I thoroughly enjoyed Ian Wade's book 1984: The Year Pop Went Queer, so the opportunity to hear him speaking about it was very welcome indeed. Hopefully, his chat with Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears - ranging over everything from stars' entertaining cattiness in the music press and the thrill of seeing Frankie Goes To Hollywood performing 'Relax' on TOTP, to Madonna's role as a gay ally in the midst of the AIDS crisis and how Stock, Aitken & Waterman made Hi-NRG "the Motown of the '80s" - will draw more people into picking up a copy.
The interview also introduced me to Shears' Queer The Music podcast, and I can also strongly recommend a couple of other episodes - not least because Shears is an excellent interviewer, gently coaxing rather than combative, and giving his guests space to talk without unnecessary interjection.
His conversation with John Grant revolves around Grant's song 'Glacier' from Pale Green Ghosts, prompting a fascinating discussion about sexuality, religion, pain, self-acceptance and creativity. Meanwhile, the episode with Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme is longer and more freeform, a revelatory and emotional chat between two close friends.
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