the tube (tv series)

The Tube was an innovative United Kingdom pop/rock music television programme which ran which ran for 5 series, from 1982 until 1987 plus numerous specials including one at the Millennium. It was produced in Newcastle upon Tyne by Tyne Tees Television and broadcast on Channel 4 television. Presented live by such talented luminaries as Jools Holland, Manchester's Terry Christian, and the late Paula Yates.

Showcase for 80s bands

The Tube was a showcase for many emerging 80s bands. Artists who played on the Tube included: Assembly, Aztec Camera, Big Country, Boomtown Rats, Culture Club, Duran Duran, Echo and the Bunnymen, Elvis Costello, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Human League, Icicle Works, Iggy Pop, INXS, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, Meatloaf, Paul Young, Psychedelic Furs, Rainmakers, Robert Palmer, Simply Red, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Squeeze, Style Council, Tears for Fears, Terence Trent D'Arby, The Cure, The Jam, The Mission, The Pretenders, The Stranglers, Then Jericho, Thin Lizzy, U2, Ultravox, Wham, Yazoo .

Demise

In January 1987 during the fifth series Jools Holland accidentally swore with the words "groovy fuckers" during a live trailer for the show. The incident caused a national scandal as it was transmited at a peak children's viewing time and the show was taken off air for 3 weeks as a result. Holland was reprimanded by Channel 4. Producer Malcolm Gerrie and Tyne Tees director of programmes Andrea Wonfor announced their resignations in March. They cited as reasons a mixture of internal bickering, political pressure and "stifling bureaucracy and heavy handed moralism". A further series was never commissioned.

References

The Very Best Of The Tube Various Artists, Universal Records, November 4, 2002 http://www.u2wanderer.org/disco/oth019.html