Blitz Kids
Encyclopedia
The Blitz Kids were a group of young people who frequented the Blitz nightclub in Covent Garden
, London
in the very early 1980s
, and are credited with launching the New Romantic
cultural movement. Among their number were Steve Strange
, Boy George
, his friends Marilyn and Alice Temple
, Perri Lister
, Princess Julia
, Philip Sallon, Carl Teper and Martin Degville
(later to be the frontman of Tony James
' Sigue Sigue Sputnik
). The club was known for its outrageous style of clothes and make-up for both sexes, while it was also a birth place of several pop groups.
After beginning at Billy's nightclub in the late 1970s, the Blitz Kids had found themselves bored with the whole punk
genre. Billy's had taken to having regular Roxy Music
and David Bowie
nights and, in an effort to find something new, the denizens took to wearing bizarre home-made costumes and clothing and excessive amounts of make-up, presenting a highly androgynous
appearance. As the group moved on from Billy's to the more elitist "Blitz" club, this was widely considered to be the birth of the New Romantic
movement.
Soon after, Steve Strange and Boy George became famous in their own right with their musical outings Visage
and Culture Club
respectively, as did vocalist Marilyn.
Carl Teper went on to become a distinguished British Judge.
Boy George celebrated the Blitz Kids scene in his musical Taboo
, in which he played the part of Leigh Bowery
.
Alice Temple joined Eg White
in 1991 to form the shortlived but critically acclaimed Eg and Alice.
Through the early 1990s, the Blitz Kids and Taboo ethos lived on through another London club Kinky Gerlinky
.
There is also a British Rock Group called Blitz Kids that hail from Crewe.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the very early 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, and are credited with launching the New Romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
cultural movement. Among their number were Steve Strange
Steve Strange
Steve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
, Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
, his friends Marilyn and Alice Temple
Alice Temple
Alice Temple is an English musician, singer and songwriter, born in London. She is best known for her collaboration with Eg White under the name Eg and Alice. She is also notable for having been the first female UK and European BMX champion.-BMX:...
, Perri Lister
Perri Lister
Perri Lister , is an English actress, dancer, and singer. She featured in her first film in 1980, and has since appeared in films and television series...
, Princess Julia
Princess Julia
Princess Julia is a British DJ and music writer. She first came to notice in the very early 1980s as part of the short-lived Blitz Kids club scene with the likes of Marc Almond and Boy George...
, Philip Sallon, Carl Teper and Martin Degville
Martin Degville
Martin Degville was the lead singer and co-songwriter of the UK pop-cyberpunk band, Sigue Sigue Sputnik - which had a worldwide hit single in 1986 with "Love Missile F-1-11" - and six other EMI single releases...
(later to be the frontman of Tony James
Tony James
Tony James is a British musician, best known as a bassist of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.- Career :He was originally a member of the punk band London SS, along with Brian James, , and Mick Jones plus Terry Chimes .Later, James joined the early punk band Chelsea...
' Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Sigue Sigue Sputnik were a British new wave band created in 1982 by the former Generation X bassist Tony James. The band had three UK Top 40 hit singles, including the song "Love Missile F1-11".-Early years:...
). The club was known for its outrageous style of clothes and make-up for both sexes, while it was also a birth place of several pop groups.
After beginning at Billy's nightclub in the late 1970s, the Blitz Kids had found themselves bored with the whole punk
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
genre. Billy's had taken to having regular Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
nights and, in an effort to find something new, the denizens took to wearing bizarre home-made costumes and clothing and excessive amounts of make-up, presenting a highly androgynous
Androgyny
Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ, stem ανδρ- and γυνή , referring to the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics...
appearance. As the group moved on from Billy's to the more elitist "Blitz" club, this was widely considered to be the birth of the New Romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
movement.
Soon after, Steve Strange and Boy George became famous in their own right with their musical outings Visage
Visage
Visage are a British New Wave rock band. Formed in 1978, the band became closely linked to the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s, and are best known for their 1980 hit "Fade to Grey".-New Wave years :...
and Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
respectively, as did vocalist Marilyn.
Carl Teper went on to become a distinguished British Judge.
Boy George celebrated the Blitz Kids scene in his musical Taboo
Taboo (musical)
Taboo is a stage musical with a book by Mark Davies , lyrics by Boy George, and music by George and Kevan Frost....
, in which he played the part of Leigh Bowery
Leigh Bowery
Leigh Bowery was an Australian performance artist, club promoter, actor, pop star, model and fashion designer, based in London. Bowery is considered one of the more influential figures in the 1980s and 1990s London and New York art and fashion circles influencing a generation of artists and...
.
Alice Temple joined Eg White
Eg White
Francis Anthony "Eg" White is a British musician, songwriter and producer. White is primarily known for his work with successful commercial pop acts such as Adele, Duffy, Will Young and James Morrison...
in 1991 to form the shortlived but critically acclaimed Eg and Alice.
Through the early 1990s, the Blitz Kids and Taboo ethos lived on through another London club Kinky Gerlinky
Kinky Gerlinky
Kinky Gerlinky was a London clubnight that began in 1984 , hosted by fashion impressarios Michael and Gerlinde Kostiff. Following in the footsteps of 80s clubs such as the Blitz and Taboo, Kinky Gerlinky was where clubbing culture met outrageous fashion and out there drag...
.
There is also a British Rock Group called Blitz Kids that hail from Crewe.
List of Blitz Kids
- Miss Binnie (Christine Binnie)
- Pete BurnsPete BurnsPete Burns is an English singer-songwriter, author and television personality who founded the band Dead or Alive in 1980, for which he acted as the vocalist and songwriter, and which rose to mainstream success with their 1985 single "You Spin Me Round "...
(Dead or AliveDead or Alive (band)Dead or Alive were a British New Wave band from Wirral, England, United Kingdom, Europe. The band rose to fame in the 1980s with their number one single on the UK Singles Chart, "You Spin Me Round ". They were the first group to have a number one single under the production team Stock Aitken Waterman...
) - Isabella BlowIsabella BlowIsabella Blow was an English magazine editor. The muse of hat designer Philip Treacy, she is credited with discovering the models Stella Tennant and Sophie Dahl as well as the fashion designer Alexander McQueen....
- Michael ClarkMichael Clark (dancer)Michael Clark is a Scottish dancer and choreographer.-Early life:Michael Clark was born in Aberdeen and began traditional Scottish dancing at the age of four. In 1975 he left home to study at the Royal Ballet School in London, and on his final day at the school he was presented with the Ursula...
- Tony HadleyTony HadleyTony Hadley is an English pop singer-songwriter, occasional stage actor and radio presenter who gained celebrity as the lead vocalist for the 1980s band Spandau Ballet.-Early life:...
(Spandau BalletSpandau BalletSpandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
) - Eddie Hawx
- Marilyn
- Martin DegvilleMartin DegvilleMartin Degville was the lead singer and co-songwriter of the UK pop-cyberpunk band, Sigue Sigue Sputnik - which had a worldwide hit single in 1986 with "Love Missile F-1-11" - and six other EMI single releases...
(Sigue Sigue SputnikSigue Sigue SputnikSigue Sigue Sputnik were a British new wave band created in 1982 by the former Generation X bassist Tony James. The band had three UK Top 40 hit singles, including the song "Love Missile F1-11".-Early years:...
) - Christine Dolan
- Peter Dolan
- Rusty EganRusty EganRusty Egan was the drummer for the British new wave band, The Rich Kids. They were founded by former Sex Pistol, Glen Matlock, bass guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals; with Steve New guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals; and fronted by Midge Ure guitarist, lead...
(The Rich KidsThe Rich KidsRich Kids were a short-lived, seminal new wave band from London, founded in 1977 by Glen Matlock following his departure from The Sex Pistols. The band also included future Ultravox member Midge Ure, and Rusty Egan, who later went to found Visage.-Career:...
) - Boy GeorgeBoy GeorgeBoy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
(Culture ClubCulture ClubCulture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
) - Anne Hartnett (Fashion Editor)
- Alison Hierlehy (Hot Gossip)
- Doug Hood
- Joe JamesJoe JamesJoe James was an American racecar driver. He was killed during a champ car race at San Jose Speedway.-Indy 500 results:-World Championship career summary:...
- Tony JamesTony JamesTony James is a British musician, best known as a bassist of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.- Career :He was originally a member of the punk band London SS, along with Brian James, , and Mick Jones plus Terry Chimes .Later, James joined the early punk band Chelsea...
(Sigue Sigue SputnikSigue Sigue SputnikSigue Sigue Sputnik were a British new wave band created in 1982 by the former Generation X bassist Tony James. The band had three UK Top 40 hit singles, including the song "Love Missile F1-11".-Early years:...
) - Stephen JonesStephen Jones (milliner)Stephen Jones OBE is a leading British milliner based in London, who is considered one of the world's most radical and important milliners of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He is also one of the most prolific, having created hats for the catwalk shows of many leading couturiers and...
- John KeebleJohn KeebleJohn Keeble is a British pop musician, who is the drummer with the 1980s band, Spandau Ballet.Spandau Ballet disbanded in 1990, after their final studio album, Heart Like a Sky, failed to live up to the critical and commercial success of their earlier albums, such as True and Parade.In 1999, John...
(Spandau BalletSpandau BalletSpandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
) - Gary KempGary KempGary Kemp is an English pop musician and actor who is the guitar player and chief songwriter for the 1980s Synthpop band Spandau Ballet. His brother, Martin Kemp, plays bass guitar in the band...
(Spandau BalletSpandau BalletSpandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
) - Martin Kemp (Spandau BalletSpandau BalletSpandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
) - Kim Leggit
- Steven Linnard
- Perri ListerPerri ListerPerri Lister , is an English actress, dancer, and singer. She featured in her first film in 1980, and has since appeared in films and television series...
(Hot Gossip) - Steve NormanSteve NormanSteve Norman is an English musician who plays saxophone, guitar, percussion, and other instruments, for Spandau Ballet.-Early career:Steve Norman was initially a guitarist in the group with Gary Kemp...
(Spandau BalletSpandau BalletSpandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
) - Barry O'Dea http://www.theblitzkids.com/site_archive/berlin_blondes/barryblitz.html
- Kraig Oliver
- Martin "Pag" Page
- Richard Daniel RomanRichard Daniel RomanRichard Daniel Roman is a British songwriter, composer, singer, record producer, photographer, mystic and poet best known for his work with pop musicians.-Biography:...
- Ronny
- Philip Sallon
- Planet Janet
- Princess JuliaPrincess JuliaPrincess Julia is a British DJ and music writer. She first came to notice in the very early 1980s as part of the short-lived Blitz Kids club scene with the likes of Marc Almond and Boy George...
- Luke Sawyer
- Soldier Geordie John
- Soldier Mick (Young)
- Steve StrangeSteve StrangeSteve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
(VisageVisageVisage are a British New Wave rock band. Formed in 1978, the band became closely linked to the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s, and are best known for their 1980 hit "Fade to Grey".-New Wave years :...
) - Lizzie Tear
- Alice TempleAlice TempleAlice Temple is an English musician, singer and songwriter, born in London. She is best known for her collaboration with Eg White under the name Eg and Alice. She is also notable for having been the first female UK and European BMX champion.-BMX:...
(Eg & Alice) - Carl Teper
- Colin Thomas