No.
LEON HAYWOOD
DON’T PUSH IT
DON’T FORCE ITLeon Haywood‘s only UK hit
was a classic example of a
track feeling the benefi t of
radio airplay. A low profi le
release in 1980, it nevertheless
became a staple of daytime
radio and helped a hitherto
unheralded musician into
the limelight.
The Texan singer-songwriter
was a dogged performer in the
60s R&B scene. He maintained
a recording career as both a
solo artist and group member
through the late 60s and 70s,
earning respect in the industry
but with little commercial
reward for his work.
In the spring of 1980,
Don't Push It Don't Force It
came out. A hybrid of hard
funk rhythms and a smooth,
polished soul vocal, it evaded
the caustic anti-disco sentiment
and provided an alternative to
the rash of moody electro-pop
and acne-dotted new wave
dominating pop attitudes.
In the UK, it made it on to
Radio 1‘s playlist and, after a
seven-week climb, peaked at
No.12 in the charts.
Haywood was approaching
40 and was already planning
to retreat into the background
by the time he had this
unexpected success, making
only two more albums. He
mentored artists on his record
label, wrote and produced
for others, and in later years
returned to his fi rst love, the
blues. He died in 2016,
aged 74.
© Nick WilsonGEORGE’S ART GOES UNDER THE HAMMER
As the latest issue of Classic Pop was being sent to press, George
Michael‘s extensive art collection was being auctioned off for
charity at Christie‘s in London. It was expected that the sale would
raise millions of pounds for worthy causes.
Among more than 200 lots going under the hammer was a
dove preserved in formaldehyde by Damien Hirst, a life-size
bronze gorilla by Angus Fairhurst that used to reside in Michael‘s
garden, as well as other important works by artists including
Tracey Emin, Michael Craig-Martin and Marc Quinn.
Another artwork by Damien Hirst, Saint Sebastian, featured
prominently in the sale. The seven-tonne piece restages the death
of the Christian martyr Saint Sebastian – traditionally depicted as
a young man pierced with arrows – but replaces the human fi gure
with a bull in formaldehyde. Saint Sebastian has become a gay
icon in recent times, and the theme of Hirst‘s piece struck a chord
with George. Further major pieces included a cast iron human
sculpture by Antony Gormley and a pink coffi n by Sarah Lucas.UP
Matthew Rudd is the host of
Forgotten 80s on Absolute 80s
Duran feel the energy in new album sessions
D
uran Duran are clearly feeling energised while recording their latest
album. The band started work on a follow-up to 2015’s Paper Gods in
December and drummer Roger Taylor updated fans: “There’s energy
there. It’s our 15th album. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine the energy will
be there for a new set of songs, but it’s defi nitely there.”
Recording what promises to be a 40th anniversary LP continues this month, and
the band have thanked former producer Mark Ronson for helping them fi nd their
groove again. Ronson helmed 2010‘s All You Need Is Now as well as a portion of
Paper Gods. Roger continued: “When Andy [Taylor] left the band, it created space
to be fi lled. We’ve brought in different people – something we’ll do again on this
record. Mark Ronson introduced us to collaboration. We can go down the electro
route or we can go down a more organic route.“
Duran played a handful of US shows in February and have no plans to call it a
day. “We could probably all retire at this point,” Roger told theadvocate.com.
“But there’s a certain drive that keeps the band going. I don’t think a band can last
for so many years unless everybody involved is driven to do this. Nick and John
are particularly driven. Simon and I are quietly driven. If the audience is there and
they want us, we’ll carry on.“