Introduction
“Block Buster!” was penned by the hit-making duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and produced by Phil Wainman, following the duo’s string of bubblegum pop successes with The Sweet’s earlier singles. Released on January 5, 1973, the single shot to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for five consecutive weeks, and also topped charts across Europe and in New Zealand. Musically, the track features a driving blues-rock riff reminiscent of Muddy Waters’ style, underpinning a melodic chorus that made it instantly memorable .
On January 25, 1973, The Sweet took to the stage of BBC’s Top of the Pops to perform “Blockbuster!” in an official video that has since accumulated over 16 million views on YouTube. Dressed in glam attire—platform boots, makeup, and glittering costumes—the band delivered a tight, high-energy rendition, complete with synchronized head bangs and theatrical gestures. This appearance placed The Sweet alongside chart contemporaries like David Bowie, Slade, and Elton John, reflecting the show’s role in spotlighting leading UK acts of the day .
While this January performance maintained a celebratory tone, The Sweet would later court controversy with a Christmas 1973 Top of the Pops appearance in which bassist Steve Priest wore a swastika armband and Hitler-style mustache, provoking viewer complaints and highlighting the band’s penchant for provocative imagery. Even in the January airing of “Blockbuster!”, their bold makeup and flamboyant costuming pushed boundaries and captured the spirit of glam rock’s challenge to conventional rock norms.
Decades on, “Block Buster!” endures as The Sweet’s only UK No. 1 hit, symbolizing the peak of their commercial success and the vibrancy of early ’70s glam rock. The Top of the Pops performance remains a touchstone for fans and historians alike, illustrating how television appearances could propel a band’s profile overnight. Moreover, the song’s fusion of bluesy riffs, pop hooks, and camp theatrics influenced subsequent generations of rock artists drawn to theatrical presentation and genre-blending styles