Pop singer Mike Nolan has bid adieu to The Fizz and hello to his next solo venture (Picture: Redferns)
Mike Nolan soared to Eurovision victory in 1981 as part of The Fizz, formerly Bucks Fizz, but four decades on he is ready to go all in with his solo career.
Although the Making Up Your Mind hitmakers have seen huge change over time, in the past few years three of the original members – Mike, 69, Cheryl Baker, 70, and Jay Aston, 63 – reunited under a rebrand.
But now it is officially the end of an era after Mike announced his departure following 43 long years back in May, much to the disappointment of longtime fans.
The trio celebrated their final major performance as a group with an O2 show at the Indigo, Party Like It’s 1981, in June although Mike is expected to stick with the band until the end of the year. Explaining his shock decision he cited ‘personal reasons’.
He added to Radio 2 presenter Michael Ball: ‘It is personal, but… I don’t know. I have decided to go, to leave. I’ve been thinking about it for a long, long time, and I just thought, this is the time to do it.’
Now, Mike is looking toward the future after sharing that his third solo album, Time On My Side, is officially out in the world – with a lucky few fans already able to get their hands on a copy at the Indigo show.
The singer is ready to woo fans with his solo skills (Picture: Mike Nolan/ Instagram)
The cover art features a close-up of Mike in a black-and-white floral print shirt on a sparkly silver backdrop.
‘It’s really good, if I do say so myself lol (well I like it),’ he added in the caption of his Instagram post.
And one fan, @wendybarnesxstitch, quickly confirmed this verdict, writing: ‘-The cover is gorgeous, the voice melts you and wherever you go, whatever comes your way I will always be supporting you xxxx’
This is Mike’s third solo album. He released his first album, In My Life, in 2013 and 2016’s Rose of Cimarron.
For those eager to get their hands on this latest album, you’ll have to email Mike on the dedicated email account with your name and full postal address, specifying if you would like a signed or unsigned CD.
In a recent interview on Lorraine with his fellow bandmates, he got emotional while discussing his departure.
‘I feel like I’ve had enough,’ he recalled to the TV host.
Bucks Fizz with the trio and former bandmate Bobby G at the height of their fame (Picture: Andre Csillag/REX/Shutterstock)
Now Cheryl and Jay are looking for two new male singers to fill the Mike-shaped hole (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
‘The last show I will do with them will be sad but I’ll be happy, I want to relax and take it easy. I’ve been thinking about it for like two to three years but then finally at the beginning of this year I thought there’s no point dragging it out, I’ll just tell them and they weren’t happy, were you?’
He then joked: ’43 years I’ve been in Bucks Fizz! If I did murder, I’d do less time!’
Much like Mike, Cheryl and Jay have no plans of slowing down and have already advertised for two new male members to audition as Mike’s replacement.
In a public callout, they wrote they were looking for ‘two experienced male singers’ who fit the general description of – over 40, stand between 5’7 and 5’11 tall, have a slim build and preferably fair hair.
Auditions will take place in London on September 10.
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