Thirty years. 150 million albums sold. And a scandal that threatened to destroy one of disco’s biggest names – Boney M. The group’s musical authenticity was questioned by fans, when it was revealed that the male lead vocals were not done by Bobby Ferrell, a dancer who performed as the male lead in concert, but by producer Frank Farian. Similar to the scandal that brought down Milli Vanilli, the lip-syncing rouse cast a shadow over everyone in the band, including lead female vocal, Liz Mitchell.
After 15 years working to clear the tarnished name, Liz Mitchell has won back respect as a singer and performer as well as the exclusive right to record and tour under the Boney M banner. In her own words, ‘My soul is in the music of Boney M, and my soul will not die. I will not let anyone steal it. That’s what I fought for.’ This is the story, as told to OUTinPerth, of how Liz Mitchell and Boney M got their groove back.
The Comeback
I took it upon myself in the early 90s to go and save my name because I wasn’t getting any help from the record company or Frank Farian. So I went out as Liz Mitchell and started singing a cappella. I did an a cappella show in Germany in ’89 and ’90 at an open air festival they have in a place called Essen. Usually about 3000-4000 people would be the norm, but word went out that the singer from Boney M was there and she sang a cappella and so many people thought I didn’t really sing that the following year 10,000 people turned out to hear me sing a cappella. The third year they booked me immediately again and we had over 100,000 people turn up. This is why the record company gave me the right to go out and become Boney M featuring Liz Mitchell. They realized I could defend the music I originally sang because I am the singer. If you can not defend your own music, then who is going to be able to defend it?
Russia and Beyond
The tour has taken me across the world, around and up and down it. I have been to places that I didn’t think it was possible for me to perform. We were snowed in at one gig, for instance, in Russia and called the venue to say that the plane was not going to be able to leave. The people exercised faith and refused to accept that. They came to the concert and they sat there, even though they were told that we were snowed in. The snow finally lifted and they opened the airport. We left this town – one of those Russian towns that I can’t remember the name – at about 8 o’clock that evening and didn’t land until about 11:30. They waited and we ended up going on stage after 12 that night. I was flabbergasted because the music of Boney M meant that much to them and they thought if we didn’t come that night, we would never come again. They didn’t want to miss it and they had enough faith to believe that when we arrived we would come and do the show.
A lot of other artists don’t have the same impact behind their songs that we do. When I tell you the story about the Russian people and why it was important for them, they wouldn’t have gone through the same faith for any other artist. Our music literally tore down the Iron Curtain for them. We are the light. We are the ones that opened the curtains in heaven for them.
I believe that we have got spiritual powers. We can through our emotions, through our love, through our honesty, the truth in our being, we can make a difference in the lives of people we interact with everyday. I don’t do anything that is empty. I have never ever done anything without my heart. I believe that if there is genuine love in what you do, it will bless someone.
