Clare Grogan (Altered Images) - "The music press in the 80s was vitriolic – particularly to women'

<p>In the summer of 1981, <em><strong>Altered Images</strong></em> exploded on to the post-punk scene in the UK in a blaze of chutzpah, charm and chisseled cheekbones – and that was just the boys. That posters of the band’s frontwoman Clare Grogan were already pinned on bedroom walls following her breakthrough performance in Bill Forsyth’s classic growing-up movie Gregory’s Girl the previous year seemed to seal their fate as the nation’s favourite new band; even the London-based, hypercritical NME loved their briliantly bright pop tunes and street-urchin antics. (Well, for a bit anyway …) For many, the arrival of the Glaswegian punk upstarts on Top of the Pops looking like the ultimate gatecrashers – with Clare wearing a bamboo hat the size of a small country – signalled the moment pop switched from black and white to colour. The 80s had arrived.</p><p>On this week’s episode of Scotpop, Clare relives the highs and lows of being in Altered Images, who are back on tour in the UK.</p><p>She also talks about: </p><p>- Travelling the world with “the boys- which was fun. Until it wasn’t.”</p><p>- Recording with superstar producer Mike Chapman (Suzi Quatro/Smokie/Sweet/Blondie) in America. “Were we subservient? Nah. We were a bunch of gobby Glaswegians.”</p><p>- Her blossoming friendship with [future husband and MMMBop producer] Stephen Lironi who joined Altered Images for third album Bite.</p><p>- And - it’s TRUE - what it REALLY feels like when you inspire one of the biggest hits of the 80s. (Altogether now: ‘Ah, ha ha, hahhh … ha”.)</p><p>- Plus, so much more.</p><p>Don't forget you can sign up for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://scotpop.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands.</p><p>For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on:</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/allanjglen/?hl=e" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-glen-1228496b/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1615843776347565" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><a href=" https://x.com/allanglen1" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@scotpoppodcast" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠</a></p><p>https://www.tiktok.com/@scotpoppodcast</p><p>If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com. </p>