The name might not ring a bell immediately, but that tense shout "Are you ready, Steve?" and the drums that explode after it like a gunshot are known to almost everyone. That is Ballroom Blitz. And it is exactly this band that is now coming to Prague: The Sweet Prague concert takes place on 14 August 2026 at Divadlo Hybernia, and tickets are already on sale. Here is something most people do not know: the immortal glam hit was born out of a proper disaster. The Sweet were booed and literally bombarded with bottles in Kilmarnock, Scotland in 1973, forcing them to flee the stage mid-show. Instead of forgetting about it, they turned it into a song the world still sings today.

The Sweet Prague: when, where and how to get tickets

The Sweet Prague means one evening, 14 August 2026, at Divadlo Hybernia. Tickets are sold by the official vendor listed on the event page; the hall is seated and intimate, making it a completely different format from a festival field.

The The Sweet (UK) concert is scheduled for 14 August 2026 at Divadlo Hybernia in the centre of Prague. Hybernia is a classic theatre with an auditorium and a stage, so do not expect standing in a crowd in front of the stage. It will be more of a seated, acoustically tight experience where every detail of the guitars and vocal harmonies the band has always been built on will stand out. Tickets are sold by smsticket and the link can be found directly on the event page, so always check there for current prices and availability of individual categories. I recommend buying in advance: the theatre capacity is limited and this is the only Prague date.

A practical note upfront. Buy through the official vendor listed with the event, not through resellers where prices can spiral. The centre of Prague is easily reached by public transport and Hybernia is a few minutes' walk from public transport stops.

How a wrecked hall gave birth to Ballroom Blitz

The band's most famous hit was born after a concert in Scotland descended into chaos and the musicians had to leave the stage. The songwriting duo Chinn and Chapman turned it into one of the most iconic openings in rock history.

The date is exact. The Sweet played on 27 January 1973 at the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock and the evening went completely off the rails. The audience was screaming and drowning out the music, bottles started flying and the band had no choice but to end the show early and disappear from the stage. Guitarist Andy Scott later commented on it in his own way: either the crowd was angry at them, or the glitter, make-up and wild costumes were simply too much for the tough lads from Killie.

Interestingly, the musicians themselves reportedly did not know much about the real background of the song for a long time. According to several accounts, songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman heard about the chaotic evening from the road crew, and the lyrics grew out of that story. Chapman later claimed he was trying to write songs without a specific meaning, so the tale of the Scottish brawl may be as much legend as reality. Either way, the result is clear: a harder, more dramatic sound that defined the band for the next fifty years.

That famous countdown intro, where the singer calls out each musician by name, is no accident. The spoken introduction in which frontman Brian Connolly "checks in" with each band member works as a piece of audio drama, not merely an intro. The names correspond to the actual lineup: Steve is bassist Steve Priest, Andy is guitarist Andy Scott and Mick is drummer Mick Tucker. That it was a bullseye was recognised even by rivals. When the band brought the acetate to the RCA promotions department, David Bowie happened to be there and declared it a clear winner, according to Connolly.

From bubblegum pop to glam rock chart hits

The Sweet started out as an overly sweet pop band, but in 1973 they shifted into harder glam and delivered a string of hits into the British Top 20. They have sold over 55 million records worldwide according to more recent figures.

The band was formed in London in 1968, originally under the name Sweetshop. Their first hit "Funny, Funny" came in 1971 after they teamed up with the songwriting duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and producer Phil Wainman. During 1971 and 1972 their sound changed significantly: from bubbly pop to harder rock inspired by The Who, complemented by high choral vocals. It was precisely the combination of a catchy melody and sharp guitar that made them an original you can recognise within a few bars.

In the seventies the band accumulated thirteen hits in the British Top 20, with most reaching the Top 10; Scott himself today likes to talk about sixteen major British hits. "Co-Co" climbed to number two in 1971, two years later "Block Buster!" topped the chart, and further number-two smashes followed including "Hell Raiser", "The Ballroom Blitz", "Teenage Rampage" and "Fox on the Run". It did not stop at Britain. The band made an impact across Europe and broke through in the USA with hits such as "Little Willy", "The Ballroom Blitz", "Fox on the Run" and "Love Is Like Oxygen".

Ballroom Blitz itself went around the world: number one in Canada, number two in both the UK and Australia and number five on the American Billboard Hot 100. That it is a classic that has not aged is clear from how many artists have borrowed it over half a century. The Damned recorded a punk version, in the film Wayne's World it is played by the band Crucial Taunt, and it has appeared in more recent films too. This glam era also includes a story Scott likes to tell: drummer Mick Tucker once told Freddie Mercury who he was, and Freddie called back that Queen would one day be bigger. They were in the end, but The Sweet had paved a good stretch of the road first.

Andy Scott: the last man from the classic lineup

Guitarist Andy Scott is the only surviving member of the legendary lineup and leads the band today. Born in 1949, he is still touring and recording despite health challenges.

The heart of today's band is Andy Scott. Andrew David Scott, born 30 June 1949 in Wrexham, Wales, is the guitarist and backing vocalist of The Sweet, and following the death of bassist Steve Priest in June 2020 he became the last surviving member of the classic lineup. He joined the band in the late summer of 1970: he answered an ad in Melody Maker, auditioned in front of Brian Connolly, Steve Priest and Mick Tucker and replaced guitarist Mick Stewart. That completed the lineup that went on to dominate the charts.

Scott's contribution is not just about guitar riffs. He co-wrote one of the later hits: "Love Is Like Oxygen", written together with Trevor Griffin, received an Ivor Novello Award nomination in three categories in 1978 as well as an American ASCAP award. And his perseverance is remarkable on a human level too. In June 2024 he celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday and despite health troubles that once led him to consider calling it a day in 2015, he keeps returning to the stage.

The history of the name itself is rather tangled. There are several bands performing under the Sweet banner today, but Scott's version is the only one with a member of the original seventies party. To be precise, the hitmakers were billed as The Sweet until 1974 and Scott joined them in 1970 as the third guitarist in the band's history. Following the deaths of frontman Brian Connolly in 1997, drummer Mick Tucker in 2002 and bassist Steve Priest in 2020, he is the sole survivor of the glam era.

Who stands on stage today and why the concert is rare

Today's lineup alongside Scott consists of vocalist Paul Manzi, bassist Lee Small, guitarist and keyboardist Tom Cory and drummer Adam Booth. The band recently released the album Full Circle, which Scott has described as their final studio record.

So who will play at Hybernia? Scott's version of the band includes vocalist Paul Manzi, bassist Lee Small and guitarist and keyboardist Tom Cory, who all joined in 2019, plus drummer Adam Booth from 2024. Booth is no random guest: he was Scott's guitar tech for twenty-three years, which grew into a firm friendship, and when the previous drummer retired, he was the one who sat behind the kit. Cory, meanwhile, serves in the studio as "the guy at the screen and mouse" and co-produced the new recordings.

Why now? The band is at a stage where Scott himself is talking about a farewell. The album Full Circle was released in September 2024 and according to the label it is their very last studio record; it is also their first album of entirely new material since 2002. Critics received it warmly; it closes with the title track featuring a spoken passage in which Scott reflects on his career and his own life. In autumn 2026 the band is planning a farewell tour of Australia, fittingly named The Final Blitz Tour. Scott himself takes the word "final" with a pinch of salt, since he spoke in similar terms back in 2015. The reality, however, is that opportunities to see a musician from the original party live in Europe are dwindling, and the Prague concert fits squarely into that chapter.

What to expect at Hybernia and where else to go in Prague

Expect a set built on hits, an intimate theatre atmosphere and classic glam rock sound. If the genre grabs you, Prague's rock scene has plenty more to offer.

How the band builds a concert today is something Scott describes clearly: the beginning and end belong to the sure things, because that is exactly what the audience expects, and roughly half an hour in the middle is more variable. In practice that means you will get the big hits, but in between there will also be a few things from more recent records and the odd harder album track. Scott himself promises as many hits as will fit in the set and notes that they do not all fit. In the seated hall of Hybernia, what the band has always been built on will stand out all the more: the interplay of guitars and those high vocal harmonies.

And if glam and classic guitar rock grab you, take a look at our concerts section where you will find more events, or browse the full events calendar. Prague has a solid offer for fans of live guitar music, including harder club nights such as the concert by Canadian The Real McKenzies at Rock Café. The Sweet Prague, however, remains the rarer kind of experience: a piece of rock history at first hand, and in an intimate theatre setting at that.

Frequently asked questions

When and where does The Sweet play in Prague?

The concert takes place on 14 August 2026 at Divadlo Hybernia in the centre of Prague. It is the only Prague date. Details and a link to tickets can be found on the event page.

Is anyone from the original lineup at the concert?

Yes. Guitarist Andy Scott is the last surviving member of the classic band lineup and leads it today. Alongside him play vocalist Paul Manzi, bassist Lee Small, guitarist and keyboardist Tom Cory and drummer Adam Booth.

Which hits will be played?

The repertoire is built on classics such as Ballroom Blitz, Fox on the Run, Block Buster! and Love Is Like Oxygen. The set is typically structured so that the biggest hits are included, with a few newer things from recent albums in between.

Is it worth buying tickets in advance?

Absolutely. Hybernia is an intimate theatre with limited capacity and this is the only Prague concert, so I recommend not delaying your purchase through the official vendor.

Why is the band said to be saying goodbye?

Scott has described the 2024 album Full Circle as the final studio record and a farewell tour of Australia is planned for autumn 2026. He does admit, however, that "final" does not apply entirely literally in his case, as he has spoken in similar terms before.

Sources

  • The Sweet (UK), Divadlo Hybernia, Prague, 14 Aug 2026 (kdykam, information on date, venue and tickets)
  • The Sweet, artist profile on kdykam
  • thesweet.com (official band website): current lineup and history
  • Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org): entries for The Ballroom Blitz and Andy Scott
  • Louder / Classic Rock and Hot Metal: interviews with Andy Scott on the album Full Circle and the tour
  • Blabbermouth: information on the album Full Circle and the farewell tour, worldwide sales figures
  • Songfacts and Parade: background on the creation of Ballroom Blitz