Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2025 i Classic Pop

Gene have announced plans to play their first gig in over two decades at London’s Eventim Apollo on 4 October. Marking the 30th anniversary of their debut album, Olympian, the original lineup of Martin Rossiter, Steve Mason, Matt James and Kevin Miles will share the stage again for the first time since their farewell show at the London Astoria in December 2004. “It will be a joyous occasion,” said Rossiter, “I don’t think musically we were ever prosaic. Even for a song that was three chords and the truth, we always weaved an extra melodic interest into everything we did. So to play those songs again, alongside the people who created them, is going to be very special.” After being approached last year by Creation Records founder Alan McGee and Toura…

Next to the vintage Trident mixing desk at Bryan Ferry’s magnificent studio opposite the Kensington Olympia exhibition hall, a simple sign about four inches square states “BIG WIN” in capitals, in the font you might see on a fairground test-your-strength machine. Ferry is pleased when Classic Pop’s reporter asks him what it does. “Well, sometimes I do have a good idea,” he grins. “When I do, that’s a big win.” He presses the sign, so that BIG WIN is lit up like a torch. It’s such an unexpectedly… cheap… effect, Ferry guffaws delightedly at how the sign upends the otherwise exemplarily classy console room. Being shown around Ferry’s studio is an incredible privilege. Forget yachts and pink poodles, more popstars should pour their wealth into a bloody great big studio in…

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“Oh, it’s lovely,” beams Andy Bell, assessing the return of Erasure to the Top 10. “It’s not like the olden days, when we’d go on TV shows hosted by Mel Sykes and Des O’Connor. We don’t have that showbiz presence, but we still have the musical presence: we’ve got success without needing the celebrity.” Over a lunchtime coffee at a hotel by the Tower of London, close on the Tube from Andy’s home in East London, Andy Bell seems very happy with his lot. So he should be. World Be Gone and The Neon gave Erasure their first consecutive Top 10 albums in nearly 30 years, without Bell and Vince Clarke needing to get involved in red carpets and chatshows. Quietly spoken, but full of hugs and an easygoing self-deprecating…

Send your Poparazzi pics now to steve.harnell@anthem.co.uk RUMER WITH JEFF SCRIVENER ”This photo was taken after Rumer’s show at St James’ Church in Picadilly on 2 March 2024. A purer voice you would be hard pushed to hear. She made me feel so welcome after the show and called me her ‘tall handsome friend’. That made my year!” TOM BAILEY WITH CHARLOTTE BADGERY ”I’m pictured here with Tom when he played Birmingham Town Hall on 10 May 2024 as part of his Into The Gap 40th Anniversary Tour. I’d met him briefly earlier in the day and asked him to sign an autograph for me to get tattooed. His response, was ‘Are you serious?!’ Straight afterwards, I phoned around local tattoo shops to see if there was any availability. I managed to…

INXS LISTEN LIKE THIEVES UMR FINALLY RECEIVING THE DELUXE TREATMENT IT DESERVES FOR ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY, THE BAND’S BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM IN THE UNITED STATES GETS SOME HANDSOME EXTRAS – ALBEIT NOT QUITE ENOUGH OF THEM For an album that made INXS bona fide new sensations in the States, it’s strange their fifth record has never had any kind of expanded reissue before. It was remastered back in 2013, but nobody thought to assemble its extras together before. Frustratingly, they still haven’t. One of his favourite albums as a teenager, Giles Martin has done a fine job unearthing demos and studio chat for the second disc of this 3CD set. 1985 was still mostly the analogue era, so you get to hear Michael Hutchence fret about running out of tape, alongside contemporaneous…

DARK HORSE In the 32 years since Cyberpunk, Billy Idol has managed to release just Devil’s Playground in 2005 and 2014’s Kings & Queens Of The Underground for albums of new songs. Let’s ignore his 2006 Christmas record, for everyone’s sake. Naming his new tour It’s A Nice Day To… Tour Again, and choosing Still Dancing, the song most resembling Rebel Yell as his lead single, suggests Idol means business on his return. Rather than have the unsuitably pop-facing production duo of Trevor Horn and Greg Kurstin overseeing matters, as was the case last time out, Idol’s latest studio album is produced by Tommy English, a former emo prodigy who has worked with Blink-182. Dream Into It mostly works best when the punk favourite is having the fun that makes…

Louis Eliot is back with the excellent Neon & Ghost Signs, nearly a quarter of a century after Rialto’s last studio album. The indie outfit had hits with Monday Morning 5.19 and Untouchable in the late 90s before seemingly falling off the side of the earth (they were probably in South Korea where they were as big as BTS). Not that Louis hasn’t been busy in the meantime, collaborating with Grace Jones and Supergrass’ Danny Goffey, as well as contributing a key interpolation to Will Young’s Leave Right Now. He can’t talk too much about the latter, given that his songwriting credit has only recently been recognised, but he’s more candid about the bad boy behaviour that led to a near-death experience, inspiring the group’s new album. “I dived in…

Daryl Hall has spent a lifetime breaking musical boundaries. As one half of Hall & Oates, he helped craft innovative pop anthems that continue to resonate across generations, from Maneater to Rich Girl and You Make My Dreams. But his creative ambitions have always extended far beyond his chart-topping past. A restless innovator, over half a century he has explored solo projects, deepened his love of collaboration, and reinvented live performance with his online series, Live From Daryl’s House. Now, following the release last June of D – the sixth album under his own name, co-written and co-produced by former Eurythmic Dave Stewart – and with more time on the road, Hall remains as passionate as ever. Reflecting on his journey, he discusses artistic freedom, the thrill of performing, and…

First uniting at Crawley’s Notre Dame Middle School in 1973, the group’s frontman Robert Smith, guitarist Michael Dempsey and drummer Lol Tolhurst would go through multiple lineup changes, and names (Malice, Easy Cure), before settling on their more familiar moniker just in time for their signing to Polydor offshoot Fiction five years later. Recorded after-hours at London’s Morgan Studios once The Jam’s session had finished for the day, debut LP Three Imaginary Boys arrived soon after. But this era was arguably defined by two standalone singles that sandwiched the album’s release. Referencing a line from Albert Camus’ 1942 novella The Stranger, the provocatively titled Killing An Arab inevitably thrust the band into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, while the uncharacteristically perky indie-pop classic Boys Don’t Cry, remains for…

The UK’s favourite family festival is heading back to Dorset’s Lulworth Castle from 31 July to 3 August with a hugely impressive lineup that features inaugural Camp Bestival headline appearances from Sir Tom Jones and Sugababes, plus a carnival-filled live show from Basement Jaxx. Now entering its 17th year, Camp Bestival will also play host to acts including The Lightning Seeds, The Zutons, plus DJ Annie Mac (fresh from her Before Midnight sessions) and drum and bass legend Goldie who will be performing with his full live band. Meanwhile, the original queen of reggae Dawn Penn will be joined by rising stars Nieve Ella and Mia Kirkland plus Isle Of Wight indie upstarts The Pill. And bringing a touch of the Eras tour to the table will be Miss Americana:…

Nick Laird-Clowes was always destined to leave his artistic mark. Born in 1957, he grew up in London’s edgy, hip Notting Hill and was just seven when he first saw The Beatles. Only a few years later, the precocious youngster sent a letter to John Lennon and received a reply addressed to “Nick Laird who heard”. In fact, if ever anyone could claim to have enjoyed a life like Forrest Gump’s, it would be this singer, songwriter and musician, who cultivated a habit of being in the right place at just the right moment. Things, nonetheless, took their time. He was already 28 and on his third record deal when at last he enjoyed success with The Dream Academy and 1985’s unforgettably nostalgic Life In A Northern Town. Even this…

Speaking from her New York home, Suzanne Vega appears relaxed as she prepares for a deep-dive discussion with Classic Pop about her 10th studio album, Flying With Angels. True to her past work, it’s a stylish 10-track mosaic of song that weaves together elements of the 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene, the energetic Bowery street punk movement surrounding CBGB and, perhaps most unexpectedly of all, the seductive smooth soul of a 70s downtown Manhattan discotheque. It is, in every sense, a quintessential New York record. “Well, New York City is always there, at least I’m always here in it,” opens Suzanne. “It’s never far from my thoughts. I think what really affected the essence of this album are the Covid years, where we were all in our apartments and the…

SPARKS MAD! TRANSGRESSIVE AS FORWARD-FACING AS EVER, THE MAEL BROTHERS STILL REMAIN WILLING TO TAKE CREATIVE RISKS ON AN OFTEN SURPRISING 28TH STUDIO ALBUM The late-era renaissance of Ron and Russell Mael, respectively 79 and 76, remains one of the most heartening stories in modern music. It’s a tale of true originals attaining international treasure status – so semi-seriously, shouldn’t Sparks be offered a Glastonbury legends spot? – while simultaneously making some of the most vital albums of their long career. If nothing else, you find yourself marvelling at a schedule which would have far younger men yearning for an afternoon pottering around the allotment. Then again, when you’re still operating at the satirical end of art-pop, maybe there simply isn’t the time to stop, except to take time to…

Prince’s iconic Purple Rain album is being reissued in a new audiophile Blu-ray incarnation. Released on 25 April, the new version will feature the 2024 Dolby Atmos mix of the classic 1984 LP, plus the original 1984 stereo mix in high-definition 24bit/96kHz audio. Prince shattered all expectations when he released the album Purple Rain, followed by the hit movie of the same name. The nine-track LP went on to win two Grammy awards, two American Music Awards, a Brit Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Last June, Warner Bros Discovery also reissued a newly-restored 4K version of the Purple Rain movie with a limited theatrical run.…

Rick Buckler, drummer of The Jam, died on 17 February at the age of 69 following a short illness. His management company confirmed the news, stating: “Rick Buckler passed away peacefully with his family by his side. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and devoted friend, who will be greatly missed.” Paul Weller shared his own tribute on social media, saying: “I’m shocked and saddened by Rick’s passing. I’m thinking back to rehearsing in my bedroom in Woking, playing in pubs, and eventually making a record. What a journey. We went far beyond our dreams, and what we made stands the test of time.” Bruce Foxton echoed Weller’s sentiments, adding: “I was shocked and devastated by this very sad news. Rick was a good guy and a great drummer,…

An archive from The Smiths has been sold at auction for three times its estimated price. The collection, listed for sale by the family of the group’s former agent Mike Hinc, who passed away last year, offered a fascinating and previously unseen insight into the early years of the band. Dawsons Auctioneers commented: “This archive was totally unique, in that it was an insider’s view into the band in their formative years, but it also shows the personality behind Morrissey, who was an enigma to so many. “As expected, there was huge interest from around the globe with collectors and fans bidding competitively to obtain a unique piece of music history, demonstrating the band’s continued popularity and legacy.” Featuring original booking contracts from concerts as well as personal letters and…

1994: a watershed year for British music, whatever your tastes. Blur’s Parklife, the Manics’ The Holy Bible, The Prodigy’s Music For The Jilted Generation, not to mention a cracking debut single from Supergrass and, of course, Oasis’ Definitely Maybe. But none were quite so singular; so boldly original and notably out of step as the introductory offering from Portishead. Dummy, released in August that year, was as brilliant as it was unexpected – one of the most influential British debut records of its era. And just as Britpop was in full swing, sending acoustic guitar sales through the roof with supercharged lad-rock anthems tailored for the terraces, a sleeper-hit revolution was under way in Bristol. It began as a low rumble of bass – one you could feel rattling in…

There are many different renditions of how Prince first became aware of The Bangles, the circumstances and dates of when they first met and exactly how Manic Monday originally got into the band’s hands. What is incontrovertible is the impact he had on the group’s trajectory. After the release of their 1984 debut All Over The Place, the pressure was on the band to begin work on a follow-up album. They were tired, having been on the road almost non-stop for two years. Columbia was keen to get another release out as soon as possible to build on the burgeoning fanbase the girls had worked so hard to build off the back of their debut. Even though the band had written a majority of the tracks for the first album,…

The multi award-winning Bearded Theory festival returns to the idyllic grounds of Catton Park in Derbyshire for its 16th year this spring. Bordering the three counties of West Midlands, South Derbyshire and Staffordshire, the epic five-day festival runs from 21-25 May. Headliners Iggy Pop, Manic Street Preachers and Paul Heaton with special guest vocalist Rianne Downey top a diverse bill that also features goth legends The Sisters Of Mercy as well as dance music royalty Leftfield. Elsewhere, an eclectic lineup includes Ash, The Mary Wallopers, Yard Act, Nova Twins, The Selecter, Fat Dog, Nadine Shah, Throwing Muses, English Teacher, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin and Public Service Broadcasting. Also confirmed are Katy J Pearson, Ezra Furman, Lottery Winners, Terrorvision, Mannequin Pussy and The Vaselines. Bearded Theory’s compact site punches above its weight…

In music industry circles there’s a saying that you have a lifetime to write your first record, but only 12 months to write your second. It’s a cliché, of course, and the truth is that a paucity of new material is just one reason that some acts have struggled to follow up a stellar debut album. The weight of expectation can be burdensome, while internal frictions and the loss of key members can be other major obstacles to overcome. Here, then, are 20 examples of the so-called ‘second album syndrome’, or in some cases the dreaded sophomore slump. 20 ELECTRIBE 101 ELECTRIBAL SOUL (1991) Fronted by Billie Ray Martin, Electribe 101 scored a brace of UK hits spun from debut album Electribal Memories, and landed a profile-boosting support slot on Depeche…

A-HA HUNTING HIGH AND LOW: THE DEMOS RHINO/WARNER Having been available as part of 2023’s 6LP debut album boxset, the Hunting High And Low demos are now given their own spotlight, basically in case anyone doesn’t want to keep buying the original album in order to obtain them. Hearing these first drafts of songs that you’ve known for 40 years is illuminating, almost carbon-dating the likes of Take On Me and the title track to the early 80s, ahead of their pop makeover. The reissue isn’t aimed for drive-by a-ha fans but is a pleasant and intriguing listen regardless. Ian Wade MADNESS TAKE COVER! WEST VILLAGE Previous Madness Record Store Day compilations have done a good job of hoovering up their B-sides and other non-album songs. While the band are obviously experts…