+ 15 - 2 | § ¶Who is Peter....?
Peter and I came up with the idea for The 80s Empire earlier this year (2005). My connection with the 80s dates back to the days when I used to interview pop stars for magazines such as Number One, Flexipop! and Jackie. While I was slogging around the record company offices, Peter was indulging in the glamorous lifestyle of a radio DJ 
. By way of introducing Peter to visitors to the 80s Empire, I thought it would be interesting to find out a bit more about the man behind the microphone. So, to kick this Blog off, Peter, maybe you can tell us how you got into the DJ-ing business. And why do you like the 80s music particularly....?
Huw
+ 7 - 4 | § ¶Depeche Mode - new album
Depeche Mode's new album, Playing The Angel, will be released on October 18. The album was produced by Ben Hillier (Doves, Blur), and it's said to be a return to classic Depeche Mode. Click here to watch the new video for "Precious".
+ 4 - 6 | § ¶Seeing The Funny Side
I got in touch with Limahl (by email) the other day and I was surprised to hear that he actually seems to have enjoyed reading the interviews I did with him long ago and far away in a certain decade that is close to my heart….
I must admit that some of the interviews I used to do back then tended to be a bit on the odd side and I was never quite sure if people would see the funny side. Howard Jones, I know, was far from amused when the interview topic veered around to his funny hair. Hard rocker, Michael Schencker, seemed to object to just about every question I asked him. Judas Priest front man, Rob Halford, on the other hand, was a wonderful interviewee - mercilessly taking the Micky out of all the black leather and studs he wore! The thing I recall about that interview is how much Rob made me laugh. Something , I must say, that Michael Schencker did not…
All of which brings me back to Limahl. He was, at the time I interviewed him, pretty much an unknown quantity. Kajagoogoo had just smashed into the pop world with ‘Too Shy’ and all I knew about their lead singer was that he had two-tone hair and a pretty face. Not really a lot to base an interview on… Fortunately, he turned out to be a very friendly, chatty person. We hadn’t been nattering long before he happened to mention that he did a bit of weight training. This snippet of information was enough to form the basis of a whole interview which, when I read it now, seems to reveal (a) my remarkably uninhibited fascination with Limahl’s tummy muscles and (b) the Flexipop! art editor’s compendious collection of old Charles Atlas adverts.
Limahl might well have taken offence at the interview when finally he read it. His record company told me bluntly that they were somewhat less than overjoyed with it. Fortunately, it appears that Limahl has more of a sense of humour that Michael Schencker (did I mention what a miseryguts Michael Schencker was?). I’m rather hoping that he might be persuaded to drop in at the 80s Empire some time in the near future.
Who knows, if I ask him nicely, maybe he’ll let all of us get a look at his tummy muscles…. ?
+ 7 - 4 | § ¶Michel Bolton, Gypsy Kings, Chris Isaak DVDs and more...
New DVD releases from Warner Home Video:
Recorded in 2004, 'Best Of Michael Bolton Live' has 18 tracks, including some of his biggest hits 'Soul Provider', 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without You' and 'How Can We Be Lovers'.
Gipsy Kings and soul funk legends Kool And The Gang release two titles; an intimate concert held to celebrate their 40th anniversary and a fly-on-the-wall documentary. There are also three DVDs capturing Soundstage live-in-concert performances from Chris Isaak, Steve Winwood and US supergroup, Chicago.
Release date: 7th November
+ 8 - 4 | § ¶Eurythmics Massive Re-issue box of albums
All eight Eurythmics studio albums have been digitally re-mastered by Dave Stewart. Each album features 4-7 bonus tracks, including one previously unreleased cover version. All eight albums will be released separately and as a Collector's Deluxe Box Set called 'Boxed'. See HERE for full details.
Release date (UK): November 7th+ 3 - 7 | § ¶Back To The 80s
Why am I so keen on wombling on about the '80s anyway....? Well, as some of you may know from my web site, Dark Neon ::Back To The 80s, I spent (misspent?) much of the early 80s as a pop music journalist. One day I'd be waking up Lemmy at half past three in the afternoon and trying to interview him as he sipped his breakfast (half a pint of vodka and orange); another day I'd be interviewing Toyah in a bunny rabbit costume (Toyah that is, not me). They were great days.... and then came the nineties.... 
Anyway, bizarre as it seems, the 80s appear to be coming back into fashion. Frankly, I never realised they'd gone out of fashion in the first place. So, heck! I thought the time has finally come around again to start having fun. That's what the 80s Empire is all about. I hope lots of like-minded folk will help the party go with a swing!
+ 6 - 11 | § ¶Reviews of CDs, DVDs and more....
Keep reading for the inside info on all 80s goodies!
+ 5 - 6 | § ¶80s Empire Nearly Ready To Launch
Excitement mounts as The 80s Empire - the new internet hub of 80s music and life - prepares to launch this autumn! Keep watching....
+ 8 - 10 | § ¶TimeSlip Technology
I have just heard more exciting news about this new invention called TimeSlip Technology.
The radio scientists are now very close to releasing the full story on how we are going to be able to communicate directly with real DJs who are alive and living in the 1980s.
This breakthrough will surely shatter the worlds perception all time and travel.
More to follow,
Peter reporting from the radio lab.
+ 3 - 2 | § ¶New Blog
It is a great pleasure for me to be the first person to leave a message on this new blogger, I'm sure many other will follow and that together we can revive the great 80s.
I have heard that there is a new scientific development about to be revealed called 'TimeSlip Technology' this is rumoured to be a sort of time machine where we can link back to the 1980s ad communicale with real DJs living in that decade.
Peter
+ 2 - 0 | § ¶Another picture
What the heck.... I might as well have another picture of the mutt....
Here she is when just a pup!
+ 13 - 2 | § ¶Welcome to Peter's Blog
Peter will soon be revealing all the inside info and gossip on the 80s stars...
+ 2 - 0 | § ¶A new day, a new Blog....
Well, here we are, all ready to embark on a new fabulous 80s Blog using the Pivot Blog software which (so far anyway ) looks pretty darn' good. Meanwhile, just to keep you interested, here's a picture of my dog....
