Pop: The History Makers with Steve Blame

Clark Datchler is best known as the lead singer, songwriter and co-founder of Johnny Hates Jazz, one of the most distinctive British pop bands to emerge from the 1980s. Their 1987 debut album Turn Back the Clock became an international success, producing “Shattered Dreams,” “I Don’t Want to Be a Hero,” “Turn Back the Clock” and “Heart of Gold.” “Shattered Dreams” became particularly significant in...

George Michael was one of the greatest singer-songwriters of his generation, but who was the man behind the music? In this conversation, bestselling author Sathnam Sanghera discusses his remarkable new book, Tonight the Music Seems So Loud: The Meaning of George Michael, exploring George's extraordinary journey from pop prodigy to global icon. Together, we look beyond the headlines to examine his...

Nearly fifty years after Rattus Norvegicus, Hugh Cornwell is still writing new songs—and still asking what a song can become when he takes it onstage. He’s preparing Succubus, revisiting a lifetime of music on All the Fun of the Fair, and calling his forthcoming solo acoustic tour Never Say Goodbye. So what is he saying goodbye to, and what is he moving towards? Hugh declined to appear on camera f...

Before 10cc, Graham Gouldman had already written some of the defining songs of the 1960s—including “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Bus Stop,” “Look Through Any Window” and “No Milk Today.” He then helped form one of Britain’s most inventive bands, creating classics including “I’m Not in Love,” “The Things We Do for Love” and “Dreadlock Holiday.” Become a channel member for access to Beneat...

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Haddaway created one of the most instantly recognisable songs in pop history. Released in 1993, “What Is Love” became an international phenomenon and one of the defining records of the Eurodance era. But Haddaway’s story is far more complicated than a single worldwide hit. Born in Trinidad, raised in the United States and launched to fame from Germany, Haddaway’s life has crossed countries, cultur...

My guest today is Chris Difford — songwriter, musician and co-founder of Squeeze, one of Britain’s most distinctive and enduring bands. Together with Glenn Tilbrook, Chris created songs that turned everyday life into sharply observed pop: “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction,” “Tempted,” “Labelled with Love” and so many more. His lyrics are filled with characters, conversations and small domestic det...

After a 21-year hiatus, Gene returned last year to perform three sold-out comeback shows, including a triumphant night performing to 5300 fans at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, where the band’s classic line-up of Martin Rossiter (vocals), Matt James (drums), Steve Mason (guitars) and Kevin Miles (bass) delivered one of the stand-out performances of their career. That performance was captured o...

Miles Hunt has never been interested in fitting neatly into anyone else’s idea of who he should be. As the singer, songwriter and frontman of The Wonder Stuff, he became one of the most distinctive voices in British alternative music. Formed in Stourbridge in 1986, the band broke through with an unmistakable combination of guitars, sharp pop instincts and lyrics filled with humour, frustration and...

Trevor Horn is one of the architects of modern pop music—a musician, songwriter and producer who transformed the recording studio into an instrument in its own right. After achieving international success with the Buggles and “Video Killed the Radio Star,” Trevor briefly became the lead singer of Yes before establishing himself as one of the most innovative producers of his generation. Through rec...

Mari Wilson is one of Britain’s most distinctive pop stylists — a singer who turned retro glamour, wit, and musical intelligence into a career entirely her own. Rising to fame in the early 1980s with hits including Just What I Always Wanted, Cry Me a River, and Wonderful to Be With, she became instantly recognisable through her iconic beehive image and sharply defined pop persona. To watch this po...

Tom Bailey joins me to discuss the rebellion, curiosity and creative experimentation behind the Thompson Twins—one of the defining British pop groups of the 1980s. With their distinctive fusion of pop, new wave, percussion and synthesizers, the Thompson Twins achieved major success on both sides of the Atlantic with songs including Hold Me Now, Doctor! Doctor!, Love on Your Side, Lies, You Take Me...

Some artists become part of the soundtrack of a generation. Clare Grogan managed to do that before she was twenty. As the singer of Altered Images, she helped create some of the most distinctive and joyful pop music of the early 1980s. Songs such as Happy Birthday, I Could Be Happy, See Those Eyes and Don't Talk to Me About Love combined infectious melodies with a sense of individuality that set t...

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...