Michael J. Mullins (born Michael John Mullins on 9 November 1953) is an English vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer of salsa band Modern Romance (1982–85). Modern Romance achieved eight top 40 singles and two hit albums. After the band called it quits in 1985, Mullins continued working within the music industry, most notably as a backing singer for Cliff Richard. He can be seen singing with Cliff Richard live on Top of the Pops and on the Christmas number one single "Mistletoe and Wine" (1988).Lee-Williams, Matt: Modern Romance, Biography, Internet Movie Database [accessed] 27 April 2011. Mullins has since performed with Alan Parsons as part of The Alan Parsons Project.Bluebear's Music Vault: World Liberty Concert: Alan Parsons and Friends, Sat 3 January 2009 [accessed 14 April 2012]
Early music (1981–82) Mullins began his music career as a backing vocalist and musician for Modern Romance. He is thanked for providing the vocals and guitar of their debut album, Adventures in Clubland (1981). During this time he also appeared with the band on episodes of Top of the Pops, and provided further vocals on their single "By the Way (I'm Still in Love with You)" (1982). The lead singer for Modern Romance was, at the time, Geoff Deane, who had formed the band with David Jaymes, two remnants of punk rock band The Leighton Buzzards. Modern Romance had reached No. 1 in Venezuela with Adventures in Clubland – which also earned them a Gold Disc there – and had scored four UK hits, Mullins often lending his vocals and talents as a musician to their live TV appearances and studio work. However, in 1982, Deane would leave the band to pursue a solo career.
Modern Romance (1982–85) Following the departure of Geoff Deane in late 1982, the Jaymes/Deane era came to an end, and Mullins took over as lead vocalist for Modern Romance. Their first single – in what would become known as the Jaymes/Mullins era – climbed the UK charts, reaching the top five. "Best Years of our Lives" – which peaked at No. 4 in the UK – would be the band's highest-charting single. They quickly followed with the similar-sounding single "High Life", which climbed to the No. 8 position. Modern Romance were holding their own with bands such as Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet, and myriad TV and magazine appearances followed. They were regulars on Top of the Pops and made an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance.
Modern Romance subsequently released their second studio album, titled Trick of the Light (1983). It reached No. 53 on the UK Album Chart, and one significant change was the re-recording of the single "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" [New Version] (the new recording of this version was included on both Trick of the Light and Party Tonight) with Mullins lending the song his softer vocals. The album itself has since made it into the Taschen book 1000 Record Covers, which showcases the most interesting and original vinyl cover art from the 1960s to the 1990s (Mullins and David Jaymes grace the front cover of the album).Ochs, Michael, 1000 Record Covers, Taschen, 25th Edition, 2005, pp.700. The third single to be taken from Trick of the Light – "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm" (1983) – made the Top 20, eventually rising to No. 14. The final single – a ballad titled "Walking in the Rain" (1983) – settled at No. 7.Modern Romance, Discography, Discogs Website [accessed] 27 April 2011. Mullins toured with Modern Romance extensively, across Europe and the Far East; they picked up silver and gold discs along the way, released the album Juanita (1983) in Japan, and reached the No. 1 spot in Thailand with "Walking in the Rain" (1983).Modern Romance, The Official Modern Romance Website [accessed] 27 April 2011.
Despite Modern Romance being an established name in pop music, it seemed David Jaymes and Mullins would remain generally at the forefront, their faces appearing on the majority of the record and magazine covers. Vinyl Picture discs of the singles "High Life" (1983) and "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm" (1983) indeed featured the faces and signatures of both Jaymes and Mullins (one on each side), as did the posters included with these singles. The pair also appeared in an article for the Tucker's Luck TV annual titled Best 1980s Artifact; Mullins (and Jaymes) appeared alongside Nick Heyward of Haircut One Hundred, Boy George of Culture Club, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, and Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet.Lee-Williams, Matt: Jaymes, David, Biography, Internet Movie Database [accessed] 27 April 2011.Tucker's Luck Annual, IPC Publishing, 1983, Tucker's Luck: The Books [accessed] 27 April, 20.11. By now, Mullins was prominent enough in the industry to make personal appearances on shows like Mike Read's Pop Quiz, whilst the band as a whole enjoyed live performances on TV shows hosted by Kenny Everett, Russell Harty and The Krankies.
By Christmas 1983 they were ready to release the album Party Tonight, a compilation containing all the band's hits from both the Jaymes/Deane era and the Jaymes/Mullins era, as well as a handful of cover versions and B-sidess. Party Tonight (1983) – produced by Tony Visconti and released in the UK on the Ronco label – reached No 45 in the UK Albums Chart. Mullins' vocals could also be heard – along with the rest of the band – across the radio waves, as jingles for the Radio 1 evening show were adapted from various Modern Romance hits. The single "Good Friday" / "Good Feelings" [re-mix] was released simultaneously and reached the UK No. 96 position. Both Party Tonight and Good Friday shared the same cover art, a photo still captured from the band's 1983 ITV advert for Party Tonight. It was around this time that band member John Du Prez went his own way and, taking stock of the poor success of the single Good Friday, Modern Romance decided it was time for a change in both image and music style.
The mid-1980s, however, were not as kind to the band. Modern Romance began with a new look, Mullins and the band now sporting long hair and leather jackets.Just My Imagination, Single Cover Photo, 1984.Burn It!, Album Cover Photo, 1984. The first single released alongside the band's new image was a cover version of the song "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (1984): the single failed to chart, as did their third studio album, Burn It! (1984), and its subsequent singles: "Burn It!" (1984), "That's What Friends Are For" (1984) and "Move On" (1984). The album was produced by Tony Visconti and featured additional percussion by Luis Jardim. They released a cover version of "Tarzan Boy" and finally the anthology single, "Best Mix of Our Lives" (1985), which contained the hit singles "Everybody Salsa", "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey", "High Life", "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm", and "Best Years of Our Lives". "Best Mix of Our Lives" reached No. 81 on the UK chart.
Post-Modern Romance (1985–present) Since leaving Modern Romance in 1985, Mullins has worked with Samantha Fox, Lulu, Cliff Richard, Michael Bolton, Donny Osmond, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Christopher Cross, James Ingram, Bonnie Tyler, Tom Jones, Alan Parsons and The Alan Parsons Project, The Celtic Tenors, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Mike Moran, Ronan Browne, Gavyn Wright, Patrick Kernan, Keith Murrell, Chris Thompson, and Peter Howarth of The Hollies among others.Discogs Website [accessed] 16 April 2012Michael Mullins CV, doublefvoices.com [accessed] 16 August 2013
He performed a duet with Joni Mitchell – "Good Friends" – on Wogan (1985)Mitchell, Joni, JoniMitchell.Com, Chronology 1985.12.06, BBC2 TV and in 1986 penned the song "It's Only Love" which was used as a b-side for the singles "My Boy Lollipop" (Lulu) and "Hold on Tight" (Fox). He further penned the b-sides for Fox's singles "Do Ya Do Ya (Wanna Please Me)" and "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)"; the songs were titled "Drop Me A Line" and "Never Fall in Love Again" respectively.Lulu, Discography, Discogs Website [accessed] 16 April 2013Samantha Fox, Discography, Discogs Website [accessed] 16 April 2013
Mullins provided backing vocals for Cliff Richard on his No. 1 hit "Mistletoe and Wine" (1988); he also appeared on the live recording, which aired on Top of the Pops that same year (December). He has since provided backing vocals for Richard on a number of projects, including the tracks "The Best of Me" and "Joanna" on the album Stronger; and in television appearances and live concerts including Des O'Connor Tonight, Knebworth Festival (1990), and the Live and Kicking tour at The Royal Albert Hall (2004).Encyclo: Online Encyclopedia, Richard, Cliff, The Live and Kicking Tour [accessed] 16 August 2013Richard, Cliff, Discography, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013
Along with Joe Brown, Vicki Brown, Steve Gould, Jeff Lynne, Keith Murrell, and Steve Winwood, Mullins provided backing vocals for George Harrison on the album Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989 (1989). Ringo Starr provided drums.Harrison, George, Discography, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013
Michael J. Mullins, Peter Howarth and Keith Murrell provided backing vocals for Cliff Richard and the Shadows on the tracks "On The Beach" and "Do You Want to Dance". The songs are featured on the compilation LP Knebworth: The Album (1990).Knebworth, The Album, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013
In 1993, Mullins, Lance Ellington, Mae McKenna, Mike Stock and Miriam Stockley provided backing vocals on the Erik song "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea".Erik (2) Discography, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013 He also – along with Lance Ellington, Mae McKenna, Mike Stock and Miriam Stockley – provided backing vocals on the Sybil (singer) single "Stronger Together".Sybil, Discography, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013 The same year – with Lance Ellington, Mae McKenna and Miriam Stockley – Mullins provided backing vocals for Suzette Charles on her debut single Free To Love Again.Charles, Suzette Discography, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013
1995 saw Mullins and Chris Thompson headlining the World Liberty Concert as part of The Alan Parsons Project.Zik17.com, World Libert Concert Page and Video [accessed] 16 August 2013 and in 1996 – with Carl Wayne and Tim Whitnall – provided backing vocals on the album Passing Open Windows – A Symphonic Tribute to Queen by David Palmer.Palmer, David 2, Discography, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013
In 1998, Mullins provided backing vocals for Donny Osmond track "When Children Rule the World" on the Whistle Down the Wind (1996) and compilation album (1998).Discogs, Songs from Whistle Down the Wind [accessed] 16 August 2013 and backing vocals for Everly Brothers – track, "Cold" – on the Whistle Down the Wind (1996) and compilation album (1998).
In 2000, Mullins provided male-choir backing vocals on the Kylie Minogue tracks "Your Disco Needs You" and "Loveboat". Other backing vocals on the tracks were provided by Peter Howarth, Robbie Williams and Tracy Ackerman. The songs are from the album Light Years.Kylie Minogue, Discography, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013
In 2002 Mullins, Ellington, McKenna and Stockley provided backing vocals on the single "The World Is Mine" and album tracks "Day After Day" and "Nirvana Blue" by Belgian band Hooverphonic. All three tracks are from the concept album Hooverphonic Presents Jackie Cane. The album reached No. 1 in Belgium.Hooverphonic, Discography, Discogs [accessed] 16 August 2013
In 2003, Mullins provided vocals on two songs for The Celtic Tenors: "Mull of Kintyre" and "(Something Inside) So Strong". The album, So Strong, also featured guest musicians Browne, Howarth, Kernan, Moran, Murrell, and Wright.Celtic Tenors, So Strong, 2003
Most recently, he has been part of a project with Peter Howarth and Keith Murrell called 'MHM'. He penned "Last Goodbye" with Howarth (2012); they wrote, recorded, and produced the song together, both providing vocals.The Hollies Official Website [accessed] 16 August 2013
Discography Albums (Modern Romance)