Hello
1971–1979
2002–present
Bob Bradbury
Simon Ellis
Corrie Shiells
Jake Bradbury
Keith Marshall
Vic Faulkner
Jeff Allen
Career[edit]
The core members of Hello came together around 1969, originally being called The Age.[1] The band was started by Bob Bradbury, previously of The Flashback Berries, with Keith Marshall, Vic Faulkner, and Jeff Allen (brother of Chris Allen, alias Chris Cross of Ultravox).[3] For about a year, they backed singer Caroline Hall, before renaming themselves as Hello in 1971.[4] The group recorded "You Move Me" and "C'mon" in 1972 as well as "Another School Day" in 1973, all on Bell Records, but these were not hits.
Their biggest success came in the UK and Germany in 1974 and 1975. Their top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart were "Tell Him" (a cover of The Exciters 1963 hit) and "New York Groove", the latter of which was written by Argent band member Russ Ballard.[2] "New York Groove" was later covered to provide a solo Billboard Hot 100 chart hit in the United States, for the rock guitarist Ace Frehley of the band Kiss. In Germany, Hello's subsequent singles "Star Studded Sham" (another Ballard composition) and "Love Stealer" reached the top 20,[1] but failed to chart in the UK where glam rock had largely fallen out of favour.
Hello appeared in the 1975 film Side by Side.[1] Their first album, titled Keeps Us Off the Streets, was soon released.
However, by 1979, with no recording contract, the band split up. Former guitarist Keith Marshall released a solo single two years later, titled "Only Crying". It found a place in record charts worldwide.[1]
Bassist Vic Faulkner reappeared in the 2000s and released several albums. He later lived in Spain.
On 22 October 1999, Bob Bradbury appeared on the Identity Parade on the BBC Television programme Never Mind the Buzzcocks. According to the band's official website, in 2002, their original lead singer and rhythm guitarist Bradbury reformed the band with him as the sole remaining founding member.