This unmissable show celebrates the legendary Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting and production team, the phenomenal success of Pete Waterman’s PWL label and, above all, the irresistible pop that came to define an era in British music history.
Live Nation are excited to announce the Hit Factory Live, a once-in-a-lifetime spectacular taking place in London’s Hyde Park on 11 July 2012. For the first time ever, the classic artists from the PWL Hit Factory will perform together on one bill.
This unmissable show celebrates the legendary Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting and production team, the phenomenal success of Pete Waterman’s PWL label and, above all, the irresistible pop that came to define an era in British music history. Once called ‘The Sound of a Bright Young Britain’, it undoubtedly now stands as the soundtrack to a generation, with sales of over 500 million units worldwide.
Pete Waterman said: “I’ve been saying no for years to a Hit Factory concert but now, 25 years on, the timing feels right. It’s time to celebrate the hit single and we have a tremendous line-up of our classic artists confirmed to play Hit Factory Live in Hyde Park on July 11. More surprises will be announced over the coming months - it’s set to be the biggest and best ever celebration of SAW and PWL !”
Headlining this unique event are Steps. The multi-million selling group recently reformed and next month embark on a mammoth twenty-date UK arena tour. Steps achieved incredible success with hits including ‘One For Sorrow’, ‘Tragedy’, ’Deeper Shade of Blue’ and ‘Stomp’.
Rick Astley’s international success secures his place in the Hit Factory Live line-up. Rick holds the record as the first British male artist to have his first eight solo singles reach the UK Top 10 – including the global No. 1 ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, ‘Whenever You Need Somebody’ and ‘Together Forever’. Entertainment megastar Jason Donovan takes his place on the bill following massive success with SAW in the late 80s. His hits include the No. 1s ‘Too Many Broken Hearts’, ‘Sealed with A Kiss’ and the bestselling SAW single ever with UK sales of over a million – ‘Especially For You’, an unforgettable duet with Neighbours co-star Kylie Minogue which they last performed together in 1989.
With such classic hits such as ‘Venus’, ‘Love In the First Degree’ and ‘I Want You Back’, the UK’s most-charted girl group Bananarama are an essential addition to the Hit Factory Live bill. Dead Or Alive, fronted by the inimitable Pete Burns, also join the line-up, their timeless single ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)’ was the first No. 1 for SAW in 1985.
Also appearing are Pepsi & Shirlie, Princess, Sinitta, Hazell Dean, Sonia, Sybil, 2 Unlimited, Lonnie Gordon and Brother Beyond. With such signature smash hits between them as ‘Heartache’, ‘Say I’m Your Number One’, ‘Toy Boy’, ‘Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)’, ‘You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You’, ‘The Love I Lost’, ‘No Limit’, ‘Happenin’ All Over Again’ and ‘The Harder I Try’, the Hit Factory Live line-up is set to make this a truly unmissable spectacular.
Stock Aitken Waterman scored an unrivalled run of global hits in the 80s and 90s and are now acknowledged as one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time. 2012 also marks the 25th anniversary of PWL Records, the legendary label originally set up as home for many Hit Factory artists.
A proportion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Cancer Research UK, and there will also be a number of fundraising activities in the run up to, and on the day of, the show. As a cause that sits close to everyone’s hearts, Live Nation are proud supporters of Cancer Research UK and their life saving work.
Jools Tait, Director of Partnerships at Cancer Research UK, said: “We’re thrilled that this exciting concert will benefit Cancer Research UK. Our work to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer has already saved millions of lives, but there’s still more to do. The support of this Live Nation event will help us to raise funds to carry out our groundbreaking work.”
Published on 20 March 2012 by Ben Robinson
