British guitarist analyses Sweet live in 1973!

Tonight we're going back to the 70's for some Sweet performing Hell Raiser!
Original video - • The Sweet - Hell Raiser
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[@ravenkahne8484]

Mick Tucker was one of the most underrated drummers of the era. A true professional.

[@judeconnelly6207]

I was just about to comment the same. Great touch.

[@edjo487]

What a great band to discuss! When Brian left the band and eventually died, along with the other tragedies, things just kind of fell apart. They really are totally underrated. Amazing songs and wonderful live performances. They are not just glam legends, they are true rock gods! Thanks again for this breakdown!

[@chuckmadden2251]

One of those bands that really never got the praise they earned. Thanks for digging into the details.

[@thetruthchannel349]

Ya thats true. I guess if the lead singer had been gay and plugged more into the media because of his gay relationships Sweet would of been as big as Queen. People dont realize just how much Freddie's private gay relationships got their music played. I didnt until recently. Its sad really.

[@thetruthchannel349]

@atomic3939 I wasnt talking about songwriting. I was talking about production values and raw talent in relation to what Queen was doing starting out.

[@thetruthchannel349]

@atomic3939 I think youre confusing talent and exposure. Freddie and Brian were the powerhouse behind Queen. I agree with that. I also think Queen is the greatest band in commercial music history. Im not speaking necessarily in terms of talent. Im speaking in terms of exposure. The only reason Sweet wasnt taken seriously is because they were seen as a band that couldnt write songs from the critics but theres seems to be something else that was going on I just cant put my finger on. At that time Queen were really struggling to compete. Sweet were really blowing everyone out of the water at that particular time.

[@thetruthchannel349]

@atomic3939 You might not know this and you might also but when Bohemian Rhapsody came out no one would play it. How it became a hit is one of Freddie's gay buddies worked at the BBC and he played it over and over for hours one evening. He was told to stop playing it and he played it anyway. If that hadnt happened I dont think Bohemian Rhapsody would have ever made it out of the UK and I think Queen would have ended.

[@thetruthchannel349]

@atomic3939 Im only repeating what both Brian May and Roger Taylor have said regarding Night at the Opera their make or break moment. They only had 1500 ibs in their bank account because of their management. If BoRhap hadnt hit they wouldve probably had to quit.

[@SWillibr]

I still listen to Sweet after all these years. I played them for my young kids in the car years ago. Now they're Sweet fans as well. Great band!

[@kevinsturges6957]

Thank you so much for making this. Sweet was the best rock band in history. They had it all.

[@nemesisjuggernaut7920]

One of the most ground-breaking bands of all time, and Mick Tucker is possibly the most underrated drummer ever. Nobody had a style like his. Nikki Sixx was a big Sweet fan btw. Very sad story between the throat injury, infighting, and producers limiting their artistry. They could have been much bigger. Desolation Boulevard is a great rock album.

[@graemecollin]

Great band - discovered them, back in 1973, with this very song on Top of the Pops (yes, I'm am oldie)! Was fortunate to see Brian's version of the band, back in 1985 - Brilliant! R.I.P. Brian and Mick!

[@BelladonnaXIII]

RIP Steve.

[@thetruthchannel349]

I didnt know this band ever existed until about a year ago. Im surprised they got buried in music history as time went on. Id heard their songs in commercials and just had no idea who they belonged to. Kinda odd you can hear a lot of Queen in their productions but no one ever compares Queen with Sweet. Sweet were doing those high octave background vocals overdubbed 3 and 4 times before anyone.

[@rodwilliams4170]

The Sweet. My favourite band of the seventies. How many hits? Too many to count! They’re right up there with the iconic bands of that era. Great musicians, songwriters and pop/rock/glam sensibilities. Brian Connolly was destroyed by alcohol and it was really so very tragic. Still love them regardless

[@robhanhart2730]

I was 12 when this was a hit and i'm still a big fan. Sweet made me rock!!

[@jodidavis6595]

My favorite 70’s band ever. Thank you so much for giving your perspective on this underrated rock band. Steve Priest was my favorite entertainer…cuz he was just that.

[@edwardcollins7878]

Very underrated band. "Love Is Like Oxygen, "Fox On The Run", "Ballroom Blitz", etc. Unique and memorable pop songs.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

They have this T-Rex groove but the harmonies takes them to a different dimension.

[@reconnsupernaturalsyndicat1493]

Love this performance at the Rainbow 73/74. They Rocked!! Mick Tucker so underrated and Steve Priest the bomb!

[@andyw.3048]

December 21, 1973. Fantastic, height of their career

[@jacquelinemarypiper]

Fabulous. Absolutely love Sweet. Brian was outstanding in every way. Great band. Sill enjoy their music even after all these decades. Rock on 🎶

[@kurt2022]

Little Willy was by far my favorite tune from Sweet. it was written about a cat that used to show up when they were rehearsing.

[@johndef5075]

We had a friend last name Williams who wanted to stay up and party all night every weekend. This song became associated with him😂

[@TJ-id6ee]

Aw I love that!

[@jeanfish7]

I'm one of the few who knew Little Willie was a cat!!! God's tomcat:)

[@timcarder2170]

I will always remember "Little Willy" as a roller skating song, down at the arena :-D . It, and "The Night Chicago Died, by Paper Lace, "Hot Child In The City by Nick Gilder, almost everything by Abba, and so very many more great tunes from the late 60s, to the early 89s heh heh

[@kimdawcatgirl]

You can almost hear Brian meow in the song as he is singing the lyrics at one point! Cool bit of info, especially for a cat person like me!

[@bachatamusica]

I remember "Love Is Like Oxygen", from the late 70s, in my opinion, that should've been a worldwide #1 hit. It was an impeccable recording, in all possible aspects. 🎤🎵🎶🎼🎸🥁💓🥰

[@samanthab1923]

Rui Duarte Andrade Adao One of my top tens! 😊✌🏻

[@roberthorn333]

I agree completely, guys! They never received the props they should have. As Fil explains their ability was much better than some of the other groups of the day.

[@bachatamusica]

@@roberthorn333 yes👍😃🎼

[@bachatamusica]

@@samanthab1923 one of mine too!👍😃

[@jdheryos4910]

Love Is Like Oxygen went number one in Oz and NZ. SWEET had number ones in both Northern and Southern hemispheres. Truly a global phenomenon!

[@lucy-texasgal3679]

Bravo Fil. Excellent choice. Sweet was definitely more than a bubblegum/glam rock band! The 1974 Live at Musikladen concert (which can be found on KZbin) proved that! It was a raw, raunchy, rocking concert! These guys ROCKED and influenced so many. It was ashame they didn't have better success. Rest In Peace Brian Connolly and Mick Tucker and thank you Andy Scott and Steve Priest for carrying on the legacy even though they are in two separate bands. 🤘🏻❤️✌🏻

[@sski]

I was into these guys in 6th grade (1976) and had them blasting in my headphones through a cassette player (before the 'Walkman') in and between classes. I continued listening to their music for years and still do to this day. Highly influential to me even though what I do in my own music is totally in a different vein. Their production cannot be denied. Desolation Boulevard is a killer album. Everything on that album was perfect.

[@tod3msn]

Ballroom Blitz is a Sweet rock anthem. I loved Sweet's song ACDC too. Great rock band.

[@brianmachado5264]

Sweet seriously should have been superstars. They were supreme musicians with incredible vocal harmonies. Their original songs like Set Me Free, Action, Fox On The Run, Oxygen, Burn On The Flame and Lies In Your Eyes were as good or better than the chart topping bands from that era. They influenced Bowie, Queen, Def Leppard and Motley Crue along with countless others. Had Brian Connolly not been kicked in the throat outside of a bar they would have opened for The Who at Charlton Athletic Football Club in 1974( at Pete Townsends request) which I believe would have catapulted them to rock royalty status. So yeah they were the most underated band in rock history that sadly never got the recognition they deserved. They were that good.

[@drummerman1964]

The Sweet were my first heroes of Rock-music !

[@stucrossland3719]

I just doesn't get any better.First band I was a true fan of.The talent in that band is off the charts.

[@hootyr13]

They were so amazing, check them out doing The Sixteens live! as well as many other harder rock songs they performed. Check them out "Live at Musikladen" one of the best concerts live IMO :) Thanks Fil! 🤩🤩

[@philipholmes5884]

Yeah Musikladen 11-11-74 ! Have you seen their performance of "Teenage rampage" on the "Crackerjack" tv show...it's incredible !

[@alcondragon]

The Sweet were actually ahead of their time. Lots of hits, amazing radio play time n their songs and a major part of the 1970's. I can tell you as a teen in the 70's the girls went wild dancing to the Sweet music. Ahhhh the Mamories. I mean memories... Teehee!

[@tjnugent62]

These guys were great. Ballroom Blitz played 24/7 on US Radio for months.

[@bekind6763]

This was Sweet! 😀✌❤^m^😎

[@phillarsson8253]

about time Sweet gets the credit they fully deserve, about all the NWOBM-bands undoughtably were influenced by Sweet (and others of course) but the numberous covers of Sweet-songs just illustrates what impact they had on guys that formed metal bands later on.

[@BarbarraBay]

the double album 'Strung Up' was the 3rd album i ever bought, when i was 10 years old. i cried when my mother wouldn't let me go their concert (in Sydney Australia) with my cousins because i had the flu. it was me that convinced my cousins to buy tickets. i had to wait another year before my 1st concert - Alice Cooper Welcome to My Nightmare Tour! (again lobbying my older cousins)

[@johndef5075]

Mick Tucker is a great drummer. Fox on the Run is an almost perfect piece of rock candy. ❤🎵

[@mevrammcoyoteV8f150]

I was just a kid back then..my sister and her friends loved Sweet and my friends and I loved Kiss..Sweet is a great band...thanks Fil

[@glamgal7106]

Strangely I was 3 when this came out--a "friend of a friend" introduced me to Sweet when I was in my 20s. Strangely, I do remember that when I was 7 or 8 years old, the stores were selling Kiss dolls at about $15--this was around 1977/8. I wanted to see Kiss in concert but my dad didn't want me to go; he said I'd get scared. Fast forward 20 years and I finally saw Kiss in concert--only to find out that it would've cost $14 to see them in 1977/8 and I'd paid...many times that amount LOL.

[@mevrammcoyoteV8f150]

@@glamgal7106 That's cool..I've seen Kiss two times. one with makeup and one without. ..I'm curious what part of England that Sweet derives from?

[@glamgal7106]

Mark Evrard If my history is correct: Brian Connolly was born in Hamilton, Scotland. I think he might have moved to England during his teens but I’m not sure. I’ve noticed that in his interviews, he spoke with an English accent. Both Steve Priest and Mick Tucker were born in England-Steve in Middlesex, Mick in London. Andy Scott was born in Wrexham(sp.), Wales. Again this is if I’m correct on my history.

[@mevrammcoyoteV8f150]

@@glamgal7106 Thank you..

[@DS-hs3qp]

Such a fantastic band....still listen to them regularly 50 years later.

[@jdheryos4910]

Here in Oz SWEET was a chart hits power house! Level Headed went platinum and Love Is Like Oxygen went number one. Much underrated and more importantly much loved. With at least half a dozen top ten hits in Oz and NZ no one can say this icon of Rock and Roll did not have global reach! 😉

[@roberthorn333]

Thanks for the band history Fil. And for pointing out their ability as musicians, which I always felt that they never received their due credit for that ability. Really enjoyed this one, brother!

[@Cl4rendon]

I can recommend to listen to the Mike Chapman demo of Hellraiser, it is so hilarious and he even sounds quite drunk on it! lol Amazing what the band made out of it. Andy is actually imitating 4 guitar layers from the orig recording at once on this performance.

[@rocklover7437]

Mick Tucker my Favourite Drummer Search Mick Tucker Man with a Golden Arm

[@hainanbob6144]

Ah, Glam Rock, great music, great costumes, great performers. I remember it well. It's all my wife can do to stop me going out dressed as a Glam Rock Grandad!

[@HamiltonRb]

Please don’t

[@davidcantwell2489]

Go for it Uncle Bob... Embarrass those grandkids!

[@HamiltonRb]

David Cantwell Think of the children 😱🤭😰. Aww hell, do it

[@hainanbob6144]

@@HamiltonRb Nothing better than embarrassing the kids. I once asked my son to marry me in the middle of a restaurant filled with young female students! I even presented him with a ring I had bought in the middle east for him.

[@LeeBee-hs6mj]

So much fun! All very British and tongue-in-cheek. I feel like the Spinal Tap writers must have had at least a wee glance at The Sweet!

[@tcrane8630]

One of the best ever... live, best harmony vocals of anybody

[@HaleysTusk]

I saw the Sweet and hoped you’d be doing “Love is Like Oxygen”, loved that song back in the day ✌🏻

[@tristanblackmore9772]

Sweet was a really good band 👍👍 All of the members can sing too. I think Fil needs one of those silver spandex space suits 😁

[@lynndow3185]

Smashing! Spot on! and super interesting, even the sad parts, to hear their history. .......Thank you so much for taking this suggestion.

[@NoLegalPlunder]

They could all sing quite well, and Mick Tucker is a criminally underrated drummer. They were the bridge between the 1st wave of British hard rock/metal and the new wave of British metal. I think Andy Scott even produced some NWOBHM bands like A-ll-Z.

[@Guiltless765]

I always thought this song had a punk vibe to it. Great breakdown Fil. 🍺

[@amer-hh6kp]

They were so tight. Really impressive and like you said, a really full sound. This era was a lot of fun.

[@RCAnderson42]

YEAH! Man, I love glam rock! I'd love to front a glam band 🤩 ...and Brian Connelly! That voice--takes me back to being a kid and hearing Ballroom Blitz for the first time. Love at first sight doesn't exist in real life, but love at first listen does! 💖 ...also nearly choked on my tea when you said Sweet Fanny Adams.

[@rcsproject627]

Yes, yes, Sweet, a fantastic talented band. A lot of bands copied Sweet in more ways than one. Loved to listen to Sweet. Ballroom Blitz, Fox on the Run just to name a few, oh yeah!!! Thanks for sharing Fil and a great analysis mate!!!

[@glenadymond7202]

I didn't know they did "Ballroon Blitz". Thanks for the info.

[@kimdawcatgirl]

Mick was a fantastic drummer! Loved this group, especially when they started writing their own music. Level headed was such a super album, I still play it regularly. Love is like Oxygen!

[@Jeffabaray]

This stuff still makes me smile too! What a unique career these guys had.

[@glamgal7106]

Fil, thanks so much for your musical analysis on Sweet--I believe you used the link I sent you so I had to check! I loved how you explained the many nuances and influences that were going on in their just above 3 minute performance--e.g. Andy Scott's guitar solo of chords and trills and of course, Sweet's famous 4 part harmonies. Also, if I heard correctly, you'd mentioned something about Brian and Steve vocal exchange in the performance. If I'm correct on this history, from "Wig Wam Bam" and in their following songs Steve had these "cameos" like when he sang the "Mama you don't understand..." line. Many many thanks for a fab job, Fil!

[@paull4968]

such an underrated band. they rocked hard when they started writing their own songs after ChinnyChap bubblegum pop.

[@bbushor1965]

I 💚 The Sweet

[@thomasdoucettedoucette]

Yeah, kick start my heart is nearly identical to this song. It's no secret, Vince and the boys loved the Sweet. Tommy Lee looks like Mick, drums like Mick, Mick Mars, looks like Andy, Vince looks like Brian, and Nikki, come on there is only one Nikki Party wise, I am not sure if the guys in Sweet would have kept up with Motley?

[@tullfan7872]

They had some great hooky songs. Action, Love is Like Oxygen and Fox on the Run were my faves. You have to do Bachman Turner Overdrive as well, Fil!

[@1600362]

You mentioned Action, did Sweet have a song named Action or are you thinking of Streetheart's Action. It kind of sounds like Sweet!

[@tullfan7872]

@@1600362 This one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sH6Teoqvhpqtmck

[@tullfan7872]

@Cracker Dan When I watch them now, I see they have so much in common with early Queen. Singing, harmonies and guitar are all very similar.

[@tullfan7872]

@Cracker Dan I agree. They had smooth, honeyed melodies that Queen didn't quite have. Although Queen had catchy songs too. Like this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5W6paugm9J-eZY

[@BarbarraBay]

BTO !!!

[@rabrown22000]

Kind of funny how much it looks like a Spinal Tap video ;-)

[@samanthab1923]

TexasYeti63 When I the bass player showed up, I thought the same thing. Love the cape.

[@richeaton7436]

Yep

[@flipwright1138]

Turn it up to 11.

[@GunsmithSid]

I kept waiting for the drummer to explode!

[@wingsofpegasus]

You can certainly see where they got their ideas!

[@miketzai9209]

I was so lucky to see them 2 times, this tour was do great and so great to see brian perform, he was such a good frontman, maybe to good for one or two of the members. Miss sweet it was great times. Stay safe

[@scottkraniak4941]

Fox on the run..... Oxygen !!!! great stuff

[@jporter504]

Gotta give a shout out to any double bass drummer who knows what he is doing.

[@dogsbod]

My band love the sweet

[@jonboy8951]

Andy Scott has some excellent tutorial/info vids for each song on the sweet official channel

[@davidcantwell2489]

Hi Fil !!!! Hell Yeah !!!! Sweet Shop .... pass the bubblegum please....... =^>

[@kayefisher363]

Why isn’t this band in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame-they influenced many other bands and don’t have the recognition for it- cmon Def Lep, Kiss, Motley Crüe step up and get em in there

[@georgemooney3631]

Brilliant band Brilliant description of them about time they gotv some credit thanks

[@survivrs]

I don't remember ever hearing this song. For me, their BEST song is "Little Willy", clear back to 1972 when I turned 13. That along with "Ballroom Blitz" and "Fox on the run". Thanks Fil, I'm shocked at some of the bands I've forgotten when I've downloaded songs for my ipod, and Sweet is one I had forgotten. I've got almost 2,000 songs on it and still have a few gigabites for more. Music is a universal language, it truly helps people when in a dark place, like right now with the CV 19 going ballistic around the planet. Scary thing that I never imagined would really happen in my lifetime. I'm not worried for myself, but for my kids and granddaughters, especially those precious little girls. Stay safe and healthy Fil, I appreciate what you are doing, and I know I'm not alone. Music truly takes your mind off of COVID 19, even if it's only for a little while.

[@ant4307]

Anyone who cites Little Willy as their best track is American, it was their big hit over there. It's one of the tracks from their bubblegum pop era before they went full-on glam rock.

[@survivrs]

@@ant4307 I'm 64 now, and I would love to listen to Little Willy right now. It's so full of energy. Because of what you said, I'm going to have to go listen to more of their music. Thanks for that comment.

[@wcjohnny1]

Sweet .

[@suehollar2578]

I remember them well...the sixteens was one of my anthems

[@barbarajaneward]

I just love your smile and enthusiasm! thank you for your reviews👍🏼

[@philipholmes5884]

I had that video on an old VHS tape..."Glam rock" ! It had Sweet also doing "Teenage rampage" and "Blockbuster"...where Steve Priest wore a WW1 German officer uniform...it was brilliant ! 😂

[@philipwalters3565]

That brings back so many memories - wonderful times - Can't even imagine how I danced to that :)

[@wotireckon]

True powerhouse performance.

[@KingKull1971]

People don't give glam enough credit. Glam is one of the longest lasting genres of music. As a matter of fact I can't think of any other genre that lasted nearly 20 years before it died out.

[@mikelliteras397]

Ballroom Blitz is in my iTunes Great song.

[@laydown6]

Great band and great singer Brian Connolly ❤

[@tonib9261]

One of the unusual features of Sweet was Scott’s guitar sound, as, unusually, he used transistorised amplifiers, rather than the “normal” valve / tube amps, he using H||H IC100 amps. Thus his sound has a hard leading edge, and less fizz and sogginess than the norm. The only other “name” guitarist I know of who used these amps was Wilco Johnson, of Dr Feelgood.

[@livingabovethe12th]

Killer guitar tone...ripping! Big fan of "the six teens" and "action".

[@drewpall2598]

I remember hearing "Little Willy, Fox on the Run, Ballroom Blitz" on the radio when they first receive airplay. dig this performance. great analysis in which I learn a few things about the band early career in the 1960's thanks and keep safe out there Fil.

[@RobertAllen-sg4oq]

What a great analsys. Sweet were known for their anthemic singles and they had a string of them. Unfortunately, many people missed on their album tracks. These had a much harder and heavier sound and were so well produced. Sweet Fanny Adams was the heaviest of all their albums. Great band.

[@ehcmier]

I'd love to hear the isolated vocals for "Fox on the Run" and "Love is Like Oxygen," but I don't even know if that exists.

[@ianshortall3356]

Awesome analysis Fil, love Sweet!!!

[@davehattey6567]

That bass looks like a great polo club!

[@scottkraniak4941]

I LOVE Sweet so underrated .. great VOCALS with better directions they could have wrote better stuff

[@Mariazellerbahn]

Steve had an "interuptive" vocal feature starting with "Wig Wam Bam" and would be a feature in all of their UK "official" singles up to and including "The Lies in Your Eyes"

[@posypoodle6034]

W.o.P. I love it when you love what I love!

[@boomtownrat5106]

Thank you for analyzing (The) Sweet. I’m all for hearing your take on Ballroom Blitz (a bit more harder edged) than say songs like Little Willy or Wig Wam Bam. Fun songs but a bit on the bubblegum side.

[@barbaradownie3265]

MY FAVORITE IS BALLROOM BLITZ 😍😍😍OH YEAH!!!!🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@dbfi01]

Always such a controlled nod... Do you ever feel like headbanging?

[@wingsofpegasus]

😂👍

[@darlatidwell6255]

I didn't know they went back as far as 1962. My friends and I always sang along with Ballroom Blitz, we loved that crazy good song and later played it on Guitar Hero. Sweet memories.

[@djjonosborn1531]

I seen Sweet in Columbus Ohio where I am from. Styx opened for them at that show. It must have been 1975 because I remember them doing Fox On The Run. They were very good. This is what I mean Fil. You are giving oxygen to bands like Sweet who have been lost in time.

[@tomthompson5686]

This tune sounds almost like ballroom blitz. Thanks Fil, you're spot on as usual.

[@mrblue8439]

Thank you

[@ipsurvivor]

Sweet!!! And First...

[@ladyofthewoods2448]

They had several I liked. Brings back memories 😊. Gets me up moving lol

[@christinekaiser8382]

Just wondering if you'e commented on the Tremeloes harmonies in Silence is Golden.

[@hansenanitavanterheijden3894]

Great review, but the follow up of Level headed was Cut above the rest, that's when Brian left and there are demo's of Brian singing a few of those songs. The band toured the U.S. with bands Like Journey and Cheap Trick in 1979 ( Cut above the rest period. then after this tour Waters edge was released, and they started to perform live again in 1981 when Identity Crisis was released but they only did 8 shows in the U.K. before split up.

[@TheSaintsNo1]

Love it omg memories lol

[@michaelcameron2292]

I loved The Sweet but just about all their hits were written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman who also wrote numerous hits for Mud Suzy Quatro Smokie So maybe we should really be doffing our caps to these guys They were huge songwriters

[@stucrossland3719]

Sweet were the originators of glam rock.Later became a great hard rock group.

[@bigbow62]

Awwww... thought for a moment we were gonna have a.......... Ballroom Blitz 😎🎸 Great Stuff Fil 😆🤘

[@briangregory6303]

I still hear Ballroom Blitz.

[@suechristenberry1465]

Awesome great band, have you done any Black Oak Arkansas, Love your show

[@DS-hs3qp]

The 2nd Version of Desolation Blvd. is one of the best rock albums ever.