Blancmange - Living on the Ceiling. Video filmed in Cairo. RIP Stephen Luscombe.

It's the Giddy Carousel of Parkrun! Si and Gav running 5k together today in slightly blustery Glossop.

Brill night with two PSB films at the BFI Southbank - Battleship Potemkin restoration is just superb and their score a propulsive, elegiac and dramatic accomplishment. It Couldn't Happen Here as charmingly odd as ever and somehow timeless. Nice chat with Neil too @petshopboys.music-social.com

This electro pop tune from 1983 has been making some internet noise lately for being a possible influence on West End Girls. There are definitely some similarities but it's not enough to send the PSB to pop jail. Maybe a few hours community service at the most. youtu.be/DB8HVmFjleU?...

Our next session is on Thurs 11 Sept, when we'll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Dexys' masterpiece, Don't Stand Me Down. We'll be playing the original album on vinyl and in full and a handful of other Dexys tunes to set the scene. Join us! glossoprecordclub.wordpress.com/2025/08/28/1...

The new Spray Podcast is the band's most in-depth yet. Which one can change a plug, which one likes dragging up and did Jenny ever see Barbara Dickson live? The answers will shock you. Guess which band originally got the Qs (from an 80s Smash Hits) and you might win a prize! linktr.ee/spraypopmusic

Happy anniversary to the brilliant documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands. A year ago today it had its global premiere in Edinburgh ahead of screenings across Scotland and beyond. 🧵 www.youtube.com/watch?v=v38p...

Ep 69. Discogs Special. Some unusual goings on over at the popular selling platform....and some fairly shocking discoveries. Plus a quiz with a Lovely Lustre..... link.chtbl.com/_MA6rrYD

The request was IIRC 'Dear Jim'll, Please can I drive around in that little electric car Gary Numan has in his video?' Then, apparently, the kid was in a strop cos they told them to put on some dungarees, his sister's dungarees.

Finally, one of the weirdest music TV clips - as discussed in our episode with @simonprice.bsky.social - has resurfaced. Gary Numan on Jim'll Fix doing Music For Chameleons while a haunted child circled him slowly in an electric car with torches for headlights. youtu.be/ZBa5BsaB2kI?...

Always a thrill to spot a previous guest in your favourite comedy show. Sitting behind Mandy is our lovely pal @ourmanincairo.bsky.social !

It's the 40th anniversary of the release of Don't Stand Me Down this September and @glossoprecordclub.bsky.social will be listening to the original release (the best one of course 😉) in full, along with @giddypoppod.bsky.social Give them a follow and keep an eye out for the September date.

Very eclectic guests (Cate Blanchet, Tom Courtenay, @gregsestero.bsky.social and many more) on this podcast, including previous rider on the Carousel, Mr Marco Pirroni!

Want to know who is to blame for the demise of TOTP? @bubblegumzines.bsky.social has the answer in zine form. Includes contributions from @chartmusictotp.bsky.social people - out now pop kids!!

A time machine, in a magazine ... suno.com/s/zJ6oRxgq14...

Huzzah! Another great episode from our pal Iain 🎠

Ooh....

40 years ago the youthfully giddy 12 year old me was waking up to post-Live Aid euphoria. I replayed my BASF 90 highlights tape all day. The Smash Hits special was to come. As was the calendar I got for Christmas that year. So to 12 year old me I say, check THIS out

It's Live Aid anniversary day! Here's our bumper special feat. David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and the late Barry McIlhenney along with a host of pop kids sharing their memories of the day. PLUS new for 2025, Marco Pirroni on Adam Ant’s memorable performance #LiveAid giddypoppod.home.blog/2020/07/10/e...

An episode from 5 years ago that you may enjoy while you wait for our next one. How did very Hits cover Live Aid and what were the memories of those who were close to the hot pop action? giddypoppod.home.blog/2020/07/10/e...

Did The Fall ever have single of the week in Smash Hits? Yes, they bloomin' well did thanks to Paul 'Love and Pride' King. Huzzah!!

From our pal @wadeywade.bsky.social in the new issue of Classic Pop magazine - details of a new Now compilation (72 tracks on 4CDs or 40 on 3 LPs) containing album tracks between 80-84. Sounds like a genius idea.

A fitting tribute to Barry from @juderogers.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/media/2025/j...

Giddy Carousel of Pop in the (Pleasuredome) area!

Jesus I've just realised This is the #TOTP chart from the week/fortnight of the Smash Hits I reviewed on @giddypoppod.bsky.social last year!!! open.spotify.com/episode/150l...

45 years ago today this issue of Smash Hits hit newsagents' shelves across the land. And one ended up in the hands of @nndroid.bsky.social He spoke to us about it in 2020 giddypoppod.home.blog/2020/09/08/e...

Feel like Sharon hasn't really 'got' Soft Cell here.... From Feb 1982

Oh my goodness. What terrible news. Barry Mac was a larger-than-life presence who did me plenty of favours along the road. An absolute titan of magazines. Shall miss his updates from Spain, where he lived in his last few years, 'complaining' about the 30+° temperatures. Sleep well, B.

When Barry joined us on the Carousel, he told us why putting Wayne Hussey on the cover wasn't his finest idea and much much more. It's a brilliant listen and he was very generous with his time. He loved the podcast too, which meant an awful lot too us. giddypoppod.home.blog/2020/05/05/s...

Very sad news earlier today that former editor of Smash Hits, Barry McIlheney, has suddenly passed away. He achieved many great things in his career but our favourite was probably when he asked the members of U2 to draw a duck for the magazine. That's a career high few people could top. RIP Barry x

Halfway through @wadeywade.bsky.social 's journey through the 1984 pop scene and it's like reading a fantastic edition of Smash Hits, only with more words,less pictures and more mentions of Amsterdam nightlife. A fabulous book

Hi, finally on Bluesky! Check out my new book International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the ‘90s Charts here: linktr.ee/neilcollins123 Any shares or Amazon/Goodreads reviews very gratefully received. Drop me a message to arrange any in-store book events, festival appearances and podcasts. Diolch!

First broadcast in 2020, David Hepworth was the special guest on @giddypoppod.bsky.social and he discussed the workings of Smash Hits from his Editor standpoint, one of the things he highlights was how there was a need for a "sense of humour" 😉 open.spotify.com/episode/48UB...

A cartoon by Jonathan Rosen. #NewYorkerCartoons

ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK's own Martin Fry interview from 2023 www.electricityclub.co.uk/abc-interview/

From Smash Hits, May 4-17, 1988. Asking the question - who the devil is @simonmayo.bsky.social

@giddypoppod.bsky.social I'm glad to see the back of Level 42

A young Billy Idol watching The Rick Kids from the audience (episode 1 of Peter Cook's music show, Revolver)

UB BLOODY 40 #totp

In our new podcast episode, the delightful Siân Pattenden discusses her Smash Hits and Select years, remembers the Bangles and listens to Mat Snow's 1994 audio interview with the late great David Johansen. rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...

RBP contributor Neil Tennant on his former love of Russia - before the "cancer" of Vladimir Putin.

Went through my old collection of Smash Hits to cheer me up. @giddypoppod.bsky.social

It's out today! 'The Waiting E.P.' by Pop! featuring the amazing Angie Hart, which includes recent single 'Waiting' and the very connected 'Tingly'. And, it's Bandcamp Friday! Grab yours today and you'll also score a fab Pop! badge and fridge magnet - shorturl.at/X8lmS #popwaiting

Still have the ultravox one

Free badge with the new issue of ver Hits that came out 43 years and 3 days ago - which one you hoping for? Ultravox, Siouxsie, League or Altered Images?

*NEW* 3 April 21 Soho London 🎟️ www.eventbrite.com/e/1270535970...?

I'm currently rereading 100+ letters that I received in 1985 when my letter was in the RSVP section of Smash Hits...I can't wait to write about it all, but can't lie, it's a bloody big job!

Zipping through this brilliant book by @wadeywade.bsky.social which has it me on a huge Madonna vibe. Her Immaculate Collection has to be one of the greatest best of collections of all time. The book also a great accompaniment to @jonsavage.bsky.social The Secret Public tome.

Mark Ellen enjoyed it, about 15 minutes into the Word In Your Ear podcast. Which is nice. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngBq...

Dispense with tiresome Americanisms. When a good British TV show goes bad we should say that it “adopted the donkey”.