|
|
Post by Tim Linnell on Jun 25, 2010 7:40:55 GMT
I'm working on cataloguing, and where possible viewing, material by the English group, Prefab Sprout from the 1980s. I've recently been tracking down footage shot in the Manchester Hacienda in 1984 which was shown on the BBC West RPM show presented by Andy Batten-Foster.
I'm not certain of the date, but would have been either January or May of that year. I've been in touch with Andy who has been very helpful in providing background information, but it was a long time ago and details are scant.
Does anyone know whether BBC West have an archive, and if they do are there any internal contacts I can approach? Andy thought that most likely the footage had been filmed and then transferred to tape, what are the chances of it not having been wiped?
From what he told me, RPM may have some extremely interesting material for other bands.
Thanks for any help anyone is able to provide.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Seaton on Jun 25, 2010 16:46:29 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Steve Williams on Jul 27, 2010 18:17:08 GMT
This week I acquired a copy of the 1978 Christmas Radio Times, West edition. I was surprised to see the following programme billed on BBC1 West on Friday 5th January 1979...
10.15pm XTC
A synthesis of the unorthodox and the conventional. One of the leading new wave groups based in Swindon perform their latest songs. Plus rock in a rather different style from the Bath group Interview.
Director ROY CHAPMAN
BBC West
That seems remarkably prescient for BBC Bristol, they'd had two albums out by then but no hit singles. I can't imagine what the modern equivalent of that would be. I was wondering if any of XTC's famously loyal and dedicated fanbase even knew it happened, let alone if it existed. I can't see any record of it on any XTC fansites, though the name of the programme and the support band don't help ("XTC interview"?).
I have no other information on this whatsoever, but I wondered if anyone else was aware of it. Course, it wouldn't have been billed in any other edition of the Radio Times.
|
|
|
|
Post by Steve Williams on Jul 27, 2010 18:24:49 GMT
Apologies to Tim for hijacking his thread, by the way, I just thought this was the most relevant. I do have Wales Radio Times from all of January 1984, where the West variations confirm a series of RPM was running in January 1984, though the description was always simply "rock magazine". I don't suppose that's any help. I'm thinking you knew there was a series in January and wanted to know if it was in that one or another series in May. But there you go.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim Linnell on Jul 27, 2010 18:54:32 GMT
Actually the search has moved on since the original thread and I have details of the material I'm looking for, which is safe in the BBC archive, now just got to figure out a way of seeing it.
But RPM does look to have been an astonishing programme generally. The XTC material just confirms that. As far as I know there's a complete archive.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joe Haynes on Jul 28, 2010 12:20:10 GMT
You could contact the BBC and purchase a viewing copy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim Linnell on Jul 28, 2010 20:18:15 GMT
How does that work? I had the impression they would tend not to release material for viewing, though I did confirm there were tape copies for viewing available.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2010 7:54:35 GMT
Unfortunately, the BBC don't generally sell viewing copies to the public. They will however allow people involved in a production to obtain the programme in question.
|
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Walsh on Jul 31, 2010 0:34:01 GMT
Cheese.....
|
|
|
|
Post by robincarmody on Aug 1, 2010 3:04:20 GMT
Can't really add anything else, except to say that there were indeed interesting things going on in some of the BBC regions at this time (it wasn't *all* Houghton Weavers optouts), but at least one member of XTC's indeed loyal and dedicated fanbase has seen the BBC West programme referred to here, as those who also look at A.N. Other Archive TV Forum will know.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim Linnell on Aug 4, 2010 1:45:05 GMT
Thanks for the additional information. You can't help feeling that this period in the early 1980s was a bit a lost golden age where interesting music was being put out by proper enthusiasts without being fettered by corporate policy. When I spoke to Andy Batten-Foster, he explained that the Hacienda recording was somewhat (well, totally in fact) against policy guidelines but they just did it anyway because they liked the band.
There would be a wonderful potential BBC3 style compilation series from some of this type of material. Maybe that's a seed to plant somewhere, though I guess there are all manner of permissions hurdles to clear.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Sept 22, 2010 12:32:25 GMT
This week I acquired a copy of the 1978 Christmas Radio Times, West edition. I was surprised to see the following programme billed on BBC1 West on Friday 5th January 1979... 10.15pm XTC A synthesis of the unorthodox and the conventional. One of the leading new wave groups based in Swindon perform their latest songs. Plus rock in a rather different style from the Bath group Interview. Director ROY CHAPMAN BBC West That seems remarkably prescient for BBC Bristol, they'd had two albums out by then but no hit singles. I can't imagine what the modern equivalent of that would be. I was wondering if any of XTC's famously loyal and dedicated fanbase even knew it happened, let alone if it existed. I can't see any record of it on any XTC fansites, though the name of the programme and the support band don't help ("XTC interview"?). I have no other information on this whatsoever, but I wondered if anyone else was aware of it. Course, it wouldn't have been billed in any other edition of the Radio Times. The band Interview actually refers to THIS group:- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interview_(band)Interesting to see that they were label mates of XTC. A contact of mine I spoke to today says that this programme is likely in the archives. He is a contemporary of Roy Chapman and apparantly Mr Chapman is still living in the BBC West transmission area. |
|
|
|
Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Sept 22, 2010 12:33:58 GMT
Also trying to track down a BBC West programme on the group 'M'. Roy Chapman directed from around 1980.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2010 11:22:15 GMT
Hi,
I don't know how this works, but I have just read a post from Laurence Piper about the BBC allowing copies of programes to people envolved in an episode. If your out there Laurence can you tell me who to contact about RPM rock in the 1980's The episode that was delayed because of the BAFTA's with My old band and Mark King of Level 42 .
Cheers
Johnmcaw
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2010 11:58:59 GMT
I don't have an exact contact offhand (anyone here?) but if you get in touch with the BBC, it'd possible to obtain a copy of a programme if you were involved in the making or took part in it. Is this what you were thinking of?
|
|
