Colin Gibb
Colin Gibb | |
|---|---|
 Colin Gibb, Alan Barton, Terry Dobson and Steve Scholey. Black Lace in 1979. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 8 December 1953 |
| Died | 2 June 2024 (aged 70) |
| Genres | Novelty, pop |
| Years active | 1975–2024 |
Colin Gibb (8 December 1953 – 2 June 2024), born Colin Routh, was a British musician, best known as an original member of Black Lace, who were famous for their novelty party records, including their biggest hit, "Agadoo".
Life and career[edit]
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2024) |
Gibb was born as Colin Routh on 8 December 1953.[1]
Gibb first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest with the group, in which they finished seventh with the song "Mary Ann". Ian Howarth left the band for good in 1976, and was replaced by Colin Gibb.[1]
Over the years, Gibb toured around the world with the group. Playing party shows throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and the US. In 1980, Gibb supported Suzi Quatro and worked 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..
Gibb's biggest success with Black Lace was in 1984 with the single "Agadoo", selling over one million copies worldwide, and reaching No. 2 in the UK chart.[2][3] "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".
15 August 1997 was dubbed Agadoo Day, which saw Gibb and his Black Lace members play 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.[4]
In 2002 Yorkshire TV filmed and aired "Agadoo The Search for a New Black Lace" a talent show searching for a new line-up for Black Lace. The judges include, Black lace's manager, John Wagstaff and Gibb. The 5 Piece group formed, released "Celebration," a remix of Kool and the Gang's original, before disbanding a short time later.
In 2002, 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.[1] In 2003, an adult-themed album called Blue (originally recorded in the UK years previously by Gibb and Dene Michael, and 'banned' by their own record label) was released. In 2004, Gibb took the Black Lace show to mainland Spain to appear alongside Elvis Presley tribute artiste Mike Young and other guest acts at The King Lives On cabaret bar on the Costa Blanca, returning to Tenerife for contracted shows in 2005. In 2007, Gibb married in the UK his long-time girlfriend Sue Kelly. The following year, Gibb was invited to play bass with the Tenerife-based five-piece rock band The Phoenix, along with the duos To The Limit and Just One More. He latterly played in the blues rock band Traveler, in addition to performing the Black Lace Show.
In 2015, Gibb released "Agadoo (Space Mix)" an updated remix of the "Agadoo 106 mix".
In 2015, Gibb, celebrated 40 years since Black Lace were formed, teamed up with guitarist and vocalist Gordon King for live shows, keeping the style and tradition of the original format: loud guitars, even louder shirts, cheesy dance routines, and 'tongue in cheek', sometimes 'risqué' comedy.
In 2019, Gibb and King 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.[5]
Retirement and death[edit]
On 13 May 2024, Gibb announced his retirement on Facebook, stating that his final performance would be in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, on 16 May.[6][non-primary source needed] He died on 2 June at the age of 70.[7]
Discography with Black Lace[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][4]
- 2014: Black Lace 'Live Beach Party' (limited edition)
- 2023: The Party Album (24 All Time Party Favourites)
Singles[edit]
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [8] |
AUS [9] |
FRA [10] |
IRE [11] |
NZ [12] |
SA [13] | ||
| 1979 | "Mary Ann" | 42 | — | — | 19 | — | — |
| "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)" | 9 | — | — | 25 | — | — |
| "Hey You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1984 | "Agadoo" | 2 | 16 | 48 | 5 | 9 | 3 |
| "Do the Conga" | 10 | — | — | 12 | — | — | |
| 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) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | "Agadoo 2015 (Crisp Mix)" (Dene Michael) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Agadoo (The Space Mix)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released | |||||||
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Biography by Sharon Mawer". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ Miles, Tina (26 March 2009). "Merseyside dad hopes for chart success with Black Lace hit Agadoo". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
- ^ EveryHit.com - search for "Black Lace" as "Name of artist" and "Agadoo" as "Title of song"
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 60. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Richmond Equestrian Centre TQ Results". British Dressage. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- ^ "Well all good things must come to an end. I have decided to retire". Colin Gibb Black Lace on Facebook. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ McIntosh, Steven (3 June 2024). "Black Lace singer Colin Gibb dies aged 70". BBC News. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Black Lace | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "lescharts.com - Les charts français". lescharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (B)". www.rock.co.za. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
External links[edit]
- Official Black Lace website
- Colin Gibb – Black Lace
- N.O.W. Music Co (Black Lace) webpage
- Colin Gibb at IMDb
- Colin Gibb discography at Discogs as Colin Routh