From Mohair Suits to Kinky Boots with Geoff Deane

Today, Danny is joined by the singer-songwriter, producer, screenwriter and journalist Geoff Deane. He was the front man of the new wave band The Leyton Buzzards and the original front man of Modern Romance. Geoff wrote for other artists, including Divine, who he toured with and wrote "You Think You're a Man" for. As a writer, Geoff contributed to The Face and Arena magazines and co-wrote several TV shows including Birds of a Feather, Tonight with Jonathan Ross and the film Kinky Boots. His memoir, “From Mohair Suits to Kinky Boots” is a best seller. Danny and Geoff discuss his upbringing in multi-cultural Hackney, his musical influences, the role art, fashion and film played and how it all influenced the way society evolved.  If you can´t get enough of these podcasts, head to https://www.patreon.com/DannyHurst to access my exclusive, member-only, fun-filled and fact-packed history-related videos. KEY TAKEAWAYS Hackney was working-class, and rents were low, which drew in each wave of new immigrants and made it culturally rich. At the age of 9 Geoff´s mum entered him into a talent contest at the Hackney Empire. Musicians have always broken-down social barriers e.g. David Bowie and homosexuality. Surprisingly, blending rap with salsa resulted in Modern Romance making it big in America. Ay Ay Ay Moosey was written as a thank you to his cousin Moose. Geoff will try anything, including working as a nightclub singer in Spain. You are never too old to explore new creative avenues. Today, it´s easier for musicians to get exposure, but the level of competition makes it harder to have a long career. Unlike music, comedy demands a response. BEST MOMENTS “Stay away from bad women and stay out of the desert.” “Building vertically instead of horizontally eradicated everything that was good … no community.” “There´s a jar full of Amy Winehouse’s fag ends.” “It must have been quite subversive at the time, not liking the Beatles.” “The relationship between skinheads, suedeheads and black people was kind of like an uneasy alliance.” “That buzz has been going on all my life.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.instagram.com/geoffdeane Geoff´s Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mohair-Suits-Kinky-Boots-Clothes-ebook/dp/B0D9W6RP7P Geoff´s son´s music - https://www.tiktok.com/@gotaloudmouth HOST BIO Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can. CONTACT AND SOCIALS https://instagram.com/dannyjhurstfacebook.com/danny.hurst.9638 https://twitter.com/dannyhurst  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-hurst-19574720 This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/