Plimsouls Have Released Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal.

 

Making three records, the EP Zero Hour (1980), The Plimsouls (1981), and Everywhere at Once (1983) before disbanding, the Plimsouls were one of the great bands to come out of early 1980s Los Angeles. Known for their supercharged live performances, the Plimsouls achieved their widest commercial success when the song "A Million Miles Away" was picked up by L.A.'s KROQ and given significant airplay on the station (thanks to Rodney Bingenheimer) and then included on the Valley Girl soundtrack in 1983.

The Plimsouls broke up in 1986 but have reunited from time to time over the years and in this, Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal, fans have a chance to hear one of the band's notable live shows which was recorded in October 1981 at the Whisky-A-Go-Go. From Plimsouls Facebook Discography: Almost three decades after the fact, that show has been released on CD under the title Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal, and one spin makes it clear why these guys could pack the house in L.A. -- the Plimsouls could mix pop hooks and rock & roll energy with the best of ‘em, and their sense of history and ear for what makes a great tune were all but infallible.

Peter Case has a richly deserved reputation as an ace songwriter and top-shelf rock & roll singer, but his bandmates were every bit as strong as he was this evening, and guitarist Eddie Muñoz, bassist Dave Pahoa, and drummer Lou Ramirez sound as precise as a Swiss watch while kicking out the big beat with heart, soul, and plenty of sweat. Anyone who thinks of the Plimsouls as another skinny-tie pop band gets schooled by the revved-up power of "Women" and "Everyday Things," and their R&B roots get a thorough airing with stellar covers of "Jump, Jive and Harmonize," "Dizzy Miss Lizzy," and "Who Do You Love?"

The Plimsouls were a couple years away from their best album, Everywhere at Once, but a few of its songs are already in the set list, and "A Million Miles Away" already sounds like an instant classic. And if having the Fleshtones (who opened the show) join in for "New Orleans" and "Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!" doesn't exactly make the show tighter, they certainly boost the party atmosphere to the next level. If you loved the Plimsouls, Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal will instantly remind you why they were one of the best bands of the early '80s, and if you've never given them a listen, this is good enough to make anyone with ears a believer.

Photo: Plimsouls Facebook

OMD Announce Tour.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark have announced that this autumn they will embark on the History of Modern tour with their classic line-up of Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes.

In an update from the band this week they said they are in the studio putting the finishing touches on the new album, the appropriately titled History Of Modern. Andy McCluskey has said that it is their "best album since Architecture and Morality." History of Modern is the first album of new material from OMD's original line-up since 1986's The Pacific Age.

The History of Modern tour is a UK and Europe tour only, but regarding the USA Andy and Paul said last Thursday that they, "are really frustrated that we have not yet been able to get to the States to play live. It looks like we will be signing to a great new label in the USA and will prioritize playing gigs over there in 2011. You have not been abandoned...we just needed the right deals in place! Thanks for all the support."

History of Modern tour dates:

UK

29/10 - Brighton, Dome

31/10 - Bristol, Colston Hall

01/11 - Nottingham, Royal Centre

02/11 - Glasgow, Concert Hall

04/11 - Liverpool, Arena

05/11 - Ipswich, Regent

07/11 - London, Hammersmith Apollo

08/11 - Birmingham, Symphony Hall

EUROPE

11/11 - Cologne, E-work

12/11 - Hannover, Capitol

13/11 - Leipzig, Haus Auensee

15/11 - Stuttgart, Theatrehaus

16/11 - Munich, Tonhalle

18/11 - Berlin, Tempoddrom

19/11 - Hamburg, Docks

21/11 - Luxembourg, venue TBA

22/11 - Brussels, Ancienne Belgique

23/11 - Amsterdam, Paradiso

25/11 - Casino De Paris

Photo & material: Official OMD Facebook

Happy 25th Birthday Meat Is Murder.

 

Released in February 1985, the second album from The Smiths went to #1 in the UK and was the only Smiths album to do so during the band's existence from 1982-1987. Meat Is Murder did not chart well in the US (reaching #110) and the first single from the album, "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore," reached only #49 in the UK. 

Track #6, the great "How Soon Is Now?," was originally released as the B-side to "William, It Was Really Nothing" in the UK and was added to the U.S. version of Meat Is Murder after its success on American alternative radio stations. The song was subsequently released as a UK single; charting at #24. 

Meat Is Murder was produced by Johnny Marr and Morrissey (credited as "The Smiths") and features a photograph from the 1968 documentary In the Year of the Pig where the soldier's helmet said "Make War Not Love." 

Johnny Marr, who recently won the Ivors Inspiration Lifetime Achievement award on May 20, had this to say of Meat Is Murder in 1992: 

"My favourite song on that LP now is 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore'. I think Morrissey is incredible on that, the end is brilliant. 'Well I Wonder' I really like as well. It's one of those things that a modern group could try and emulate but never get the spirit of. It's so simple. 'The Headmaster Ritual' was a favourite of mine for a long time just because I'm really pleased with the guitars on it and the strange tuning... For my part, 'The Headmaster Ritual' came together over the longest period of time I've ever spent on a song. I first played the riff to Morrissey when we were working on the demos for our first album with Troy Tate. I nailed the rest of it when we moved to Earls Court. That was around the time when we were being fabulous." 

Quote via: askmeaskmeaskme.com

Gary Lightbody Forms Tired Pony With Peter Buck.

 

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and R.E.M.'s Peter Buck have come together as Tired Pony and recorded the country-influenced The Place We Ran From, due for release on July 12 from Fiction Records. 

Long wishing to make a country album, saying he wanted to "get it out of his system," Lightbody said he was inspired to form Tired Pony by alt-country heroes Calexico and Wilco, telling the BBC, "I can't get away with writing pure country music because I haven't lived that life, but I love it so much that I always wanted to try my hand at it." 

Lightbody said the album takes a look at the darkness in America. 

Revealing that Peter Buck was one of his all-time heroes, Gary told Q Magazine prior to the recording that he admires Peter's "versatility, he can play any stringed instrument and more besides. I can't wait to see what he comes up with! He's a real innovator, which is great because this is a whole new project." 

Recorded in January at the Type Foundry Studio in this writer's beloved Portland, Oregon, The Place We Ran From also features She & Him's M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, Editors lead singer Tom Smith, Belle & Sebastian drummer Richard Colburn, Ivor Novello Award winning writer and former Snow Patrol member Iain Archer, and long-time R.E.M. contributor Scott McCaughey. The album was produced by Grammy Award winning producer Garret "Jacknife" Lee. 

Gary Lightbody, who has never made a secret of his love for Portland, performed a raw version of a Tired Pony song called "I Finally Love This Town" (which did not end up on the album) last October in the live performance lounge of Portland's KINK.FM while in town for Snow Patrol's show at the Arlene Schnitzer Hall later that evening. 

Lightbody described the song in the KINK studios, which he said he had written the previous night, as "written in Portland, inspired by Portland." 

The track listing for The Place We Ran From is: 

"Northwestern Skies" 

"Get On The Road" 

"Point Me At Lost Islands" 

"Dead American Writers" 

"Held In The Arms Of Your Words" 

"That Silver Necklace" 

"I Am A Landslide" 

"The Deepest Ocean There Is" 

"The Good Book" 

"Pieces" 

Photo: Exclaim! Media Inc. 

Quote: bbc.co.uk

Remembering Ian.

You will be hard-pressed to find an Ian Curtis fan greater than myself and so this past Tuesday did not come and go as just any ordinary Tuesday. Tuesday for me was a day of great remembrance, a day of gratitude for the power of music, and a rare occasion to listen to unlimited Joy Division.

I don't usually listen to a bunch of Joy Division music all at once nor do I just hit shuffle on the ipod and let their music play mixed amongst other music. Listening to Joy Division is just not like that.

Although grim, because Tuesday marked 30 years since the passing of Ian Curtis it felt right to listen to him differently than I usually do. Tuesday I listened to Joy Division on the train, at work, while eating dinner, with other people around, and mixed amongst other music. And it felt okay on that day. Listening to Joy Division for me is a very personal experience; best done alone and never mixed with any other artists. Listening to Joy Division is unlike anything else and also very hard to describe, yet Toby Kebbell as Rob Gretton was able to do so perfectly in Control when he said, "I hold my hands up! I am a believer in Joy Division! Fucking hallelujah!"

Prior to performing Joy Division's classic album Unknown Pleasures in full on Tuesday evening, Peter Hook paid an emotional visit to the grave of Ian in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Hook told nme.com, "I went to see Ian's grave this morning as it was such a beautiful day that I thought I'd go and say hello to him and see how he was. It's really odd after all these years, that when you go and do something like that, that you see all these tributes (at the grave) and it's really nice."

Hook and his band The Light performed later that evening at Manchester's FAC 251 in a fitting tribute to Curtis; performing Joy Division's debut album Unknown Pleasures in its entirety. Hook led his current band through a host of classic Joy Division songs, kicking off the night with a rare song, "A Later Date."

"It's been a long time since that got a f******* airing!" Hook said before launching into a typically punchy version of "Warsaw," followed by the rest of the 1978 EP An Ideal for Living.

From bbc.co.uk: The surprises kept coming with the opening riff from "Digital" drawing the loudest cheers of the night.

When Hook finally got around to the main event of playing Unknown Pleasures track-by-track, he and his band surpassed all expectations.

The opening bars to "Disorder" were enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and Hook was clearly taken aback at the response the track generated, saying: "You’ve just made an old man very happy."

Former Happy Mondays singer Rowetta took over vocal duties for "Candidate" and "Insight," before Hook took centre stage once again to deliver stunning versions of "She's Lost Control," and "Shadowplay," highlighting the fact that nearly every track on the album is a classic.

Hook encored with "Transmission," and reappeared to end the night with an extended version of the track most associated with Curtis, "Love Will Tear Us Apart."

Manchester's Northern Chamber Orchestra announced this week that a symphony has been composed in honor of Curtis. From guardian.co.uk: "Joy Division's style of music is quite sparse and simple," explained Helen Quayle, education co-ordinator for the Manchester-based ensemble. "The kids can understand and take elements of that and write for a string quartet using the same technique."

The project, the Joy Division Symphony, is a collaboration between the Northern Chamber Orchestra and two schools in Macclesfield, and will be part of a Macclesfield summer tribute to Curtis.

Curtis' hometown of Macclesfield will be hosting Unknown Pleasures which takes place from July 29 until August 7 and will be the first exhibition to feature the music and lyrics of Joy Division, and personal exhibits inspired by their music.

The exhibition will also include a walking tour of Joy Division's Macclesfield, a key stop being 77 Barton Street where Curtis lived, wrote many JD songs, and ultimately took his own life. The walk will continue to Curtis' memorial site where his headstone bears the words Love Will Tear Us Apart.

Other stops on the tour will include Joy Division rehearsal spaces, pubs where they performed, and the Travellers' Rest and Krumbles nightclub - where Joy Division first played.

A guide map will be available throughout Macclesfield during the festival to help fans walk in the footsteps of the band - including the Armitt Street labour exchange, where Curtis worked, and King School where he and JD drummer Stephen Morris attended.

The exhibition will also include other events around Macclesfield, including design sessions, percussion workshops, and guided photography tours. Macclesfield Museums Trust director Richard de Peyer said: "Macclesfield has never had the opportunity to celebrate Ian Curtis's work in a way which benefits the communities of the town and also attracts music fans from far and wide. This summer seemed like the right moment to do that."

Photo: foxsearchlight.com

Walk In Silence.

 

Photo: Wellington.scoop.co.nz

Living, For A Very Long Time!

 

Heaven 17, who head out on tour in November to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Penthouse and Pavement, are being featured twice in the BBC2's (already in progress) Eighties Season. 

From The Star/Sheffield Telegraph: As the BBC turns its attention to the '80s for a retro season of programmes it is only right the lens should fall on arguably Sheffield's most influential music period, writes David Dunn. Among the prime exponents of music that defined a generation is Heaven 17 - and the synth band formed by arts students Martyn Ware, Glenn Gregory and Ian Craig-Marsh gets two bites of the TV cherry. 

BBC2 will feature two shows directed by British TV director and writer James Strong, who gathered footage of the band's recent performances in South Yorkshire and interviews with people such as radio presenter Steve Lamacq and new electronic artists La Roux. The focus is on the then trio's seminal 1981 concept album Penthouse & Pavement, which from its artwork to its sound is viewed as a landmark '80s release. Heaven 17 Live In Concert (which aired for the first time last night) looks at the 30th anniversary tour in which remaining members Glenn and Martyn play the album in its entirety at the Magna centre in Rotherham.

The Story Of Penthouse & Pavement (airing tonight) looks at the making of the record which featured the enduring hit "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang." James Strong, who has directed episodes of Holby City and Doctor Who as well as the autobiographical documentary Elton John: Me, Myself & I, said: "The aim of the films is to tell the story of the band and the city - then and now." At the time the band were pioneers in terms of the technology they used to create the album. The early synths built in Sheffield were to change the face of popular music. 

We also explore how the influences of the steel city and it's industry were key in shaping the creative side of the band back then, but remain so today with steel being replaced by digital technology. "A young workforce who 30 years ago would have been forgemasters are now computer programmers." Martyn Ware adds: "Sheffield has always been a unique place. Sheffield allows and encourages creative talent to grow and develop. Just look at the musical heritage Sheffield has now." 

Both programs will be available on the BBC iPlayer for one week (UK residents only). 

Heaven 17 are currently: founding members Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware, Asa Bennett, Billie Godfrey, Julian Crampton, and Joel Farland. The band will be supported on the 30th anniversary tour by DJ Mark Jones. 

Tour dates: 

November 22 - Edinburgh, HMV Picture House 

November 23 - Glasgow, O2 ABC 

November 25 - Manchester, Manchester Ritz 

November 26 - Birmingham, HMV Institute 

November 28 - London, HMV Forum 

November 29 - Oxford, O2 Academy 

November 30 - Brighton, Corn Exchange 

December 1 - Bristol, O2 Academy 

Photo: Tracey Welch via Heaven 17

Warren Cuccurullo Debuts New Project.

 

Best known to the Waist High staff as founding member of Missing Persons, the great Warren Cuccurullo debuted his brand new pop project Chicanery this week, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Neil Carlill. 

Also known for his work with Frank Zappa, and his 15 year membership in Duran Duran, Cuccurullo says that he met Neil "long ago, in 1999, in my London studio - Nick Rhodes and I were looking for a singer for TV Mania and we chose Neil after hearing him and his group in a video." 

 

Chicanery is signed to dPulse Recordings and have just released their self-titled debut album Chicanery which features long-time Cuccurullo collaborator and Missing Persons band mate Terry Bozzio, and Frank Zappa alumni Joe Travers. 

From Chicanery Official Facebook: Fusing rich sound scapes shaped by Warren's legendary tune craft - densely woven around Neil's 'tone poet' vocals and lyrics - Chicanery is both a revival and a dream of a modern day band. It presents challenging, virtuoso musicianship and a daring-but-precise approach that transforms the collection of songs into an art form of its own. The musical terrain covers Zappa, Bowie, Dance, Club and alternative rock. It's a surreal and a psychotic vision of pop music. 

Warren Cuccurullo has "the distinction of writing the first single to be available for digital purchase/download on the Internet ('Electric Barbarella' by Duran Duran)," and during his long career has worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ravi Shankar, and Dweezil Zappa. 

Photo: Tim Mahoney via chicanerymusic.com 

Quotes: Rolling Stone Italia & Chicanery Official Facebook

Peter Hook Says He's Going To Celebrate Ian Curtis Because No One Else Will.

 

From guardian.co.uk: In the newly converted rehearsal studio behind his Alderley Edge home, Peter Hook is sifting through his personal collection of Joy Division memorabilia, including his first ever bass, bought the day after he saw the Sex Pistols at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester, his ticket for said gig, and the itinerary for the first Joy Division US tour. The latter never happened, because on the eve of the dates, singer Ian Curtis killed himself. Hook, the band's bassist, is musing on his decision to commemorate Curtis's life by playing Joy Division's debut, Unknown Pleasures, live, on the 30th anniversary of his death, at Hook's new club, Factory. "There's a nervousness because of what you're dealing with…a nervousness about whether you're doing the right thing." 

Part of the reason behind the decision is his annoyance that Curtis hasn't been officially commemorated, exacerbated when a proposed exhibition in his hometown of Macclesfield fell through due to lack of funding. "I'm sick of people saying they're going to celebrate Ian and it falling through, so I thought, 'Fuck it, I'll do it…'" 

After the death of Curtis, Joy Division became New Order. Hook left New Order in 2007, and doesn't think the gig would happen if he was still with the band. "[Vocalist] Barney's big thing was, 'It's not about the past, it's about the future.'" 

Hook will perform vocal duties on the night, backed by his band the Light (who include his son Jack). Proceeds will be donated to two charities, Mind and the Keith Bennett Appeal [Bennett was a victim of the Moors murderers and funding is needed to continue the search for his and others' remains]. Factory will also host an exhibition of Joy Division memorabilia from 16-19 May. Has Hook had any feedback from Curtis's family? 

"I heard that Natalie [his daughter] didn't want people to celebrate on the anniversary of his death. But, to my knowledge, his family aren't doing anything. When I left New Order, we split into two camps, and they're in the other one." 

And, presumably, he's had no word from his ex-bandmates, Barney Sumner and Stephen Morris? 

"No, nothing at all. But Barney plays them in his set anyway, so he's doing it every night, I suppose, isn't he? I'm just doing it once. So I guess that's your answer." 

The Light play Unknown Pleasures at The Factory, Manchester on May 18-19. 

Photo: Christopher Thomond via guardian.co.uk

Squeeze Announce U.S. Tour.

 

Founding members Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford will be joined by Squeeze veteran John Bentley on bass, Simon Hanson on drums, and Stephen Large on keyboards for the first extensive Squeeze tour in over 10 years. 

The U.S. tour which begins in July will be followed by a UK tour in November and December. Opening for the band will be The Lightning Seeds in the UK and Cheap Trick and The English Beat in the U.S. Tickets for all shows can be found at Squeeze Official. 

Glenn and Chris have been writing new Squeeze material together and last month the band was honoured by PRS for Music with a Heritage Award. The Heritage Award was set up "last year to recognise the unusual 'performance birthplaces' of famous bands and artists." 

A special plaque was erected in "South East London where the original group Chris Difford (guitar, vocals, lyrics), Glenn Tilbrook (vocals, guitar, music), Jools Holland (keyboards), Harry Kakoulli (bass guitar) and Paul Gunn (drums) first performed, at the Greenwich Dance Agency in 1975." 

PRS for Music Chairman, Ellis Rich said: "With its two very talented song writers, Squeeze has made an incredible contribution to the British music scene across three decades. Many of today's most commercially successful and credible artists, ranging from Razorlight, Ron Sexsmith and Kasabian have all cited them as a major influence so it's a real pleasure to be honouring them today with the PRS for Music Heritage Award." 

Squeeze US Tour 2010 (with Cheap Trick) 

July 9 - LC Outdoor Amphitheatre, Columbus, OH 

July 10 - Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, IL 

July 13 - Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY 

July 14 - Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA 

July 16 - Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA 

July 17 - Meadowbrook Pavilion, Guilford, NH 

July 18 - State Theater, New Brunswick, NJ (with The English Beat) 

July 21 - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI 

July 22 - Zoo Amphitheatre, Minneapolis, MN 

July 25 - Ogden Theater, Denver, CO 

July 27 - Crown Theater, Las Vegas, NV 

July 28 - Gibson Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA 

July 30 - Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA 

July 31 - Uptown Theatre, Napa, CA 

Photo: Squeeze Official 

Quotes: PRS for Music

Happy 25th Birthday Once Upon A Time.

 

The ninth studio album from Simple Minds, Once Upon a Time was released immediately after the worldwide success of "Don't You (Forget About Me)," a song that at the time was a sort of mixed blessing for the band. 

"Don't You (Forget About Me)" went to #1 around the world and finally broke the band in the United States and although the band "were certainly happy to reach the top of the charts with that song, it's clear that their ultimate aim (was) to succeed here (U.S.) with their own material as they have everywhere else in the world." 

Reportedly first offered to Bryan Ferry, Simple Minds initially refused the Keith Forsey/Steve Schiff penned "Don't You (Forget About Me)," and continued to distance themselves from the song during the rest of 1985; refusing to include it on Once Upon a Time. 

Four singles were released from Once Upon a Time, "Sanctify Yourself," "Alive and Kicking," "Ghost Dancing," and "All the Things She Said." 

Of Once Upon a Time, Mark Coleman of Rolling Stone had this to say: 

"Right from the ringing guitar and synth salvos that introduce the title track, Once Upon a Time resonates with the charged assurance of a group that knows it's firing its best shot. All the signature elements of its sound - carefully stacked keyboards, sweet, stinging guitar lines, shrewd manipulation of dynamics and space, a sensitive but driving beat - seem sharper and fresher than ever before." 

Simple Minds at the time of the recording was Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil on piano and synthesizer, Charlie Burchill on guitar, Mel Gaynor on drums, John Giblin on bass, and Robin Clark on those beautiful backing vocals. 

Quote: simpleminds.org.uk

INXS Platinum Hits #1 in Europe.

 

INXS Platinum has hit #1 in Spain and Switzerland with it's European release this week and has also gone straight to the top of the iTunes charts in Australia. 

INXS Platinum has also charted strongly on iTunes across other European countries including #2 in Italy, #3 in Luxenbourg and #4 in Portugal.

The album contains 16 studio tracks and 26 live tracks taken from 1991's Live Baby Live and various B-sides from over the years. All 42 tracks on INXS Platinum are performed by Michael Hutchence.

Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, and Kirk Pengilly included a dedication to Michael in the album artwork: "In loving memory of our dear friend and the most amazing performer, Michael. We miss you."

Photo: INXS.com

PiL To Appear On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

 

As PiL continue to make their rounds across North America garnering uniformly rave reviews on their first U.S. tour in 18 years, the group has announced they will appear on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Show on Monday, May 17. 

The John Lydon-fronted band will also film their entire performance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on Wednesday, May 19 for a forthcoming PiL documentary directed by Alex Mar and produced by Artists Public Domain. DJ Justin Miller of DFA Records will open the Williamsburg show. 

After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed PiL in 1978 and with their experimental sound fusing rock, dance, folk, ballet, pop, and dub, the band is regarded as producing some of the most diverse music of the 70s and 80s. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of their first U.S. tour as well as their U.S. TV debut on American Bandstand, where Lydon invited the audience onstage to dance with the band and host Dick Clark famously introduced their appearance as "a memorable moment in rock n roll, something special and interesting." 

PiL recently returned to U.S. television for the first time in 18 years when they performed on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live outdoor stage. On this spring trek - which featured a stellar performance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival - PiL are showcasing the unique sounds of tracks such as "Public Image," "This Is Not a Love Song," "Rise," and "Disappointed," with many further surprises in store. 

Photo & material: PiL Official

Boy George Announces New Album.

 

From: boygeorgeuk.com: Extraordinary Alien is the title of George's new album, which is a collection of work that George has done with friend and colleague Kinky Roland. 

It will consist of 16 tracks with mixes of songs such as "Turn 2 Dust," "Yes We Can," "Brand New," "Go Your Own Way," "Time Machine," "Seconds," "Sanitised," "Kill The A&R," "Look Pon U" and much more! 

The album will be released very soon, initially as a limited promotional CD, available from boygeorgeuk.com and B-Rude only. There will then be a download release on Orchard at a later date. 

Photo: Boy George Official

Why Hollywood Is Remaking The Eighties.

 

In an April 23 Times Online article good friend of the Waist High program Richard Evans says Hollywood is remaking the eighties because we are talking about deeply felt cultural patterns. 

"The fortysomething Evans describes a virtuous circle in which current trends in music, movies and fashion that feed off the Eighties drive people back to that decade and ultimately reinforce their appetite for that culture. 'You listen to the Kaiser Chiefs and they have a bit of Talking Heads in them,' he says. 'And that drives you back to Talking Heads. Modern culture drives the whole Eighties nostalgia wave, where you see nine-year-old kids on the high street wearing ra-ra skirts, and you see Eighties typography creeping back into magazines, and so on. It's almost impossible to release yourself from the pull of this nostalgia.'" 

But how long can we keep returning to our inner Eighties kids? Samuel Bayer, director of the Nightmare on Elm Street remake, suggests: "We've just got to wait a couple of years and the Nineties will be really hot. Then suddenly we'll be looking back at some godawful films from the early Nineties and considering them classics and remaking them." 

But Evans is not so sure. The Eighties have been built to last, he says. "The decade won't always be quite as influential as it is now. But as long as my generation is around it will be looking backwards to those times. I suppose every generation says that. But my generation will say that until it is no more." 

Photo: Rob McEwan/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. via KSSU