Don't you want me baby..?

I flipped on the TV earlier today and came across a fantastic '80s New Wave documentary entitled 'MADE IN SHEFFIELD.' As the title suggests this 52 minute retrospective dealt with the rise of early electronica in Sheffield, England in the late 1970s and charted the rise of THE HUMAN LEAGUE, HEAVEN 17, CABARET VOLTAIRE, ABC and the lesser known but equally interesting ARTERY. This was the pop music of my youth - stylishly re-presented through a series of candid interviews by director Eve Wood. Despite catching the odd typo in some of the captions - there was something very honest and touching about this film. Apart from Phil Oakey, Martin Ware and a more current Jarvis Cocker, most of the interviewees never quite retained any great fame or mass appeal after their bubble burst. I think a great many of them are back in Sheffield. Still, the music lives on. Some of it as the greatest British pop albums of the 80s. Who can forget "Penthouse and Pavement" from Heaven 17, or The Human League's "Dare," or ABC's "The Lexicon of Love."

After remembering my youth so fondly, imagine my surprise when later (on USA Network) I heard "Don't You Want baby..?" used as the jingle for the current CHIPS AHOY commercial. Like I said - the music lives on - unfortunately inscrupulous Ad Execs have turned the Human League into four animated cookies driving a funny car. Ah, well... At least that means a few well deserved sheckels for Phil Oakey and co.

BUY 'Made In Sheffield' on DVD

Trafalgar Art Movie...

I have often discussed the possibility of making an art movie with Sean McLusky. But cost has always been an issue - even in the early days of digital video. However, as London is becoming an increasingly desirable location cost isn't such an issue anymore. It is early days, but we have started to put together the UNTITLED BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR PROJECT. This would basically feature Sean's band, Trafalgar, in a narrative somewhat reminiscent of A HARD DAY'S NIGHT or the lesser known MAGIC CHRISTIAN. In short, the band (Trafalgar) would travel across a post-apocalyptic version of London - pursued by various villains, policemen and sexy girls. (Ringo Starr is pictured to the left with Racquel Welch in THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN).

Thus far we have discussed the possibility of cameo roles with the likes of Les McKeown (Bay City Rollers), Jarvis (Pulp) and Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays). Of course, the members of Trafalgar would occupy the most screen time. Early next month, after Sean's Shoreditch Free Festival (featuring Har Mar Superstar and Fab Moretti from the Strokes), the Art Movie concept will be pitched to the principals at I-Force Films... Exciting stuff...

VISIT 'Trafalgar' on myspace
VISIT Sean's 'Shoreditch Free Festival' on myspace
BUY 'The Magic Christian' on Amazon
BUY 'A Hard Day's Night'