The podcast from our March 28th show is up, featuring our interview with Rose McDowall, the former lead singer of “Strawberry Switchblade.” The conversation with Rose leads off the second hour, where we also showcase some of the best of Strawberry Switchblade and a piece from Sorrow, one of her later bands.
Rose remembers how some very sad chapters of her childhood were a huge influence on her music as an adult, and we discuss her music career from the early years through today, where she still shines in the UK Independent music scene.
Also, during the interview, we talk about:
The lightning-quick success of Strawberry Switchblade, and how they fell apart as fast as they came into the spotlight.
The true meaning behind “Since Yesterday” and other Strawberry Switchblade songs.
Rose’s songwriting philosophy and how sad times in her life had made her a better musician.
How she found a home in the UK independent music circuit
When we can expect Rose’s next album, which she is working on now.
Among the featured Strawberry Switchblade tracks are “Let Her Go” and the classic “Since Yesterday:”
Rose’s new material can be heard on her MySpace page. Be sure to check back with us to find out the latest on the project she’s currently working on.During the rest of the show, we also featured music from The Clash, Voice of the Beehive, The Cure, Blondie and Talk Talk.
They are back — the B-52s make a strong comeback and not forgetting thier 1980s New Wave roots. The new CD, “Funplex,” is as much fun as the band’s earlier works and perhaps that blast of energy the music industry really needs. This has been a great two-year span for 80s fans; new projects from Annabella, Josie Cotton, Allison Moyet and Holly Beth Vincent, among others, have been released.
In addition, they are touring the U.S.You can pick up a copy of “Funplex” from our Revenge of the 80s Amazon Store – New Projects section.As always, the combination of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson bring a unique party blend to the B-52s musical style. The title track, featuring Schneider on the lead, made me want to practice MY Fred Schneider voice again, Tom Tucker-style. The bouncy guitar in “Pump” is remeniscent of the band’s first album and the rest of the CD seems to be more like the style of the band pre-Cosmic Thing (their strongest chart success).
“Funplex” will not disappoint hardcore B-52s fans, and is guaranteed to bring in a whole slew of new ones. In the meantime get tickets to see them on tour. There may be another very long wait after this one.
On The Friday, 3/28 Revenge of the 80s Radio Show, my guest will be Rose McDowall of the band Strawberry Switchblade. A podcast will be available shortly after Friday’s show.
After growing up in Glasgow, Rose became part of the UK Punk scene, where she was inspired to start her own band while watching The Ramones on concert. She and her then-husband started The Poems, but her next band with Jill Bryson, Strawberry Switchblade, would launch her to stardom.
During the interview, Rose and I talk about:
Hoe she put together four bands, including Strawberry Switchblade, and performed with several others in her long career
How Rose’s rough childhood became a major influence on her songwiriting
The quick rise to success of Strawberry Switchblade, and how it contributed to the band not lasting long after their first hit, “Since Yesterday.”
Why, although she had enjoyed commercial success, she remains true to her own musical style and with the spirit of the UK independent music scene.
Now, Rose is a staple of the UK independent music circuit, and is in the midst of creating a new album under her own name, which she says she’s about halfway finished with.
The podcast from our March 21st show is up; our interview with Tracey and Missy Belland of Voice of the Beehive starts the second hour.
Tracey and Missy talk about their story, from their upbringing in a family of talented artists, including their father, Bruce Belland, best known as a member of The Four Preps and the neighbor from “Ozzie and Harriet.”
During the interview, we talk about:
When Tracey and Missy moved from sunny California to rainy London, it was the best career move they could have made.
How a couple of guys from Madness and a Scottish star-finder helped launch the band
Their rise to international stardom
Their growth as musicians
What they are doing now
We also featured some of VOTB’s hottest tracks, including my personal favorite: “Monsters and Angels:”
Be sure to check out Missy’s website for Made in Heaven by Missy, where she makes hand-crafted fairies and accessories.
During the show, we also featured music from artissts including Madness, REM, Alphaville and INXS.
The star of one of the most memorized high school movies (probably one behind “Better Off Dead“) of the 1980s was born 45 years ago today.
Matthew Broderick, who played the title role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” celebrates his birthday. While Broderick was to star in a long string of movies throughout his career, he is most remembered for this one.
“Ferris Bueller,” the 1986 film in the middle of a long list of John Hughes’ 80s teen classics, also featured a number of future stars including:
Jennfer Grey, who played Ferris’ angry sister
Charlie Sheen, who played “Boy in Police Station”
Kristy Swanson, who played “Simone”
Ben Stein, the teacher, who later became a great cameo actor and host of his own game show, “Win Ben Stein’s Money.”
There may not have been an official soundtrack, but the movie featured some great tunes:
“The Edge of Forever” by The Dream Academy
“BAD” by Big Audio Dynamite
“Love Missile F1-11″ by Sigue Sigue Sputnik
“Taking the Day Off” by General Public
You will notice that I left off that awful “Oh Yeah!” song by Yello. I couldn’t include that in the list of “great tunes.” It was worse to have to hear that song too many times on the radio, in movies and for New Jersey Nets TV promos for years afterward.
Once again, Happy Birthday to Matthew Broderick, who made lazy high schoolers like me know there were more of us than we thought. Also, thanks for inspiring the FOX TV show: “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose.”
Rocker Joan Jett, whose career began with the 1970s girl-band “The Runaways,” hit #1 on this date in 1982 with her mainstream hit “I Love Rock and Roll.” Although this might have been my least favorite Jett tune (pre-”Hit List” of course), it showed the nation’s radio execs that women could rock without whining and looking prissy.
After putting the band together, she had been rejected by so many record labels that the group decided to print their own under the name “Blackheart Records.” The video for “Bad Reputation” is sort of a mini-movie telling that story. According to the video, company suits thought she wasn’t feminine enough to appeal to the record-buying public.
“I Love Rock and Roll” would stay at #1 for seven weeks after today, which would be a victory for every rocker who tried to make a career out of covering a heck of a lot of Gary Glitter songs (although “I Love You Love Me Love” happens to be my personal favorite Blackhearts track).
Jett would go on to put out some excellent tracks like “The French Song,” “I Need Someone” and “Cherry Bomb (an old Runaways tune),” but never matched the mainstream success of “I Love Rock and Roll.” Unfortunately, her career took a turn for the worse after starring in the movie “Light of Day” with Michael J. Fox and covering a bunch of songs in “The Hit List.”
Joan Jett’s did, however, turn out to be more successful than her Runaways bandmates. If you listen hard, some radio stations might still play the Blackhearts’ version of “The Little Drummer Boy” during the Christmas season.
This Friday, 3/21/08, my guests will be Tracey Belland and Missy Belland of Voice of the Beehive. The interview will be during the show’s 2nd hour, and the podcast will be available after the show.
In the interview, we talk about:
How Tracey and Missy were discovered
Their influences
What VOTB songs were special to them
Tracey’s growth as a songwriter
Life after VOTB an what Tracey and Missy are doing now
I actually interviewed Missy last year on another radio program about her new business: Made In Heaven By Missy, where she hand-sculpts fairies and fairy accessories. You can access it in our podcast archives page.
Voice of the Beehive was different from most groups of the genre led by female vocalists mainly because of their emphasis on percussion and guitars rather than keyboards. While they were more popular in Great Britain and Austrailia, the band saw some Moder Rock chart success in the U.S. and had something of a cult following on college radio and in the club scene. The other band members were bassist Martin Brett, Mike Jones and drummer Daniel Woodgate who, along with original member Mark Bedford, were core members of Madness.
The tune that first charmed the U.K. was “I Say Nothing.” A late new wave classic:
Here is the podast of the first Revenge of the 80s Radio Show. We featured music from Bow Wow Wow, Berlin, Stan Ridgway, Voice of the Beehive, Divynils Madness, Strawberry Switchblade, The B-52s, INXS, Monte Video and the Cassettes and more…
