the story of 1980

Fantastic programme Genesis,OMD, Sheena Easton, the Human League, Kelly Marie, and Adam and the Ants. An era of real pop stars, not a fat ginger in site.

Great programme, but a bit too much focus on one hit wonders like the Piranhas and the Vapours, and nothing on the likes of the Jam (who no doubt refused to be interviewed). Plenty of comments from the Human League girls, who never appeared on Top of the Pops in 1980 - the only Human League appearance was their cover of Gary Glitter's Rock 'n' Roll from the Holiday '80 EP, with the original lineup including Martin Ware and Ian Craig Marsh (though it was nice to see that - wonder if there will be complaints?).

Andy wrote:
Great programme, but a bit too much focus on one hit wonders like the Piranhas and the Vapours, and nothing on the likes of the Jam (who no doubt refused to be interviewed). Plenty of comments from the Human League girls, who never appeared on Top of the Pops in 1980 - the only Human League appearance was their cover of Gary Glitter's Rock 'n' Roll from the Holiday '80 EP, with the original lineup including Martin Ware and Ian Craig Marsh (though it was nice to see that - wonder if there will be complaints?).

I know what you're saying but the Piranhas had a couple of hits at least. Tom Hark and Zambezi with boring Bob Grover. The most successful act of 1980 was Bad manners who didn't get a mention. Finished off the show with snippets of Duran Duran, Altered Images, Soft Cell, and Japan who didn't appear on totp til 1981.

The 80s were an odd time for me; I started the decade out of the country, in America, with a three hour daily radio show in New York and wasn't keen on the Video dominated music (often better visually than musically). Then I started the Top of the Pops US segments monthly (I wonder how the BBC is going to cope with them on repeats) and Entertainment USA and No Limits as well as writing my Bizarre USA column in The Sun every week. Helped break a lot of great US music globally - and UK music in return. And had my consultancies with CBS (now Sony) and then PolyGram. A very profitable and powerful decade for me.