Debsey Wykes of Dolly Mixture wants you to read her teenage diary episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 27, 2025 · 37 MIN

Debsey Wykes of Dolly Mixture wants you to read her teenage diary

from Word In Your Ear

Debsey Wykes was in Dolly Mixture, one of the very few all-girl groups in post-punk London, a time when bands with charisma won the battle for attention and you promoted singles on the back of a truck. Her memoir Teenage Daydream perfectly captures a slice of late ‘70s life, the thrill of playing the pub circuit and trying to storm Radio One. Along with … … the agony of re-reading teenage diaries … being supported by U2 then watching their “annoying” ascent … Girls With Electric Guitars and why rock hacks couldn’t take them … forming bands for self-expression: “you reach that moment when all you want to do is scream!” … “when Jean-Jacques Burnel rests his boot on your head you don’t wash your hair for a week” … early adventures with Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, David Cassidy and Bowie: “Cassidy was normal, Bowie was weird” … diary entries: “the lead singer of the Only Ones has fantastic legs and glittery plimsolls” … “Sugary Sweets Cause Youth Decay!”: the NME’s withering interview  … the satin-and-silk allure of Stevie Nicks … violence at ‘70s gigs: “we were locked in the dressing-room with the sirens going off” … “a cross between the Slits and the Nolans”: John Peel’s producer’s loathing for Dolly Mixture … the vicious rivalry between ‘70s girl singers … letters from her old boss and headmaster after she appeared on Top Of The Pops Order ‘Teenage Daydream: We Are The Girls Who Play In A Band’ here: https://linktr.ee/new.modern?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=008bc73f-2400-4a67-81df-04fa9758dc06Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourearHelp us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Debsey Wykes of Dolly Mixture wants you to read her teenage diary

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