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There’s certainly nothing especially original about the idea of a group from the eighties largely being in thrall to sounds from the synthpop and new wave genres, but there was a twist on the basic formula that pervaded the decade as far as Bronski Beat were concerned; all members of the band, including de facto frontman Steve Bronski, were openly gay, as was commonly reflected in their lyrics. Of course, this meant immediately that they had something of a captive audience right from the very get go, and certainly would have contributed to the success that they enjoyed over the course of a twelve-year career that saw its highest points come during the decade of their formation. After originating in London, in 1983, the band went on to enjoy huge success with ‘Smalltown Boy’ a year later, which became a gay anthem and went to number three on the UK singles charts. They toured extensively throughout the late eighties, playing a 1987 show at London’s Brixton Academy that saw them supported by dance legends New Order, before splitting officially in 1995; the use of ‘Smalltown Boy’ on a prominent Boots TV ad last Christmas, though, proves the ongoing nature of their legacy.
Joeg_67
