Clare Grogan Embarks on Happy Birthday Tour 45 Years After Chart Success
In an exclusive revelation, 1980s pop icon Clare Grogan has announced she hasn't aged a day as she prepares to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Altered Images' hit song Happy Birthday. Known for her distinctive vocals and punky style, Grogan became a household name in the decade, gracing magazine covers and appearing regularly on Top of the Pops.
Reflections on a Timeless Career
Now at 63, Clare Grogan laughs at the thought of still performing the iconic track. "I'd have been mortified if you'd told me I'd still be singing Happy Birthday in my 60s!" she admits. Despite initial reservations about continuing into her 40s, she now embraces the joy it brings. "I love looking out into the audience and thinking 'we've all been through some stuff in life, but we're still able to come together to have this really joyous moment.'"
The tour will see the band, originally schoolmates from Glasgow, perform the entire Happy Birthday album across England and Scotland, alongside other classic hits. Grogan confesses to nerves about the comeback, but finds confidence in her unchanged unique voice. "I listened to the entire album and at first, I was like 'oh my God!' It's so young, so fresh and quite raw. But I realised I would love the opportunity to sing these songs one more time."
The Highs and Lows of 80s Fame
Altered Images enjoyed significant success in the early 1980s with six Top 40 singles, including See Those Eyes and Bring Me Closer. However, the band split in 1983 after three hit albums, citing physical and emotional burnout. Grogan reveals the financial struggles that accompanied their fame. "I hadn't made any money, despite three successful albums. Even when I was at the top of the charts, I was earning £75 a week." She attributes this to the messy nature of the music business and a reluctance to discuss money at the time.
Parallel to her music career, Grogan starred in the 1981 film Gregory's Girl at just 17, while working part-time as a waitress. She recalls a humorous incident when initially refusing to give her phone number to the director, Bill Forsyth, due to her mother's warnings. After the band's split, she transitioned to television presenting and acting, with roles in Red Dwarf, Father Ted, and EastEnders.
Personal Life and Lasting Legacy
Clare Grogan is married to former Altered Images guitarist Steve Lironi, with whom she owns three restaurants and lives in north London with their 21-year-old adopted daughter, Elle. She opens up about the challenges of motherhood, experiencing six miscarriages and four failed IVF attempts before adopting Elle. "It was a tough decade. I lost my first baby when I was 31. I was 43 when Elle came into our lives... I really believe she was the daughter waiting for me."
Her influence extended beyond music, inspiring Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp to write the 1983 hit True about her. Grogan jokes about this with her husband, saying, "I have inspired one of the greatest love songs ever!" In recent years, Altered Images released a new album, Mascara Streakz, in 2023, marking a return after 37 years.
As she prepares for the tour, Grogan remains proud of her legacy. "I don't think I'd be doing what I'm doing now if it wasn't for them." She continues to sing Happy Birthday at family gatherings, met with enthusiastic responses. The Happy Birthday Tour begins in September, offering fans a nostalgic celebration of an enduring pop phenomenon.
