"Maybe if we live long enough, we grow into what we always wanted to be. Just maybe, if we stick at what we love, it'll come around and come good. Steve Ellis has earnt the right to sing the Blues if he wants. And sing it he does!" -Paul Weller

On 6 February 1968, one of the UK's most endearing number ones - Everlasting Love - hit the top of the charts. The group behind it were called Love Affair fronted by singer Steve Ellis who was acknowledged as having one of the best soul-rock voices in the business. With their sharp Mod looks and a host of national TV appearances behind them, Love Affair found themselves enjoying the kind of exposure and adulation that was being afforded to the likes of the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

Their version of Everlasting Love remains a stone-cold classic, one which not only reached number one in the UK, but went Top 10 in 7 other countries and has amassed over 10 million sales to date. It's enduring charm has seen it copied by everyone from U2 to the Cast from Casualty, as well as appearing in numerous films and adverts globally. However, the only member of Love Affair to appear on the actual record is Steve Ellis and it's this fact that provides the backdrop to a 50-year tale of triumph, tragedy and resurrection.

2018 marks a very important anniversary for Steve Ellis. in the same year that Everlasting Love celebrates its 50th birthday, Steve releases a new album "Boom Bang Twang!" on 20 April, 2018. Fittingly enough it reunites Steve with the label where he enjoyed great success with Love Affair (CBS/Sony) and is an expertly crafted mix of new songs and some heartfelt covers with guests and long-time friends Paul Weller, COW, Manfred Mann's Mike D'Abo, Kev Wallbank (The Dream Foundry), Andy Crofts and Ben Gardelier (The Moons). "Boom Bang Twang!" is the work of a man who believes in not resting on his laurels.

"Boom Bang Twang!" shifts effortlessly through soul, rock, rhythm & blues, reggae and pop with all the quality one would hope for from an artist who's been there, seen it, done it, and still has the t-shirt.

The Steve Ellis story begins In1966 when as a 15-year-old, Steve got his first professional gig singing in a group called the Soul Survivors. After the band's first release on Decca, they moved on to the CBS label and became one of the most successful British pop acts of the late 1960s under their new name "Love Affair". After scoring a string of chart busting singles in 1968 including Everlasting Love, Rainbow Valley, Bringing Back The Good Times, One Road and A Day Without Love, in autumn 1969, Steve Ellis walked out of Love Affair to re-think his musical direction. CBS retained him as a solo artist and his future appeared decidedly rosy. Steve seemed to have the world at his feet, but it didn't work out that way.

Some excellent solo singles and a killer soundtrack (Loot) failed to ignite, then came stints with 2 new bands - firstly under the name of Ellis - followed by one album with rock super group Widowmaker - before another solo album was shelved due to contractual issues. This was followed by tragedy when, having given up on the music industry to work as a Docker in order to get "match fit" and to re-think his next musical step, Steve suffered a most horrific accident or as he calls it "an altercation with some two-tonne forklift blades". An incredibly brave, 8-year fight to regain his mobility ensued and led him back to music in the early 90s.

For the best part of the next 10 years, he toured as Steve Ellis' Love Affair and once again found himself being cited as a Mod hero to a new generation of fans whilst retaining the support and respect of his own musical peers. One such occasion was the 2001 Steve Marriott Memorial Concert (held at the Astoria), a much-revered show which saw Steve perform alongside Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, Peter Frampton and Small Faces’ Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones. In 2004, It was somewhat fitting to see Steve joining Pete Townshend, Ronnie Wood and Slim Chance for the unforgettable Ronnie Lane tribute show at the Royal Albert Hall.

The past few years has seen Steve release two acclaimed solo albums "Best Of Days" & "Ten Commitments", as well as touring regularly and generally applying himself at what he does best - singing and performing from the heart with that tremendous (and most definitely intact) voice of his. Now back with the label where it all happened originally and with a fine new album to unveil, Steve Ellis has come full circle.

He has recently teamed up with Blues Hall of Fame British Legend Norman Beaker and his band both in recording and live performances. They've already recorded the Beaker-penned "Time and Tide", destined to be a soul-blues classic.