Johnny Edward: Difference between revisions

Johnny Edward
Johnny Edward
Birth name	John Edward Flux
Also known as	John "Purpleknees" Edward
Born	31 October 1945; Gillingham, Kent, England
Died	23 October 2021 (aged 75)
Occupations	Musician; songwriter; record producer; TV screenwriter; radio personality; agency founder; character creator of Metal Mickey;
Instruments	Guitar
Labels	Parlophone Records

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John Edward Flux, (31 October 1945 – 23 October 2021)^[1] professionally known as Johnny Edward, was a British musician, writer and record producer, also known as the creator of the children's television character Metal Mickey.

Career

Musician

He was born in Gillingham, Kent, England. As a guitarist, Flux joined the R&B group The Manish Boys, whose lead singer became David Jones, later known as David Bowie. Billed as John "Purpleknees" Edward, in March 1965 Parlophone Records released "I Pity The Fool", a cover version of a Bobby Bland song.^[1] With Bowie focused on numerous projects, and the single unsuccessful, the group broke up.^[2]

Pirate DJ

Flux and saxophonist Woolf Byrne joined pirate radio station Radio City.^[3] Based at Shivering Sands Army Fort, his theme tune was The Shadows tune "Sweet Dreams". After successfully applying for a position at Wonderful Radio London, he agreed with the programme director Ben Toney to start in November 1965, billed as John Edward - his Christian names. Never having a regular slot, he stayed with the station until July 1966.^[2]

Instant Sound

During the late 1960s / early 1970s, he ran The John Edward Entertainment Agency with his wife Sue and booked such bands as Heatwave with; John Fellows {bass/vocals}, Terry Shea {guitar/vocals}, Richard Steen {lead guitar/vocals}, Martin Samuel {drums/pyrotechnics} and Peter Allatt {lead vocals/percussion}. John wrote and produced the Heatwave single, 'Sister Simon (Funny Man)' b/w 'Rastus Ravel (Is A Mean Old Man)' (PEN 738) released on Larry Page's Penny Farthing Records label for his company, Instant Sound Productions. The single featured Rick Wakeman on keyboards and Doris Troy with Maggie Stredder, Gloria George and Marian Davis, The Ladybirds, as back-up singers. Both sides of the record were aired on Radio Seagull by Paul Stiles on his 01/25/2012 Midweek Madness show.

Hollywood Records

Returning to the music business, he set up independent label Hollywood Records as a vehicle through which to write and produce his own songs via a series of unattached artistes. Being a rock and roll man, Edward hated the soft-kitsch style of production at that time in the early 1970s, and wrote the kitsch-Italian Save Your Love stating that "the song was written as a joke, to give the finger to Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood Of Man among other tracks that made me chew the carpet".^[2]

In 1975, he heard West Midlands-resident Italian waiter Renato Pagliari audition for ITV's talent show New Faces. Teaming Pagliari with British-born female singer Hilary Lester, Edward renamed them Renée and Renato to record the song.^[4] "Save Your Love" entered the UK Singles Chart in October 1982 at number 54. However, it began to pick up sales during the Christmas period, and seven weeks after its debut was at the top of the chart, resulting in it being played on Top of the Pops and many radio stations. Lester, whom by now Edward had placed in another Hollywood Records band, did not appear in the video, replaced by a more-Italianate looking model. "Save Your Love" was a UK Number one hit single, remaining at the top of the chart for four weeks before being knocked off by Phil Collins' "You Can't Hurry Love". It was the first song produced by an independent record label to ever reach the UK Number one position. The Edwards written contractually enforced follow-ups, "Just One More Kiss" stalled at Number 48, and "Jesus Loves Us All" did not chart, breaking the duo up.^[4]

Edward recorded a special Radio London Fab 40 countdown at Christmas 2005.^[2]

Metal Mickey

Edward created the 1960s inspired robot Metal Mickey.^[2] Voiced by Edwards with a catchphrase of "boogie, boogie, boogie", his favourite treat was Atomic Thunderbusters, which had the appearance of lemon bonbons. First shown on the Southern Television produced The Saturday Banana in 1978, friend and former The Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz picked up the rights to produce and then direct the first episodes of The Metal Mickey TV Show. Set in a family-home environment with the grandmother played by Irene Handl, the show had a peak ITV Saturday teatime viewing figure of 12 million people, and ran for three series from 1980 to 1983.

Death

Edward was working on relaunching Metal Mickey to new audiences, with his former voicing/operator role taken over by Liverpudlian actor Lee Jackson, supported by his on-screen wife Yvonne Delahaye.

Edward died in August 2021.

References

^ ^a ^b "Johnny Edward". Radio London. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Johnny Edward". Offshore radio. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
^ "Johnny Edward". Offshore radio. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
^ ^a ^b "Save Your Love singer Renato dies". BBC News. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

External links

Metal Mickey official website

[RadLon-1] "Johnny Edward". Radio London. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

[Offshore1-2] "Johnny Edward". Offshore radio. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

[3] "Johnny Edward". Offshore radio. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

[BBCObit-4] "Save Your Love singer Renato dies". BBC News. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|British musical artist (1945–2021)}}
-{{BLP sources|date=August 2010}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
-'''Johnny Edward''' (born '''John Edward Flux''', 1945),<ref name="RadLon"/> is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[musician]], writer and [[record producer]], also known as the creator of the children's television character [[Metal Mickey]].
+{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
+{{infobox musical artist
+| name              = Johnny Edward
+| image             =
+| birth_name        = John Edward Flux
+| birth_date        = 31 October 1945
+| birth_place       = [[Gillingham, Kent]], England
+| death_date        = {{death date and age|2021|10|23|1945|10|31|df=y}}
+| alias             = John "Purpleknees" Edward
+| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|record producer|TV screenwriter|radio personality|agency founder|character creator of [[Metal Mickey]]}}
+| instruments       = Guitar
+| associated_acts   = [[The Manish Boys]]
+| label             = [[Parlophone Records]]
+}}
+'''John Edward Flux''', (31 October 1945 – 23 October 2021)<ref name="RadLon"/> professionally known as '''Johnny Edward''', was a British [[musician]], writer and [[record producer]], also known as the creator of the children's television character [[Metal Mickey]].
 ==Career==
 ===Musician===
-A [[guitarist]], Flux joined the [[R&B]] group [[The Manish Boys]], whose lead singer became David Jones, later known as [[David Bowie]]. Billed as John "Purpleknees" Edward, in March 1965 [[Parlophone Records]] released "[[I Pity The Fool]]", a [[cover version]] of a [[Bobby Bland]] song.<ref name="RadLon">{{citeweb|url=http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/may66/may662/balstory.html|title=Johnny Edward|publisher=Radio London|accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref> With Bowie focused on numerous projects, and the single unsuccessful, the group broke up.<ref name="Offshore1"/>
+He was born in [[Gillingham, Kent]], England. As a [[guitarist]], Flux joined the [[R&B]] group [[The Manish Boys]], whose lead singer became David Jones, later known as [[David Bowie]]. Billed as John "Purpleknees" Edward, in March 1965 [[Parlophone Records]] released "[[I Pity The Fool]]", a [[cover version]] of a [[Bobby Bland]] song.<ref name="RadLon">{{cite web|url=http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/may66/may662/balstory.html|title=Johnny Edward|publisher=Radio London|accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref> With Bowie focused on numerous projects, and the single unsuccessful, the group broke up.<ref name="Offshore1"/>
 ===Pirate DJ===
-Flux and saxophonist Woolf Byrne joined [[pirate radio]] station [[Radio City (pirate radio station)|Radio City]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/edward.htm|title=Johnny Edward|publisher=Offshore radio|accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref> Based at [[Shivering Sands Army Fort]], his theme tune was [[The Shadows]] tune "Sweet Dreams". After successfully applying for a position at [[Wonderful Radio London]], he with agreed with the programme director Ben Toney to start in November 1965, billed as ''John Edward'' - his Christian names. Never having a regular slot, he stayed with the station until July 1966.<ref name="Offshore1"/>
+Flux and saxophonist Woolf Byrne joined [[pirate radio]] station [[Radio City (pirate radio station)|Radio City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/edward.htm|title=Johnny Edward|publisher=Offshore radio|accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref> Based at [[Shivering Sands Army Fort]], his theme tune was [[The Shadows]] tune "Sweet Dreams". After successfully applying for a position at [[Wonderful Radio London]], he agreed with the programme director Ben Toney to start in November 1965, billed as ''John Edward'' - his Christian names. Never having a regular slot, he stayed with the station until July 1966.<ref name="Offshore1"/>
 ===Instant Sound===
 During the late 1960s / early 1970s, he ran The John Edward Entertainment Agency with his wife Sue and booked such bands as [http://www.heatwave.n.nu Heatwave] with; John Fellows {bass/vocals}, Terry Shea {guitar/vocals}, Richard Steen {lead guitar/vocals}, Martin Samuel {drums/pyrotechnics} and Peter Allatt {lead vocals/percussion}.
 John wrote and produced the Heatwave single, 'Sister Simon (Funny Man)' b/w 'Rastus Ravel (Is A Mean Old Man)' (PEN 738) released on Larry Page's [[Penny Farthing Records]] label for his company, Instant Sound Productions. The single featured [[Rick Wakeman]] on keyboards and [[Doris Troy]] with Maggie Stredder, Gloria George and Marian Davis, [[The Ladybirds]], as back-up singers. Both sides of the record were aired on [[Radio Seagull]] by Paul Stiles on his 01/25/2012 Midweek Madness show.
 ===Hollywood Records===
-Returning to the music business, he set up independent label Hollywood Records as a vehicle through which to write and produce his own songs via a series of unattached artistes. Being a [[rock and roll]] man, Edward hated the soft-[[kitsch]] style of production at that time in the early 1970s, specifically citing [[Brotherhood Of Man]]'s "[[Save Your Kisses For Me]]" which won the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1976]], as:<ref name="Offshore1"/>
+Returning to the music business, he set up independent label Hollywood Records as a vehicle through which to write and produce his own songs via a series of unattached artistes. Being a [[rock and roll]] man, Edward hated the soft-[[kitsch]] style of production at that time in the early 1970s, and wrote the kitsch-[[Italy|Italian]] ''[[Save Your Love (Renée and Renato song)|Save Your Love]]'' stating that ''"the song was written as a joke, to give the finger to [[Save Your Kisses For Me]] by [[Brotherhood Of Man]] among other tracks that made me chew the carpet"''.<ref name="Offshore1"/>
-{{cquote|among other tracks that made me chew the carpet.}}
-In response, he wrote with his wife Sue a song called "[[Save Your Love (Renée and Renato song)|Save Your Love]]" to a kitsch-[[Italy|Italian]] orchestral themed backing.
-In 1975, he heard [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]-resident Italian [[waiter]] Renato Pagliari audition for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s talent show ''[[New Faces]].'' Teaming Pagliari with British-born female singer Hilary Lester, Edward renamed them [[Renée and Renato]] to record the song.<ref name="BBCObit"/> "Save Your Love" entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] in October 1982 at number 54. However, it began to pick up sales during the [[Christmas]] period, and seven weeks after its debut was at the top of the chart, resulting in it being played on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' and many [[radio station]]s. Lester, whom by now Edward had placed in another Hollywood Records band, did not appear in the [[music video|video]], replaced by a more-Italianate looking model. "Save Your Love" was a UK [[record chart|Number one]] [[hit single]], remaining at the top of the chart for four weeks before being knocked off by [[Phil Collins]]' "[[You Can't Hurry Love]]". It was the first song produced by an [[independent record label]] to ever reach the UK Number one position. The Edwards written contractually enforced follow-ups, "Just One More Kiss" stalled at Number 48, and "Jesus Loves Us All" did not chart, breaking the duo up.<ref name="BBCObit">{{citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8186652.stm|title=Save Your Love singer Renato dies |publisher=BBC News|date=2009-08-05|accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref>
+In 1975, he heard [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]-resident Italian [[waiter]] Renato Pagliari audition for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s talent show ''[[New Faces]].'' Teaming Pagliari with British-born female singer Hilary Lester, Edward renamed them [[Renée and Renato]] to record the song.<ref name="BBCObit"/> "Save Your Love" entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] in October 1982 at number 54. However, it began to pick up sales during the [[Christmas]] period, and seven weeks after its debut was at the top of the chart, resulting in it being played on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' and many [[radio station]]s. Lester, whom by now Edward had placed in another Hollywood Records band, did not appear in the [[music video|video]], replaced by a more-Italianate looking model. "Save Your Love" was a UK [[record chart|Number one]] [[hit single]], remaining at the top of the chart for four weeks before being knocked off by [[Phil Collins]]' "[[You Can't Hurry Love]]". It was the first song produced by an [[independent record label]] to ever reach the UK Number one position. The Edwards written contractually enforced follow-ups, "Just One More Kiss" stalled at Number 48, and "Jesus Loves Us All" did not chart, breaking the duo up.<ref name="BBCObit">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8186652.stm|title=Save Your Love singer Renato dies |publisher=BBC News|date=2009-08-05|accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref>
+Edward recorded a special Radio London Fab 40 countdown at Christmas 2005.<ref name="Offshore1">{{cite web|url=http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/djse2h.htm|title=Johnny Edward|publisher=Offshore radio|accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref>
 ===Metal Mickey===
-Johnny Edward created the 1960s inspired robot [[Metal Mickey]].<ref name="Offshore1"/> Voiced by Johnny with a [[catchphrase]] of "Boogie, Boogie!," his favourite treat was Atomic Thunderbusters, which had the appearance of lemon [[bonbon]]s. First shown on the [[Southern Television]] ''[[Saturday Banana|The Saturday Banana]]''.  in 1979 an edited demo video was sent by Johnny to Humphrey Barclay of ITV (LWT back in the day) and the Monkees]] drummer [[Micky Dolenz]] was invited to produce and direct the first episodes of ''The Metal Mickey TV Show.'' David Crossman and Nic Phillips were bought in to assist as directors. Set in a family-home environment with the grandmother played by [[Irene Handl]], the show had a peak [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] Saturday Jictar rating of 12 million, and ran for three series from 1980 to 1983.
+Edward created the 1960s inspired robot [[Metal Mickey]].<ref name="Offshore1"/> Voiced by Edwards with a [[catchphrase]] of "boogie, boogie, boogie", his favourite treat was Atomic Thunderbusters, which had the appearance of lemon [[bonbon]]s. First shown on the [[Southern Television]] produced ''[[Saturday Banana|The Saturday Banana]]'' in 1978, friend and former [[The Monkees]] drummer [[Micky Dolenz]] picked up the rights to produce and then direct the first episodes of ''[[Metal Mickey#Metal Mickey television show|The Metal Mickey TV Show]].'' Set in a family-home environment with the grandmother played by [[Irene Handl]], the show had a peak [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] Saturday teatime viewing figure of 12 million people, and ran for three series from 1980 to 1983.
-Metal Mickey's name was inspired by early realisations that he bore a passing resemblance to Mickey Mouse. From the original drawings that looked too much like R2D2 for comfort, arms were added and these gave him a 'man about town' look.
+===Death===
-He is alive and well and living in the Hackney area and looks forward to signing on the dotted line for a new series in the near future.
+Edward was working on relaunching Metal Mickey to new audiences, with his former voicing/operator role taken over by Liverpudlian actor Lee Jackson, supported by his on-screen wife Yvonne Delahaye.
+Edward died in August 2021.
-===Present===
-Johnny Edward is currently working on relaunching Metal Mickey to new audiences and is talking with new producers with a view to a new show.
-Johnny is one of the voices on Radio London's Oldies Project Fab 40 Show, and recorded a special Fab 40 countdown at Christmas 2005.<ref name="Offshore1">{{citeweb|url=http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/djse2h.htm|title=Johnny Edward|publisher=Offshore radio|accessdate=2009-08-05}}</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 36: / Line 50: @@
 ==External links==
-*[http://www.metalmickey.com/ Metal Mickey official website]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081219110716/http://metalmickey.com/ Metal Mickey official website]
 {{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Edward, Johnny}}
 [[Category:1945 births]]
-[[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:2021 deaths]]
-[[Category:British guitarists]]
+[[Category:British male guitarists]]
 [[Category:Pirate radio personalities]]
 [[Category:Offshore radio broadcasters]]
-[[Category:British songwriters]]
 [[Category:British record producers]]
 [[Category:British television writers]]
+[[Category:British male television writers]]
+[[Category:British male songwriters]]