*Features some excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

This episode see us have a super conversation with Ivor Novello nominated song writer Martin Brammer. One of the most notable Durham-born folk. Former frontman of 80s soul pop band The Kane Gang,
Martin talks us through his journey from his love of The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, giving up his day job to appear on TOTP, getting scarred by Thomas Dolby, borrowing Billy McKenzie's taxi in a blizzard, taking a dim view of Mantronix remixes, to being nominated for an Ivor Novello award for creating The Lighthouse Family's biggest hit and writing songs for Ollie Murs and the Wonderful James Morrison.
"Well done me!" - Martin chooses some of his favourite 80s tracks for the show too - DA

Look out for potential 40th anniversary Kane Gang action this year - well, they're thinking about it at least!- DA

*Listener discretion - contains adult language*

*This episode features excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

*Listener discretion - contains adult language*

Ipswich born musician David Titlow, initially a very young punk with a stylophone.
Bled dry by Magnet Records, in a-just-about-legal first record deal with his band Duck You sucker.
A second chance and chart success followed for David and fellow musician Duncan Millar as Blue Mercedes under Wham manager Simon Napier Bell. From recording at George Martin's Air Studios, shooting videos with Brian Duffy (Aladdin Sane) & Peter Christopherson (Throbbing Gristle) to having one of their songs covered by the sons of The Osmonds!
After a name change to Nixon, fooling the music press into good reviews and doing a remix for Blur, the 80s tale ends pretty much there.
Now a reputed professional photographer living in Brighton (www.davidtitlow.com).
Please enjoy David's story - it's full of laughs as well as 5 of David's chosen 1980s tracks.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Duncan Millar - DA

*This episode contains excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

*Listener discretion - contains some adult language*

Friend of the show Will Barton has been a mainstay actor for the last 30 years, from primetime British series like Casualty and The Bill, to feature films along side Eddie Redmayne, but most notably for John, Doctor Who.
More recently he has been touring the hilarious Last temptation of Boris Johnson stage show to critical acclaim.
Will chooses 5 of his favourite 80s tracks and John tries not to soil his fanboy pants!

When John asks what life was like in the beginning as a jobbing actor bumming around, Will states plainly, "How DARE you!...I haven't f****** stopped!" - DA

*This episode features excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

*Some strong language, listener discretion is advised*

In this edition we speak to comedian, actor and musician Geoff Whiting.
We discuss everything from his early days with new romantic outfit Strange Arrangement and stealing Duran Duran's support slot, to his later work with indie sensations Jim Jiminee and The Sundays.
Now working as a comedian and promoter, and not afraid to give an apparition of a deceased gentlemen a friendly nod, we found Geoff's story to be enlightening, humbling and sometimes thought provoking.
We hope you have as much fun listening to this and we did recording it - DA

"We Wanted To Be Radical"

This episode presents a marathon chat with Brummie starlet Maggie K De Monde, who during the 80s fronted both Swansway & Scarlet Fantastic.
Refusing to be pidgeon-holed as new jazz, Swans Way threw slogans at the press making marketing complicated...."All the other bands are farting in a vacuum, but we are pissing in the desert..."
Maggie has travelled the world and has loved with her heart on her sleeve, collecting tales along the way. From working in the Wombles studio, to going for a curry with Bryan Adams. Dancing to FGTH in the Himalayas with Russian gypsies, to recording her finest achievement - an album with her late husband as a healing mission with music.

Maggie also chooses her top five 80s tracks

There's a lot of lovely chat here , so listen, laugh & enjoy, but It's worth mentioning in advance that John told 4 properly shit jokes - only 2 made the edit! -DA

*This episode features excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

*Listener discretion - adult language*

*This episode contains excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

This time we talk to London Born Chelmsfordian art punk, Chris Piper as he tells his story about navigating through various punk bands, using his influence to becoming the first manager of a then teenage band, Nitzer Ebb. Wading through reasonably uninterested Essex audiences but leading them to a publishing deal. After releasing their manager, the band marched onward into the wild, and eventually to Depeche Mode's label Mute Records and world recognition from Ibiza, to Berlin, to Detroit as game changing Techno Funk pioneers.
Chris chooses a very clever selection of 80s cuts for this episode - DA

"Of Course Punk Mattered. It Paved The Way...for The Industrial Movement"

*This episode features excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

We bring you two more Scottish musicians from the 80s - Still friends after all these years, like magnetic dolls you might say!
Eddie Jordan and Kevin Patterson from Fiction Factory, tell us the story behind the bands' huge incredible hit 'Feels Like Heaven', the pressure from the record company to supply more of the same.

UFO sightings. The difficult second album, Kevin's subsequent work in sound engineering and Eddie's passion for theatre acting. The gents chose 5 tracks each from the 80s - DA

*Featuring excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

In this episode the very talented, dry humoured Southend film maker, Andy Delaney, tells us about his very successful career as a music video director with creative partner Monty. Using his post college sales job to phone record companies, struck it lucky with a call to Rob Gretton from Factory Records, landing him his first ever job shooting "State Of The Nation" for New Order!

Coming up with his generation in the late 80s club scene, shooting Coldcut, Yazz and Soul 2 Soul promos, which led him to George Michael, Spandau Ballet and Madonna - Though he more or less turned her down.
Andy tells us about his early days in the industrial movement, part of the Test Dept. clan, as well as being a member of both 400 Blows and Band Of Holy Joy. He also once bought Mick Jones a packet of Wine Gums!
We don't need to (and shouldn't have really) mentioned Sinitta!!

Now an independent filmmaker with several new projects in the pipeline, Andy chooses a fine selection of 5 tracks from the 80s to decorate this show - DA

*In this episode we use excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

*Adult language discretion required*

White China's debut 12" single 'Smiles & Jokes' goes for £160 these days, luckily
Composer Jeff Bernstein still has a copy in his loft!

Soundtrack connoisseur & keyboard player in Scottish synth/ rock band White China, tells us his story about the tribes in his local pub, looking like a scene from Star Wars, recording in a haunted manor house, nearly touring with The Thompson Twins, a long friendship with Big Country and his heart melting masterpiece Solo album, 'Requiem For The Flawed'

Jeff chooses 5 of his favourite 80s cuts and states Talk Talk's Colour of Spring as a perfectly crafted album, without fault. David does not disagree! - DA

Website : https://www.jeffbernsteincomposer.net/
Bandcamp: https : //jeffbernstein.bandcamp.com/
White China website : https://www.white-china.com/
Smiles & jokes video : https://youtu.be/EgKeKtETdsw?si=srlMOvE7kRO75Ziq
Real Word video : https://youtu.be/GiKgkFYPtHw?si=5B3R8cZjgjn6KyOb

*This episode contains excerpts of 3rd party musical content*

We were lucky to spend a couple of hours with Jim, Gerry and Carmel while they spoke candidly about their Serious jazz trio born out of University, high art and the need to express themselves in an unconventional way. From recording and releasing and independent album of raw and emotional jazz in 1982 to getting signed to London Records and being thrust into a world which they didn't really want.

Finding solace and a discerning audience in France, they pursued what they call 'Operation Piaf' which allowed them to play shows the way they wanted to and to an audience that understood them. They went on to record a strong body of work which includes an unbelievable Brian Eno production. Carmel were, by their own admission, out on their own.

Between them, they choose some interesting 80s tracks from Miles Davis to Peter Gabriel to punctuate this episode.

Frankly, after falling in love with Carmel as a confused chubby kid, David is still pinching himself!! - DA.