Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Holly Johnson to receive honorary degree from Liverpool Hope University

Music icon Holly Johnson, best known as the lead singer of the 1980s band Frankie Goes to Hollywood, is to receive an honorary degree from Liverpool Hope University.

Johnson, 65, will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Arts in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the music industry and his commitment to raising awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS charities.

The singer, who hails from Liverpool, first found fame in the early 1980s as the frontman of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The band’s debut album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome, was a huge commercial success, spawning the hit singles “Relax” and “Two Tribes”.

After Frankie Goes to Hollywood disbanded in 1987, Johnson pursued a solo career, releasing several albums and singles. He has also been involved in various stage productions and television shows.

In recent years, Johnson has become increasingly vocal about his experiences with HIV/AIDS. He was diagnosed with the virus in 1991, and has since dedicated much of his time to raising awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS charities.

In 2016, Johnson was awarded an MBE for his services to music and charity. He is currently working on a new album, which is due to be released later this year.

Liverpool Hope University is a private Catholic university in Liverpool, England. The university was founded in 1844, and is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the United Kingdom.

Liverpool Hope University is home to a number of research centers and institutes, including the Institute of Irish Studies, the Institute of Latin American Studies, and the Institute of Popular Culture.

The university has a strong commitment to social justice, and its students are actively involved in a variety of community outreach programs.

Johnson will receive his honorary degree at a ceremony at Liverpool Hope University on July 19, 2023.