Classic Pop

We like to think of ourselves as ahead of the curve in the UK when it comes to talentspotting new bands. Perhaps that comes down to something as simple as geography – word can get around pretty sharpish on these moderately-sized shores when up-and-coming acts emerge blinking into the spotlight. However, there is no doubt that we were off the pace when it came to INXS. This issue, our cover feature looks at Listen Like Thieves, their US breakthrough album which is now getting a 40th anniversary deluxe reissue. A No.11 hit in the States, it only made No.48 over here. As we speak to the band’s Andrew Farriss and Kirk Pengilly, they claim that anti-Aussie snootiness on the part of the British music press held them back in the…

*1 “The band’s masterpiece ballad with Michael Hutchence on imperious form.” *2 “The production by Mark Opitz is absolutely phenomenal.” *3 “Both the epitome of Michael Hutchence’s charisma and a song that couldn’t have been made by anyone else.” *4 “INXS finally make a breakthrough with a slick slice of Nile Rodgers-produced white-boy funk.” *5 ”It was on heavy rotation on MTV at the time. I developed a bit of a man-crush on Michael Hutchence, who seemed like a modern day Jim Morrison.” *6 ”A mid-90s return to hedonistic form.” *7 ”The CD single also includes Coldcut’s brilliant remix of What You Need.”…

The winner of the Best Writer, Specialist category, in 2022’s British Society of Magazine Editors Awards, our latest issue sees John Earls talk to INXS and Giles Martin for our cover feature as well as interviewing Gary Kemp and Manic Street Preachers. John also oversees our new albums and reissues reviews. Felix Rowe has extensively toured the US, performed with a Chili Pepper, barbecued with a Blues Brother and shared a Mars bar with George Martin. He has written for publications including Classic Pop, Vintage Rock, Clash, Long Live Vinyl, Louder and Record Collector. This issue, Felix interviews John Foxx for a special deep dive into our latest classic album, 1980’s Metamatic. Paul Kirkley makes his living from interviewing famous people with much more interesting and glamorous lives than his…

A previously unheard track discovered in Tina Turner’s vaults has been released as the lead song of a 40th anniversary deluxe reissue of her Private Dancer LP. Recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood and originally intended as an album track, Hot For You Baby was penned by Australian songwriters George Young and Harry Vanda with production from John Carter. The extended 40th birthday edition of the much-missed singer’s fifth solo studio album, set for release on 21 March, boasts an array of previously unreleased material. A 5CD/Blu-ray edition includes a newly-upgraded 55-minute Private Dancer Tour show, filmed at the NEC in Birmingham on 23-24 March 1985. Directed by David Mallet and featuring duets with David Bowie and Bryan Adams, the concert has been meticulously restored by Mallet. In addition to…

A new one-day festival set to be staged at the The National Bowl in Milton Keynes will celebrate the best in post-punk, new wave and alt-rock. Held on 22 June, Forever Now is headlined by Kraftwerk. Joining the German electronic music icons will be The The whose Ensoulment LP was among Classic Pop’s favourite new albums of 2024. The UK sister event of the critically acclaimed US festival Cruel World, the Forever Now bill also includes Billy Idol, Death Cult, Johnny Marr, The Psychedelic Furs, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Happy Mondays, Public Image Ltd, Theatre Of Hate, She Wants Revenge, Chameleons, The Motels and UK Decay. The festival has been named in honour of The Psychedelic Furs. The band said: “Forever Now started as an idea then became…

Duran Duran have announced dates for their upcoming European Tour this summer. The band will play 14 shows throughout June and early July, with two gigs in Ireland ahead of performances in Exeter and Chelmsford. The Irish shows will take place at Dublin’s Malahide Castle (30 June) and Cork’s Virgin Media Park (1 July), before the group heads to Exeter’s Powderham Castle on 3 July and then Chelmsford City Racecourse two days later. Aside from a handful of European shows and headlining last year’s Latitude Festival, Duran have spent much of their recent time on tour in the US. The European tour kicks off at the Nokia Arena in Finland on 3 June, then moves through Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany, before wrapping up on 9 July at…