www.classicpopmag.com/2019/03/the-godfat...ve-bronski-interview

Very interesting read.

Even though I was not the target market for either Bronski Beat or Communards or even aim to be. I have and still admire their beats and rhythms for decades. Age of Consent is a terrific album. I remember buying it and got an odd look and very quizzical facial expression from the record shop owner.


I had a friend who had a massive crush on Jimmy Somerville but I told her he just reminds me of Tin-Tin.

Such openly gay music in NI back in the 80s...

Great sounds,bought a few singles myself...

"very few pop acts were speaking out about the struggles of the gay community"

What?! I must have imagined the non stop rallies and marches then.

honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
"very few pop acts were speaking out about the struggles of the gay community"

What?! I must have imagined the non stop rallies and marches then.

To hear Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round TDF Mix, you needed to have to go in to a gay club.

Bronski Beat even had helplines printed on the records and sleeves.

SM, yes it was strange and fun time in NI back then, but also a dangerous time.

Ditto on the great sounds comment. It's funny that band who really were for LGBT community really were also greatly appreciated by the straights.

Green Man wrote:
honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote:
"very few pop acts were speaking out about the struggles of the gay community"

What?! I must have imagined the non stop rallies and marches then.

To hear Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round TDF Mix, you needed to have to go in to a gay club.

Bronski Beat even had helplines printed on the records and sleeves.

SM, yes it was strange and fun time in NI back then, but also a dangerous time.

Ditto on the great sounds comment. It's funny that band who really were for LGBT community really were also greatly appreciated by the straights.

They did play lots of gay clubs but that was much later on.
At first they were in stadiums, sports halls, theatres, whatever.

I really liked Bronsku Beat.

hedda wrote:
I really liked Bronsku Beat.

Yes, they seem to be one of those bands that most people like, yet they tend to be overlooked for some reason.

I started reading Smash Hits in 1984 - aged 10&ahalf - and as a straight lad of that tender age, I can say that the Bronki's stance (and the frank interviews with Holly & Paul of FGTH too) certainly instilled a more tolerant attitude in me at a time when tolerance was some way off what it is today. How could one be homophobic - or indeed racist - and be a genuine music lover?

Not sure that was the case beforehand - "groundbreaking" is an overused word, but they took what the likes of Tom Robinson had done and took it into the UK Top 5. They were as camp as a row of tents in person, but took the opportunity to appear militant as far as their image went.