Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette
We’ve had a few chart toppers visit the Phoenix FM studio over the years so it was great to welcome Mick Clarke to Bob Simpson’s lunchtime show One 2 Three last week.
Mick was part of the Rubettes, who are best known for their massive hit single Sugar Baby Love. It reached no 1 in 1974, not just in the UK but in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium too.
The band went on to have 9 UK top 40 hits in the 1970s and maintained a strong following all over the world.
The song was constantly on the radio back then too. I was in primary school at the time in Gidea Park and can still remember the rumours that some or all of the band lived just around the corner to the school, so it was quite exciting to think we had some real rock stars on our doorstep!
Mick and another original band member, John Richardson, both hail from Hornchurch, and the Rubettes used to play local gigs in the 80s – including one at Romford’s sadly missed Dolphin Leisure Centre – so maybe the rumours were true.
Mick and John have now got together again to form a new band, The Sugar Baby Loves – and they have a new single out, Born To Do It, which takes a look back at their glory days.
Bob chatted to Mick about his long career in a fascinating interview. You can hear it again at phoenixfm.com, and find out more about Mick’s new band at facebook.com/SugarBabyLovesOfficial.
