July 27, 1980 – news from Radio Moscow on this day 36 years ago. The Olympic games, held in the Russian capital, were the big news. Despite a boycott by the U.S., the games went on and Olympic records were set and broken, while America quietly waited until 1984 to
Pulp in session for John Peel – September 9, 1994 – BBC Radio 1 – Pulp this evening. Always a favorite – particularly around the period of this third John Peel session in 1994. With the inimitable Jarvis Cocker on vocals, carrying a bag of razor-sharp lyrics and songs which
Lush in concert from This Is Not A Love Song Festival in Nimes, France and recorded on June 4th of this year. As promised, I said a few weeks ago that I was going to try and post some additional concerts by Lush during their reunion festival tour this summer.
The Lurkers – in session for John Peel – January 24, 1979 – BBC Radio 1 – The Lurkers tonight – one of the first Punk bands to appear on the scene and the very first band to be signed by the then-fledgling Beggars Banquet Records. Formed in 1976 and
Department S – In session for John Peel – November 19, 1980 – BBC Radio 1 – Another short-lived band of the Dawn of New Wave era. Department S were named after a popular 60s TV show. They had evolved from an earlier Punk/Ska band, Guns for Hire and emerged
Au Pairs in concert tonight. Together a short period of time, but highly influential during that period. Formed in 1978 and disbanding in 1983, Au Pairs was led by singer Lesley Woods, who was described as “One of the most striking Women in British Rock”. The band were at the
The Vapors in concert from Guildford and recorded by BBC Radio 1 on February 11, 1981. Sadly, The Vapors, like many bands from the beginnings of Rock n’ Roll, were often relegated to “one-hit wonder” status – it certainly wasn’t their fault. As is evidenced by this concert, The Vapors
The Housemartins – in session for John Peel – BBC Radio 1 – November 3, 1987 – Further evidence the 80s produced a wide playing field of bands and artists. The Housemartins described themselves as Christian-Marxists, but the Press said they were Jangle Pop who moved into Alternative as their
Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine tonight – recorded live at the Kilburn National in London in 1991 by the venerable BBC for their In Concert series. Further evidence music was all over the map, and getting further out there by the time the 90s arrived. Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine
The Grassroots – live – October 5, 1967 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection – The Grassroots were a band with a vague history. Starting off as the brainchild of singer-songwriting of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri, the duo came together in 1965 and immediately hit paydirt with a string of
