Go West

BELIEVE it or not, Eighties music fans, it's been 20 years since the Kings of Wishful Thinking Peter Cox and Richard Drummie entered the charts as pop duo Go West.

With their first single We Close Our Eyes and a self-titled debut album, which sold more than 1.5million copies, the musical double act comfortably established themselves as the singing and song writing pop duo of the decade.

Arguably their most famous track,The King of Wishful Thinking was a smash hit after it featured on the Pretty Woman soundtrack in 1990 and as anyone who listens to local radio stations here in the south, it is still a favourite across the airwaves.

Now, fresh from a sell-out run with Tony Hadley, the 80s sensations are back to launch their 20th anniversary tour and their first recordings since the Best of... album four years ago.

"It's great to be performing again for our loyal fans," said Peter Cox, who was thrust back into the limelight two years ago on the television show Reborn in the USA.

Joining other past pop icons, he toured America for seven weeks before joining the Spandau Ballet front man for the Tony Hadley vs. Peter Cox and Go West Tour last year.

"The response to last year's shows was amazing and it seems there are a lot of people out there who really want to hear more from us," he said.

"It was really down to them that we are doing it, and now recording some new material."

The winners of the 1986 Brit Award for Best Newcomer say they will complement their tour of classic hits with new songs and if fans like what they hear then a new album could soon be on the shelves.

In between a series of 80s revival tours, Peter has released two solo albums while sidekick Richard Drummie has been working with other artists, including spending some of his recent studio time with Ritchie Neville, formerly of boy band Five.

"We haven't been releasing new music together," said Drummie, "But we have both been keeping busy in the industry since we last recorded as Go West."

"I like working with new artists, and I'm also looking to work more with film music," he said.

"We've both been in the industry for so long that we just don't know how to do anything else."

With tickets selling fast for a tour that will see them perform from Butlins to Barcelona in 2005, it seems that even after 20 years, there's still plenty of people waiting to do some more wishful thinking!

Go West will be performing at The Anvil in Basingstoke on April 14, and at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on April 21.