SIMPLY RED

Biography

British soul and pop band which formed in Manchester in 1984 by lead vocalist (and songwriter) Mick “Red” Hucknall with three former members of the band [a=Durutti Column] – bassist Tony Bowers, drummer Chris Joyce, and keyboardist/brass player Tim Kellett – plus guitarist Sylvan Richardson and keyboardist Fritz McIntyre. The band signed to [l=Elektra] Records and released their debut album “Picture Book” in October 1985.

The band line up changed over the years. By 1996, after their fifth album “Life”, Mick Hucknall was the only remaining original member, and the name Simply Red had become a trademark for him. After being dropped by their label [l=EastWest] in 2000, they established a website simplyred.com which also became their own label and released the album “Home” in 2003 and all subsequent releases under it.

Hucknall retired the name Simply Red after a farewell tour in 2010, but reunited in 2015 for a tour that marked the 30th anniversary of the band, and released the album “Big Love”.

Their biggest hits are “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)”, “Holding Back The Years” (1985), “The Right Thing” (1987), “It’s Only Love”, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (1989), “Something Got Me Started”, “Stars” (1991), “Fairground” (1995) and “Sunrise” (2003).