Wednesday, 28 August, 2002 14:52
All the young dudes |
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| Wishbone
Ash |
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The
Old Grey Whistle Test first went on air in September 1971 and became
one of the most influential music shows for a generation. For the
artists, to be asked onto the show was an honour which couldn't be
turned down. So why did the Damned smash their kit? |
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During
it's 16 year run the Old Grey Whistle Test featured just about every
rock or pop band of the time. BBC South's Sally Taylor spoke to some
artists living in the South and asked for their memories of the programme.
Rick Wakeman played on the show six times, with the band 'Yes' and
as a solo artist.
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| Rick
Wakeman |
"I
owe my whole solo career to The Old Grey Whistle Test. Mike and Bob
were the only people who had faith in 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII'
Most of the time you arrived at the studio in the afternoon, but the
shows were done in the evening.
You had little choice but to go to the BBC bar. There were some serious
casualties!"
Transmissions went out to a strict rule. If there was a technical
problem such as a faulty videotape they would stop, then go back to
it later, but if the band had a problem like a broken guitar string,
they had to carry on!
Annie Nightingale recalls:
"Sting went into makeup and this girl was struggling to open
a can of hairspray.
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| Sting,
with big glasses |
He
said "let me help you".
It exploded in his face and went in his eyes. He borrowed some shades
but they were too big for him.
He was playing his bass and wrinkling his nose, trying to keep the
glasses on. It was very funny".
Billy Bragg remembers how the show introduced him to music he
might otherwise never have heard:
"Ry Cooder never appeared on Top of the Pops. Without a programme
like Whistle test I would never have heard his stuff - he wasn't being
played on the radio.
Whistle Test had a very strong influence on my age people.
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| Billy
Bragg |
Going
out on The Old Grey Whistle Test was like going on Top of the Pops,
for me. You felt you had arrived.
I believe that content is more important than style. The Old Grey
Whistle Test was kinda dedicated to that"
Wishbone Ash were a favourite. Bassist Martin Turner reveals how
nervous they felt at the time:
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| Martin
Turner |
"We
were young lads trying to be men. I remember trying to grow a moustache.
It looked absurd! like a marmite stain!"
"We played live. That made us feel secure. It was kind of reassuring
because we didn't know how to mime!"
The Damned smashed up their equipment live on the show. Singer,
'Rat' told us why:
"We were mid tour and had a new single that we'd never played
live. You couldn't NOT do the Whistle Test if you were asked but we
were all a bit nervous so we pre-arranged that if we made a pigs ear
of it we'd do the sensational thing instead. That was, sadly, what
we chose."
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