By 1992 the KLF were the hottest band on the planet. Then with the music world in their hands they vanished. Who Killed the KLF? Sky Documentaries 2022
‘She has made her performances into something of an art form mingling dance and mime and all kinds of theatre.’ The Kate Bush Story: Running Up that Hill, Paula Yates, BBC 2022
Wuthering Heights reaches number one on the British singles chart in March 1978. ibid. caption
Kate Bush becomes the first female artist to have a self-penned number one. ibid.
Kate was 16 when she signed a deal with EMI and received an advance of £3,000. ibid.
Kate’s duet with Peter Gabriel Don’t’ Give Up is released in October 1986. ibid.
It was the biggest TV music show of all time. A mainstay of our lives for over 40 years. But behind the scenes, Top of the Pops was chaotic, crazy and very nearly calamitous. Top of the Pops: Secrets & Scandals, Channel 5 2022
Shocking stories of drugs, demanding divas, teatime nudity, and technical disasters. But also the show’s decline and a tarnished legacy. ibid.
With a limited budget on the earliest shows, there were no facilities for the bands to perform live. ibid.
In 2006 the BBC announced that the show would be axed. ibid.
I’ve come to Japan to investigate the story of Johnny Kitagawa. Johnny was the godfather of J-Pop. Here his influence is everywhere. His male-only talent agency, Johnny & Associates, took young boys and turned them into dancing, singing, culture-defining pop idols. This World: Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop, BBC 2023
For decades there have been allegations about Johnny Kitagawa. Allegations that he was sexually abusing some of the young boys in his agency. ibid.
Denial, a wall of silence and a fortress of protection. ibid.
‘Something has shifted, there’s new feeling on the streets. There’s a desire for change. Britain’s is exporting pop music again. Now all we need is a new government.’ Live Forever: The Rise & Fall of Britpop, Alistair Campbell, BBC 2003
‘I think it was with ecstasy, really … It was very exciting when it first happened.’ ibid. Noel Gallagher
Stone Roses play Spike Island May 1990. ibid.
Massive Attack: Blue Lines 1991. ibid.
Oasis: Definitely Maybe 1994. ibid.
Massive Attack: Protection 1995. ibid.
Portishead: Dummy 1994. ibid.
Pulp: Different Class 1995. ibid.
13 years ago in 1992 British rock music had gone very very quiet. That year’s big thing were Nirvana. The Britpop Story: It Really Really, Really Could Happen, John Harris reporting, BBC 2005
Elsewhere in London a new generation of musicians were plotting a rather different course … Suede … Blur … Elastica … Pulp … Oasis … Sleeper … Menswear … ibid.
Marc Bolan Killed in Crash: Girlfriend’s car hits tree. Marc Bolan: Dandy in the Underworld, newspaper front page, Grenada/Channel 4 1997
He wanted to be famous from the age of nine. ibid. Harry, Marc’s brother
There are magic mists within those chords. ibid. Marc
He’s The Biggest Thing Since The Beatles. ibid. The Sun Weekend TV article
I just sensed it wasn’t the same. ibid. band member
‘I felt the cry in his voice. I felt the cry. I felt the joy and I felt the pain.’ George Michael: Portrait of an Artist, Stevie Wonder, Channel 4 2023
Part I: Wham! ‘They were box fresh, minty clean, wholesome but sexy. They just had everything from the go’ ibid. Caroline Frost
They need money to get out of the ‘Inner Vision’ contract. ibid. observer
Carless Whisper: ‘So elegant and mature.’ ibid. singer
White Christmas 1984: ‘Kept out of number one by BandAid.’ ibid. Gambaccini
And then came the Wham! stadium tour of America. ibid.
A Different Corner 1986: ‘You can where you can feel the sexuality of the man … It’s a beautiful song.’ ibid. Paul Flynn
Praying for Time 1990 … Freedom! 1990 … Jesus to a Child 1996 … Spinning the Wheel 1996 … Fast Love 1996 … Let’s Go Outside 1998 … Shoot the Dog 2002 … Amazing 2004 … ibid.
‘Looking back, Debbie once said Blondie’s goal ‘was to be as exciting and cantankerous as possible.’ They’ve achieved that and more, and with these classic songs we’ll be blessed with Blondie’s presence for many more years to come.’ When Blondie Came to Britain, BBC 2023
‘We wanted to be a British band.’ ibid. Debbie
The main thing that we liked was the freshness and energy,’ ibid.
No I’m not … I don’t think it’s anyone’s business. Outed I & II: George Michael, TV interview, Channel 4 2023
On April 7th 1998 at aproximately 16.48 hrs Beverly Hills police officers arrested the singer known as George Michael … engaging in a lewd act. ibid. rozzers’ press conference
The man that I knew definitely did not have that confidence … It was starting to get dark. ibid. ex-boyfriend
When I was a kid my mother had this fear of me being gay. ibid. George
Zip Me Up Before You Go Go. ibid. The Sun front page
George’s Shame. ibid. The Mirror front page
News of the World have got pictures of George in the same park cruising a year before. It’s going to be front page news. ibid. II, manager
The world wanted to hear that interview and he was ready to do it. ibid. CNN interview