Clare Grogan (Altered Images) - "The music press in the 80s was vitriolic – particularly to women'

In the summer of 1981, Altered Images exploded on to the post-punk scene in the UK in a blaze of chutzpah, charm and chisseled cheekbones – and that was just the boys. That posters of the band’s frontwoman Clare Grogan were already pinned on bedroom walls following her breakthrough performance in Bill Forsyth’s classic growing-up movie Gregory’s Girl the previous year seemed to seal their fate as the nation’s favourite new band; even the London-based, hypercritical NME loved their briliantly bright pop tunes and street-urchin antics. (Well, for a bit anyway …) For many, the arrival of the Glaswegian punk upstarts on Top of the Pops looking like the ultimate gatecrashers – with Clare wearing a bamboo hat the size of a small country – signalled the moment pop switched from black and white to colour. The 80s had arrived.On this week’s episode of Scotpop, Clare relives the highs and lows of being in Altered Images, who are back on tour in the UK.She also talks about: - Travelling the world with “the boys- which was fun. Until it wasn’t.”- Recording with superstar producer Mike Chapman (Suzi Quatro/Smokie/Sweet/Blondie) in America. “Were we subservient? Nah. We were a bunch of gobby Glaswegians.”- Her blossoming friendship with [future husband and MMMBop producer] Stephen Lironi who joined Altered Images for third album Bite.- And - it’s TRUE - what it REALLY feels like when you inspire one of the biggest hits of the 80s. (Altogether now: ‘Ah, ha ha, hahhh … ha”.)- Plus, so much more.Don't forget you can sign up for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands.For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@scotpoppodcastIf you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at [email protected].