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==History==
==History==
===Billy's and the Blitz===
New Romanticism's genesis took place largely through clubs such as Billy's in [[Dean Street]], [[London]], which ran [[David Bowie]] and [[Roxy Music]] nights in the aftermath of the early days of punk. This evolved into the [[Blitz Kids|Blitz Club]] in [[Great Queen Street]], and later Hell, which were hosted by [[Steve Strange]], who was also the doorman, and [[Rusty Egan]] who was the DJ. These two, together with Billy Currie and Midge Ure (both from [[Ultravox]]) formed the band [[Visage]]. [[Boy George]] was the [[cloakroom]] attendant until he was fired by [[Steve Strange]], allegedly for the theft of money from a customer<ref>http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/New_Romantic</ref><ref>http://culturepub.groups.vox.com/library/post/6a00cd970e4cda4cd500f48d0a3c7f0001.html</ref><ref>http://www.gaire.com/e/f/view.asp?parent=1235115</ref>. Singer [[Marilyn (singer)|Marilyn]] also worked as a cloakroom attendant, doing impersonations of [[Marilyn Monroe]]. The club spawned several spin-offs, in London and in the surrounding area, including Croc's in [[Rayleigh, Essex]], and The Regency in [[Chadwell Heath]], where [[Depeche Mode]] and [[Culture Club]] had their debut gigs.
New Romanticism's genesis took place largely through the nightclub Billy's in [[Dean Street]], [[London]], which ran [[David Bowie]] and [[Roxy Music]] nights in the late 1970s, when some had felt that [[punk rock]] which had enjoyed great and widespread popularity had lost its original appeal. In 1979, the growing popularity of the club forced owners [[Steve Strange]] and [[Rusty Egan]] to relocate to a larger venue in [[Great Queen Street]] called the Blitz, also a wine bar. Strange worked as the doorman and Egan was the club's [[DJ]]. While still at Billy's, the two had joined Billy Currie and Midge Ure of [[Ultravox]] to form the band [[Visage]]. Before forming the [[Culture Club]] and having worldwide success, [[Boy George]] worked as [[cloakroom]] attendant at the Blitz, until he was fired by Strange for the alleged theft of money from a clubgoer's purse<ref>http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/New_Romantic</ref><ref>http://culturepub.groups.vox.com/library/post/6a00cd970e4cda4cd500f48d0a3c7f0001.html</ref><ref>http://www.gaire.com/e/f/view.asp?parent=1235115</ref>. Singer [[Marilyn (singer)|Marilyn]] (known for the 1983 song, "Calling Your Name") also worked as a cloakroom attendant, doing impersonations of [[Marilyn Monroe]]. The club spawned several spin-offs, in London and in the surrounding area, including Croc's in [[Rayleigh, Essex]], and The Regency in [[Chadwell Heath]], where [[Depeche Mode]] and Culture Club had their debut gigs.


The Blitz club was known for the colorful and flamboyant fashions of its patrons (who became known as the [[Blitz Kids]]), which greatly contrasted with the more pedestrian and unadorned attire associated with the punk movement of the time. Both sexes often dressed in counter-sexual or androgynous clothing and wore [[cosmetics]] such as eyeliner and makeup. The [[quiff]] was a common hairstyle and achieved by the use of hairspray. Many wore frilly [[fop]] shirts in the style of the English [[Romanticism|Romantic]] period, or exaggerated versions of upscale fashion and grooming which drew influenced from sources such as [[Golden Age of Hollywood|the golden age of Hollywood]]. Clubgoers frequently made it a point to dress as uniquely as they possibly could and draw attention to themselves by their clothes.
⚫
David Bowie has been cited as a major influence of the movement<ref name="NRTL"/> and his 1980 single "[[Ashes to Ashes (song)|Ashes to Ashes]]" was influenced by, and was simultaneously considered to be an anthem for the New Romantics.<ref name="NRTL"/> However, as with many art school-based youth movements, by the time this anthem was pronounced, many commentators felt that the movement had been excessively commercialized and lost its original glamour.<ref>{{cite news | title = A big girl's blouse and proud; As the belief that 'greed is good' | author = Trevor Royle | work = [[Sunday Herald]] | date = 2001-05-13 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20010513/ai_n13960054 }}</ref>


===Music===
⚫
[[Duran Duran]], [[Spandau Ballet]] and [[Culture Club]] also became associated with the New Romantic period, with Duran Duran becoming house band of the Birmingham club [[Rum Runner (nightclub)|Rum Runner]].<ref name="Sims">Sims, Josh (1999). ''Rock Fashion'', [[Omnibus Press]], p. 96. ISBN 0711987491.</ref> These later groups formed one of the offshoots of the scene, New Pop, and helped by the rise of the [[music video]] and MTV such bands managed to successfully commercialise the New Romantic look as style became a marketable commodity. The peak of the movement was the [[Live Aid]] concert of July 1985, after which, according to music journalist Dave Rimmer, "everyone seemed to take hubristic tumbles".<ref>Rimmer, Dave. ''New Romantics: The Look'' (2003), Omnibus Press, p. 126. ISBN 0711993963</ref>
⚫
David Bowie has been cited as a major influence of the New Romantic movement<ref name="NRTL"/> and his 1980 single "[[Ashes to Ashes (song)|Ashes to Ashes]]" was influenced by, and was simultaneously considered to be an anthem for the New Romantics.<ref name="NRTL"/> However, as with many art school-based youth movements, by the time this anthem was pronounced, many commentators felt that the movement had been excessively commercialized and lost its original glamour.<ref>{{cite news | title = A big girl's blouse and proud; As the belief that 'greed is good' | author = Trevor Royle | work = [[Sunday Herald]] | date = 2001-05-13 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20010513/ai_n13960054 }}</ref>


⚫
[[Duran Duran]], [[Spandau Ballet]] and [[Culture Club]] also became associated with the New Romantic movement, with Duran Duran becoming house band of the Birmingham club [[Rum Runner (nightclub)|Rum Runner]].<ref name="Sims">Sims, Josh (1999). ''Rock Fashion'', [[Omnibus Press]], p. 96. ISBN 0711987491.</ref> These later groups formed one of the offshoots of the scene, New Pop, and helped by the rise of the [[music video]] and MTV such bands managed to successfully commercialise the New Romantic look as style became a marketable commodity. The peak of the movement was the [[Live Aid]] concert of July 1985, after which, according to music journalist Dave Rimmer, "everyone seemed to take hubristic{{sic}} tumbles".<ref>Rimmer, Dave. ''New Romantics: The Look'' (2003), Omnibus Press, p. 126. ISBN 0711993963</ref>
New Romantic fashions were similar to that of [[glam rock]] during the early 1970s, in that male New Romantics often dressed in caricaturally counter-sexual or androgynous clothing, and wore [[cosmetics]] (such as eyeliner), frilly [[fop]] shirts in the style of the English [[Romanticism|Romantic]] period, or exaggerated versions of upscale fashion and grooming. The [[quiff]] was a common hairstyle.


===Revival===
In the mid-1990s, New Romanticism was the subject of nostalgia-orientated clubnights such as the Human League inspired "Don't You Want Me Baby" and Planet Earth, a Duran Duran themed night club whose promoter told ''The Sunday Times'' "It's more of a celebration than a revival".<ref>"Worst of times" ''The Sunday Times'' (London); Nov 19, 1995; Sean Langan; p. 1</ref>
⚫
In the mid-1990s, New Romanticism was the subject of nostalgia-orientated clubnights such as the Human League inspired "Don't You Want Me Baby" and Planet Earth, a Duran Duran themed night club whose promoter told ''The Sunday Times'' "It's more of a celebration than a revival".<ref>"Worst of times" ''The Sunday Times'' (London); Nov 19, 1995; Sean Langan; p. 1</ref> New Romanticism was also an inspiration for the short-lived musical movement [[Romo]].<ref>Bracewell, Michael. ''When surface was depth'' (2002), Da Capo, ISBN 0306811308</ref><ref>York, Peter. "[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/peter-york-on-ads-an-eighties-revival--or-is-it-modern-day-spain-409840.html Peter York On Ads: An Eighties revival - or is it modern day Spain?]", ''The Independent'', Sunday, 30 July 2006. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN1GlXOa archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> The movement was based at a small number of club nights in London, including Arcadia<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20070808141728/http://www.thisisromo.com/romo/arcadia/index.html</ref> and Club Skinny<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20070314085147/www.thisisromo.com/romo/clubskinny/index.html</ref>. The movement was championed by ''Melody Maker'', whose free cover tape spotlighted the leading bands, [[Dex Dexter (band)|Dex Dexter]], Hollywood, [[Plastic Fantastic]], Viva and [[Orlando (band)|Orlando]].<ref>''Melody Maker'' March 9 1996</ref><ref>"Pop: CD review of the year", ''The Guardian'' (Manchester); Dec 1, 1995; CAROLINE SULLIVAN; p. T.014</ref> ''Melody Maker'' writers [[Simon Price]] and [[Taylor Parkes]] organised a tour which proved unsuccessful and saw the movement disband.<ref>"Pop Goes the Britpop? As the music press searches for the next pop movement, Adam Sweeting asks if Britpop is dead" ''The Guardian'' (Manchester); Dec 8, 1995; ADAM SWEETING; p. T.011</ref><ref>Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine. ''All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul'', Backbeat Books, 2002 p. 828 ISBN 087930653X</ref>

⚫
New Romanticism was also an inspiration for the short-lived musical movement [[Romo]].<ref>Bracewell, Michael. ''When surface was depth'' (2002), Da Capo, ISBN 0306811308</ref><ref>York, Peter. "[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/peter-york-on-ads-an-eighties-revival--or-is-it-modern-day-spain-409840.html Peter York On Ads: An Eighties revival - or is it modern day Spain?]", ''The Independent'', Sunday, 30 July 2006. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN1GlXOa archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> The movement was based at a small number of club nights in London, including Arcadia<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20070808141728/http://www.thisisromo.com/romo/arcadia/index.html</ref> and Club Skinny<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20070314085147/www.thisisromo.com/romo/clubskinny/index.html</ref>. The movement was championed by ''Melody Maker'', whose free cover tape spotlighted the leading bands, [[Dex Dexter (band)|Dex Dexter]], Hollywood, [[Plastic Fantastic]], Viva and [[Orlando (band)|Orlando]].<ref>''Melody Maker'' March 9 1996</ref><ref>"Pop: CD review of the year", ''The Guardian'' (Manchester); Dec 1, 1995; CAROLINE SULLIVAN; p. T.014</ref> ''Melody Maker'' writers [[Simon Price]] and [[Taylor Parkes]] organised a tour which proved unsuccessful and saw the movement disband.<ref>"Pop Goes the Britpop? As the music press searches for the next pop movement, Adam Sweeting asks if Britpop is dead" ''The Guardian'' (Manchester); Dec 8, 1995; ADAM SWEETING; p. T.011</ref><ref>Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine. ''All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul'', Backbeat Books, 2002 p. 828 ISBN 087930653X</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 08:30, 18 October 2009

New Romanticism was a youth fashion movement that peaked in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s. Originally centered around part of the Synthpop music scene, it has seen several revivals since then, and continues to influence popular culture. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz, the movement was associated with bands such as Visage, Adam and the Ants, Ultravox, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet.[1] Brian Eno and Roxy Music were also influences.[1] The term New Romantic was coined by Richard James Burgess in an interview with reference to Spandau Ballet.[1]

History

Billy's and the Blitz

New Romanticism's genesis took place largely through the nightclub Billy's in Dean Street, London, which ran David Bowie and Roxy Music nights in the late 1970s, when some had felt that punk rock which had enjoyed great and widespread popularity had lost its original appeal. In 1979, the growing popularity of the club forced owners Steve Strange and Rusty Egan to relocate to a larger venue in Great Queen Street called the Blitz, also a wine bar. Strange worked as the doorman and Egan was the club's DJ. While still at Billy's, the two had joined Billy Currie and Midge Ure of Ultravox to form the band Visage. Before forming the Culture Club and having worldwide success, Boy George worked as cloakroom attendant at the Blitz, until he was fired by Strange for the alleged theft of money from a clubgoer's purse[2][3][4]. Singer Marilyn (known for the 1983 song, "Calling Your Name") also worked as a cloakroom attendant, doing impersonations of Marilyn Monroe. The club spawned several spin-offs, in London and in the surrounding area, including Croc's in Rayleigh, Essex, and The Regency in Chadwell Heath, where Depeche Mode and Culture Club had their debut gigs.

The Blitz club was known for the colorful and flamboyant fashions of its patrons (who became known as the Blitz Kids), which greatly contrasted with the more pedestrian and unadorned attire associated with the punk movement of the time. Both sexes often dressed in counter-sexual or androgynous clothing and wore cosmetics such as eyeliner and makeup. The quiff was a common hairstyle and achieved by the use of hairspray. Many wore frilly fop shirts in the style of the English Romantic period, or exaggerated versions of upscale fashion and grooming which drew influenced from sources such as the golden age of Hollywood. Clubgoers frequently made it a point to dress as uniquely as they possibly could and draw attention to themselves by their clothes.

Music

David Bowie has been cited as a major influence of the New Romantic movement[1] and his 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes" was influenced by, and was simultaneously considered to be an anthem for the New Romantics.[1] However, as with many art school-based youth movements, by the time this anthem was pronounced, many commentators felt that the movement had been excessively commercialized and lost its original glamour.[5]

Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Culture Club also became associated with the New Romantic movement, with Duran Duran becoming house band of the Birmingham club Rum Runner.[6] These later groups formed one of the offshoots of the scene, New Pop, and helped by the rise of the music video and MTV such bands managed to successfully commercialise the New Romantic look as style became a marketable commodity. The peak of the movement was the Live Aid concert of July 1985, after which, according to music journalist Dave Rimmer, "everyone seemed to take hubristic [sic] tumbles".[7]

Revival

In the mid-1990s, New Romanticism was the subject of nostalgia-orientated clubnights such as the Human League inspired "Don't You Want Me Baby" and Planet Earth, a Duran Duran themed night club whose promoter told The Sunday Times "It's more of a celebration than a revival".[8] New Romanticism was also an inspiration for the short-lived musical movement Romo.[9][10] The movement was based at a small number of club nights in London, including Arcadia[11] and Club Skinny[12]. The movement was championed by Melody Maker, whose free cover tape spotlighted the leading bands, Dex Dexter, Hollywood, Plastic Fantastic, Viva and Orlando.[13][14] Melody Maker writers Simon Price and Taylor Parkes organised a tour which proved unsuccessful and saw the movement disband.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Rimmer, Dave. New Romantics: The Look (2003), Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711993963.
  2. ^ http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/New_Romantic
  3. ^ http://culturepub.groups.vox.com/library/post/6a00cd970e4cda4cd500f48d0a3c7f0001.html
  4. ^ http://www.gaire.com/e/f/view.asp?parent=1235115
  5. ^ Trevor Royle (2001-05-13). "A big girl's blouse and proud; As the belief that 'greed is good'". Sunday Herald.
  6. ^ Sims, Josh (1999). Rock Fashion, Omnibus Press, p. 96. ISBN 0711987491.
  7. ^ Rimmer, Dave. New Romantics: The Look (2003), Omnibus Press, p. 126. ISBN 0711993963
  8. ^ "Worst of times" The Sunday Times (London); Nov 19, 1995; Sean Langan; p. 1
  9. ^ Bracewell, Michael. When surface was depth (2002), Da Capo, ISBN 0306811308
  10. ^ York, Peter. "Peter York On Ads: An Eighties revival - or is it modern day Spain?", The Independent, Sunday, 30 July 2006. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
  11. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070808141728/http://www.thisisromo.com/romo/arcadia/index.html
  12. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070314085147/www.thisisromo.com/romo/clubskinny/index.html
  13. ^ Melody Maker March 9 1996
  14. ^ "Pop: CD review of the year", The Guardian (Manchester); Dec 1, 1995; CAROLINE SULLIVAN; p. T.014
  15. ^ "Pop Goes the Britpop? As the music press searches for the next pop movement, Adam Sweeting asks if Britpop is dead" The Guardian (Manchester); Dec 8, 1995; ADAM SWEETING; p. T.011
  16. ^ Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine. All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul, Backbeat Books, 2002 p. 828 ISBN 087930653X

Further reading

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