Gary Kemp Spandau Ballet on Piccadilly Radio - Timmy Mallett 1983

From the Timmy on The Tranny radio archives a piece of pop history from spring 1983 with Gary Kemp from Spandau Ballet.    This tape has been in my loft ever since.  It was opened for the first time in decades and the tape loaded onto a reel to reel machine.    Stephanie Hirst has digitised it now so that we hear it again the magic of that evening show.    He's live, late Friday night on Piccadilly Radio Manchester, taking real calls from teenage fans. Proper conversations treating everyone with respect and answering their questions genuinely.    These callers aren't vetted by his 'people' or pre-recorded. They ring in, my helpers in the control room switch them through, and they'll tell everyone how they spoke to their pop hero.    There are mentions of other pop stars in the news that week.  Whatever happened to American act 'Prince Charles' for instance? And are we ever influenced by or just compete with rivals?    You'll hear the crackle of analogue phone lines  (digital hadn't been invented) and tact in Gary's responses to unfamiliar accents. You can almost hear him thinking what to say.    And poignantly he tells us the band are his best friends.   It resonates when subsequent events played out....      Enjoy a taste of the olden days and special music from someone who has shaped our lives ever since.      #SpandauBallet  #piccadillyradio  @garyjkemp  @SpandauBallet