Black Lace

Forever associated with the ultimate cheesy singalong weddings / parties / karaoke favorite “Agadoo” (1984), Black Lace made a career out of playing at holiday camps. Originally formed as a Yorkshire school band called The Impact, they underwent various personnel and name changes before settling on Black Lace - built around the duo Alan Barton (guitar and vocals) and Colin Gibb (guitar and vocals) - and came to prominence when chosen to represent the UK at the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest in Israel with “Mary Ann.” They only finished seventh, but it formulated their future role as a party band specialising in Europop anthems - with a following all over Europe - and they had a big hit in 1983 with “Superman.” However, it was 1984’s “Agadoo” that sealed their reputation as kings of the nonsense chorus. However, “Agadoo” twas kept off the UK number 1 slot by George Michael's “Careless Whisper.” Other equally simplistic and infectious singles followed as they joined the family entertainment circuit. Co-founder Alan Barton left in 1987 to join Smokie and later died in a coach crash while on tour in Germany on March 23, 1995. Other members came and went, but the group recorded a new version of “Agadoo” in 2009 and continued to play occasional shows. Black Lace’s co-founder and sole remaining original member Colin Gibb retired from the group on May 12, 2024. He died less than a month later on June 2, 2024, at the age of 70.