After the band called it quits in 1985, Mullins continued working within the music industry, most notably as a backing singer for Cliff Richard.
1 in Venezuela with Adventures in Clubland – which also earned them a Gold Disc there – and had scored four UK hits, Mullins often lending his vocals and talents as a musician to their live TV appearances and studio work.
[1] Following the departure of Geoff Deane in late 1982, the Jaymes/Deane era came to an end, and Mullins took over as lead vocalist for Modern Romance.
[4] Mullins toured with Modern Romance extensively, across Europe and the Far East; they picked up silver and gold discs along the way, released the album Juanita (1983) in Japan, and reached the No.
[5] Despite Modern Romance being an established name in pop music, it seemed David Jaymes and Mullins would remain generally at the forefront, their faces appearing on the majority of the record and magazine covers.
The pair also appeared in an article for the Tucker's Luck TV annual titled Best 1980s Artifact; Mullins (and Jaymes) appeared alongside Nick Heyward of Haircut One Hundred, Boy George of Culture Club, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, and Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet.
Since leaving Modern Romance in 1985, Mullins has worked with Samantha Fox, Lulu, Cliff Richard, Michael Bolton, Donny Osmond, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Christopher Cross, James Ingram, Bonnie Tyler, Tom Jones, Alan Parsons and The Alan Parsons Project, The Celtic Tenors, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Mike Moran, Ronan Browne, Gavyn Wright, Patrick Kernan, Keith Murrell, Chris Thompson, and Peter Howarth of The Hollies among others.
[10][11] He performed a duet with Joni Mitchell – "Good Friends" – on Wogan (1985)[12] and in 1986 penned the song "It's Only Love" which was used as a b-side for the singles "My Boy Lollipop" (Lulu) and "Hold on Tight" (Fox).
He has since provided backing vocals for Richard on a number of projects, including the tracks "The Best of Me" and "Joanna" on the album Stronger; and in television appearances and live concerts including Des O'Connor Tonight, Knebworth Festival (1990), and the Live and Kicking tour at The Royal Albert Hall (2004).
[17] Michael J. Mullins, Peter Howarth and Keith Murrell provided backing vocals for Cliff Richard and the Shadows on the tracks "On The Beach" and "Do You Want to Dance".
[18] In 1993, Mullins, Lance Ellington, Mae McKenna, Mike Stock and Miriam Stockley provided backing vocals on the Erik song "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea".
[19] He also – along with Lance Ellington, Mae McKenna, Mike Stock and Miriam Stockley – provided backing vocals on the Sybil (singer) single "Stronger Together".
[20] The same year – with Lance Ellington, Mae McKenna and Miriam Stockley – Mullins provided backing vocals for Suzette Charles on her debut single Free To Love Again.
[22] and in 1996 – with Carl Wayne and Tim Whitnall – provided backing vocals on the album Passing Open Windows – A Symphonic Tribute to Queen by David Palmer.
[23] In 1998, Mullins provided backing vocals for Donny Osmond track "When Children Rule the World" on the Whistle Down the Wind (1996) and compilation album (1998).
[28] The compilation album, Modern Romance: The Platinum Collection was released on CD in 2006, and contains a wide variety of the band's songs from the Jaymes/Mullins era.