Four-part documentary series that tells the story of British pop music and our changing attitudes to sex, gender and sexuality.
Created by
Benjamin Whalley, Simon Napier-Bell
Network
BBC Two
Status
Ended
Type
Miniseries
First Aired
2005-10-23
Last Aired
2005-11-13
Cherie Lunghi
Narrator
Pamela Des Barres
Self
Yoko Ono
Frank Zappa
Self (archive footage)
James Brown
Sandie Shaw
Germaine Greer
Johnny Marr
Marc Almond
Simon Napier-Bell
Divine
Shirley Manson
Gary Kemp
Mel B
1. Love Me Do
New series investigating the music revolution of the past 40 years, and its links to the British fascination with sex and gender. The first programme looks at the 1960s, when the popularity of groups like the Beatles and pop icons such as Cilla Black, Marianne Faithfull and Sandi Shaw went hand in hand with a new generation of assertive fans. The decade also saw the rise of camp in the form of Brian Jones and Mick Jagger.
2. Oh You Pretty Things
2005-10-30
Exploring the glam rock sound of the 1970s, when pioneers Marc Bolan and David Bowie made make-up on men fashionable. Led Zeppelin's heavy rock with its macho image upset the burgeoning feminist movement, while punk and disco's origins also fell within the decade. With contributions by Siouxsie Sioux, Germaine Greer, Malcolm McLaren and Robin Gibb.
3. Tainted Love
2005-11-06
The musical and sexual preferences of the flamboyant 1980s, when New Romantic bands, including the Human League, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club and Duran Duran, conquered the charts. Awareness of Aids began to grow, and by the end of the decade the nation's concept of masculinity had been eroded, with girls gaining the upper hand.
4. Wannabe: The 90s
The changing attitudes of the 1990s, when Manchester became the centre of the pop music universe and young people began shedding their inhibitions. With contributions by Norman Cook, Melanie Chisholm, Shirley Manson, Richard Fairbrass, Germaine Greer and Melanie Brown.
