Known Pleasures

This is a compilation of a few of our favourite moments from the first 7 years of the Known Pleasures Podcast.

‘Play high, Hooky! Play high!’ Ian Curtis had been Joy Division’s conductor and lightning rod, giving his crucial nod of approval to Peter Hook’s upper-register bass sound and pulling the strings elsewhere. In May 1980, though, after Ian’s death, the renamed New Order faced an uphill battle. How they not only survived, but thrived spectacularly, is one of the great redemptive stories of rock and r...

On the eve of his upcoming tour we interview the former lead singer and songwriter from the seminal UK punk band The Stranglers, Hugh Cornwell.  We ask him about the new album, his days with The Stranglers and everything in between. So get a grip on yourself and listen in to a few moments of madness from the mind of Hugh Cornwell.

In our latest flexidisc we will exhume the body of Eileen, run a musical autopsy, and discuss the song that moved a million hearts in stereo in 1982. Was Eileen a metaphor for casting off the social mores of sexual repression and escaping Thatcherite Britain’s humdrum existence? Was Kevin Rowland plundering Celtic rhythms and instrumentation a way of coming to terms with his Irish heritage? Or was...

While time heals all wounds,  the scars of your first hapless podcast episode can run deep. With that in mind, we revisit Simple Minds and attempt to do justice to their Eureka-moment third album, Empires and Dance. 

On our Birthday Party episode we said “there’s never been an Australian band before or since quite like them”. We recently had the opportunity to interview drummer Phill Calvert who told us about the boys’ early school days, his departure from the band and why he knew eventually Nick would go solo. Ladies and gentlemen, release the bats!  Video version on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.c...

In this episode, Graham interviews the Bass Player from 'The Jam' and 'From The Jam'. The video interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgXy5F8jD2I&t=37s The Known Pleasures Theme Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvn2bfFxC-0  

While Athens in Greece gifted civilisation with democracy, science, philosophy, taxes, writing, and schools, Athens in Georgia gave the world Widespread Panic, REM and the subject of today’s podcast The B-52s. A frenetic drummer in strange glasses, a guitarist who clearly needed to add more strings to his bow, a lead singer who would shout and vociferate more than sing, and two bouffant-wearing fe...

Born of the fallout from two of post punk’s best, Shriekback had no right to be any good, because well, so-called supergroups rarely are. But Shriekback were better than good – at their best they were simply majestic, riding a wave of ideas and inspiration that left other 80’s pretenders flailing in their wake. In this episode we’ll attempt to hook, then land the fish below the ice that is Shriekb...

Rusty Egan - former drummer with The Skids and The Rich Kids, founding member of Visage and DJ at The Blitz Club in London, sits down with us for a discussion on the post punk scene, the New Romantics and Club Culture in the early 80's. Rusty Egan's Mix Cloud page: https://www.mixcloud.com/rustyegan/ Rusty Egan's Sound Cloud Page: https://soundcloud.com/rusty-egan The Known Pleasures YouTube page:...

In our latest Flexidisc we discuss Lene Lovich's 1981 song New Toy.

In our latest Flexidisc we discuss the Synth Pop classic Fade To Grey by Visage.

During the mid-seventies, a group of angry young men sprang from the punk scene in London. They possessed a singer-songwriter sensibility, combined with an acerbic wit, lyrical acrobatics and melodies that would have made one or two Brill Building composers weep with envy. The three Musketeers leading the charge were Graham Parker, Joe Jackson, and the subject of this podcast, Elvis Costello. From...

Here's our latest Flexidisc shortcast where we discuss Islington's finest Spandau Ballet and their debut single To Cut A Long Story Short.

We here at the Known Pleasures Institute are producing short form podcasts to be delivered sporadically throughout the year in between our normal full length episodes. Here we discuss the synth pop classic I Ran by A Flock Of Seagulls.  

In 1988, U2 seemed to believe their roots lay with the Beatles, Hendrix, Billie Holliday and Bo Diddley. The album – and film – Rattle and Hum saw them referencing the above, as well as recording with Dylan, then BB King, at Sun Studio in Memphis. But where were their actual influences in this telling of the tale? The Rottens and Viciouses? The Curtises and Hooks? The Strummerses? Spotify Playlist...

There was one particular genre that sprang from the post punk era that was all at once joyous, political, infectious, melodic, alternative and danceable. It was a revival of the '60s Ska Movement that became known in the UK as Two Tone. And in this multi cultural cafe, full of delectable delights and international flavours, we had the opportunity to taste a little Madness, try a little Selecter, i...

In this episode we talk with one of the founding members of China Crisis, Eddie Lundon. We discuss their working with drum machines, working with synthesisers and working with fire & steel in the lead up to their first ever tour of Australia, 40 years after the release of their 1st album. So sit back and witness the difficult shapes & passive rhythms of Eddie Lundon from China Crisis.   Fa...

Here is our interview with one of the founding members of Joy Division, New Order and The Light, Peter Hook. Enjoy the insight, the ceremony and the atmosphere of one of the most influential bass player of the Post Punk era. The video version is on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/100063297726030/videos/625143802696575 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com Twitter: @pleasure...

When late night talk turns to the turbulent musical period known as “post-punk”, three names invariably crop up: Joy Division, Wire and Gang of Four. Like some sort of unholy trinity, they remain standing like not-so-silent sentinels, lighting the way forward. Here at Known Pleasures we’ve already twisted ourselves into knots over Wire and despite our name, are still afraid to tackle Joy Division,...

In 1981, a yoghurt-factory worker, a window dresser, and two blokes employed by an insurance company and a bank, somehow conjured up one of the most irresistible songs of the decade. Forty years and a hundred million records later – including 35 Top 20 hits in the UK – Depeche Mode are solid-gold, electronic-rock royalty.    In this episode, we join the band for the first part of their expedition...

At the legendary CBGB’s in New York in the mid 70’s, I think it’s fair to say that Blondie were outliers. Still, they took enough from the attitudes and performances of their punk contemporaries to create a style of idiosyncratic pop that made them stand out from the crowd. Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/1230971434/playlist/1KQsSZDvmnpCxBu6n5Nmzg?si=vteJC5bFTjam5Q8hBH12Ng Twitter:...

Hit singles: nuh. Hit albums: nuh. Unusually charismatic singer? Unforgettable visual image? Brilliant band name? Nuh. Nuh. Nuh. So why, 46 years after they formed, are we talking about Wire? Pink Flag, Chairs Missing, 154 might sound like the opening line of a really good poem; it is, though, the list of albums – released between 1977 and ’79 – which, despite making only the barest dent in the ch...

In this episode Mark, Patrick & Graham hold a magnifying glass over Adam & The Ants. Not to set fire to them & watch them burn, but to illuminate them and watch them glow.   Vote for us:  https://australianpodcastawards.com/vote   Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/1230971434/playlist/6x2LPIq9LtunoVWugVg8mn?si=l0wFQ0NcQM6zWChbHjCL9w  

Born like so many others out of 1977’s London punk scene, the Psychedelic Furs however seemed to deliberately stand out from the off. There was the name for a start - not very punk and more redolent of the despised 60s if anything,  and then there was the music. Never a huge critical or commercial favourite they nevertheless struck a chord with new wave hungry audiences around the world and contin...