Thursday, March 10, 2011
DUSTY EGO
A few months ago the channel Vintage TV debuted on satellite TV. This is the music channel aimed at the elderly, frail, bewildered viewer where footage of President Nasir stepping off a plane is soundtracked by Michael Holliday's Magic Moments.
Last week Vintage TV broadcast a programme called Rusty Egan's Vintage.
Rusty Egan: mover; shaker; hustler; entrepreneur; wide boy; visionary; the man who held court at all of the great parties of the late '70's and early '80's; a marvellous teller of anecdotes. How could I forget to record this show?
Luckily I've managed to unearth some outtakes from the programme about Rusty's Blitz Club associates and I share them here.
"The first time I encountered Steve Strange - or Rhys Gruffudd as he used to be known in them days when he was just a silly little kid up from Wales - he walked into my office wearing tangerine coloured velveteen breeches and 'anded me a demo of 'is music. I said to 'im "Clear orff ahht of it yer cheeky little bugger. Come back to me when yer old enough to wear long trahhsers!" He did exactly that five years later and I listened to his music again. This time he had a voice like smooth melting chocolate and I ended up collaborating wiv 'im on the top five hit parade hit Fade To Grey. We woz called Visage."
"The first time I encountered Spandau Ballet they walked into my office looking like summink orff The White Heather Club, wiv kilts and lacy shirts and all that. I wasn't fooled for a minute. Tony "Adley whipped a shooter aht of 'is sporran and slammed it dahhn on my desk. I said to 'im "Careful mate! That's top quality walnut!" but I was jokin' to 'ide me nerves. They was proper ruthless Cockney gangsters and I'm sorry but that's the way you done business with that sort in them days. Luckily I kept me 'ead abaht me and I earned their respect."
Well, with stories like that, I'd better make sure I watch Rusty Egan's Vintage when it's next aired!
There is a Rusty Egan site here and you can find out about Vintage TV here.
Last week Vintage TV broadcast a programme called Rusty Egan's Vintage.
Rusty Egan: mover; shaker; hustler; entrepreneur; wide boy; visionary; the man who held court at all of the great parties of the late '70's and early '80's; a marvellous teller of anecdotes. How could I forget to record this show?
Luckily I've managed to unearth some outtakes from the programme about Rusty's Blitz Club associates and I share them here.
"The first time I encountered Steve Strange - or Rhys Gruffudd as he used to be known in them days when he was just a silly little kid up from Wales - he walked into my office wearing tangerine coloured velveteen breeches and 'anded me a demo of 'is music. I said to 'im "Clear orff ahht of it yer cheeky little bugger. Come back to me when yer old enough to wear long trahhsers!" He did exactly that five years later and I listened to his music again. This time he had a voice like smooth melting chocolate and I ended up collaborating wiv 'im on the top five hit parade hit Fade To Grey. We woz called Visage."
"The first time I encountered Spandau Ballet they walked into my office looking like summink orff The White Heather Club, wiv kilts and lacy shirts and all that. I wasn't fooled for a minute. Tony "Adley whipped a shooter aht of 'is sporran and slammed it dahhn on my desk. I said to 'im "Careful mate! That's top quality walnut!" but I was jokin' to 'ide me nerves. They was proper ruthless Cockney gangsters and I'm sorry but that's the way you done business with that sort in them days. Luckily I kept me 'ead abaht me and I earned their respect."
Well, with stories like that, I'd better make sure I watch Rusty Egan's Vintage when it's next aired!
There is a Rusty Egan site here and you can find out about Vintage TV here.
Labels: old confused people, President Nasir, Rusty Egan, Spandau Ballet, Steve Strange, the Welsh
Comments:
Vicus - thank you for thanking me. The young people are listening to Magic Moments by Michael Holliday.
"Now playing... Kate Bush, A Vintage Triplet. Abba, A Vintage Triplet."
I want to work for Vintage TV.
I want to work for Vintage TV.
I'm having the same feeling I got when I saw the first computer I'd ever used in a V&A exhibition, surrounded by laughing, pointing teenagers.
Annie - I fear that a Vintage Triplet would be overwhelming. I can just about cope with a Vintage Doublet ...
The Poet Laura-eate - everything I write is true in its own way ...
MJ - don't force Vicus to adapt to change so quickly. He is suffering from dizzy spells at the moment because of the purchase of his first colour TV set. He hasn't worked out how to use the Contrast button yet.
Arabella - yes, they were all members of a Kirk Douglas Appreciation Society and had the appropriate surgery to pay homage to the great man.
The Poet Laura-eate - everything I write is true in its own way ...
MJ - don't force Vicus to adapt to change so quickly. He is suffering from dizzy spells at the moment because of the purchase of his first colour TV set. He hasn't worked out how to use the Contrast button yet.
Arabella - yes, they were all members of a Kirk Douglas Appreciation Society and had the appropriate surgery to pay homage to the great man.
Not quite as funny as Ricky Gervaise at an awards ceremony but in an era of faceless computer nerds or wannabe Essex girls pop stars i beg to differ that the 80's were in fact the most productive and popular world wide UK artist success period since the 60's.
Rusty, the post was meant to be a spoof of the kind of shows where bouffanted and silk suited agents wax nostalgic about the Royal Variety Show or Max Miller which as usual was typed up and thought out in about twenty minutes. Not particularly funny but there you go. I actually like Vintage TV - perhaps because I'm now elderly, frail and bewildered myself.
Can't argue with your assertion about the '80's re: mainstream pop music but I suppose young people consume music in a different way and a lot of more interesting stuff has been marginalised by the X_Factor (pop music as a ten year plan - you might get to star in a West End musical or be a presenter on daytime TV if you're lucky). Perhaps the faceless computer nerds have flourished because they've found a way of making music and getting it out there which is quicker/easier than by the traditional route? Can't say for sure.
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Can't argue with your assertion about the '80's re: mainstream pop music but I suppose young people consume music in a different way and a lot of more interesting stuff has been marginalised by the X_Factor (pop music as a ten year plan - you might get to star in a West End musical or be a presenter on daytime TV if you're lucky). Perhaps the faceless computer nerds have flourished because they've found a way of making music and getting it out there which is quicker/easier than by the traditional route? Can't say for sure.
