Holly Johnson

He’s been performing and releasing records since 1977 when he was a member of Big In Japan alongside the likes of Bill Drummond, Ian Broudie and Budgie – all of whom went on to great musical success.

Almost 30 years later the singer is the last Frankie standing (he wisely spurned an ill-conceived reunion fiasco a decade ago) but over four mostly lacklustre albums he’s squandered the vast reservoirs of Frankie goodwill.

Cologne, Germany

Their singles Two Tribes and the innuendo-laden BBC-banned Relax were at No 1 and 2 while the Frankie Says … T-shirt became the year’s must-have fashion accessory.

The songs of his band, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, have lasted the fickle years between then and now, still sounding contemporary and dangerous.

The biggest band from the city since The Beatles and the most controversial in British pop since The Sex Pistols, for a short period they burnt brightly, leaving some of the most extraordinary sounding records of the 1980s as their timeless legacy.

There were great expectations for Johnson’s show, after years of brief festival appearances. And as soon as he stepped on stage, the years melted away. Wearing outsize sunglasses and a leather suit, he was welcomed by an enthusiastic audience. A gentle soul with a naughty twinkle in his eye, he ran through hi