A podcast delving into 101 amazing songs from the 1980s that dealt with the threats posed by nuclear war.
You'll hear us discuss the biggest hits of the decade (did you even know they were about nuclear war?), songs that you might have forgotten and that need to be heard again, and songs that you may never heard.
Every fortnight, Dave and Pank will be exploring some of the best known hits from around the world, to lesser-known deeper cuts. Every genre of 80s music gets a look-in: punk, new wave, funk, soul, rock, heavy rock, indie, reggae, disco.
We will be discussing the songs from a musical and cultural perspective. What else was happening in the world of television and literature to help paint this nuclear landscape?
With every podcast, we will update our Spotify playlist with the songs we are going to discuss. Have a listen to the tunes, and then the chat, or the chat.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0vLjQBbJEhiDaFNOTz9snD?si=05f85de012a84bfb
Presenters: Dave and Pank
Opening and end music:(Waiting for the) Heatwave by Fay Ray , appears courtesy of Fay Ray, written by John Lovering.
With thanks to Richie for voice, Rachel for art and Shivam for tech
Do email us at bangnuclearpodcast@gmail.com
Message us at @bangpodcast.bsky.social
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A podcast delving into 101 amazing songs from the 1980s that dealt with the threats posed by nuclear war.
You'll hear us discuss the biggest hits of the decade (did you even know they were about nuclear war?), songs that you might have forgotten and that need to be heard again, and songs that you may never heard.
Every fortnight, Dave and Pank will be exploring some of the best known hits from around the world, to lesser-known deeper cuts. Every genre of 80s music gets a look-in: punk, new wave, funk, soul, rock, heavy rock, indie, reggae, disco.
We will be discussing the songs from a musical and cultural perspective. What else was happening in the world of television and literature to help paint this nuclear landscape?
With every podcast, we will update our Spotify playlist with the songs we are going to discuss. Have a listen to the tunes, and then the chat, or the chat.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0vLjQBbJEhiDaFNOTz9snD?si=05f85de012a84bfb
Presenters: Dave and Pank
Opening and end music:(Waiting for the) Heatwave by Fay Ray , appears courtesy of Fay Ray, written by John Lovering.
With thanks to Richie for voice, Rachel for art and Shivam for tech
Do email us at bangnuclearpodcast@gmail.com
Message us at @bangpodcast.bsky.social
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Episode 8 – with our very special guest, Sylvia Patterson, influential music journalist who was at Smash Hits Magazine when it was at the peak of its popularity. She has written for the biggest publications in music and interviewed and toured with the biggest names in pop and rock music and has written two wonderful memoirs: “I’m Not With the Band” (2016) and “Same Old Girl” (2023).
All of the songs discussed in this episode are by artists who were (either once or very many times) featured on the iconic covers of Smash Hits. We start with the Thompson Twins surprisingly rock-ish anthem “Bombers in the Sky”. Then we move on to “White Train” by Bananarama, which was the B-side to the huge hit “Venus”. Scottish duo Strawberry Switchblade’s wistful “Since Yesterday” wasn’t even widely known to be a nuclear song until Rose McDowall’s revelation in 2015.
Our last two songs come from 2 of the biggest British bands of the 80s; Depeche Mode’s eery synth classic “Two Minute Warning” and Duran Duran’s era defining “Planet Earth.
Sylvia gives her insights and anecdotes about all our artists – they’re a joy to hear.
We discuss with Sylvia Smash Hits’ contribution to the nuclear debate and, more generally, how they dealt with the pressing issues of the day.
And – as if all that wasn’t enough – we launch our very own line of Bang Nuclear Podcast Tea Towels….
Our playlist is updated on Spotify and Apple! Give it a listen – it’s now 3 hours long. Something for everyone.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0vLjQBbJEhiDaFNOTz9snD?si=4da04b17ed3347ea
Once again, our thanks to you all for keeping in touch via our socials:
Instagram: bangnuclearpodcast
Blue Sky: @bangpodcast.bsky.social
Facebook: Bang Nuclear Podcast
Reddit: r/bangnuclearpodcast
Email: bangnuclearpodcast@gmail.com
Opening and closing music: (Waiting for the) Heatwave – Fay Ray, appears courtesy of Fay Ray. Written by John Lovering
Artwork: Rachel Malbon
Assistant Producer: Shivam Pathak
Opening words: Richie Wheeler
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.