1983 Pop Classic, Once Banned by Radio Stations, Became a Controversial No. 1 Hit
The catchy beat and edge of a British track in 1983 became a staple among young listeners, but its marketing and overall sexually driven lyrics led to scrutiny. Frankie Goes to Hollywood released their debut single, which didn't sit well with radio stations and led to it being banned.
The provocative lyrics of "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood don't go unnoticed, with the track having undergone multiple changes before it was officially released as the band's debut single. Singer Holly Johnson developed the track while walking down a street in Liverpool. The band would later debut an early version of "Relax" on the Channel 4 show The Tube. What caught immediate attention was not only the lyrics and sound, but the band performing in fetish wear.
According to Genius.com, ZTT Records co-founder and producer Trevor Horn watched their initial performance. Still, he didn't sign them on until hearing the track again on DJ David Jensen's radio show on BBC Radio 1. Horn ended up creating multiple versions of "Relax" until settling on its final version that was released in October 1983.
What made the track soar on the charts in the UK and land at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts was its marketing and subsequent ban by radio stations. ZTT co-founder Paul Morley developed a campaign based on the track's themes of sex, war, religion, and the open LGBTQ status of Johnson and Paul Rutherford.
Morley developed two quarter-page ads with photos of Johnson with a shaved head and gloves, and Rutherford wearing a leather vest and sailor cap. He captioned the ad with, "ALL THE NICE BOYS LOVE SEA MEN" and a sexual innuendo promo. "Relax" wasn't a chart-topping success at first, with a slow climb that was later fueled by the band's performance on a BBC flagship show, Top of the Pops.
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What led "Relax" to soar on the charts and become one of the biggest UK debut singles was Radio 1 disc jockey Mike Read's dislike for the track. He voiced his opinion on the suggestive sleeve and its main chorus: "Relax, don't do it/ When you want to suck, chew it/ Relax, don't do it/ When you want to come." As a result, BBC Radiobanned the single from airing on its stations for weeks.
In reality, the radio ban worked in favor of Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the single. It rose to No. 2 on the UK charts and later became a No. 1 hit on the UK Singles charts. The track held its spot for five weeks before its decline, and regained traction after the band released their follow-up track "Two Tribes." The BBC's ban on the track was later lifted in 1984, with the track's sexual lyrics and scandal further fuelling sales.
The track wasn't just banned by the BBC, but so was its music video. "Relax" first official music video was also reported to have been banned by MTV and BBC due to its S&M theme at an LGBTQ nightclub. A second version was filmed but was banned completely by the BBC and never broadcast, with a live performance version later recorded.
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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 8:09 AM.