The Nolans: 'What on earth did they dress us in?' - RTE.ie

The Nolans Recall 1970s Stardom and the Re-Release of ‘Dressed to Kill’

Ireland’s most successful girl band are back in action with the re-release of their 1983 single “Dressed to Kill,” an archival project that brings the group’s dramatic pop history back into the public eye. RTE.ie reported that the six Dublin sisters, who sold 30 million records worldwide, are back in action with the re-release of their single Dressed to Kill, recalling the reality of 1970s light entertainment television and the chart regulations of the era.

Recalling the band’s heyday, Anne Nolan, now 75, recounted life on the road and backstage during the peak of their pop success. “One punk group spat outside our dressing room on Top of the Pops,” Anne told RTE.ie. “It wasn’t because they didn’t like us, they didn’t even know us. It was because back then it was the thing to do. We were portrayed as a normal, sweet family band but we fought and swore when we needed to.”

Chart Contretemps and the Withdrawn Single

Originally rising to fame with hits like “I’m in the Mood for Dancing” and “Attention to Me,” the group’s journey from a seaside family cabaret act in Blackpool to mainstream chart mainstays hit a bureaucratic wall with “Dressed to Kill.” The single’s chart run was abruptly cut short when their label, Epic, promoted the release with a complimentary poster bundle. Under 1983 chart rules, this promotional strategy was deemed a violation.

“Everyone was trying to encourage people to buy their record by giving away free stuff like posters,” Anne explained to RTE.ie. “Everyone was doing it but the charts at that time decided to make an example of us and they took our record out of the charts. It went in at a very high spot and they put it back in at No. 79 and by then it was too late, it was kind of lost.”

Styling Struggles and Television Realities

Reflecting on the visual aesthetic handed down by television producers and record executives during their rise, Anne admitted that their iconic wardrobe frequently missed the mark in hindsight. “Our image was given to us, it wasn’t our idea, but as we went along we brought our own style in for ‘Dressed to Kill,'” she said. “They dressed us all in lace and leather and our make-up was lovely. When I look back at our television appearances, I think ‘oh my heavens! What on earth did they dress us in?’ We took their advice because we were new to television.”

As musical trends shifted in the mid-1980s, the sisters transitioned successfully into television, theatre, and media projects, including panel appearances on ITV’s Loose Women and docuseries such as The Nolans Go Cruising and At Home with the Nolans. Behind the scenes, the family faced profound personal trials. Linda and Bernie both passed away following battles with cancer, while Anne navigated her own diagnoses, beating breast cancer first in 2000 and again twenty years later.

Current Meet-and-Greet Plans and Legacy

Today, the surviving members balance ongoing health management with renewed engagement with their fanbase. Anne reflected on the emotional resonance of meeting longtime supporters during recent appearances. “It’s absolutely amazing that I can do it,” she said. “We do Q&A sessions and sing three or four songs and at the last one we did, this woman came up to us afterwards and said ‘please don’t ever stop. You made our lives’. It made me want to cry.”

Looking ahead, the group is planning a series of meet-and-greet performances, including five shows in Blackpool, two in London, and prospective dates in Ireland, bringing their half-century legacy full circle for audiences.

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