The Sweet in the 1970s

Book excerpt: The Sweet's look, sound and attitude became an instantly recognisable hallmark of the early 1970s glam rock era. But the band did not start the 1970s as a glam band and certainly didn't finish as one. This book charts the band's journey through the decade that made them a household name: from their initial rise as purveyors of manufactured bubblegum pop to their metamorphosis into harder-edged glam rock icons. The Sweet in the 1970s takes a look at both their successes and their struggles in their quest to be recognised as a serious rock act in the latter part of the decade, once the sparkle and glitter of glam had begun to pale. The decade saw them score fifteen UK Top 40 singles, release seven studio albums and tour several continents. Unlike many bands of the era, personnel changes were few. The Sweet began the 1970s with the arrival of new guitarist Andy Scott and ended the decade with the departure of frontman Brian Connolly, followed by an ultimately ill-fated attempt to continue as a three-piece. This book is an unashamed celebration of the music of the Sweet and charts the lasting impact they had on many of the bands that followed them. After acquiring a second-hand copy of Sweet's Give Us A Wink album from Action Records in Preston as a teenager in the early 1980s, Darren has been a dedicated fan of the band. A former politician, he has written for a number of UK national newspapers, but after stepping away from politics, he has been able to devote more time to his first love: music. A keen follower of both rock and folk, he maintains a popular music blog Darren's Music Blog and has reviewed albums and gigs for a variety of publications. He lives in Hastings, East Sussex, UK.