The Eighties at Eight

The march of electronic and digital technology hit the music world, and punk died with its boots on.

The Eighties witnessed an astounding variety of different styles and genres, from new psychedelia to acid house, disco to death metal, goth rock to hip hop, folk to technopop – with reactions and revivals following on from each other (and often colliding with each other) at an alarming rate.

The birth of the New Romantics took place in basement clubs in London where groups like Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, and Blue Rondo a la Turk first gathered to dance to their own brand of music, dress up in outrageous clothes, show off their latest makeup and spend hours deciding whether to use the ladies or gents toilets.