Rick Astley

Rick Astley

Rick Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, “Never Gonna Give You Up”, which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries. Rick Astley holds the record for being the only male solo artist to have his first 8 singles reach the Top 10 in the UK and by retirement in 1993 had sold approximately 40 million records worldwide. After retiring from the music industry in 1993, Astley made a comeback in 2007 when his video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” became part of a popular Internet meme known as Read more…

By , ago
SAMANTHA FOX 80S

Samantha Fox

Samantha Fox is a British dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at age 16, she began appearing on Page 3 of The Sun, and continued as a Page 3 girl until she was 20. She became the most popular pin-up girl of her era, as well as one of the most photographed British women of the 80’s. In 1986, she launched her music career with her debut single “Touch Me (I Want Your Body)”, that hit Number 1 in seventeen countries. She has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Samantha has also appeared in a number of movies and reality TV shows.   Read more…

By , ago
Living in a Box

Living in a Box

Living in a Box were a British band from the late 80s. They are best known for their debut single named Living in a Box, produced by Richard James Burgess. They were composed by singer Richard Darbyshire, drummer Anthony (Titch) Critchlow and keyboard player Marcus Vere. Living in a Box band were formed in 1985 in Sheffield. Their most commercially successful single, “Living in a Box” peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and was the band’s only single to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. They enjoyed more success in Read more…

By , ago
ABC Band

ABC

ABC are an English new wave band that first came to prominence in the early 80s. Their 1982 debut album, The Lexicon of Love, was a UK number one and they achieved ten UK and five US Top 40 hit singles in 80s. TABC band has its roots in the band Vice Versa, a Sheffield band formed in 1977 by Stephen Singleton and Mark White. They founded their own label, Neutron Records, releasing the EP Music 4. Martin Fry, who wrote the fanzine Modern Drugs, interviewed Vice Versa and shortly afterwards they asked him to join as synthesizer player. Fry Read more…

By , ago
trans-x

Trans-X

Trans-X was started by Canadian musician Pascal Languirand. In 1982 he recruited Montreal Keyboardist /Programmer Steve Wyatt as the second half of the Trans-X duo. Together they recorded a demo that got Trans-X a recording contract for a single (Vivre sur Video). Steve Wyatt played some synthesizer and did some programming on Vivre sur Video (Living on Video), he also composed “Digital World” and played all the instruments on the track, which was on the flip side of the single. “Digital World” can also be found on the maxi-single and on the Living on Video album. Steve Wyatt left Trans-X Read more…

By , ago
The Communards

Communards

The Communards were a British pop duo active from 1985 to 1988. They are most famous for their cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ song, “Don’t Leave Me This Way” as well as “Never Can Say Goodbye”. The Communards formed in 1985 after singer Jimmy Somerville left his earlier band Bronski Beat to team up with classically-trained musician Richard Coles. Though mainly a pianist, Coles played a number of instruments and had been seen previously performing the clarinet solos on the Bronski Beat hit “It Ain’t Necessarily So”. They were joined by bass player Dave Renwick who had Read more…

By , ago
Bronski Beat

Bronski Beat

Bronski Beat was a popular British synthpop trio who achieved success in the mid-1980s, particularly with the 1984 chart hit “Smalltown Boy”. All members of the group were openly gay and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay-related issues. At the height of their popularity the band consisted of singer Jimmy Somerville backed by Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek, both of whom played keyboards and percussion. Somerville went on to have success as lead singer of The Communards and as a solo artist.     Bronski Beat formed in 1983. They signed a recording contract with London Read more…

By , ago
KIM WILDE

Kim Wilde

Kim Wilde is an English singer, author, DJ and television presenter who appeared on the music scene in 1981 with “Kids in America”. In 1983, she received the Brit Award for Best British Female. In 1987 Kim Wilde had a major hit in the US when her version of The Supremes’ classic “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” topped the charts. Worldwide, she has sold 10 million albums and 20 million singles. Kim Wilde released her debut single “Kids in America” in January 1981. It reached number two in the UK Singles Chart and scaled the Top 5 in other countries such Read more…

By , ago
Thompson Twins

Thompson Twins

Thompson Twins were a British new wave group that formed in April 1977 and disbanded in May 1993. They achieved popularity in the mid-1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kingdom, the United States, and around the globe. Thompson Twins were named after the two bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson in Hergé’s comic strip The Adventures of Tintin. The band had up to seven members though their best known incarnation was as a trio between 1982–86. In 1977, the original Thompson Twins line-up consisted of Tom Bailey on bass and vocals, Pete Dodd on guitar and vocals, John Read more…

By , ago
Ultravox

Ultravox

Ultravox are a British new wave band, best known for a series of top ten single and album hits in the UK charts during the 1980s.The band has been led by two different frontmen who never played together in the band at the same time. From 1974 until 1979, John Foxx was frontman and main driving force behind Ultravox. Foxx left the band to embark on a solo career. Following Foxx’s departure, with the three remaining members in hiatus, Midge Ure took over as lead singer, guitarist, and frontman. Ure revitalised the band and drove it to commercial success lasting Read more…

By , ago