The best music programme ever. I loved Paula Yates and Muriel Grey. The bands were amazing. Perfect slot on a Friday night. I also remember Vic Reeves appearing on there. Lucky you getting to go.
Great tv for a friday. Even the opening credits were something to behold, a tube sign coming out the top of the tele. As a 9 year old, I watched in awe, so glad to have been able to see some great bands through our 21" box in the corner. Way ahead of it's time.. Iremember madonna's performance being aired.. that's when the crush started for the next decade!!
I didn't realize The Tube's run years were as early as '82-87. When I moved to the UK in 1993, I definitely saw some episodes (repeats, I guess). I also remember The White Room, the chaos of The Word, Chris Evans' TFI Friday (with its Ocean Colour Scene intro), Top of the Pops, and, of course, the mighty Jools.
Shamefully (and sadly), the US has nothing that comes even remotely close to any of the above. Jools' show, in particular, is such a brilliant, timeless format. I wish we were able to pick it up or that somebody in the States was inspired to try something similar over here.
Yes! I think one of my faves was the Duran Duran episode where they got Simon Lebon to run through a
field of flowers topless, then showed how out of tune he sang and Jules was kicked out. Then you see shots of great piano playing and you think Duran Duran might have a great pianist but the shot pans out and of course it's Jules himself. Great show.
Can remember Paula Yates reading out a joke to a guest along the lines of "What's thin and white, and hangs your underpants", the guy impulsively answers "A d*ck, no sorry I don't know...". (The answer was the label).
It was a great programme, though it started a little after my favourite period of music, so it doesn’t generate the same kind of deep affection as other earlier programmes do. But it certainly was a great stage for new bands.
I have a question for your readers, though, Steve, because I’ve hunted high and low for any sign of a video that was shown on the Tube some time around the mid-80s, and I can’t find it anywhere.
It was a film of a Scottish pipe band marching and playing somewhere typically beautiful in a Scottish Highlands kind of way, and there was a beautiful girl twirling her baton as she led the band along their scenic route. She was the girlfriend of the singer of the band whose music was, I think, playing over the film. I could be wrong about that, and the pipe band’s music might have been an integral part of the rock/pop band’s own music.
Anyway, it was such a striking video, I’d be really surprised if it doesn’t have its own afterlife somewhere in the ether. Many thanks to all for donning your Sherlock caps in anticipation…ha-ha!
Lovely post, Steve! And lucky you getting to go to a live recording!
We went a couple of times at the start. It was also a double take as to how small the studio was, and you were herded round and prompted to dance and clap. I thought the first on TV chicken dancing was later in 84, with my friend embarrassingly caught in the act during Gun Club's performance. But there's some mighty chicken dancing going on in that NMA clip
I went on a couple of duff days. Think I had to stand through Paul Young and some nondescript potential pop bands. I missed the Southern Death Cult one early in 83 just before they split, and never got up for the (Death) Cult one in 84 when the band changed their name. Both of those blistering energetic performances
The best music programme ever. I loved Paula Yates and Muriel Grey. The bands were amazing. Perfect slot on a Friday night. I also remember Vic Reeves appearing on there. Lucky you getting to go.
They really were happy days x
Edward Barton was a stand out appearance for me https://youtu.be/Hf0YCvsXxZc?si=1ZkTs9wa54lawDi2
Play Dead was also a classic moment 👍
Oh yeah!
Great tv for a friday. Even the opening credits were something to behold, a tube sign coming out the top of the tele. As a 9 year old, I watched in awe, so glad to have been able to see some great bands through our 21" box in the corner. Way ahead of it's time.. Iremember madonna's performance being aired.. that's when the crush started for the next decade!!
Spot on mate!
I didn't realize The Tube's run years were as early as '82-87. When I moved to the UK in 1993, I definitely saw some episodes (repeats, I guess). I also remember The White Room, the chaos of The Word, Chris Evans' TFI Friday (with its Ocean Colour Scene intro), Top of the Pops, and, of course, the mighty Jools.
Shamefully (and sadly), the US has nothing that comes even remotely close to any of the above. Jools' show, in particular, is such a brilliant, timeless format. I wish we were able to pick it up or that somebody in the States was inspired to try something similar over here.
Yes! I think one of my faves was the Duran Duran episode where they got Simon Lebon to run through a
field of flowers topless, then showed how out of tune he sang and Jules was kicked out. Then you see shots of great piano playing and you think Duran Duran might have a great pianist but the shot pans out and of course it's Jules himself. Great show.
One of my favourite interviews with Billy Mackenzie from The Tube. Often the interviews gave you something different
https://youtu.be/BypoD0PprNA?si=gvfycQv3HLm1fs7o
Killing Joke and PiL
In a way, The Tube was Tiswas for teens.
Watched a New Model Army at the Tube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPOsvy4KbmQ), great footage like being there and what a blast.
Had no clue Jools has been promoting rock bands on telly this long. Truly a national treasure.
That's the one!
Can remember Paula Yates reading out a joke to a guest along the lines of "What's thin and white, and hangs your underpants", the guy impulsively answers "A d*ck, no sorry I don't know...". (The answer was the label).
It was a great programme, though it started a little after my favourite period of music, so it doesn’t generate the same kind of deep affection as other earlier programmes do. But it certainly was a great stage for new bands.
I have a question for your readers, though, Steve, because I’ve hunted high and low for any sign of a video that was shown on the Tube some time around the mid-80s, and I can’t find it anywhere.
It was a film of a Scottish pipe band marching and playing somewhere typically beautiful in a Scottish Highlands kind of way, and there was a beautiful girl twirling her baton as she led the band along their scenic route. She was the girlfriend of the singer of the band whose music was, I think, playing over the film. I could be wrong about that, and the pipe band’s music might have been an integral part of the rock/pop band’s own music.
Anyway, it was such a striking video, I’d be really surprised if it doesn’t have its own afterlife somewhere in the ether. Many thanks to all for donning your Sherlock caps in anticipation…ha-ha!
Lovely post, Steve! And lucky you getting to go to a live recording!
Cheers - and good luck with the search!
Ha-ha…thanks, Steve!
We went a couple of times at the start. It was also a double take as to how small the studio was, and you were herded round and prompted to dance and clap. I thought the first on TV chicken dancing was later in 84, with my friend embarrassingly caught in the act during Gun Club's performance. But there's some mighty chicken dancing going on in that NMA clip
So much energy in the room and everyone in the moment - rather than filming the moment!
I went on a couple of duff days. Think I had to stand through Paul Young and some nondescript potential pop bands. I missed the Southern Death Cult one early in 83 just before they split, and never got up for the (Death) Cult one in 84 when the band changed their name. Both of those blistering energetic performances
Nicely remembered. Thanks.
The Tube was fantastic. Wonderful that you actually went to a recording!
It was, always remember how small the studio was!
Broke the mould and paved the way for TFI Friday and The Word
Definitely!