The festival season is a busy time for Matt who has been performing with ABC, including a recent gig at Rochester Castle, then taking a well deserved Holiday in August after 80′s Rewind. I asked Matt if he was surprised at the level of interest in 80′s music, “It’s old fashioned and full of anthems, with honest performers” he mentioned I went on to ask if it was the loyal fan base of “a certain age” that made up most audiences. “The age range is getting wider, we thought that all the kids would go to see Ed Sheeran on another stage but many came along to see us” Matt has recorded and performed live with some of the biggest names in Rock and Pop, I asked if there were any artists with which he would like to have worked with given the opportunity. “David Bowie” was the first name on the list which included Steely Dan, Little Feet and the late great Miles Davis.

Matt was born in New Orleans and has settled into the British way of life.. ” I have a British Wife, British Kids and a British Mortgage” he exclaimed although he does visit his native America as often as possible.  I have always said that social media of today has given us access to those that we would not have had a hope in speaking to in the 80′s. It is artists like Matt, that make themselves available, that keep the interest in the 80′s very much alive. Matt also assured us that ABC, Tony Hadley and Co will be performing as long as they are able to do so… roll on  80′s Rewind 2014.

A Massive thanks to Matt for taking the time to speak to me.

We both concluded that Live Performances are such an important part of Music…

You can catch Matt at two of his own gigs at the following venues

25th October – The Colour House Theatre London SW 19

http://www.colourhousetheatre.co.uk/mainwebsite/ShowDetails.asp?showid=1351

13th November – Dublin Castle in Camden, London

http://thedublincastle.com/

Photographs courtesy of Six Degrees Entertainment

51.  Song for Whoever – The Beautiful South (1989)

52.  Thriller – Michael Jackson (1983)

53.  The Lost Weekend – Lloyd Cole and The Commotions (1985)

54.  A New England – Kirsty MacColl (1984)

55.  Too Shy – Kajagogoo (1983)

56.  That’s Entertainment – The Jam (1981)

57.  Rip It Up – Orange Juice (1983)

58.  Secret Garden – T’Pau (1988)

59.  True – Spandau Ballet (1983)

60.  If I Was – Midge Ure (1985)

61.  Runaway Boys – Stray Cats (1980)

62.  Little Lies – Fleetwood Mac (1987)

63.  Fast Car – Tracy Chapman (1988)

64.  Dream Kitchen – Frazier Chorus (1988)

65.  Need You Tonight – INXS (1987)

66.  Here Comes the Rain Again – Eurythmics (1984)

67.  Ghost Town – The Specials (1981)

68.  Victims – Culture Club (1983)

69.  Pretty in Pink – The Psychedelic Furs (1981)

70.  Blue Monday – New Order (1983)

71.  E=MC2 – Big Audio Dynamite (1985)

72.  The Day Before You Came – Blancmange (1984)

73.  Run To The Hills – Iron Maiden (1982)

74. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N Roses (1988)

75. The Race – Yello (1988)

76. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC (1980)

77. Senses Working Overtime – XTC  (1982)

78. Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes (1983)

79. Master Blaster (Jammin’) – Stevie Wonder (1980)

80. Eternal Flame – The Bangles (1989)

81. Don’t Look Any Further – Dennis Edwards (1984)

82. Games Without Frontiers – Peter Gabriel (1980)

83. Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes (1981)

84. The Other Side of Love – Yazoo (1982)

85. Echo Beach – Martha and The Muffins (1980)

86. The Whole of The Moon – The Waterboys (1985)

87. Reward – The Teardrop Explodes (1981)

88. Don’t Dream it’s Over – Crowded House (1986)

89. My Favourite Waste of Time – Owen Paul (1986)

90. Do You Feel My Love – Eddy Grant (1980)

91. Big Area – Then Jericho (1989)

92. There She Goes – The La’s (1989)

93. Cars (E Reg Model) – Gary Numan (1987)

94. The Word Girl – Scritti Politti (1985)

95. The Politics of Dancing – Re-Flex (1984)

96. Break My Stride – Matthew Wilder (1984)

97. One Night in Bangkok – Murray Head (1984)

98. It’s Raining Again – Supertramp (1982)

99. Everyday I Write The Book – Elvis Costello (1983)

100. The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby and The Range

Of course we appreciate any comments

1. Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division (1980)

2. 1999 – Prince (1982)

3. Hands to Heaven – Breathe (1987)

4. Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now – The Smiths (1984)

5. Ashes to Ashes – David Bowie (1980)

6. Atomic – Blondie (1980)

7. Beds are Burning – Midnight Oil (1987)

8. Dog Eat Dog – Adam and The Ants (1980)

9. Close To Me – The Cure (1985)

10. Save a Prayer – Duran Duran (1982)

11. Wonderful Life – Black (1986)

12. Mary’s Prayer – Danny Wilson (1988)

13. Blasphemous Rumours – Depeche Mode (1984)

14. Life in a Northern Town – The Dream Academy (1985)

15. Sonic Boom Boy – Westworld (1987)

16. Vienna – Ultravox (1981)

17. Looking for Linda – Hue and Cry (1989)

18. Don’t Stand So Close to Me – The Police (1980)

19. Father Figure – George Michael (1988)

20. O Superman – Laurie Anderson (1981)

21. Two Tribes – Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984)

22. Fade to Grey – Visage (1980)

23. Promised You A Miracle – Simple Minds (1982)

24. 19 – Paul Hardcastle (1985)

25. Live It Up – Mental as Anything (1987)

26. Will You – Hazel O’Connor (1981)

27. Driving Away From Home (Jim’s Tune) – It’s Immaterial (1986)

28. Cloudbusting – Kate Bush (1985)

29. Left to My Own Devices – Pet Shop Boys (1988)

30. Clouds Across The Moon – RAH Band (1985)

31. Golden Brown – The Stranglers (1982)

32. Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones (1981)

33. It Must Be Love – Madness (1981)

34. With or Without You – U2 (1987)

35. Kayleigh – Marillion (1985)

36. (I Just) Died In Your Arms – Cutting Crew (1986)

37. Dance Hall Days – Wang Chung (1984)

38. Sinful – Pete Wylie (1986)

39. Our Lips are Sealed – Fun Boy Three (1983)

40. You’ll Always Find Me in The Kitchen at Parties – Jona Lewie (1980)

41. I Found Lovin’ – Fat Back Band (1984,87)

42. You Take Me Up – Thompson Twins (1984)

43. You’re History – Shakespears Sister (1989)

44. Orange Crush – R.E.M. (1989)

45. Things Can Only Get Better – Howard Jones (1985)

46. I’m Not The Man I Used To Be – Fine Young Cannibals (1989)

47. The First Picture Of You – The Lotus Eaters (1983)

48. I Ran (So Far Away) – A Flock of Seagulls (1982)

49. Christian – China Crisis (1982)

50. Something About You – Level 42 (1985)

The Music of the 80′s (particularly the early years) allowed those individuals, that felt the need to do so, to express themselves. The groups mentioned previously (Rockers, Mods etc) were spawned from the affiliation to a particular style of music. I’m not saying that everyone took this on board and dressed accordingly, but the option was there. It allowed the most timid to be part of a “gang” if they wanted to  be. Some would attach themselves to certain groups because their friends were involved and weren’t really interested in music at all.  As for Hawaiian shirt boy, his drive came from the disquiet felt by school leavers in the early 80′s, the anarchistic late 70′s (where The Punk movement took hold) giving the youth of the next decade a torch to carry, encouraging them to express themselves and fight “the system”

Many however didn’t feel the need to become part of a gang and just enjoyed the music of the time, I fell into that category until I discovered RUSH. I could then be seen regularly wearing a denim jacket covered in patches carrying the name of my favourite band.

As time dragged its heels towards the last day of school, the big wide world beckoned, many would soon discover that having little or no hair did for their job prospects what Maggie Thatcher did for the Coal Miners. Those that had rebelled in the later years of their education would need to start towing the line, gainful employment was hard to find. We still had our music though but even this was about to change. Those that were shaking clenched fists in the air promising anarchy, were now smartly dressed City workers drinking fancy lager and dancing to WHAM! The 80′s music scene changed with the political tide and the Thatcher years encouraged everyone to make money while they could.

The 80′s changed us all, let us know how the early part of the decade influenced you. Please leave a comment.

For starters commuting was much quieter, not filled with the ramblings of those on their mobile phones boasting about the previous evenings exploits, the disgruntled girl explaining to her best friend (often loudly while trying to hold back tears) on how her boyfriend dumped her or shagged her sister. The Top 5 lines spoken into a mobile device on a packed train, that really wind me up (in reverse order) are:

” I’m on the train love, put the tea on I’ll be home in 30 minutes”

” I’m in the next carriage.”

“My boss is a tosser.” (Tell him or her to their face you coward)

“Hello, Hello!!! Yes, I’m just going through a tunnel (voice getting louder) Hello!!! Hello!!!”

“Of course I love you, (blows kiss down the phone)”

Let’s face it,  however you choose to travel these days, bus, train, car, boat or by foot you can’t escape these individuals. At least on most flights the use of mobiles is banned, I wish I could fly into town.

Arranging a night out with friends  in the 80′s normally took one conversation, today it seems to take an invite in triplicate, facebook, twitter and a text message. Modern communication also makes it easy to turn up late or not at all to these thrice arranged events. One timely text message and your excuse can be relayed without the need for uncomfortable face to face fibs. Such actions as a late show in the 80′s would have meant a forfeit in the form of a very expensive round of drinks  and/or picking up the tab for the taxi home. Not turning up would have been resolved by a simple phone call the next day, this call would also be the forum for negotiation re the pending forfeit. A no show today and you almost certainly will be named and shamed on hundreds (maybe thousands) of mobile devices and laptops covering a vast area, even people who don’t give two hoots and have never met you will know. It could result in plenty of blocking and unfollowing, not to mention being the subject of a loud, unwanted phone conversation on a train.

Sat Nav – we used a map… enough said.

Remember the days of when leaving the workplace, meant leaving the workplace?  Imagine having to take a Commodore 64 (pictured above) from the office, onto to the train and having to reply to emails, write you next presentation or just do anything really…… it just didn’t happen. Thankfully in the 80′s that annoying beast, laptop man, just didn’t exist. Leave your work at work, always the best way or of course FINISH BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

The Commodore 64 became the biggest selling Computer model of all time, selling more than 17 million units but didn’t have the memory to store one modern day digital photo. (I love that 80′s fact)

We may not have had mobile phones in the 80′s but for a while we had a form of communication that we thought was just the best thing ever…. C.B. Radio. On reflection it was a forum for, shall we say, a very varied cross section of our society.  As far as I remember there was a very specific code of practice and C.B. speak was full of numbers and shortened words, a little like the text culture of today that didn’t quite cut it on the geographical coverage front. It was fun at the time and I’m trying desperately trying to remember some of the amusing “handles” (C.B. nicknames) What I do remember is the sad exchanging of calling cards when you were “eyeballed” by another regular visitor to the C.B. circus.

To bring part 1 of my look at “80′s life, without the digital age” to a conclusion I must mention that I hold no grudge against progress and change for good. Mobile phones have saved many lives and helped oil the wheels of commerce. On the flip side we seem to have lost the art of verbal communication, the routine shortening of words sent via text has crept like a specter into the spoken word. I shudder when I hear “lol”, “omg” or “wtf”.

The Hog

Where better to start than how my love for everything 80′s was reignited. I was living in The Land of The Long White Cloud (New Zealand to those not familiar with the term) at the time and earning a living by driving for DHL. As you can imagine with driving for up to 8 hours a day came plenty of listening to the radio, channel flicking and hearing the same ol’ stuff. Like many countries around this big world of ours N.Z. suffered from a lack of home grown talent getting the break they deserved. The most noticeable trend was a love of all things American or Canadian, this was the mid 90′s and the air waves of Lord of The Rings country were filled with Sheryl Crow, Alannis Morisette, Foo Fighters, Weezer…. you get the picture. Spattered somewhere in the middle of the bigger, commercially biased stations were those faithful to some Oz/Kiwi traditional sounds. How refreshing, something new for my ears to enjoy, although I had heard some of the Bands and Artists before (Midnight Oil, Crowded House etc) there were those that were circa 1980′s but sounded so fresh… further investigation was required and the likes of DD Smash, Dance Exponents, Th’ Dudes and Cold Chisel all became regular visitors to my turntable.

Like a modern day Indiana Jones I was feverishly searching for more hidden treasure, my bounty was of the musical variety and I discovered, on Auckland’s Queen Street, a Temple paying homage to a species being overtaken by the Digital Age….. The Vinyl Record. It was on this day that my love affair with Real Groovy Records began. I couldn’t believe my POM (a slang expression for Englishman used by Kiwis as well as Ozzies)  blue eyes, row upon row of used vinyl going for a song. There were plenty of CD’s too but it was with the vinyl I began my quest for those forgotten gems and that diamond in the rough that would brighten up my day. I restricted my visits to one a month and would spend hours flicking through the vinyl,  going from one generously filled shelf to the next hoping to find the next addition to my collection of yesteryear classics. The C.D. section at Real Groovy also proved be a source of hidden treasure to please any 80′s fanatic.  As time went on I started to make a list of those great 80′s tracks that I didn’t purchase all those years before as a teenager.

Thanks to Bolton F.M.

A massive thanks to Kevin Gurney for allowing me to join him on his  Club Tropicana show last Saturday at 96.5  Bolton F.M. It was great to be a part of a great show

Club Tropicana is broadcast on a Saturday Evening between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

 80′s Project

We are planning a 80′s project and will be looking for venues all over the country to take part.

The idea is to write a travel journal and log peoples thoughts and memories  of the 80′s. All those venues and individuals taking part will get a mention.

If you are interested in taking part or know of a venue that would be, please DM me at @80slgends (Twitter) with some contact details to discuss further.

The aim is to produce a book on the experience……

Hope you enjoyed my first blog

The Hog

I’ll be giving my thoughts on the music, 80s T.V.and Film, the personalities, the fashion, the trends and the events that shaped the 80s, and try to make my own small contribution to the greatest decade of them all.

You can also help to make this a fun journal dedicated to the 80′s with your own contributions and comments to this blog. I would love to hear what you think about my great love of all things 80s!

Look forward to hearing from you…