Heaven 17 Radio

Heaven 17 have launched their own weekly radio series on Absolute 80s entitled “Electronic 80s with Heaven 17.” Click here for more info about the series - http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/artists/Heaven-17/article/3975-Electronic+80s+with+Heaven+17 

The hour long radio show will see Heaven 17 play the best of electronic 80s music from Kraftwerk, Human League to Scritti Politti and Blancmange. Each week the show will include a special guest. This week’s guest on the Sunday September 11th show is Kim Wilde, who, along with a number of other guest vocalists, will also participate in the “B.E.F. presents “Music of Quality & Distinction” concerts at the London Roundhouse on October 15th.

The Return of Twiggy!

Twiggy is back on the music scene - says the BBC News...

Twiggy was, of course, one of the faces (and figures!) of the '60s. She also featured in Ken Russell's film, The Boyfriend and was on the cover of Bowie's Pinups album.

 And in the '70s she had a hit with this...



Welcome back Twiggy!

Green Door – What’s That Secret You’re Keeping?

Thirty years ago this week, Shakin' Stevens had a Number One UK hit with a song from the '50s. But there's more to the Green Door than may, at first, appear. I wrote an article about it a few years ago on the previous version of The 80s Empire Blog. I thought it might be worth repeating. So here it is...

The Green Door was more than just an invented song lyric – the door really did exist. The song is an extended tease, constantly asking what is behind it but never quite answering the question:

“Midnight, one more night without sleepin'
Watchin' till the mornin' comes creepin'
Green door, what's that secret you're keepin'”

 The song tells us there’s a piano playing behind the door and people laughing; but knock as much as he might, they just won’t let ol’ Shaky join the fun… 

“Saw an eyeball peepin'
Through a smoky cloud behind the green door
When I said Joe sent me
Someone laughed out loud behind the green door
All I want to do is join the happy crowd behind the green door
Wish they'd let me in
So I could find out what's behind the green door” 

It’s really not surprising that they laughed when he said Joe sent him. Joe Meek was the record producer who worked on the original recording of Green Door which was first a hit (Number 2 in the charts) for Frankie Vaughan way back in November of 1956. Joe is best known for his 1962 hit, Telstar (under the name, The Tornados). I’m not certain if the Joe in the song was meant to refer to Joe Meek. If it was then it was done with a certain irony as Joe was gay. Which brings me back to that Green Door…

In real life, the door belonged to The Gateways Club in the Kings Road, Chelsea. This, it turns out, was one of the most famous lesbian meeting places in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. I don’t think either Frankie Vaughan or Shaky would quite have blended in, somehow. The club itself featured in the 1968 film, The Killing Of Sister George, which was one of the first British mainstream films to feature lesbian characters in central roles. The Gateways finally shut its Green Door in 1985. And thus closed a little slice of pop trivia history…

There is even a book all about the club :: From the Closet to the Screen



And here, by way of comparison is the recording by Frankie Vaughan which got to Number Two in the UK charts in 1956...

Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley: 'I earn more today than in the Eighties'

Tony Hadley is interviewed in the 'personal finance' pages of today's Telegraph.

This is the bit I liked...

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR WORST BUY?

Earlier in my career I bought some ridiculous clothes for thousands of pounds. In the Eighties, bands were so competitive and always trying to outdo each other. One way was to spend silly money on clothes that you could only wear once on telly because they were so identifiable.

Spending £2,000 on just one outfit was crazy. At the time I thought I looked great and even now occasionally think it's pretty cool, despite looking like something out of Robin Hood.

Actually, back in the '80s I bought some suits from one of the same tailors Spandau Ballet used. But I never paid £2000 for one!!!!

Read on... Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley: 'I earn more today than in the Eighties' - Telegraph

The Glam Assassin - murder, mayhem and Glam Rock

My new novel is now available on Kindle...


This is the second in the 'New Romantic Murder Mysteries' series set in early eighties London. Available from Amazon US and UK...

New Romantics and Blitz Kids (again)

At the time I have to admit that I thought the Blitz was a pretty pokey little place. Fun to go to for a night out in your most outrageous clothes but not something that anyone would remember 30 years later. How wrong I was! The more time passes, the more the glitzy glamour of Blitz nostalgia increases. Yeah, it was a fun time, I guess. We just didn't realise how transient it would be. Anyway, I just came across this vid on YouTube. It gives you a flavour of the Blitz and its clientèle in its heyday. See if you can spot Steve Strange, Boy George and Marilyn. I don't think I'm in it though... or if I am, I'm not admitting to it! ;-)

Boy George opens Isle Of Wight Festival

Boy George launched the Isle Of Wight Festival with a concert in the Big Top last night.

The former lead singer of Culture Club perfomed Everything I Own and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me. Also appearing last night were 1980s act ABC...

Read More: Boy George opens Isle Of Wight Festival - Telegraph