Kraftwerk releases Computer World
In 1981, Kraftwerk released the Computer World album at a time when synth pop was dominating the charts and Tony McMahon was there
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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
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
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
Ghost Town – The Specials and the 1981 riots
The Specials number one song Ghost Town brilliantly summed up the mood of Britain as it embarked on a summer of riots in 1981
Rush – Permanent Waves in 1980
Tony McMahon saw Rush on the Permanent Waves tour in 1980s and a brief crush on the band that was a very guilty pleasure
Yes and the Buggles in disastrous merger
In 1980 prog rock group Yes and New Wave electro band The Buggles merged in one of the oddest musical marriages of all time