This was another performer that hit the big time in the US and not so much in the UK.

Two observations – my goodness that could easily be an Adam and the Ants song. Also, the bad miming was probably an […]

It was a massive hit in the States though. At around the same time A Flock of Seagulls hit the big time over there only a few minor hits in the UK.

Well then there’s Bucketeer and Scaffolder John Gorman appearing in both the 1979 and 1969 threads.

I should probably cut them off.

I remember a Cameo song called Candy. Featuring the memorable line “you’re giving me a heart attack – but it’s the kind I like”

Like punk, you didn’t realise that it was needed until it appeared. I quite liked Noel Edmonds and Swap Shop but TISWAS was so good that there was no turning back. Bit like the Pistols vs Cliff/Elton.

I think TISWAS was a very local ATV show for several years but when it became nationwide when it went up against Swap Shop in around 1978.

To us kids on the street, TISWAS represented the birth of alternative comedy. Like Kenny Everett, it was a cheapo ITV show with low production values – and all the better for it. Lenny Henry and Chris Tarrant […]

I know a really disgusting one. May I….? You may not want to be my friend anymore though.

Quasimodo had a simple life of enforced isolation but as the years wore on he became increasingly sad that he had […]

But 1979 also gave us Margaret Thatcher, who gave our generation who entered the workforce in a user-pays, profit above-all-else mentality. Her Goverment took advantage of a weak and inept Labour Government, […]

I think I might have seen Billie Whitelaw do this in a TV production. Yes, yes, I could look it up but where’s the fun in that?

You just played the same song again! I have seen bands do that.

Well the good news is that the main structure is still there. Even if it had been entirely flattened and rebuilt to the same specifications – wouldn’t the new structure be just as impressive? The symbolism of […]

He’ll be sleeping in his car for a bit – he’s got a hatchback. I’ll let you fill in the rest.

I would say Lomdon’s equivalent would be St Pauls Cathedral – but if the Queen Elizabeth Tower burned down (i.e. Big Ben) I think that would have the biggest impact.

Frank Sidebottom had coded messages around some of his artwork and GCHQ have cracked the codes during a training exercise. One message is “Fish man EP is top secret”

It is a great story.

You know it is. It really is.

Great stories here – the thought of a Prince show followed by another 2.5 hours of Prince at an Aftershow gig does sound amazing.

The ‘new’ New Order now doing all the hits and encores makes me think it’s because […]

I had left the UK by then and had no idea who Atomic Kitten were (still a little vague tbh) but when the song came on a TV chart rundown I remember saying that it was a good song and a cut above the usual fare. I […]