- Ub40’s Debut: 2nd January, 1980

A boyish UB40 on TotP

UB40 have a famously fabulous story with regards to how they got together, the members being friends who knew each other from various colleges and schools across Birmingham. Their name "UB40" was chosen in reference to the paper form issued by the UK government's Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) at the time of the band's formation for claiming unemployment benefit (Unemployment Benefit, Form 40). Legend has it that even before any of them could play their instruments, Ali Campbell and Brian Travers travelled the streets of Birmingham promoting the band, putting up UB40 posters. The band purchased its first instruments from Woodroffe's Musical Instruments with £4,000 in compensation money that Campbell, who would become the lead singer, received after a bar fight during his 17th birthday celebration. Within a year they had learned how to play said instruments and were on the way to becoming the biggest reggae band ever. Ali Campbell has recently left the band, allegedly to be replaced by Maxi Priest. This is classic era UB40, enjoy...

PiL on the Old Grey Whistle Test

Don’t have much to say about PiL, but it’s a fine tune and a great ‘Whistle Test’ clip.

This is the first hour of the show for that night.

Track listing

Ian North – Don’t dance
The roaring 80s – apparently
Elvis Costello and the attractions - I can’t stand up
Public Image Limited – Poptones
UB40 – Food for thought
The Clash - I'm Not Down
The Beatles – I’n Down
Captain Beefheart - Son of Mirror Man - Mere Man
Lonny and the Devotions - Jocko Home
Andy Capp - Popatop
Mental as Anything – The Nipos are Getting Bigger
Simple Minds – Real to Real
Simple Minds – Naked Eye
UB40 – King
British Shoes – Running from Mummy
PiL – Chant (first ten seconds only)

Great to hear the legendary Popatop on a Peel show... here's probably the best youtube clip ever

A beautiful 45rpm single, yesterday

Peel received numerous death threats from the National front for playing Popatop. Mental as Anything went on to find success with their theme song to the film Crocodile Dundee. I refuse to comment on Simple Minds, although this was one of their most critically acclaimed albums for anyone interested.

Duration: 61 mins
File size: 56 mb

Glaring errors, as ever, to be rectified in the comments section below!

- Embarassing Music Fads from my Youth #1

As much as it pains me to admit it, I own 2 (two) Fields of the Nephilim albums: the 1987 debut 'Dawnrazor' and the classic (!) 1988 follow up 'The Nephilim'. Neither have graced my cassette player in over 15 years I have to say, by way of redemption. To be fair, lead singer Carl McCoy had one hell of a Goth voice, reight up there with Peel favourite Andrew Eldritch. I feel I should stop writing right now, as I doubt I have any credibility left with you guys. This is where I'd add an embarassed smiley if the notion of smilies wasn't so bloody crap.

Pierluigi Collina:The Sisters of Mercy Years

The pinnacle of my love for this bunch of cretins, once referred to by the NME as 'the Monkees' of Goth, came with the release of the two singles 'Moonchild' and 'Psychonaut Liberator III'.

To discover how truly pants they were, give this a listen:

Here are some of the gushing tributes that accompany the youtube video:

'From one of the best albums of all time. Completely original and ethereal descriptions of worlds forever lost' notes AlexPxr8. evan711heaven continues in a similar vain: 'its all by the power of the Lord either by his power or that allowed under satan's authority. All those creatures of old found from after they became extinct after the flood of noah and shortly after those who hunted man have been increasingly found not just as beasts, but as giants of men who hunted the various tribes of israel. lets pray for help and guidance.' Another load of bollocks is contributed by my9thtime, who witters, 'I believe a homunculus is a human before he is born. And i believe that Parsons and L. Ron Hubbard tried to create a moonchild at some point.'

In my defence, I was heavily into the films of Sergio Leone at the time. Honest.

- Drinking Wine Wine Wine

Liquor will get you through times without money better than money will get you through times without liquor, as it may well read on my gravestone.

This is the first of numerous Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio Hour shows I'll be posting over the course of however many months it takes me to get round to it. Feeling as though my task of spreading Peel shows to the masses has been somewhat pre-empted by the presence of the Peel Torrents, I’ve decided to change direction slightly, although these shows are definitely worth a listen to all fans of Peel’s style – a great deal of care and research has gone into the selection of songs.

This edition is on the fine subject of drinking:



Or give it a listen now…