When UK Punk Went Pop - The Jam, Madness, Fanzines, The Face & more

Tony Fletcher joins us to talk about his new book POW!: When UK Punk Went Pop, 1980-84.

Starting with his Jammin’ fanzine at age 13, by the time he is 14 Tony writes a letter to Paul Weller & receives a reply. 

He is invited to RAK Studios in London whereThe Jam are making what becomes All Mod Cons.

He begins a relationship with The Jam & amongst other tales nearly ends up with the famous WHAM! Roy Lichtenstein guitar from the Start! video, his band Apocalypse open for the band air their final gigs at Wembley Arena & in Brighton. 

Concurrently Tony is also writing for The Face magazine & is dispatched to Nottingham with Madness, the thinking being they may open up to a 16 year old rather than an established music writer. 

Tony puts on early gigs for his band Apocalypse along with other bands including The Birthday Party at The Africa Centre in Soho. 

He has a ringside seat for the end of The Jam & shortly after Paul Weller simply gives him the Jamming record label they had founded together. 

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