28 Facts About Holly Johnson

Holly Johnson was born on 9 February 1960 in Liverpool, England, to Eric and Pat Holly Johnson.

Holly Johnson was the third of four children and was nicknamed Billy as a child.

Holly Johnson started his education in Liverpool at St Mary's Church of England primary school and at age eleven went to the Liverpool Collegiate School in Everton.

Holly Johnson played bass with the local band Big in Japan and released two solo singles on the Eric's label.

Holly Johnson met his partner, Wolfgang Kuhle, in the early 1980s.

In 1982, Johnson joined Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and he later found fame as the lead singer and lyricist of the band.

Holly Johnson had an argument with his record company and won a case in court against them on restraint of trade.

Holly Johnson left Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the other members of the band were eventually let go by the label after the court case ZTT and Perfect Songs v Holly Johnson.

In 1991, Holly Johnson was diagnosed with HIV and wrote an autobiography, A Bone In My Flute; he did not expect to live much longer.

Holly Johnson remained creative working as a painter and printmaker and writing songs until 1994 when he returned to performing music occasionally.

One of Holly Johnson's paintings appears as the cover to the Kirsty MacColl single "Angel".

Holly Johnson himself named the new band after seeing the headline of an article about Frank Sinatra.

Holly Johnson became exposed to the general public via the phenomenal success of their debut single "Relax", which was a huge, and controversial, hit in 1984.

Holly Johnson became the subject of an injunction from the group's record company, ZTT Records, and its sister publishing company, Perfect Songs, which cited a breach of his prior recording and publishing contracts, thus barring him from pursuing a solo career with any other new label.

Holly Johnson embarked on a two-year legal battle with ZTT, the case being settled in Johnson's favour on 10 February 1988, the judge ruling that the original contracts had constituted an unreasonable restraint of trade, remarking that "Mr Johnson could be 70 years old and still be bound to this contract".

Holly Johnson took part in a charity project for the Hillsborough disaster fund and recorded a popular single "Ferry Cross the Mersey" with Paul McCartney, the Christians and others.

In November 1991, Holly Johnson learned that he was HIV positive.

In March 1994, Holly Johnson's critically acclaimed autobiography A Bone in My Flute was published, in which he discusses his struggle with, and acceptance of, his homosexuality.

Since the mid-1990s, Holly Johnson has worked primarily as a painter.

Holly Johnson's works have been exhibited at the Tate Liverpool and the Royal Academy.

Holly Johnson has contributed to Modern Painters and the Paul Smith-sponsored Carlos magazine.

In 2010, Holly Johnson performed "Americanos" on German TV, and "Relax" on French TV.

On 5th December 2013, Holly Johnson performed at Save The Children's Christmas Tree Sessions at London's Union Chapel.

Holly Johnson closed the evening with 'The Power Of Love' accompanied by Gaz Coombes on guitar.

In May 2014, Holly Johnson announced his first UK solo tour, named "Dancing with No Fear".

In December 2014, Holly Johnson released a live album, only available as merchandise during the tour and his website titled Unleashed From the Pleasuredome.

In late 2015, Holly Johnson co-wrote a song with Gary Barlow for the film Eddie The Eagle.

In 2018, Holly Johnson guest starred throughout the final episode of the British TV series Benidorm.