Book Launch

It started as a conversation in a London pub in early 2008. Discussing great pop records of the 1980s, a man called Adrian – who I only ever met on that one occasion – told me I was like ‘the Louis Theroux of 80s pop music’.

And so it began. I started writing about those great 80s records that never get any airplay on the radio any more. I e-mailed a few 80s pop stars – more out of hope than expectation – and received many warm replies. I concocted a list of 101 ‘forgotten pop hits’ and started fielding e-mails and telephone calls from the likes of Hazell Dean, Simon Climie, Nik Kershaw and Kim Wilde. I got a backstage pass to the 80s Here and Now tour and hung out in the car park of the NEC with Johnny Hates Jazz and Bananarama. I even got to meet my all time 80s hero – Tony Hadley – twice.

And, 90,000 words (give or take) later, and two and a bit years work, my ‘labour of love’ (if you’ll excuse the 80s based pun) 101 Forgotten Pop Hits of the 1980s is now available in paperback here (or here if you are not in the UK).

It is absolutely amazing to see the thing in print, finally. Years of work have gone into this, and I am immensely proud of the way that it has turned out. I may owe some apologies to friends and relatives who have had to suffer endless Eighties anecdotes and hit singles over the last couple of years, but it’s all been in a good cause.

I am delighted to say that 101 Forgotten Pop Hits of the 1980s is now available to buy. If you would like one, you can head online and buy one from the publisher’s website (here in the UK or here for the rest of the world), or you can buy one directly from me (at a slight discount). If you’d like one or several copies (give them to your friends and family as presents!) then please e-mail me at 101@nickparkhouse.com, and I can sort out a payment via PayPal.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped me get this book into print, from 60 or so brilliant Eighties musicians, writers, producers and singers, my friends and family who have tolerated and proof read the manuscripts and, for the original idea, Adrian. Wherever you are.