C86 Show - Indie Pop

Liz Lamere - Alan Vega & Suicide

Liz Lamere in conversation with David Eastaugh

http://backbeatbooks.com/books/9781493072484

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Infinite-Dreams-Life-Alan-Vega/dp/149307248X

https://lizlamere.bandcamp.com/album/one-never-knows

Liz Lamere was Alan Vega’s wife and long-term creative collaborator. They met in 1985 when she was a corporate lawyer at a major Wall Street firm and played drums in a punk band, SSNUB. She co-wrote, co-produced, and recorded numerous songs with Vega. Now, she spearheads the ongoing release of recordings from the “Vega Vault,” a vast library of unreleased albums, songs, and sound recordings. She oversees the Vega archives of works on paper, extensive writings of lyrics, poetry and fine art Vega created until his passing in 2016.Lamere has recorded two solo albums "Keep it Alive" and "One Never Knows" on In the Red Records. She has toured internationally with Alan Vega and as a solo artist.

Simon Fisher Turner

Simon Fisher Turner in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://simonfisherturner.bandcamp.com/album/instability-of-the-signal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMKWlALrBIA

English musician, songwriter, composer, producer and actor. After portraying Ned East in the 1971 BBC TV adaptation of Tom Brown's Schooldays and roles in films such as The Big Sleep (1978), Turner rose to fame as a teenage star in Britain when his mentor, Jonathan King, released Turner's eponymous first album on UK Records

Vix - We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It

Vix in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXWqfxj-mlU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYlHXTesRos

https://www.happilife.uk/about

We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It!!, often shortened to Fuzzbox, are a British alternative rock group. Formed in Birmingham in 1985, the all-female quartet originally consisted of Vix (Vickie Perks), Magz (Maggie Dunne), Jo Dunne and Tina O'Neill. The band's name was shortened to Fuzzbox for the US release of their debut studio album.

Mick McCarthy - Blab Happy & Perfume

Mick McCarthy in conversation with David Eastaugh

When Blab Happy split up, singer/guitarist Mick McCarthy and bassist Tony Owen recruited John Waddington to form Perfume, initially releasing records on their own "Aromasound" label. Beginning with scented limited edition vinyl, they enjoyed a string of Indie Top 10 hits. Their first release was "Yoga/Perfume” in December 1993, the white label was played repeatedly on Radio 1 by Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley. Second single "Young/Anointed” (which was also perfume-scented) appeared in April 1994. Third single "Lover" was picked up on by BBC Radio One DJ's Steve Lamacq and Jo Wiley (the latter getting the band in to record a session for her show).

Steve Wynn - The Dream Syndicate

Steve Wynn in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.stevewynn.net/

https://stevewynn1.bandcamp.com/merch

http://jawbonepress.com/i-wouldnt-say-it-if-it-wasnt-true/

Founding member of The Dream Syndicate, whose debut album, The Days Of Wine And Roses, is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the indie/alternative rock scene of the 1980s. He has also enjoyed a prolific solo career, touring the world on a regular basis and performing and recording in groups such as Danny & Dusty, Gutterball, and The Baseball Project (also featuring REM founders Mike Mills and Peter Buck). He scored two Norwegian hit TV shows, Dag and Exit, and his songs have been covered by Luna, Yo La Tengo, and Concrete Blonde, among others. I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True is his first book.

Tiffany Murray - My Family & Other Rock Stars

Tiffany Murray in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/tiffany-murray/my-family-and-other-rock-stars/9780349727530/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Other-Rock-Stars-groundbreaking/dp/0349727538

It’s the late 1970s and Tiff lives with her mum, Joan, at Rockfield, the iconic recording studios. This place of legend, where some of the most famous rock albums of all time were recorded, is the background to a freewheeling, ever-changing whirlwind of a childhood. Tiff’s days are spent running around the farm, making friends with local wildlife and helping out with the endless array of dishes her mum creates to keep the bands fed. She’s looking for a dog, she’s looking for a father; but the one constant throughout is her and Joan, building an unconventional family in the most unlikely of locations.

My Family and Other Rock Stars is Tiff’s remarkable, truly unique story of growing up in a rural idyll, of Cordon Bleu cookery and of a childhood where the chances of bumping into Freddie Mercury playing piano, or a group of Hell’s Angels turning up to record for Lemmy, or even the hope of David Bowie appearing, were as normal as hopscotch and homework.

Joseph Arthur

Joseph Arthur  in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://josepharthur.com/

https://westhampsteadarts.com/

Arthur was discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-1990s, and signed to Gabriel's Real World label as the first North American artist on the label's roster. Arthur released his debut album, Big City Secrets (1997), and follow-up, Come to Where I'm From (2000), on Real World before signing with various independent labels between 2002 and 2006. He established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts.

Michael Beinhorn - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Hole, Korn, Soul Asylum and Marilyn Manson.

Michael Beinhorn in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://michaelbeinhorn.com/

Michael Beinhorn started out as a musician in the early 1980's New York downtown scene where he played keyboards and handled electronics and tapes; he is probably best known for being a full member of Bill Laswell's collective Material (as musician, arranger and producer). In the mid 80's, he moved into engineering and producing and has since made himself a name as a big-time, Grammy-winning rock producer.

Worked with artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Hole etc. Began his career in the late 1970s, playing synth and guitar in the new wave band Material. His big mainstream break came in 1989 when he produced the Red Hot Chili Peppers' hit album Mother's Milk, which contained the smash single Higher Ground.

Stan Erraught - The Stars Of Heaven, Hey Paulette, Peridots, The Great Western Squares & The Sewing Room,

Stan Erraught in conversation with David Eastaugh

The Stars Of Heaven were formed in 1983 by Stephen Ryan (vocals, guitar), Stan Erraught (guitar, formerly of The Peridots), Peter O'Sullivan (bass guitar), and Bernard Walsh (drums).They were strongly influenced by The Byrds and Gram Parsons, even being labelled "Ireland's answer to The Byrds, Gram Parsons and the Velvet Underground all in one package". After a début single on the Hotwire label ("Clothes of Pride") which received airplay from John Peel, they were signed by Rough Trade, who issued the album Sacred Heart Hotel in 1986, which reached number 11 on the UK Independent Chart. Peel's patronage continued throughout their career, with the band recording four sessions for his BBC Radio 1 show, the first of which was included on Sacred Heart Hotel. They also appeared on RTÉ television. They released a further single and EP ("Never Saw You"/The Holyhead EP) which was a top five hit on the independent chart, and in 1988, Rough Trade released their second and final album, Speak Slowly, which peaked at number 6. Speak Slowly included the track Lights Of Tetouan, although this was not released as a single. The song is written by the band's singer, Stephen Ryan, about growing up on the south coast of Spain from where he could see the Moroccan town of Tetouan. Lights Of Tetouan was covered by Everything But the Girl on their 1994 EP Rollercoaster. Along with the original, as this version is a B-side, it is not widely known/available. However, it is available for listening/viewing online.

The band split up shortly after the release of Speak Slowly with Ryan going on to form a new band, The Revenants, along with former members of The Would-Be's and Something Happens, who released two albums (Horse of a Different Colour and Septober Nowonder) in 1993 and 1995, respectively.

Tygers of Pan Tang - Jack Meille

Jack Meille in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.tygersofpantang.com/

The Tygers of Pan Tang were formed by guitarist Robb Weir (born Robert Mortimer Weir, 1958), Richard "Rocky" Laws (bass), Jess Cox (vocals) and Brian Dick (drums). They played in working men's clubs and were first signed by local independent label Neat Records before MCA gave them a major record deal. After several singles, they released their first album, Wild Cat, in 1980.

'Bloodlines' was released in 2023 featuring their two new members, followed by 'Live Blood' in 2024 showcasing songs from across the bands career. Recent gigs have shown a significant upturn in attendances and the Tygers will return to their original stomping ground, Whitley Bay, in November 2024 for a show at the prestigous Whitley Bay Playhouse. 

Peter Watts - Spygenius

Peter Watts in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.spygenius.co.uk/

SPYGENIUS frontman and songwriter Peter Watts got his start in the 80s as the lead singer with the Murrumbidgee Whalers, whose jangle-pop classic "Giving Way to Trains" has recently been re-released on the Cherry Red C88 compilation. The 21st century saw the Watts moving on to create Spygenius, a classic British four piece pop-combo based in Canterbury and South London, who have built upon and extended that musical legacy. Ruth Rogers (bass), Matt Byrne (keys) and Alan Cannings (drums) complete the line-up - and everybody sings. Their music has echoes of all those classic 60s ‘B’ bands – Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, Bonzos. But it equally resonates with college-radio darlings of later generations like XTC, The Smiths, Robyn Hitchcock, R.E.M. There’s a lot of musical bric-a-brac in there too – souvenirs from surf and psych, folk and exotica, lounge and blues, rock and roll. The songs are carefully crafted: memorable melodies, heavenly harmonies, gorgeous guitars, perfect percussion, bitchin’ bass and kinky keyboards abound. 

Margarita Vasquez-Ponte - Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes

Margarita Vasquez-Ponte in conversation with David Eastaugh

The original members of the band were Andrew Tully (guitars/vocals), Eric Webster and Angus McPake (bass guitar), Fran Schoppler (vocals), Margarita Vasquez-Ponte (drums), Kevin McMahon (guitars), and Stuart Clarke (guitar). Tully and Vasquez-Ponte were also members of Rote Kapelle, a band that was active from 1985–1988.

This initial line-up recorded the first two singles, "Splashing Along" and "The Rain Fell Down" (described by one reviewer as a "pop gem that's not to be missed") on Narodnik Records.

Karen Haglof - Band of Susans & Rhys Chatham

Karen Haglof in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdAA7_gIr5w

http://www.howlinwuelf.com/clients/karen-haglof/

One Hand Up is the fourth full length release by guitarist/songwriter Karen Haglof.  The album was produced by Haglof and Mario Viele, recorded at Cowboy Technical Services and Excello studios in Brooklyn, primarily mixed by Viele. Three songs were mixed at the Fidelitorium in Kernersville NC by Mitch Easter and mastered by Scott Craggs at Old Colony Mastering in North Scituate, RI. One Hand Up is being released on CD, digital download and via streaming services on June 14.

One Hand Up is a collection of 14 songs that cover widely ranging sonic territory. The writing and production started prior to 2020 and was delayed by the pandemic. Because of a renewed interest in visual art, many of the songs on One Hand Up will be accompanied by visual components: hand-drawn 2D animation, motion graphics and video clips, adding up to a mixed media extravaganza.

Paul Haig - Josef K

Paul Haig in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://linktr.ee/paulhaig

Together with Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and The Go-Betweens, Josef K were one of the Postcard label's million dollar quartets, recording five smart singles and an album, The Only Fun In Town. Touring the album during July and August of 1981, however, the band split after a final show in Glasgow. The exact reasons behind the split - principally the decision of frontman Paul Haig - remain obscure, although it would seem that a combination of too-great expectations, too-small financial returns, Haig's dislike of touring, and unspecified disagreements over future direction were to blame. Fancifully, Postcard boss Alan Horne pointed the finger of blame at the NME... Whatever the truth, one of the Great White Hopes of the post-punk had self-destructed after just one long player, thus fulfilling their own brash prophecy.

Gerry Colvin - Terry and Gerry & The Man Upstaris

Gerry Colvin in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.gerrycolvin.co.uk/index.html

In the 1970's Gerry joined pop band 'The Man Upstairs'. They released three singles and toured with 'The Smiths'.

In the early 1980's he co-founded and fronted the legendary John Peel favourite skiffle-cowpunk indie outfit 'Terry & Gerry'. This seminal band toured Europe and the USA and appeared on countless Radio and TV shows including "The Tube" and "The Old Grey Whistle Test". Their five singles and album all reached No.1 in the indie charts. In 2010 Cherry Red released 'Let's Get the Hell Back to Lubbock', the definitive 'Terry and Gerry' compilation.

Gaye Black - The Adverts

Gaye Black in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.gayeblack.co.uk/

English punk rock musician, who played bass guitar in the band The Adverts in the late 1970s. She was one of the first female rock stars of the punk rock movement, whom The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music called the "first female punk star". She was "one of punk’s first female icons". Dave Thompson wrote that her "photogenic" looks, "panda-eye make-up and omnipresent leather jacket defined the face of female punkdom until well into the next decade".

Gered Mankowitz

Gered Mankowitz in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://mankowitz.com/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolling-Stones-Rare-Unseen-afterword/dp/1802797335

"Mankowitz (Goin' Home with the Rolling Stones '66), who at 18 became the official photographer for the then newly formed Rolling Stones, gathers a rich and revealing trove of images from the band's early years. Capturing the group as they were "finding their style and... becoming themselves," Mankowitz's photos depict the rockers in motion onstage; in their homes and luxury cars; and in heated exchanges with concert security, incidents that underlined their reputation as a more boisterous and rowdy alternative to the Beatles

Red Money - Richard & Julian

Richard & Julian in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://redmoney.co.uk/

http://www.firestation-records.de/catalogue.html

Red Money emerged as an acoustic band in January 1990. Originally performing as a larger line up, fate stepped in to change both the format and sound of the band. Booked to play their first gig of the year at the Fulham Greyhound in London, various members then dropped out due to other commitments. Rather than cancelling, founder founders Richard and Jules hastily arranged a stripped down set and took to the stage with saxophone player Roz Bateman (who played on the single).

Monogroove - Rin Lennon, Michael George,Jay Smith-drums & Alias Wilde

Rin Lennon, Michael George,Jay Smith-drums &  Alias Wilde  in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://monogroove.bandcamp.com/album/the-flip-side

http://www.rinsrescues.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/rinlennon4/featured

Johnnie Johnstone - Josef K

Johnnie Johnson in conversation with David Eastaugh

http://jawbonepress.com/through-the-crack-in-the-wall/

https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/product/johnnie-johnstone-foreword-by-stewart-lee/through-the-crack-in-the-wall-the-secret-history-of-josef-k#paperback-exclusive-signed-plus

Through The Crack in The Wall is the first ever biography of the band, tracing their story from their origins in the leafy suburbs of Edinburgh through to their untimely implosion four years later. It’s a tale of fun and frenzy, filled with highs and lows. From their thrilling live shows, which left onlookers spellbound, to more anxious occasions confronting a baying audience of rioting anarcho-punks in Brussels; from a brief spell as press darlings of the inkies to the fateful decision to pull their debut album just as pop stardom beckoned—one that continues to haunt them today.

Drawing extensively on new interviews with the band members and those around them as well as contemporary press articles, the book explores the band’s inner workings and analyses their relationships with Postcard Records supremo Alan Horne, labelmates Orange Juice, and manager Allan Campbell. It re-evaluates their position in the pantheon of post-punk greats and considers how their music helped shape the UK independent scene of the eighties. More than anything else, though, the book’s primary purpose is to celebrate the incredible music Josef K made and consider what makes it more vital today than ever.