The Edward Barton Story - Interview by Iain McNay - watch this programme

Edward Barton is a musician and artist who gained attention with his song It's A Fine Day, recorded with Jane Lancaster for Cherry Red in 1983. The song was successfully covered by Opus III and the tune has been used by Kylie Minogue (for her 1994 hit Confide In Me), Orbital and more. Edward’s career began in poetry, with appearances on TV show The Tube, and his work in the arts led him to direct the video for James’ smash hit Sit Down, as well as contribute lyrics to albums by 808 State and Lost Witness, who he also wrote a trio of hit singles for. Edward is full of stories about his truly eccentric career - from hanging out (unknowingly) with Nico to his love of Egyptian pop music and being asked to mime at his school Christmas carol service, and much more. In this in-depth interview Edward talks about his work, but also gives us an insight into his life and how his creative spark manifests through his music and poetry.

The Attila The Stockbroker Story - Interview by Iain McNay - watch this programme

Attila The Stockbroker was one of the first Punk Poets to break though in the late 70s and is still as active as ever today. In this in-depth interview he talks about his life and work starting with his first band who only ever played one gig. In 1980 he signed to Cherry Red Records where his debut album ‘Ranting at the Nation’ was very well received. He tells many stories including supporting The Jam, John Cooper Clark and John Cale (who got him thrown out of the venue). Attila has always been very political and campaigned with Rock against racism and Red Wedge. He talks about working in East Germany, replacing Donny Osmond at a gig at the Marquee Club and his battle to save his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion FC. You won't be bored for a second!

The Misunderstood/Rick Brown Story - Interview by Iain McNay - watch this programme

Rick Brown was the singer in the innovative American psychedelic rock band The Misunderstood formed in the mid-1960s. They were discovered by John Ravenscoft (soon to be Peel) and with his help moved to London where they signed to Fontana. They were admired by many including The Move and the Pink Floyd and were considered highly influential in the then-emerging genre. They only recorded a handful of songs before being forced to disband. Rick was then conscripted into the US Army to fight in Vietnam but deserted and fled to India via the UK with a false passport. He moved into a Hindi ashram, became a monk, and stayed for over 6 years before being forced to move to Nepal when the US Army were onto him. While there he learned to speak Bengali and Hindi and read Sanskrit and Hindi. In 1979, after 12 years in exile, he returned to the US where he was granted amnesty as a conscientious objector and discharged from the Army. He now lives in Thailand where he deals in gemstones. His story is fascinating and has many phases; from potential rock star to fugitive to Hindi monk to rediscovering active life from a different vantage. It is quite a tale.

Jayne/Wayne County Story - Interview by Iain McNay - watch this programme

Jayne was originally Wayne; when she was a young boy she always felt like a girl. In her late teens she moved to New York after being shot at by red necks. She was soon involved with the Andy Warhol circle which included Patti Smith and Lou Reed and starred in a play call 'Femme Fatale.' She then wrote her own play called 'World - Birth Of a Nation' and also featured in the Andy Warhol play 'Pork' which ran at the Roundhouse in London. Her first band Queen Elizabeth led to a deal with the management company Mainman who looked after several artists including David Bowie. She made demos for them and they financed a show called 'Wayne at the Trucks' but was then dropped. Her first recordings were included on the Max’s Kansas City album before she signed to Safari Records. The infamous 'Fuck Off' sold many, many copies and led to her first Martin Birch produced album , 'The Electric Chairs.' Two more Safari albums followed. She then changed her name from Wayne to Jayne and still gigging and recording. She has just recorded a new single and is also now also a highly regarded artist. In the interview she talks us through her life with all the ups and downs.

The Toyah Willcox Story - Interview by Iain McNay - watch this programme

Toyah talks about her music, her acting career, her relationships, her marriage, and her ups and downs in a very personal way. This is an in-depth interview which looks deeply at who the real Toyah is, what motivates and drives her and how she became so successful. She also shares many fascinating stories.

The Steve Levine Story - Interview by Iain McNay - watch this programme

Steve's first job was as a tape operator in CBS studios and while still in his teens he worked with bands such as The Clash, XTC, and The Vibrators. It was while working with the band Sailor as an engineer that he met Beach Boy Bruce Johnson a band he subsequently ended up producing. He produced all the Culture Club hits, the Angelic Upstarts, Jimmy The Hoover and Motorhead amongst many others. Ever up for a new challenge he has spent most of the last year composing and performing the music for an complex computer game. Steve talks us through his life and tells many fascinating stories.

Spizz is a man of many guises. His band names included Spizzoil, Spizzenergi, Spizzles, Athletico Spizz 80, Spizzsexual, Spizzorwell, Spizz and the Astronauties. He is probably best known for the single 'Where's Captain Kirk?' which topped the inaugural Indie Chart for 7 weeks in 1980. Spizz talks us through his life from the time he featured unannounced on stage at a punk evening at the Birmingham club Barbarelles, his appearances with Heaven 17 when he played without his guitar plugged in, through to the modern day world of Spizz where he still records and gigs.

Laurence Myers is the Author of 'Hunky Dory (Who Knew)' The Best I Can Remember from Twenty Years at the Heart of '60s and '70s Rock and Pop. Laurence originally looked after the business affairs of Micky Most who was then producing The Animals and Hermans Hermits. He was also involved with Peter Grant who originally managed The New Vaudeville Band for him, and Allen Klein who managing the Rolling Stones amongst others. He started to manage Mike Leander who was then a writer and producer who went on to have huge success with Gary Glitter and the Glitter Band. Laurence started Gem Records and his first release (by Edison Lighthouse) went to No. 1 followed up by a No2 hit with Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon. He met Tony Defries and together they managed David Bowie after 'The Man Who Sold The World' had just come out. Laurence raised the money for recording 'Hunky Dory' and 'Ziggy Stardust.' Also under their wing at the time were Mott The Hoople, Dana Gillespie and Iggy Pop. Defries and Laurence split and he then went on to form GTO Records with Dick Leahy with great success with Heatwave, Fox, Donna Summer etc. Had 37 hit singles. He sold GTO and formed Gem Records who signed Saxon, The UK Subs and had a big hit with Patrick Hermandez. Laurence then moved more into films and was involved with 'Breaking Glass' and 'Picnic on Hanging Rock.' His latest film 'Judy' about the life of Judy Garland has just been released. In this interview he talks about his life, challenges and successes.

While still a teenager Mike met Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran who both encouraged him to follow his dream of being an artist. His first break was auditioning and being chosen to join the Springfields who featured Dusty Springfield as their vocalist. When the group broke up Mike launched himself as a solo artist. He found that tough and then reinvented himself as a record producer. He produced the first singe by Marc Bolan and then found a very young Cat Stevens. He produced his first few singles as well as managing him. But the relationship went sour and they ended up in court. He moved on to produce PP Arnold, Manfred Mann and many other hit acts. He then found Showaddywaddy and ended up producing 17 Top 40 hits for them. He also discovered Shakin' Stevens and produced and managed him. Other acts he produced include Bruce Woolley, Sam Fox and Belle and Sebastian. In this interview Mike talks us through his life, the ups and downs, and the lessons he learnt.