For a moment it seemed like The Fizz’s 40th anniversary gig wasn’t to be, but the group finally made it on stage – two years later – to deliver one of the best concerts of their decades-spanning career.
Packing out the 2,800-capacity indigo at The O2, the trio – starring Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston – powered through a stellar, 35-song set, delivering all of their biggest hits and plenty more during the two-hour spectacle.
Opening track Are You Ready – from their 1982 album of the same name – set the tone for a show heavy with hidden gems, segueing into fan-favourites I’d Like To Say I Love You and Another Night, and their first post-Eurovision offering, Piece of the Action.
Featuring tracks from the original Bucks Fizz album series – ‘Bucks Fizz’ (1981), ‘Are You Ready’ (1982), ‘Hand Cut’ (1983), ‘I Hear Talk’ (1984) and ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ (1986) – the group delivered all of their biggest hits, with setlist staples like If You Can’t Stand The Heat, Run For Your Life and New Beginning (Mamba Seyra) sequenced alongside lesser-performed singles I Hear Talk, You And Your Heart So Blue and Magical, shining a light on some of their overlooked gems.
Meanwhile, offerings from their more recent LPs ‘The F-Z of Pop’ (2017), ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ (2020) and ‘Everything Under The Sun’ (2022) – like comeback single Dancing In The Rain, the poignant Jay solo From Here To Eternity (dedicated to daughter Josie) and Cheryl-led Amen – proved real crowd-pleasers and a testament to the band’s enduring appeal.
The latter track was written by Cheryl’s daughter, who featured on backing vocals alongside twin sister Natalie and dad Steve on bass – and they weren’t the only familiar faces in the house. In an extended list of thank yous towards the end of the show, the band revealed Nicola Martin – who formed Bucks Fizz more than four decades ago – was in the crowd, with talk that original writer Andy Hill was also present.
Both together and individually, they worked on several Bucks Fizz tracks, with album cuts including I Do It All For You, Midnight Reservation, 20th Century Hero, and even B-side Invisible, all featuring in the show in a series of medleys, which allowed each member their moment to shine.
Harking back to their first ‘Greatest Hits’ (1983) album, Cheryl delivered a powerhouse mash-up of Oh Suzanne and Rules of the Game, while Jay brought the drama on When We Were Young and international single Easy Love. Meanwhile, Mike’s showstopping, stripped-back delivery of Top 10 hit Now Those Days Are Gone – backed by the girls’ on-point harmonies – proved one of several standout moments.
Closing with the double-punch of No. 1 singles The Land of Make Believe and Making Your Mind Up, The Fizz’s big night was everything a 40th anniversary show should be: wall-to-wall classics, nostalgic visuals and fabulously-sequinned costumes, delivered by three of British pop’s true survivors.
Best captured in Treasure Forever – the only song in the set from the band’s latest album – with the mantra ‘We stand, we fall as one / Proud to say we faced it together’, the love that radiated for Cheryl, Mike and Jay around the venue was overwhelming. And with hints towards more new music, it seems there’s plenty more for Fizz fans to look forward to yet…
