Neville Staple – the Original Rude Boy
The biography of Neville Staple – Original Rude Boy – was co-written with Tony McMahon and published by Aurum Press
2011
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Tiswas versus Multi-Coloured Swap Shop
In the late 1970s, two very different Saturday morning kids programmes squared up against each other – Tiswas and the BBC’s Swap Shop
Punk and Ska movies of the 1980s
The start of the 1980s saw some cultish punk and ska movies that captured the rebellious spirit of the time
1980s pop does Japan and China
The sound, visuals and political aesthetic of Japan and China influenced western pop bands and culture in the 1980s
The John Lennon Tapes and the FBI
John Lennon was put under surveillance by the FBI under President Nixon in 1972 over his anti-war activities and youth influence
Pop stars who played for Ronald Reagan
Several pop stars played at the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in 1980 including the Beach Boys and Donny Osmond plus Frank Sinatra
Pen pals – making friends pre-digital
In an age before social media, dating apps and mass travel, Pen Pals was how we found out about far off exotic parts of the world
Steve Strange and the Moors Murderers
Steve Strange of Visage and the night club Blitz started out with a punk band he formed called the Moors Murderers and a single Free Hindley
Pop groups that crashed in 1983
1983 was the year that many pop groups bit the dust with Yazoo, Roxy Music and Scritti Politti calling it a day and hanging up their microphone
The 1980s Mod Revival
The Mod Revival of the late 1970s to early 1980s saw an attempt to recapture the glory days of Mod in the 1960s