Win Tickets To See The Real Thing

On the next My 80s Radio Show my special guest will be Chris Amoo, lead singer of The Real Thing. The band that brought us hits such as Can’t Get By Without You, Can You Feel The Force and You To Me Are Everything continue to tour after 45 years in the music business, despite the sad passing of Eddy Amoo in February this year. Tune in to Mad Wasp Radio on Sunday 1st July, from 7pm, to hear Chris choose his Favourite Five 80’s tracks and share some of his memories of the decade.

We also have two pairs of tickets to see The Real Thing on 13th July at The King’s Hall, Herne Bay to give away, so be sure to tune in. Plus, if you want to have a song played on the show, get your requests to me using #My80s on Twitter, via the show’s Facebook page or using the contact form on my website.

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More Eighties For Free on Father’s Day

A little treat for all the dads this Father’s Day, or for anyone wanting to escape the World Cup – actually, for all fans of 80’s music, whether or not you’re celebrating your paternity or avoiding the football frenzy – the kindle version of More Eighties will be FREE on Amazon this coming Sunday and Monday. 

For those readers who don’t own a kindle, simply download the free kindle app to read the book on devices including PC, mobile and laptop.

The third and final book in a trilogy on Eighties’ popular culture, More Eighties explores how the decade provided a backdrop against which creativity and individuality flourished, the social and political factors which shaped the music of a generation, the changing role and influence of record companies, and why the era remains a golden age for so many of us.
Featuring interviews with artists including:
David Ball – Soft Cell – Martyn Ware – Heaven 17 – Dave Wakeling – The Beat – Pauline Black – The Selecter – Eddi Reader – Fairground Attraction – Rusty Egan – Visage – Jona Lewie – Suzi Quatro – Andy Kyriacou – Modern Romance – Nathan Moore – Brother Beyond, and Junior Giscombe.
Reflecting the diversity of the UK charts during that time, this book offers recollections, insights and observations from those at the forefront of British music during the most exciting, transitional period in its history. With a foreword and commentary by Peter Coyle, former lead singer of the Lotus Eaters, songwriter, and the man responsible for introducing karaoke to the city of Liverpool, completing the eclectic mix.

If you could leave a review on Amazon when you’ve finished More Eighties, that would be great. Not only does your feedback help me with my future writing but it improves the book’s visibility on Amazon (don’t ask me how – their algorithms are beyond my comprehension!), meaning more fans of the decade are likely to find it.

Happy reading.

 

We’re getting ready for Owen & the 80s in Herne Bay

Last night I announced on My 80s Radio Show the lucky winners of tickets to see Owen Paul this Saturday (5th May) in Herne Bay. They are: Tony Dalli, Beverley Poole, Sheryl Pratt, Phillip Robinson and Timm Rutland.

Big thanks to all those who entered the giveaway. Tickets can still be purchased for the event directly from the King’s Hall. I will be there to see My Favourite Waste of Time so if you are coming along to the gig, do come and say ‘Hi’ to me. You never know, I might even be taking requests to play on My 80s!

Free Tickets for 80’s Night with Owen Paul

Get ready for some 80’s fun in Herne Bay! The My 80s radio show has got 5 pairs of tickets to see Owen Paul at King’s Hall to give away. Simply like and share this Facebook post or like and retweet this Twitter post to be in with a chance of winning. For those 80’s fans who don’t use social media, just drop me a line using the contact form on my website.

Closing date for entries is midnight on Friday 20th April. Winners will be notified shortly afterwards and also announced on My 80s on Sunday 29th April. Good luck!

 

Back To The 80s With Jenny Colgan

This week on the My 80s radio show my special guest willbe Jenny Colgan. The best-selling author of titles including The Little Shop of Happy Ever After, The Endless Beach and Looking For Andrew McCarthy (well, she is an Eighties’ girl after all) will be choosing her Favourite Five Eighties’ tracks and recalling some of her memories of the decade. So, if you want to hear Jenny’s fantastic five choices, and also discover who was the heart throb who adorned her teenage bedroom walls, tune in to Mad Wasp Radio from 7pm this Sunday.

You can also join in the Twitter conversations that accompany every show by using #My80s to tweet your comments and make requests for future shows. It’s a lot of fun and I look forward to chatting to you on the hashtag – I’m @MyEighties.

 

Over To You

It has been a while since my last blog post as I have been kept busy with the My 80s radio show for Mad Wasp Radio. Following the popularity of the Christmas show’s Favourite Five, which was chosen by a listener, it was recently decided that more listeners should have the opportunity of sharing their choices. Therefore, starting this month, the Favourite Five in the last show of every month will be selected by a listener.

If you would like to share your Favourite Five 80’s tracks, and chat about them on air, just let me know what you think was the worst thing about the Eighties. It can be anything … fashion, music, TV, a world event … you decide, and let me know via Facebook, on Twitter or my website. Each month I will choose a listener to come on My 80s and talk about their Favourite Five and, of course, play the tracks on the show.

The only criteria for the songs you choose is that they must have been released during the Eighties, but they do no have to be Top 40 hits, and they can be album tracks. The rules may be simple but choosing the tracks is another matter. I know this from personal experience because this week I am choosing my Favourite Five.

This Sunday’s show airs two days before my birthday, so I thought I would treat listeners to my my five all time favourite songs from the decade. I never knew what an agonising, decision-making task it would be! Joining me on this week’s show, and turning the tables on me by interviewing me, is Owen Paul. So, to hear not only my top tunes but Owen Paul in the DJ seat, listen in from 7pm on Sunday.

Speak soon!

 

My 80s News

Following requests from some of the My 80s listeners, the lovely people at Mad Wasp Radio have decided to trial moving the show’s main slot to Sunday evening 7-9pm, starting on 17th December. My 80s will then be repeated the following Tuesday (11am – 1pm), Thursday (9-11pm) and Saturday (1-3pm), and uploaded to Mixcloud the next Sunday before that week’s show airs.

The shows which fall between the final repeat and the new main slot (14th & 16th December) will feature re-runs of some of the earlier My 80s shows. Below are the main show and repeat dates for the rest of 2017. I hope you will join me for some of them.

 

My 80s & Mixcloud

Listeners to the My 80s show on Mad Wasp Radio will know that all the shows are uploaded to my Mixcloud page. From next week, shows will not be uploaded to Mixcloud until the Wednesday following the show’s first airing. Next week’s show, which goes out at 9pm on Thursday 16th November, will be available on Mixcloud from Wednesday 22nd November, and so on.

Thursday’s show is also repeated on Mad Wasp every week as listed below:

From Magnificent Murals To Favourite Five

I have been fortunate to have some very talented musicians appear on the My 80s show, choosing their Favourite Five 80’s tracks. This week I can add an exceptionally talented artist to that list, because my special guest on this Thursday’s show is David ‘Gnasher’ Nash. Below are just a few examples of his work, more of which an be viewed on Gnasher’s website.

Illustrating how music and art can be mutually influential, Gnasher’s Favourite Five choices reflect not only his musical tastes but also the effect music has had upon him as an artist. Listen from 9pm this Thursday on Mad Wasp Radio.

Wouldn’t It Be Good To Listen To Nik’s Favourite Five?

Back in August, I interviewed Nik Kershaw for The 80s Annual Vol. II, which will be published next month. After our interview, he agreed to be a guest on the My 80s radio show, choosing his Favourite Five 80’s songs. We weren’t quite sure when that would be, as Nik had a busy couple of months ahead of him. However, I caught up with him towards the end of his tour, and we recorded Nik chatting about his Favourite Five ahead of his gig in Margate, at the beginning of October.

The interview will air on this Thursday’s My 80s 9-11pm on Mad Wasp Radio. It’s a good one, so be sure to tune in!

Backstage with Nik Kershaw at The Royal Theatre, Margate