Nolans mood to mark anniversary
Long before the Spice Girls, Bananarama, Girls Aloud or the Sugababes there was a girl band that rocked the pop charts.
Now the Nolans have decided to team up and celebrate their 35th anniversary with a tour, album and DVD. "We are so excited about it and the interest we have received so far has been phenomenal," says Bernie Nolan, who went on to star in TV's Brookside and The Bill.
"It is absolutely mental and we are even appearing on the News at Ten – who would have thought that getting back together would create this excitement?"
The popular girl band shot to fame following their smash hit I'm In The Mood For Dancing in 1979 and four of the original line-up – Coleen, 44, Bernie, 48, Linda, 50, and Maureen, 55 – are set to dig out their Spandex and will be heading to Wolverhampton and Birmingham later this year.
But Bernie says their lives have not just been about the glitz and glamour of showbiz.
"I had a child that died at birth and I also suffered a miscarriage – there have been hard times along the way," says Bernie who is married to drummer Steve Doneathy, and has one daughter, Erin Kate, aged 10.
"Also Linda's husband passed away while she was receiving treatment for breast cancer.
"She has gone through a mastectomy and breast reconstruction – Linda is one of the strongest women I know."
Their sister Anne also suffered from breast cancer and in December 2007 their mother Maureen died after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
"One thing it has taught us is that life is short and if you want to do something, just do it," says Bernie.
"We hope our show will attract new fans as well as die-hard supporters of the Nolans."
The show will be split up to include the songs that made The Nolan's famous along with hits from the 80s and popular girl-group anthems. "It is 35 years since we first formed a group as The Nolan Sisters and performed on the Cliff Richard Show," says Bernie.
"It is also 30 years since I'm In The Mood For Dancing was released – and with that anniversary in mind Universal approached us and asked us if we wanted to get back together.
"Universal chose the line-up and it doesn't include our sisters Denise or Anne.
"This is because Denise left the group in 1976 to pursue her own music career and so she was never involved in any of the hits.
"Anne is now a civil servant and loves her job."
The chart topping Nolan's sold over 25 million records worldwide and became a global phenomenon with their hugely successful single I'm In The Mood For Dancing, which topped the charts around the world.
They even sold over nine million records in Japan alone, which is more more than the Beatles sold.
Other chart busters included Attention to Me, Who's Gonna Rock You, Don't Make Waves and Gotta Pull Myself Together.
"I'm so looking forward to touring and we will be in Wolverhampton on my birthday - October 17," she says.
"Tickets for the shows are flooding out of the door and I keep saying to people that if you want to see us you have to get the tickets now before it is too late. We are also looking forward to getting back to Birmingham."
