Is It 'THE SWEET' Or Just 'SWEET'? Guitarist ANDY SCOTT Sets Record Straight On Influential Glam Rock Band's Name

In a new interview with Steve Mascord of White Line Fever TV, Andy Scott — the lead guitarist and a key songwriter of SWEET, one of the most influential glam rock bands of the 1970s — was asked if people should still refer to the band as "THE SWEET" or just "SWEET". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "We don't care whether it's THE SWEET or SWEET because you can't tell a promoter, once he's done his posters, that it's not THE SWEET anymore. And you can't tell somebody, when they're re-releasing a record, that we were called THE SWEET back then, not SWEET, when they're doing re-releases.

"But we were THE SWEET up until about '73, something like that," Andy explained. "And there were other bands around, remember. There was SLADE, T. REX, MUD, one-word things. You couldn't change THE WHO. And then there was THE KINKS. Well, they were then KINKS. And we just thought, 'Let's drop the 'THE'.' And then — do you remember? — there was a band called THE THE. So, that's how it came. We said, 'We'll just be SWEET now.' And we didn't make a big song and dance about it. We just wanted to — you know, the definitive article is no more."

Three members of the original SWEET — Brian Connolly, Steve Priest and Mick Tucker — have since died while remaining bandmate Andy Scott is still alive and has formed his own version of the group, which tours the U.K. and Australia.

Andy Scott (guitars/vocals) is joined in his version of SWEET by Paul Manzi (lead vocals),Lee Small (bass guitar/vocals),Tom Cory (guitars/keys/vocals) and Adam Booth (drums/percussion).

Before he died, Priest had the right to use the SWEET name in the U.S. and Canada, whereas Scott toured a version of the group in the U.K. The pair were estranged for decades, but resumed contact in the 2010s.

The Scott-led version of SWEET released a new studio album, "Full Circle", in September 2024 via Metalville Records. According to a press release, the LP will be SWEET's final studio album ever.

Andy Scott's SWEET will return for "The Final Blitz Tour" of Australia in October and November 2026.

As one of Britain's true rock treasures, SWEET became a phenomenon in Australia, racking up 13 Top 50 Australian singles, including two Number Ones.

SWEET has sold a staggering 55 million records worldwide.

A different five-member version of THE SWEET which obtained the rights to use the name and perform in the U.S. and Canada under THE SWEET banner despite containing no members from the original SWEET lineup, has released three singles in the last couple of years: "Little Miracle" in 2024, "Insane" in 2025, and "Sweet Dream" — a song that has been in the group archives and on which Steve Priest wrote and played bass and sang — in February 2026. That band currently consists of bassist Stevie Stewart, drummer Richie Onori, guitarist Jimmy Burkard, keyboardist Dave Schulz and vocalist Ariel Kamin.