Discussing his band’s early1980s classic, Holly Johnson “felt there was homophobia” involved after the BBC temporarily banned ‘Relax’.
Stating that it was “a bit of a storm in a teacup” when the then-BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read branded the lyrics of the gay anthem as scandalous, in an interview with England’s i newspaper, the Frankie Goes to Hollywood frontman, added “I felt there was homophobia involved, and they let their imaginations run wild with themselves thinking, because I’m gay, ‘It’s all about gay sex, and we can’t have that.'” “There’s no reference to gay sex, really, in the record.”
Britain’s mega-media corporation subsequently banned the song from playing on the radio and TV for several weeks in 1984, before eventually lifting the censorship as the song hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for five weeks. The iconic title went on to spend nine total weeks in the UK Singles Chart top slot and the group’s feet “didn’t touch the ground” with the constant touring and TV interview appearances.
Reminiscing about at that time in his life, Holly thinks there was “no consideration” for the boys’ “physical and mental health.” “It was just, ‘Get those boys over there. Sell, sell, sell.'”
‘Relax’ was a massive hit, and the band – consisting of Holly, Paul Rutherford, Mark O’Toole, Brian Nash and Peter Gill – continued their success with the release of ‘Two Tribes’ later in 1984.
Though the UK born singer/songwriter quit Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1987, the band reunited in 2023 to perform their 1984 song ‘Welcome to the Pleasuredome’ at the opening ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest in their hometown of Liverpool.
While Holly “… entertained the idea for a while after, but it seems to have gone away now,” he’s now cast doubt on whether there will be a full get-together in the future.
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Plumbago