Hello (band) - Career

Career

The core of Hello was founded in about 1969, originally being called The Age. The band was started by Bob Bradbury, previously of The Flashback Berries, with Jeff Allen (brother of Chris Allen, alias Chris Cross of Ultravox), Keith Marshall and Vic Faulkner. For about a year, they backed singer Caroline Hall, before renaming themselves as Hello in 1971.

The band's biggest success came in the UK and Germany in the mid 1970s. 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. "New York Groove" was later covered to provide a solo Billboard Hot 100 chart hit in the U.S., for the rock guitarist Ace Frehley of the band Kiss.

Hello was recruited to feature in Australian comedian Barry Humphries' Side by Side movie, appearing alongside Mud, The Rubettes, and Stephanie de Sykes. The Side by Side soundtrack features reprises of "Game's Up" and "Bend Me Shape Me," alongside hit offerings from Fox, Disco-Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, Billy Ocean, and Gary Glitter. The ensemble's debut album, Keeps Us Off the Streets, was released, wrapped in a mock denim cover and the group's next single, Ballard's "Star Studded Sham", brought them another German Top 20 hit, on the heels of a sell-out tour with Smokie.

However, by 1979, with no recording contract, the band split up. Former guitarist Keith Marshall subsequently released a solo effort two years later, titled "Only Crying". It found a place in record charts worldwide.

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.