“I don’t think there’s ever been such a rush towards insignificance in the name of the historical future as we’ve seen in the last 15 years.” — Robert Hughes concluding his TV series The Shock of the New in 1980
➢ War: the 20th-century way to build a new world — Robert Hughes laments the effects of war in The Shock of The New
◆ 2015 – Original Blitz Kids say farewell to Steve Strange – read exclusive tributes to the King of the Posers
◆ On Mi-soul radio on 13 Feb 2015, the day after Steve Strange died, deejay Rusty Egan paid musical tribute to his sidekick in founding their legendary Blitz club-night back in 1979: “Music says everything I could ever want to say” ... Catch up at Mixcloud
✱ 40 years since “I picked on you-oo-oo”! July 6, 1972 saw the seminal pop moment — David Bowie’s first appearance on Top of the Pops as Ziggy Stardust, on the day in 1972 that he created the next generation of popstar wannabes
✱ Who dares define glam rock? Where to draw a line between glitter and glam – naff blokes in Bacofoil versus starmen with pretensions
✱ Bowie’s teenage lover who created the look of Ziggy – unseen pic of Freddie Burretti from 1973, exclusive report at Shapers of the 80s
◆ 2013: Midge Ure denies Strange’s claims of collaborat- ing on a new Visage while Rusty Egan asks where his royalties have gone
◆ 2013: Out of the 80s frying pan into the 21st-century fire. . . Here’s the true story of how Visage changed the sound of clubland music, as Steve Strange announces his own new version of “Visage”
✱ Matt Bianco’s Mark Reilly and the 8-piece New Cool Collective celebrate their collaboration album The Things You Love with a European tour through the summer. Bianco’s 1984 album Whose Side Are You On? introduced jazz to a chart scene still dominated by British new wave, ska and punk. Hit singles followed
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✱ Join in the Q&A during An Audience with Martin Kemp who is touring the UK all year from Billingham and Bodelwyddan Castle through Blackburn and Cheltenham (you might have to google some venues to discover which town they’re in!)
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✱ The original Blitz Club deejay’s first solo album capturing the spirit of 80s electronica, “Rusty Egan presents. . . Welcome to the Dancefloor” is being published through Pledge Music where you can pre-order the 14-track album and related products… Read a full review here at Shapers of the 80s.
Click on the Soundcloud player below to hear some snippets now:
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✱ Dazed’s best new tracks mix features Ezra Rubin aka Kingdom’s choice of forward-looking club music
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✱ In the face of difficult times and an uncertain future, i-D’s family values issue celebrates tight-knit families, teams, tribes and collectives the world over. No faking. It’s true.
✱ i-D’s soundtrack to your weekend:
April’s new releases ft. Four Tet, Murlo and King Krule
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✱ Issue 69 of Soul Survivors magazine features Brit Funk Association, Eddie Piller, Polly Gibbons, Barry King, Wunmi, Ash Selector and all soul music events. Under Fitzroy Facey, the mag celebrated its tenth anniversary with a new compilation on Expansion Records (above).
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✱ Quids In Mons, FCK Thurs, #FRI251, Big Weekender Sats at the legendary Factory Manchester – clubnights, cocktail masterclasses and live bands – chart, dance, EDM, RNB, house, garage, hiphop and indie over three floors designed by Ben Kelly on Princess St, Manchester M1 7EN – @factorymanchester
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✱ Manchester’s Remake Remodel claims to be “The Nation’s Saving Grace of Alternative, Rock’n’Roll” — Mondays at Soup Kitchen M1 1DF & every 1st Saturday at The Ruby Lounge M4 1QB – @RemakeRemodel1
