Pop: The History Makers with Steve Blame

Carl Miller is a veteran tour manager and rock-and-roll raconteur whose memoir Backstage Chronicles offers an unfiltered look at the legends and loopholes of touring. As the author and compiler of the book, Miller draws from his decades of experience on the road—working with major figures such as Cat Stevens, Ginger Baker, and Iron Maiden. Through vivid, funny, and occasionally shocking stories, h...

Iain McKell is a distinguished British photographer and filmmaker celebrated for his powerful portraits and social-documentary work, particularly his chronicling of British youth subcultures since the late 1970s. His prints will be exhibited in the upcoming show  Blitz – The Club That Shaped the 80s , which opens on  September 20th  and runs until  March 29th, 2026  at the...

Deniece Pearson—best known as the powerhouse lead singer of Five Star—was the voice behind some of the slickest pop-R&B hits of the 1980s. As frontwoman of Britain’s answer to the Jacksons, she helped the sibling group dominate the charts with platinum albums and a string of infectious singles like System Addict and Rain or Shine. With a Brit Award under her belt and a signature sound that def...

A veteran British broadcaster, music industry insider, and self-proclaimed "serial thrill-seeker", Steve Blacknell's life has zigzagged through some of pop culture's most iconic moments. Born in Peckham in 1952 and raised in Dartford, Blacknell rose from humble beginnings—working as a hospital cleaner—to becoming a dynamic force in radio, television, and music PR. He worked at major record labels...

Steve Levine: The Hitmaker Behind Culture Club, The Beach Boys & More | Music Producer Legend #cultureclub #boygeorge #stevelevine #recordproducer He’s the man behind the mixing desk who helped define the sound of a generation. My guest today is a Grammy Award-winning producer and one of the true architects of ‘80s pop. He shaped the global success of Culture Club, producing timeless hits like...

Gered Mankowitz; Photographing Kate Bush, The Rolling Stones, Billy Idol, Suzi Quatro, Jimi Hendrix #GeredMankowitz #photography #katebush #therollingstones #billyidol #Suziquatro #jimihendrix As someone who’s spent years speaking with some of the most fascinating figures in music and culture, few conversations have excited me as much as the one you’re about to see. Recently, I had the great pleas...

As someone who has interviewed many influential artists over the years, Andrew Roachford stands out as a truly unique voice in British music. Rising to fame in the late 1980s with his band Roachford , he broke onto the charts with the unforgettable hit “Cuddly Toy” , a track that fused soul, rock, and funk in a way that felt completely fresh at the time. His debut album went platinum, and Roachfor...

Designer Keanan Duffty; Fashion meets Music, David Bowie, Sex Pistols; The University of Failure I’m thrilled to introduce Keanan Duffty—this isn’t just an intro, it’s your VIP pass into the mind of a true blend of fashion, music, and education. Keanan is a British-born creative powerhouse (b. 1964, Doncaster) who's been rocking stages and runways since the late ’70s After cutting his teeth in pun...

Sue Clowes; Designer of Boy George/Culture Club's iconic clothes; She help Shape 80's Fashion Legacy Photo; (c) Samuel Guerrier Pioneering British textile and fashion designer, Sue Clowes, is renowned for her influential role in shaping 1980s pop and street fashion.⁠ ⁠ It was her collaboration with Boy George and Culture Club in the early 1980s that brought her widespread recognition, with Clowes'...

Martin Green is a pioneering DJ, curator, and cultural archivist, best known as the founder of Smashing , the legendary 1990s Soho club that became a cornerstone of Britpop-era nightlife. He toured with Pulp and has DJ-ed for Blur, Suede, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and fashion houses like Chanel and Prada. A passionate collector, he compiled The Sound Gallery and over 30 albums of lounge,...

Limahl; From Kajagoogoo's Too Shy to Giorgio Moroder's Never Ending Story! Limahl (born Christopher Hamill) is a British pop singer best known as the lead vocalist of the 1980s band Kajagoogoo, whose global hit "Too Shy" topped charts in 1983. After going solo, he gained further success with the international hit "The NeverEnding Story", the theme song for the cult fantasy film of the same name. F...

Swing Out Sister: From ‘Breakout’ to Timeless – The Evolution of Style and Sound Certain Shades Of Limelight — an 8CD box set celebrating a dazzling decade of Swing Out Sister’s sophisticated pop brilliance is out on June 27th 2025. Spanning 1994 to 2004, this beautifully curated collection captures the creative evolution of one of Britain’s most stylish and soulful bands. From smooth jazz-infused...

Director Alan G. Parker on Borrowed Time; The Truth Behind John Lennon's Final Years REVEALED! Alan G. Parker, director of Hello Quo Love Kills: The Story of Sid and the Pistols and It Was Fifty Years Ago Today... Sgt Pepper and Beyond, BORROWED TIME: LENNON'S LAST DECADE explores the final decade of Lennon's life in extraordinary detail. Alan G. Parker is a British documentary filmmaker renowned...

Chris Bostock; JoBoxers, Style Council and Dave Stewart; The life of a Bass Guitar Player Chris Bostock is an English musician, songwriter, and music producer, best known as the bassist for the 1980s new wave band JoBoxers. Born in Bristol in 1962, Bostock began his musical journey with classical piano at age six before transitioning to guitar and bass. He was a founding member of The Stingrays an...

Lee Swillingham; Inside The FACE Magazine; a style Revolution That Changed British Culture! To watch the interview go here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmZAmkcJC4k ​Lee Swillingham, former Art Director of The Face magazine and co-curator of The Face; Culture Shirt Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, is a distinguished British art director renowned for his influential contrib...

Dig Wayne (JoBoxers) Interview, Just Got Lucky, Boxer Beat, 80s Icon Status. Best known as the charismatic frontman of JoBoxers, the British new wave and soul-influenced pop band that made a splash in the early 1980s, DIg Wayne was born and raised in the United States, Dig first gained recognition as part of the rockabilly revival scene with his band Buzz and the Flyers before moving to the UK, wh...

Best known as the drummer and co-founder of the iconic Manchester band Happy Mondays, Gaz Whelan was diagnosed at 11 years of age with a phobia of faults. His distinctive drumming style helped shape the band's signature blend of indie rock and dance music. ⁠ ⁠ To watch this interview go here; https://youtu.be/fo-ZxR5R1i8⁠ ⁠ Today Gaz, as the founding member of Yogi G and the Family Tree, has craft...

Author Lucy O'Brien reveals the real story of Karen Carpenter in her book; Lead Sister. All the interviews at http://www.popthehistorymakers.com Karen Carpenter was one half of the sibling duo The Carpenters, who rose to fame in the 1970s with hits like Close to You and We've Only Just Begun. Known for her rich, melancholic voice and exceptional drumming skills, Karen helped define the Carpenters'...

Precious Wilson; Eruption's One Way Ticket & I Can't Stand the Rain The Disco & Soul Diva's Journey. Precious Wilson is a British soul and disco singer who gained prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist of the group Eruption. Born in Jamaica, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she joined Eruption and contributed to their international success with hits like "I Can't Stand the...

With Peter Duggal & collaborators U96, Boris Blank, Thomas Vangarde, Juan Atkins, Anthony Rother, Emil Schult, Peter Hook! More interviews at http://www.popthehistorymakers.com Wolfgang Flür, former member of Kraftwerk, who has worked with collaborator Peter Duggal since 2015, is set to release his new album, Times, on March 28, 2025, and a new single with Juan Atkins - the Detroit godfather o...

The story of an unforgettable techno anthem! U96; the German band that commercialized techno with their anthem Das Boot! To watch on YouTube go here; https://youtu.be/_kXrac0By2w U96 is a German electronic music project best known for their 1991 hit Das Boot, a techno adaptation of the theme from the 1981 war film of the same name. Originally the band were Alex Christensen, Hayo Lewerentz, Ingo Ha...

Award-winning producer Martyn Phillips on his career, technology, and how music has changed. More interviews at http;//www.popthehistorymakers.com Martyn Phillips has collaborated with artists such as Londonbeat, Erasure, The Beloved, Swing Out Sister, and Jesus Jones. His notable production credits include Londonbeat's "I've Been Thinking About You," Jesus Jones' "Right Here, Right Now," and Eras...

Mark Plati; with David Bowie from Earthling to Toy, Musical Director, Guitarist, Producer, Mixer. Mark Plati is a renowned music producer, arranger, and guitarist best known for his extensive collaboration with David Bowie, serving as musical director and guitarist during the Hours... tour and contributing to albums like Earthling and the posthumously released Toy. Plati co-produced Toy and played...

Kevin Armstrong is best known for his collaborations with iconic artists such as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Thomas Dolby, and Morrissey. Born on February 2, 1958, in Farnborough, Kent, England, Kevin Armstrong, is a distinguished English rock guitarist, record producer, and songwriter. Armstrong's musical journey began in the early 1980s when he formed the band Local Heroes SW9, releasing albums like...

Born March 15, 1955, in Egham, Surrey, England, Steve Lillywhite, is a distinguished British record producer whose career began in 1972 as a tape operator for PolyGram. Over the decades, he has been credited on over 500 records, collaborating with a diverse range of artists including U2, The Rolling Stones, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, and Dave Matthews Band. Please use this link to watch the int...