made bankrupt by the [[Inland Revenue]].<ref name="Goliath">{{cite web|url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-8527665/The-awful-curse-of-Agadoo.html|title=The awful curse of Agadoo; |publisher=Goliath.ecnext.com|date=14 December 1996|access-date=21 November 2012}}</ref>


August 15, 1997, was 'Agadoo Day'. Black Lace played 20 shows in 24 hours in Manchester, London, Watford, Northampton, Sheffield, Barnsley, Wakefield, and Leeds, finishing at the Frontier Club, Batley. The event raised over £25,000 for [[Marie Curie Cancer Care]]. [[Peugeot]] used ''Agadoo'' in a TV advertisement for the new 106 car and Black Lace released ''Agadoo 106 Mix'' which was in the charts for one week.
15 August 1997 was dubbed Agadoo Day. Black Lace played 20 shows in 24 hours in Manchester, London, Watford, Northampton, Sheffield, Barnsley, Wakefield and Leeds, finishing at the Frontier Club, Batley. The event raised over £25,000 for [[Marie Curie Cancer Care]]. [[Peugeot]] used "Agadoo" in a TV advertisement for the new [[Peugeot 106|106]] car, and Black Lace re-recorded the track, renaming it "Agadoo 106 mix", donating all their royalties to [[Marie Curie (charity)|Marie Curie Cancer Care]]. The record spent a week in the UK chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>


In 2001 Hopcraft was replaced by Camille Wagstaff,<ref>https://officialblacklace.com/history/</ref> with this line-up releasing a cover of The Soca Boys' Dutch hit "Follow the Leader", a song which would become a Top 10 hit by Nigel & Marvin when remixed, as "Follow Da Leader", with the tune from [[Chocolate Puma|Chocolate Puma's]] hit "I Wanna Be U".<ref>https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/12070/nigel-and-marvin/</ref>
A 1999 Black Lace charity reunion concert was organised by ex-drummer Terry Dobson to celebrate 20 years since the band represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. Balne Lane WMC was the venue with all proceeds going to the Wakefield Hospice. Coincidently in 1999 the Eurovision Song Contest was again held in Jerusalem, Israel. Live television interviews took place with ITV's Calendar and the BBC's regional news programmes on the day of the event. The late Alan Barton's son Dean took Alan's place in the band, but original member Steve Scholey declined to attend.
In 2000, Rob Hopcraft left the band and Colin Gibb was joined by female singers/dancers 'Kat & Cameil' Gibb also joined Eagles tribute band The B-Eagles, playing bass.


In 2002, Colin Gibb took the Original Black Lace show to Tenerife, playing the now internationally famous 'party shows' in hotels and restaurants on the island, occasionally visiting the UK for TV appearances.<ref name="AMG" /> Due to this, Flair Records launched a TV reality show in the style of ''[[The X Factor]]'' called ''Agadoo: The Search for the New Black Lace''.<ref>https://off-the-records.com/black-lace-agadoo-the-sound-of-butlins-core/comment-page-1/</ref> The 4-episode show featured Gibb and manager John Wagstaff as the judges and was shown on ITV's regional [[ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire TV]] service, with the winners releasing a version of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" as their winners single.<ref>https://officialblacklace.com/history/</ref>
In 2002 Gibb emigrated to [[Tenerife]]. Semi-retired, he played Black Lace party shows in hotels and restaurants on the island, occasionally visiting the UK for TV appearances.


In 2015, a television advertisement for [[Walkers (snack foods)|Walkers crisps]] was shown on British TV, featuring Betteridge and Robinson (under the name 'Old Lace') performing alongside [[Gary Lineker]] singing along to "Agadoo".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvadsongs.uk/walkers-crisps-advert-music-2015-agadoo-black-lace/ |title=Walkers Crisps Advert – 2015 'Agadoo' Bring It Back Commercial &#124; TV Ad Songs |website=Tvadsongs.uk |access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> In this year, Betteridge had also appeared alongside [[Esmée Denters]]<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hnztb/p02hj83h</ref> and Eurovision hopeful [[Joe and Jake|Joe Woolford]]<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hnztb/p02hj83z</ref> on an episode of BBC One's [[The Voice UK series 4|The Voice UK]].<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hnztb/p02hj83m</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0517j3j</ref> By this time, Gibb had started to perform Black Lace shows in [[Playa de las Américas]] and [[Los Cristianos]] with Scottish singer and Oasis FM radio presenter Gordon King, an artist who had issued a solo album under his real name, Gordon Quinn, in the 1970s.<ref>https://northernlifemagazine.co.uk/party-time-with-black-lace-in-tenerife/</ref>
In 2003 an adult-themed album called ''Blue'', originally recorded in the UK years previously by Colin Gibb and Dene Michael, was released in Tenerife.


In 2016, Dene Michael Betteridge<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-36640503</ref> was jailed for six months for benefit fraud after falsely claiming almost £25,000 for his sciatica, with his wife and 'carer' Karen getting 12-month community order for her role in the scam, with the judge sentencing her to 100 hours of unpaid work.<ref>https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2016-06-27/black-lace-star-dene-michael-jailed-for-benefit-fraud</ref>
In 2004 Gibb took his Black Lace show to mainland Spain, with a residency at The King Lives On cabaret bar on the [[Costa Blanca]], but after a few months moved back to Tenerife for shows in 2005. He returned to the Costa Blanca with another Black Lace show in 2006. Gibb was married in the UK in 2007 to long-time girlfriend Sue Kelly.


By 2018, Betteridge was back performing in the clubs, having teamed up with a Kylie Minogue tribute act called Vikki B in a duo called Party Crazy.<ref>https://www.cullingworthconservativeclub.com/social-events/entertainment-party-crazy/</ref> Betteridge had been billing himself as 'Mr Agadoo' by this point in his career, even though he did not appear on the original record, and would find himself back in the Wagstaff managed version of Black Lace later in the year.
2008 saw Gibb playing bass in a Tenerife five-piece rock band called 'It's Immaterial' also playing with Duo's 'Just 1 More' and 'To The Limit' in addition to performing the Black Lace Show


In 2019, Gibb's Tenerife based version of Black Lace became associated with UK dressage team The Agadoo Girls, consisting of seven members, with Gibb's cousin Debbie Cox as team captain. They came top at their debut Team Quest competition at Richmond Equestrian Centre in June that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://britishdressage.online/event_results/102281|title=Richmond Equestrian Centre TQ Results|date=23 June 2019|website=British Dressage|access-date=6 September 2019}}</ref>
In 2009 former band member Dene Michael, who had been in Black Lace from 1986 to 1991, started performing again as Black Lace alongside a new addition, Liverpudlian singer Ian Robinson. They released a new mambo version of ''Agadoo'', and in the accompanying video Dene Michael was seen asking Ian Robinson "Remember when we did Agadoo?", although neither band member was actually in Black Lace when the song was originally released. [[Bruce Jones (Actor)|Bruce Jones]], who played Les Battersby in the UK TV soap opera [[Coronation Street]], directed and played a cameo role in the video which was filmed in a single day. Comedian [[Roy "Chubby" Brown]] and another former Coronation Street actor, [[Kevin Kennedy (actor)|Kevin Kennedy]], who played Curly Watts in the soap opera also made cameo appearances in the video, as did several members of the cast of the ITV sitcom ''Benidorm''. The video, filmed on location in Spain, features new line-up driving a red Alfa-Romeo GTV Spider along a promenade whilst being followed by a procession of people performing the actions to the famous "Agadoo, push pineapple shake the tree" dance. The new ''Agadoo'' attracted some media attention, but it failed to chart.


==Colin Gibb - retirement and death==
On 4 November 2009 the new incarnation of Black Lace was filmed by British airline [[easyJet]] performing a re-written version of ''Agadoo'', launching a new air service between [[Gatwick airport]] and [[Agadir]] in [[Morocco]], for release on the video-sharing website [[YouTube]].
On 13 May 2024, Colin Gibb announced his retirement on Facebook. His last performance was at the San Eugenio Villa Adeje Beach Hotel in Spain, on 16 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/colingibb.blacklace|title=Colin Gibb Black Lace |website=Facebook.com}}</ref> On 3 June 2024, the band, alongside Gibb's wife, revealed Gibb had died aged 70 the previous day.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://metro.co.uk/2024/06/03/eurovision-black-lace-singer-colin-gibb-dies-aged-70-20958521/amp/|title= Eurovision and Black Lace singer Colin Gibb dies aged 70|date=3 June 2024|website=Metro.co.uk|access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref>


==Recent Career (2024-)==
Founder-member Terry Dobson is still playing the drums in the Wakefield band Mr Twister. His book ''And Then Came Agadoo'' was published by Authorhouse in November 2009. In it Dobson describes starting up the band with Ian Howarth in 1969, Dobson's life and times and his continued friendship with band members past and present.
As of 2024, the official Flair Entertainments/N.O.W. Music Co. version of Black Lace<ref>https://officialblacklace.com/about/</ref> comprises Phil Temple<ref>https://www.butlins.com/bigweekenders/experience/headliners/black-lace</ref> and Craig Harper, a vocalist and comedian, who has previously appeared on ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]'', [[Barrymore (TV series)|Michael Barrymore's TV show]] and [[Jane McDonald|Jane McDonald's]] ''[[Star for a Night (British TV series)|Star for a Night]]''.


On 8 September 2024, the duo appeared as special guests<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0022pyr</ref> at [[Radio 2 in the Park|Radio 2 in the Park, Preston 2024]] as part of ''Paddy McGuinness’ Sunday School Disco''<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e89j6q/performances#all</ref>
Colin Gibb remains in Tenerife, continues to play Black Lace shows and is still represented by Now Music and manager John Wagstaff.


In November 2024, the duo appeared on the BBC One Children in Need programme ''Paddy: The Ride of My Life'', <ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00256cg</ref> where they were seen performing "[[Agadoo]]" alongside [[Paddy McGuinness]]<ref>https://inews.co.uk/news/how-much-paddy-mcguinness-raised-for-children-in-need-and-how-to-donate-3382399?srsltid=AfmBOor0kScx9cxKVe4NheGL8Ff6eBS_UH0mtl2nV2WXGCx1WlUAJ1x6</ref><ref>https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/paddy-mcguinness-children-in-need-cycling-challenge-end-glasgow-b1194216.html</ref> and Sir Chris Hoy<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/live/cp875rjrylpt</ref> in the car park of Westmorland's [[Westmorland Motorway Services|Cairn Lodge Services]].<ref>https://cairnlodgeservices.com/about/</ref>
Dene Michael and Ian Robinson recorded a new version of ''Music Man'' for BBC [[Children in Need]] 2009, and are also represented by Now Music and John Wagstaff. In 2010 they recorded yet another version of ''Music Man'', this time entitled ''We Are The England Fans'', as an unofficial England supporters' song to coincide with the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]]. The record flopped.


== Singles ==
==Personnel==
*[[Britain's Got Talent series 2|Craig Harper]]
* Phil Temple
;Former members
*[[Alan Barton]] – guitar, lead and backing vocals <small>(1973–1987; died 1995)</small>
*[[Terry Dobson (singer)|Terry Dobson]] – drums, backing vocals <small>(1973–1981)</small>
*[[Colin Gibb]] (Colin Routh) – guitar – lead vocals <small>(1976–2024; died 2024)</small> (Official version and Tenerife version)
* Ian Howarth – lead guitar, bass guitar, vocals <small>(1973–1976)</small>
*Steve Scholey – lead vocals <small>(1973–1981)</small>
*Dene Michael (Betteridge) – lead vocals <small>(1987–1991, 2018-2023)</small> (Official version) <small>(1991–2018)</small> (rival version)
*Rob Hopcraft – lead vocals <small>(1991–2000; died 2020)</small>
*Gordon King (Gordon Quinn) – lead vocals and guitar <small>(2015–2024)</small> (Tenerife version)


==Discography==
1979 "Mary Ann" (UK #42)<br />
===Albums===
1979 "So Long Susie Baby"<br />
* 1984: ''Black Lace''
1980 "Hey Hey Jock McRay" (Denmark only)<br />
* 1984: ''Party Party – 16 Great Party Icebreakers'' ([[UK Albums Chart|UK]] No. 4)
1981 "The Birdie Song"<br />
* 1985: ''Party Party 2'' (UK No. 18)
1982 "Superman" (UK #9)<br />
* 1986: ''Party Crazy'' (UK No. 58)
1983 "Hey You"<br />
* 1987: ''16 Greatest Party Hits''
1984 "Agadoo" (UK #2)<br />
* 1989: ''20 All Time Party Favourites''
1984 "Do The Conga" (UK #10)<br />
* 1993: ''Action Party''
1985 "El Vino Collapso" (UK #42)<br />
* 1995: ''Saturday Night''
1985 "I Speaka Da Lingo" (UK #49)<br />
* 1997: ''Greatest Hits''
1985 "The Hokey Cokey" (UK #31)<br />
* 1998: ''What a Party''
1986 "Viva La Mexico" <br />
* 2000: ''Black Lace's Greatest Ever Party Album''
1986 "Wig-Wam Bam" (UK #63)<br />
* 2006: ''Black Lace: Greatest Hits''
1990 "I Am The Music Man" (UK #52)<br />
* 2010: ''The Blue Album'' – Banned in the UK [world-wide distribution]
1994 "Bullshit"<br />
* 2013: ''The Blue Album'' – Banned in the UK – 're-release' [world-wide distribution]<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
1995 "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain"<br />
* 2014: ''Black Lace 'Live Beach Party''' (limited edition)
1996 "The Electric Slide"<br />
* 2023: ''The Party Album (24 All Time Party Favourites)''
1997 "Agadoo (106 Mix)"<br />
2000 "Follow The Leader"<br />
2009 "Mega-Mega Mix" 23-minute non-stop party mix (Spain only)<br />
2009 "Agadoo Mambo"<br />
2009 "Music Man 2009"<br />
2010 "We Are The England Fans"


== Albums ==
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Single
! colspan="6" |Peak chart positions
|-
!<small>[[Kent Music Report|AUS]]</small><ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|publisher=Australian Chart Book|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|edition=illustrated|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|author-link=David Kent (historian)}}</ref>
!<small>[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|FRA]]</small><ref>{{Cite web|title=lescharts.com - Les charts français|url=https://lescharts.com/search.asp?search=black+lace&cat=s|access-date=2020-11-17|website=lescharts.com}}</ref>
!<small>[[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRE]]</small><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know|url=http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement|access-date=2020-11-17|website=irishcharts.ie}}</ref>
!<small>[[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]</small><ref>{{Cite web|title=charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal|url=https://charts.nz/search.asp?search=black+lace&cat=s|access-date=2020-11-17|website=charts.nz}}</ref>
!<small>[[Springbok Radio|SA]]</small><ref>{{Cite web|title=South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (B)|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(B).html|access-date=2020-11-17|website=www.rock.co.za}}</ref>
!<small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small><ref>{{Cite web|title=BLACK LACE {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17550/black-lace/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |1979
| align="left" |"[[Mary Ann (Black Lace song)|Mary Ann]]"
|—
|—
|19
|—
|—
|42
|-
| align="left" |"So Long Suzi Baby"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|1980
| align="left" |"Hey Hey Jock McRay" (Denmark-only release)
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|1982
| align="left" |"Birds Dance" (aka "[[Chicken Dance|The Birdie Song]]") (As 'Buzby')
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
| rowspan="2" |1983
| align="left" |"[[Superman (Black Lace song)|Superman (Gioca Jouer)]]"
|—
|—
|25
|—
|—
|9
|-
| align="left" |"Hey You"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
| rowspan="2" |1984
| align="left" |"[[Agadoo]]"
|16
|48
|5
|9
|3
|2
|-
| align="left" |"Do the Conga"
|—
|—
|12
|—
|—
|10
|-
| rowspan="3" |1985
| align="left" |"El Vino Collapso"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|42
|-
| align="left" |"I Speaka da Lingo"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|49
|-
| align="left" |"[[Hokey Cokey]]"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|31
|-
| rowspan="2" |1986
| align="left" |"Viva la Mexico"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|79
|-
| align="left" |"[[Wig-Wam Bam]]"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|63
|-
|1989
| align="left" |"[[The Music Man (song)|I Am the Music Man]]"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|52
|-
| rowspan="2" |1990
| align="left" |"Gang Bang"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|90
|-
| align="left" |"Jammin' the 60's" (as 'Barracuda')
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|1992
| align="left" |"Penny Arcade"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|1994
| align="left" |"Bullsh*t ([[Cotton-Eyed Joe]])"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|83
|-
|1996
| align="left" |"[[Electric Boogie|The Electric Slide]]" (featuring The Electric Boogie Line Dance)
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|83
|-
|1997
| align="left" |"[[Macarena (song)|Macarena]]"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|1998
| align="left" |"Agadoo (106 Dance Mix)" (re-recording)
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|64
|-
|2000
| align="left" |"Follow the Leader"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
| rowspan="3" |2009
| align="left" |"Mega-Mega Mix" (Spain-only release)
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
| align="left" |"Agadoo Mambo" (Dene Michael)
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
| align="left" |"Music Man 2009" (Dene Michael)
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|2010
| align="left" |"We Are the England Fans" (Dene Michael)
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|2011
| align="left" |"Do the Conga (Trainline Mix)" (Dene Michael)<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums" />
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
| rowspan="2" |2015
| align="left" |"Agadoo 2015 (Crisp Mix)" (Dene Michael)
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
| align="left" |"Agadoo (The Space Mix)"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
| colspan="8" style="font-size:8pt" |"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released
|}


==References==
1984 Black Lace<br />
{{Reflist}}
1984 Party Party <br />
1985 Party Party 2<br />
1986 Party Crazy<br />
1987 16 Greatest Party Hits<br />
1990 20 All Time Party Favourites<br />
1993 Action Party<br />
1995 Saturday Night<br />
1997 Greatest Hits<br />
1998 What a Party<br />
2000 Black Lace's Greatest Ever Party Album<br />
2006 [[Black Lace: Greatest Hits]]


==External links==
2007 The 'Blue' Album (Spain only)
* [http://www.blacklaceofficial5.wixsite.com/black-lace Official Black Lace website]

* [http://www.reverbnation.com/colingibbblacklace Colin Gibb – Black Lace]
2010 The Blue Album - Banned in the U.K (World wide distribution)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151004070641/http://www.now-music.com/Artists/Artist.vbhtml?id=4 N.O.W. Music Co (Black Lace) webpage]

* [http://www.andthencameagadoo.co.uk ''And Then Came Agadoo'' – book website]
== References ==
* [http://www.denemichael.co.uk Denemichael.co.uk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101101721/http://www.denemichael.co.uk/ |date=1 November 2020 }}

* [http://www.ianhowarth.co.uk Ianhowarth.co.uk]
<references/>
* {{discogs artist|Black Lace}}

* {{imdb name|1569146}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.wix.com/colgibb/black-lace Black Lace website]
* [http://www.reverbnation.com/colingibbblacklace Colin Gibb - Black Lace]
* [http://www.now-music.com/blacklace/blacklace.html NOW Music Co (Black Lace) web page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POv-3yIPSWc Black Lace, Agadoo music video, 1984]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAOH_jBp_C8 Black Lace performs Agadir version of Agadoo, 4th November 2009]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oXX0zzeIQU Agadoo mambo music video, 2009]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux5qfj1wveI We Are The England Fans, 2010]
* [http://www.andthencameagadoo.co.uk And Then Came Agadoo book website]
* [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p477088|pure_url=yes}} All Music Guide to Black Lace]
*


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-ach}}
{{Succession box|
{{Succession box|
before=[[Co-Co (band)|Co-Co]]<br>with ''"[[The Bad Old Days]]"'' |
| before=[[Co-Co (band)|Co-Co]]<br>with "[[The Bad Old Days]]"
title=[[UK in the Eurovision Song Contest]] |
| title=[[UK in the Eurovision Song Contest]]
years=[[1979]] |
| years=[[Eurovision Song Contest 1979|1979]]
after=[[Prima Donna (band)|Prima Donna]]<br>with ''"[[Love Enough for Two]]"'' |
| after=[[Prima Donna (UK band)|Prima Donna]]<br>with "[[Love Enough for Two]]"
}}
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Black Lace}}
{{United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1979|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:English pop music groups]]
{{End box}}
[[Category:British novelty song performers]]

[[Category:Music in Yorkshire]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Lace}}
[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1979]]
[[Category:Sonet Records artists]]
[[Category:British pop music groups]]
[[Category:Telstar Records artists]]
[[Category:British Eurovision Song Contest entrants]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1975]]
[[Category:Music from Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2024]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in England]]

[[Category:2024 disestablishments in England]]
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Latest revision as of 00:57, 31 December 2024

Black Lace
Black Lace in 1979. Colin Gibb, Alan Barton, Terry Dobson and Steve Scholey
Background information
GenresNovelty, pop
Years active1973 (1973)–2024

Black Lace are a British pop band, best known for novelty party records, including their biggest hit, "Agadoo". The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, in which they finished seventh with the song "Mary Ann". The band had numerous line-up changes, with Colin Gibb being the longest serving original member, until retiring and dying in 2024. Currently Black Lace[1] are composed of Phil Temple[2] and 2008 Britain's Got Talent contestant Craig Harper.[3]

Over the years, Black Lace toured around the world, playing party shows throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and the US, and are known for their novelty party anthems such as "Superman" and "Do the Conga".

Pre-Black Lace (1969–1973)

[edit]

Terry Dobson and school friend Ian Howarth formed The Impact as a five-piece pop group in 1969, with Alan Barton, Steve Scholey and Nigel Scott. The group also performed under the names Penny Arcade and Love or Confusion.

Ian Howarth left the band for a short while but returned to the line-up in 1973, and Dobson also left, to be replaced briefly by Neil Hardcastle. Dobson then re-joined, and Scott left in 1973, that same year the band adopted the name Black Lace. Ian Howarth left the band for good in 1976, and was replaced by Colin Gibb (born Colin Routh, 8 December 1953).[4]

Black Lace (1976–1981)

[edit]

Ian Howarth was replaced by Colin Gibb during late spring of 1976 and after turning professional, the band toured the majority of the UK, managed by Keith Mills, commencing their first summer season at the Skegness Central Pier Bier.

The following year their summer season would take them to Butlins in Filey, North Yorkshire and Skegness, Lincolnshire. An EP was recorded and produced by comedian Freddie 'Parrot face' Davies at his studio, which was to be sold at their shows. The group were voted Yorkshire Band of the Year by BBC Radio Leeds, and best clubland group playing at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.

In 1979, Black Lace recorded their first single, "Mary Ann", for ATV music and a recording contract followed with EMI. As the song required a more 'throaty' vocal, Alan Barton was moved to being lead singer, with Steve Scholey on backing vocals for the band's recordings, but remaining as lead singer on live performances. The song won the BBC Television's A Song For Europe and the band went on to represent the UK at the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest held in Israel, with the band finishing seventh. Other television appearances around this time included Nationwide, Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Top of the Pops and Juke Box Jury. "Mary Ann" reached No. 42 in the UK Singles Chart.[4][5]

The band's follow-up single, "So Long Suzy Baby", failed to chart in the UK (as EMI could not decide on which track should be used, and delayed the planned release date), but achieved success in Europe. Black Lace found success with live performances and TV shows, notably the Sopot International Song Festival in Poland, the Golden Orpheus festival in Bulgaria, and on TV in East Germany, West Germany and Spain.

The band toured Denmark in 1980, supporting Suzi Quatro and working with Tommy Seebach, a Danish entertainer. Black Lace and Seebach recorded "Hey Hey Jock McRay" for the Danish singles market, but an intended 1980 tour of Poland was called off because of political unrest in the country.

Chart success (1981–1987)

[edit]

In 1981, the band split. Dobson joined the Castleford rock band Stormer, who had a recording contract with Ringo Starr. Scholey departed and the band had to settle huge debts incurred whilst touring. The band became a duo, consisting of Gibb and Barton.[4] It was this line-up that would give the band its biggest chart success.

The duo played the Northern club circuit using pre-recorded backing tracks, which was controversial at the time. Initially, they used the name Lace, but soon reverted to Black Lace and recruited a new manager, John Wagstaff. They recorded an instrumental single based on the "Chicken Dance", released as "Birds Dance" in 1981 (using the name Buzby[6] instead of Black Lace).[7] However, the record was beaten to the charts by another version of the song by The Tweets, released as "The Birdie Song". "Birds Dance" has since been retitled "The Birdie Song" and included on Black Lace albums.

Black Lace's 1983 "Superman" single was their first one under their own name on the Flair label,[4] and a promotional video was shot at Casanova's nightclub in Wakefield. One of the hired dancers was the then unknown singer Jane McDonald. "Superman" reached No. 9 in the UK chart,[5] but an attempt at a follow-up single, "Hey You!", failed to chart, despite being BBC Radio One's Record of the Week. Black Lace received a silver disc for sales of "Superman". They proceeded to tour Denmark with Danish stars Laban and Snapshots.

The band's biggest success came in 1984 with the single "Agadoo", selling over one million copies worldwide, and reaching No. 2 in the UK chart.[8][9] "Agadoo" was a hit in Europe, South Africa and Australia. Having been presented with a gold disc for sales in the UK, radio interview presenter Richard Whiteley forgot Gibb's name and referred to him as 'Mr Agadoo' (the name Dene Michael later adopted for himself, despite having no connection to the record). The duo recorded their first album, Black Lace, at Stuck Ranch studios in Denmark. Around this time, their record distribution company Pinnacle went into receivership, leading to Black Lace and their record company losing an estimated quarter of a million pounds in unpaid royalties for "Agadoo".

The band's follow-up single, "Do The Conga", reached No. 10 in the UK chart,[5] and the accompanying album Party Party – 16 Great Party Icebreakers sold over 650,000 copies in the first five weeks, reaching double platinum status and leading to the band doing TV shows in Germany, Luxembourg, France and Denmark.[4]

In 1985, another single, "El Vino Collapso", was released, with the video shot in Skegness. It failed to reach the top 40, stalling at No. 42 in the UK Singles Chart due to it being 'banned' by the BBC in the wake of the Heysel Stadium disaster. As it had references to "drinking whilst abroad", it was deemed unsuitable for radio play.[5] Further releases "I Speaka Da Lingo" and "Hokey Cokey" reached No. 49 and No. 31 respectively.[5]

Black Lace in 1985

Black Lace also participated in the recording of the UK No. 1 hit "You'll Never Walk Alone" as part of the charity ensemble, The Crowd (which included members of 10cc, Thin Lizzy, Motörhead, The Hollies, Argent, The Who, The Nolans, The Searchers, Smokie, Gerry and the Pacemakers, plus many more) to raise funds for the families of the victims of the Bradford City stadium fire.[4][10]

Black Lace's second album Party Party 2 was released for Christmas 1985, and television appearances included The Old Grey Whistle Test, 3-2-1, ITV Telethon, Miss Yorkshire Television, International Disco Dance Championship, Pebble Mill at One and the Top of the Pops Christmas Special. Because of such a demanding work schedule, Barton and Gibb found it necessary to charter a private aircraft to meet the deadlines, but the band's success led to a tax demand in excess of £100,000.

In 1986, Dene Michael Betteridge[11] (a club singer also known as Michael Dene, as well Dene Michael) replaced Gibb, who took time out of live work with Black Lace (remaining an official member of the band) to concentrate on other projects, including promoting pop act Party Party and participating in two tours of Germany, concentrating on a part-time photography business, setting up a food retail outlet, and a music equipment retail and installation business.

Another single, "Wig Wam Bam", (featuring Barton, Gibb and Betteridge) reached No. 63 in the UK chart,[5] but "Viva La Mexico", which was released to capitalise on the 1986 FIFA World Cup football competition, flopped when England were knocked out. Black Lace (Barton and Betteridge) appeared as themselves in the 1987 film Rita, Sue and Bob Too performing "Gang Bang", which had been recorded by Barton and Gibb the previous year. The pair were also immortalised as caricatures in the TV show Spitting Image and the hit single "The Chicken Song". The band had a UK hit with their album Party Crazy.[5]

Later career (1987–2023)

[edit]

September 1987 saw a switch round: Gibb returned 'full-time' with the band, whilst Barton left to join Smokie.[4] Dene Michael Betteridge became a full-time member of Black Lace, and he and Gibb released the single "Jammin' the Sixties" under the name Barracuda. The record was BBC Radio One's Record of the Week, but it failed to chart.

A summer season at the Blackpool Tower followed in 1989 and 1990, plus performances at the BBC Radio One Roadshow in the town, along with the release of the single "I Am The Music Man" which peaked at No. 52 in the UK.[5][4]

In 1991, Betteridge was replaced by Rob Hopcraft,[12] with Betteridge going on to launch his rival version of the band before re-joining the official Black Lace.

Gibb and Hopcraft in 1994

In 1995, Barton died as a result of a coach crash in Germany while touring with Smokie.[13]

Black Lace played one-off shows in 1996 at DJ conventions in Canada and Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. They also released the Action Party and Best Of albums that year. Gibb was presented with a special Agadoo guitar to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary, but he was also made bankrupt by the Inland Revenue.[14]

15 August 1997 was dubbed Agadoo Day. Black Lace played 20 shows in 24 hours in Manchester, London, Watford, Northampton, Sheffield, Barnsley, Wakefield and Leeds, finishing at the Frontier Club, Batley. The event raised over £25,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Peugeot used "Agadoo" in a TV advertisement for the new 106 car, and Black Lace re-recorded the track, renaming it "Agadoo 106 mix", donating all their royalties to Marie Curie Cancer Care. The record spent a week in the UK chart.[5]

In 2001 Hopcraft was replaced by Camille Wagstaff,[15] with this line-up releasing a cover of The Soca Boys' Dutch hit "Follow the Leader", a song which would become a Top 10 hit by Nigel & Marvin when remixed, as "Follow Da Leader", with the tune from Chocolate Puma's hit "I Wanna Be U".[16]

In 2002, Colin Gibb took the Original Black Lace show to Tenerife, playing the now internationally famous 'party shows' in hotels and restaurants on the island, occasionally visiting the UK for TV appearances.[4] Due to this, Flair Records launched a TV reality show in the style of The X Factor called Agadoo: The Search for the New Black Lace.[17] The 4-episode show featured Gibb and manager John Wagstaff as the judges and was shown on ITV's regional Yorkshire TV service, with the winners releasing a version of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" as their winners single.[18]

In 2015, a television advertisement for Walkers crisps was shown on British TV, featuring Betteridge and Robinson (under the name 'Old Lace') performing alongside Gary Lineker singing along to "Agadoo".[19] In this year, Betteridge had also appeared alongside Esmée Denters[20] and Eurovision hopeful Joe Woolford[21] on an episode of BBC One's The Voice UK.[22][23] By this time, Gibb had started to perform Black Lace shows in Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos with Scottish singer and Oasis FM radio presenter Gordon King, an artist who had issued a solo album under his real name, Gordon Quinn, in the 1970s.[24]

In 2016, Dene Michael Betteridge[25] was jailed for six months for benefit fraud after falsely claiming almost £25,000 for his sciatica, with his wife and 'carer' Karen getting 12-month community order for her role in the scam, with the judge sentencing her to 100 hours of unpaid work.[26]

By 2018, Betteridge was back performing in the clubs, having teamed up with a Kylie Minogue tribute act called Vikki B in a duo called Party Crazy.[27] Betteridge had been billing himself as 'Mr Agadoo' by this point in his career, even though he did not appear on the original record, and would find himself back in the Wagstaff managed version of Black Lace later in the year.

In 2019, Gibb's Tenerife based version of Black Lace became associated with UK dressage team The Agadoo Girls, consisting of seven members, with Gibb's cousin Debbie Cox as team captain. They came top at their debut Team Quest competition at Richmond Equestrian Centre in June that year.[28]

Colin Gibb - retirement and death

[edit]

On 13 May 2024, Colin Gibb announced his retirement on Facebook. His last performance was at the San Eugenio Villa Adeje Beach Hotel in Spain, on 16 May.[29] On 3 June 2024, the band, alongside Gibb's wife, revealed Gibb had died aged 70 the previous day.[30]

Recent Career (2024-)

[edit]

As of 2024, the official Flair Entertainments/N.O.W. Music Co. version of Black Lace[31] comprises Phil Temple[32] and Craig Harper, a vocalist and comedian, who has previously appeared on Britain's Got Talent, Michael Barrymore's TV show and Jane McDonald's Star for a Night.

On 8 September 2024, the duo appeared as special guests[33] at Radio 2 in the Park, Preston 2024 as part of Paddy McGuinness’ Sunday School Disco[34]

In November 2024, the duo appeared on the BBC One Children in Need programme Paddy: The Ride of My Life, [35] where they were seen performing "Agadoo" alongside Paddy McGuinness[36][37] and Sir Chris Hoy[38] in the car park of Westmorland's Cairn Lodge Services.[39]

Personnel

[edit]
Former members
  • Alan Barton – guitar, lead and backing vocals (1973–1987; died 1995)
  • Terry Dobson – drums, backing vocals (1973–1981)
  • Colin Gibb (Colin Routh) – guitar – lead vocals (1976–2024; died 2024) (Official version and Tenerife version)
  • Ian Howarth – lead guitar, bass guitar, vocals (1973–1976)
  • Steve Scholey – lead vocals (1973–1981)
  • Dene Michael (Betteridge) – lead vocals (1987–1991, 2018-2023) (Official version) (1991–2018) (rival version)
  • Rob Hopcraft – lead vocals (1991–2000; died 2020)
  • Gordon King (Gordon Quinn) – lead vocals and guitar (2015–2024) (Tenerife version)

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
  • 1984: Black Lace
  • 1984: Party Party – 16 Great Party Icebreakers (UK No. 4)
  • 1985: Party Party 2 (UK No. 18)
  • 1986: Party Crazy (UK No. 58)
  • 1987: 16 Greatest Party Hits
  • 1989: 20 All Time Party Favourites
  • 1993: Action Party
  • 1995: Saturday Night
  • 1997: Greatest Hits
  • 1998: What a Party
  • 2000: Black Lace's Greatest Ever Party Album
  • 2006: Black Lace: Greatest Hits
  • 2010: The Blue Album – Banned in the UK [world-wide distribution]
  • 2013: The Blue Album – Banned in the UK – 're-release' [world-wide distribution][5]
  • 2014: Black Lace 'Live Beach Party' (limited edition)
  • 2023: The Party Album (24 All Time Party Favourites)

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions
AUS[40] FRA[41] IRE[42] NZ[43] SA[44] UK[45]
1979 "Mary Ann" — — 19 — — 42
"So Long Suzi Baby" — — — — — —
1980 "Hey Hey Jock McRay" (Denmark-only release) — — — — — —
1982 "Birds Dance" (aka "The Birdie Song") (As 'Buzby') — — — — — —
1983 "Superman (Gioca Jouer)" — — 25 — — 9
"Hey You" — — — — — —
1984 "Agadoo" 16 48 5 9 3 2
"Do the Conga" — — 12 — — 10
1985 "El Vino Collapso" — — — — — 42
"I Speaka da Lingo" — — — — — 49
"Hokey Cokey" — — — — — 31
1986 "Viva la Mexico" — — — — — 79
"Wig-Wam Bam" — — — — — 63
1989 "I Am the Music Man" — — — — — 52
1990 "Gang Bang" — — — — — 90
"Jammin' the 60's" (as 'Barracuda') — — — — — —
1992 "Penny Arcade" — — — — — —
1994 "Bullsh*t (Cotton-Eyed Joe)" — — — — — 83
1996 "The Electric Slide" (featuring The Electric Boogie Line Dance) — — — — — 83
1997 "Macarena" — — — — — —
1998 "Agadoo (106 Dance Mix)" (re-recording) — — — — — 64
2000 "Follow the Leader" — — — — — —
2009 "Mega-Mega Mix" (Spain-only release) — — — — — —
"Agadoo Mambo" (Dene Michael) — — — — — —
"Music Man 2009" (Dene Michael) — — — — — —
2010 "We Are the England Fans" (Dene Michael) — — — — — —
2011 "Do the Conga (Trainline Mix)" (Dene Michael)[5] — — — — — —
2015 "Agadoo 2015 (Crisp Mix)" (Dene Michael) — — — — — —
"Agadoo (The Space Mix)" — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://officialblacklace.com/about/
  2. ^ https://www.butlins.com/bigweekenders/experience/headliners/black-lace
  3. ^ https://www.flairents.co.uk/craigharper
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Biography by Sharon Mawer". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 60. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ "Buzby record release". Discos. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  7. ^ Bromley, Tom (2012). Wired for Sound: Now That's What I Call An Eighties Music Childhood. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780857203236.
  8. ^ Miles, Tina (26 March 2009). "Merseyside dad hopes for chart success with Black Lace hit Agadoo". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  9. ^ EveryHit.com - search for "Black Lace" as "Name of artist" and "Agadoo" as "Title of song"
  10. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 128. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  11. ^ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/agadoo-singer-led-a-60man-conga-of-inmates-in-prison-a7238266.html
  12. ^ https://officialblacklace.com/history/
  13. ^ Pierre Perrone (18 April 1995). "Obituary: Alan Barton". The Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  14. ^ "The awful curse of Agadoo;". Goliath.ecnext.com. 14 December 1996. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  15. ^ https://officialblacklace.com/history/
  16. ^ https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/12070/nigel-and-marvin/
  17. ^ https://off-the-records.com/black-lace-agadoo-the-sound-of-butlins-core/comment-page-1/
  18. ^ https://officialblacklace.com/history/
  19. ^ "Walkers Crisps Advert – 2015 'Agadoo' Bring It Back Commercial | TV Ad Songs". Tvadsongs.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  20. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hnztb/p02hj83h
  21. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hnztb/p02hj83z
  22. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hnztb/p02hj83m
  23. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0517j3j
  24. ^ https://northernlifemagazine.co.uk/party-time-with-black-lace-in-tenerife/
  25. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-36640503
  26. ^ https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2016-06-27/black-lace-star-dene-michael-jailed-for-benefit-fraud
  27. ^ https://www.cullingworthconservativeclub.com/social-events/entertainment-party-crazy/
  28. ^ "Richmond Equestrian Centre TQ Results". British Dressage. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  29. ^ "Colin Gibb Black Lace". Facebook.com.
  30. ^ "Eurovision and Black Lace singer Colin Gibb dies aged 70". Metro.co.uk. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  31. ^ https://officialblacklace.com/about/
  32. ^ https://www.butlins.com/bigweekenders/experience/headliners/black-lace
  33. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0022pyr
  34. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e89j6q/performances#all
  35. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00256cg
  36. ^ https://inews.co.uk/news/how-much-paddy-mcguinness-raised-for-children-in-need-and-how-to-donate-3382399?srsltid=AfmBOor0kScx9cxKVe4NheGL8Ff6eBS_UH0mtl2nV2WXGCx1WlUAJ1x6
  37. ^ https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/paddy-mcguinness-children-in-need-cycling-challenge-end-glasgow-b1194216.html
  38. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/live/cp875rjrylpt
  39. ^ https://cairnlodgeservices.com/about/
  40. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  41. ^ "lescharts.com - Les charts français". lescharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  42. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  43. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  44. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (B)". www.rock.co.za. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  45. ^ "BLACK LACE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by UK in the Eurovision Song Contest
1979 		Succeeded by
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