Colin Gibb, a founding member of the novelty pop group Black Lace, has passed away at the age of 70. The band rose to fame with hits like Agadoo, Superman, and Do The Conga, which were popular at summer discos across the UK in the mid-1980s.
They also represented the UK in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing seventh. Gibb’s wife, Sue Kelly, announced his death on Facebook, expressing her devastation and reminiscing about their plans for retirement in Spain, scheduled just days after his passing.
Having announced his retirement from the group last month, Gibb was preparing to move to Spain with his wife.
The official Black Lace Facebook fan page paid tribute to him, highlighting his founding role in the band and expressing condolences to his family and friends. Former bandmate Dene Michael also shared his sorrow on social media.
Joining Black Lace in 1976, Gibb toured the world with the group. Their biggest hit, Agadoo, reached number two in the UK charts in 1984 and sold over a million copies worldwide. Despite its success, presenter Richard Whiteley famously forgot Gibb’s name during an award presentation, referring to him as “Mr. Agadoo.”
The band later raised funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care in a series of performances dubbed “Agadoo Day.”The song Agadoo was parodied in the 1986 number one single The Chicken Song, written for the political satire show Spitting Image.
Gibb’s final performance with Black Lace took place at a beach hotel in Tenerife in May, marking the end of a decades-long musical journey filled with catchy tunes and memorable moments.
