The Thatcher Crisis Years

…back in 1982.

I’m afraid the death of pop has been predicted for longer than some people realise.  Back in 1982, in the tour programme for that year, Siouxsie Sioux stuck her stiletto heel in to the face of bubblegum pop.

“Current pop music is depressingly safe and shallow and complete disposable.”

Well, that certainly sounds familiar.  She went on to say that it was shallow, boring, lacking in aggression or sex.  It was all too “calculated”.

…”It lacks the emotion and the lunacy of the pop of the sixties.”

The glory years of punk were well and truly over and the political pop of the late 70s was giving way to Thatcher-era throwaway hits. In a few short years, Stock Aitken and Waterman would start manufacturing pop stars with saccharine hits that punks would have despised.

Here is Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees appearing on the 1978 pop programme Revolver. It was presented by Peter Cook, a well known comedian, who seemed to struggle in his role as master of ceremonies. Although his delivery was like a middle aged Johnny Rotten.