Mick Hucknall
- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Mick Hucknall sang in a punk band called the Frantic Elevators, who
released four singles, all of which failed to chart. They disbanded in
1982 and Hucknall formed a more successful venture, Simply Red, in
1984. Their first single, a cover of the Valentine Brothers' "Money's
Too Tight (to Mention)", was a no. 13 hit in 1985. But the band's next
three singles, which included a recording of "Holding Back the Years"
(originally a single by the Frantic Elevators), all failed to get into
the top 40 and it looked like Simply Red might fail to make much of a
mark. But in 1986, "Holding Back the Years" was re-issued, got radio
airplay and reached the no. 2 position on the UK chart (and topped the
chart in the USA). This song, and many more hit singles, established
Simply Red as a white soul act. However, they had to wait until 1995
for their first UK number one, "Fairground".
Hucknall is a prominent supporter of Britain's Labour Party (the band's 1992 hit "Your Mirror" was a condemnation of the Conservative government of the time) and he sings occasionally on Michael Parkinson's BBC chat show.
Hucknall is a prominent supporter of Britain's Labour Party (the band's 1992 hit "Your Mirror" was a condemnation of the Conservative government of the time) and he sings occasionally on Michael Parkinson's BBC chat show.
