In 1979 I
started getting Smash Hits because of the lyrics? (not sure where i started - but Numan was on the cover a few times in 79 and 80)
the initial motive would have been the lyrics to songs in the chart. So probably it was towards end of 1979 i started buying Smash Hits.
I
ventured to the John Peel end of the radio dial. I did a few times but it
wasn’t until he was playing a Madness session and I heard some music that
didn’t make me feel weird that I stayed. Then gradually my tastes melted and
reformed in a way that allowed me to
listen to better music.
Also allowed
to leave the school at lunch time.
Andrew Bush
– Arcadia – shop. The time he took me with him when he wanted a refund for
something – to be a heavy and the member of staff saw right through this
pathetic plan.
His views on
child benefit. A very early friend who I can’t really remember from later on.
Not sure he stayed. Maybe left after o levels.
We started
German and Pointer was vicious. There was also a female German teacher,
Australian, but I never got her.
John Peel show
John Peel show
The last year of the 1970s was a watershed in the UK's history, as a decade of Thatcherism loomed, and in music too it was time for another change. The rebels of 1977 were now turning into the old guard: the Pistols were no more, the Clash, Jam and Stranglers were modifying their styles in order to maintain commercial momentum, and the tension generated from external pressures resulted in the formation of two very different musical scenes.
On the one hand, there was dark, neo-realistic electronica, represented by Joy Division (who recorded both of their sessions for Peel in 1979), the first recordings of Punishment Of Luxury and the Prefects (the first band of someone who would continue to appear on Kat's Karavan in a variety of guises, Robert Lloyd), and the growing success of the Factory label. On the other, the dance scene, which in the shape of funk and disco had virtually passed the programme by, made itself felt in the resurgence of the 60s genres of ska and bluebeat. Suddenly, the Beat, Selecter, Madness and Specials were all recording sessions and getting both show plays and chart success.
John celebrated his 40th birthday in August with two shows detailing the records he wanted played at the party, but in his eyes there was little to celebrate, what with a backlash against the 2-Tone label quick to appear and a festive chart that was virtually unchanged from the previous year's. His loss of the Friday night slot was somewhat compensated by the addition of an hour-long programme on Sundays (John Peel's Rock Requests), but one gets the impression that this was not what he wanted to do (this show only lasted nine months).
1980 was notable mainly for two high profile deaths, those of Malcolm Owen of the Ruts) and Ian Curtis of Joy Division. The latter band predictably gained several entries in the 1980 Festive Fifty whereas the previous year their music had been completely ignored by the voters. A signficant show was that of the 27 May 1980, an all-record celebration of independent labels which dramatically demonstrated that do-it-yourself rather than sign to a major label was still a valid option. And Wah!, who would reappear in one form or another for many years, were played very early in their career in a private recording from Eric's in Liverpool.
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