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Reach for the Stars: Fame, Fallout and Pop’s Last Party

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Author:Michael Cragg

What music were you listening to in 1996? I am guessing it was much more likely to be the petering out of Britpop, big beat from the Chemicals or Fat Boy Slim, being scared by Firestarter on TOTP, or the last ‘peak’ album from REM – New Adventures…

Well if you were ten then the seismic events of the year were the break up of Take That, the biggest pop band of the decade, and the seismic rise of the Spice Girls who did what the Takers could not and became a global phenomenon.

From these events this marvellous book tells the story of the last golden age of UK pop. I mean pop pop, not bands who were poppy but bands put together from stage school graduates through ads in the back of The Stage. Bands where an appearance on CD:UK and being one of the 20 singles added each week to the Woollies CD singles racks were the route to success rather than the toilet circuit. Manufactured, cynical and (this book would argue) consistent producers of brilliant music.

The story of the Spice Girls, while not perhaps the Beatles, is well-thumbed. Those of Steps, 5ive and descending to the more bargain bin end of Woollies V, 411 or A1 not as much. Each chapter focuses on one band, and after a short intro from Cragg its told oral history style in the words of the members (in the case of the Sugababes quite a few). Some common elements you might expect: the Stakhavonite work schedules of TV appearances and PA’s, the daft costumes and less than stellar earnings. Each chapter ends with the ‘where are they now’ summary involving solo projects, West End appearances and the in many cases inevitable reunion for a live tour.

But there’s a critical angle focusing on (for example) the pressure in boybands not to come out, the lack of any concern for mental health issues caused by all of this, and the alcohol and drugs required to cope with it all.

I think what will interest everyone most will be the central role played by the songwriters. The presence of writers such as Miranda Sawyer and Brian Higgins, Richard X and even the old stagers of Stock Aitken and Waterman with Steps. Did you know, to put one gobstopper out there, that Hit Me Baby one More Time could have ended up being recorded by 5ive rather than Britney. There are crazy creative geniuses, blown budgets and bustups aplenty.

Because, and I cannot recommend the authoritative spotify playlist – Reach for the Stars by Michael Weiringa – enough, brilliant music came out of it beyond Spice Girls and the pop band it was ok to like Girls Aloud. Slam Dunk da Funk by 5ive, Overload by the Sugababes, One for Sorrow by Steps, virtually every S Club single, even that evergreen paean to involuntary ejaculaton Air Hostess by Busted.

There’s a massive nostalgia thread running through this book of course, Michael Cragg loves this music and it shows. The era of the CD single, CD:UK and the last years of Smash Hits is lovingly described, when even the cheapest music still required a purchase. The villains of the piece? Simon Cowell and the TV talent shows of course, though they did throw up the classic act of the era in Girls Aloud and the surprisingly good Liberty X.

This is a lovingly detailed account of an era of music all too easily dismissed.

Length of Read:Medium

Might appeal to people who enjoyed…

Having their prejudices (and memories) challenged.

One thing you’ve learned

The completely surprising story of Andy McCluskey (AKA the Enola Gay Hitmaker) and Atomic Kitten.

5

Comments

  1. Though Cragg loves all these bands, even he can’t summon much enthusiasm for Boyzone and Westlife – these chapters fittingly are the dullest in the book. The Sugababes chapter however is just a riot.

  4. 1996 was all new country. Gretchen Peters, Steve Earle, Martina McBride, Joy Lynn White, Emmylou Harris, Pam Tillis etc etc. I was living in Paris so the whole thing passed me by. Oh and I got married which rather took my eye off the ball. Still going, 29 years later!

  5. Great review of a great book.
    I devoured this one when I read, it is a compelling one & some great anecdotes. Lots covered that passed me by at the time (I was obsessed with Gene in 1997!) and it reminded me of some real gems

    Michael Cragg is currently working on a book about Kylie to be released next year – I can’t wait for it!

  7. Great review and makes me want to get hold of the book. I was knocking on 30 and finally moved on from current poo music at around that time. Nevertheless I very much liked the songs from Spice Girls, Atomic Kitten (without yet knowing the McCluskey connection) and Girls Aloud. Back for Good by TT, All Rise by Blue and I Want it that Way by the BSBs are very good songs and would be so in any era.

    The singles chart started to become less meaningful around this time, though – which was sad. You didn’t get seemingly organic, people-led hit singles that took everyone by surprise any more. The last throes of this was probably Firestarter, Your Woman and Tubthumping. It feels like every number one chart song in the 21st century was set up and arranged to be so by the big labels.

  8. I was looking forward to this but I have abandoned it. Very disappointed. Every chapter is the same. Band gets put together. Band gets famous. Band gets sick of each other. Band splits up. Band gets back together again….
    I was expecting hilarious anecdotes. Didn’t find any.

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