Spandau Ballet and the story of how image and expert marketing came before the music

The Twelve Inch 133 "To Cut A Long Story Short" (Spandau Ballet)

Welcome, I’m Pe Dupre and this is “The Twelve Inch”, a newsletter that tells the history of dance music between 1975 and 1995, one twelve inch at a time.

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A Night in London: Rediscovering New Romanticism

In the late '90s, I was lucky enough to have a friend living in London, which meant frequent visits to the city’s cutting-edge nightlife. My friend had an uncanny ability to find the best places to eat, explore, and party. One night stands out in particular: we stumbled into a club hosting a "Romo" night—a revival of the early ‘80s New Romantic movement. Looking back, it was a miracle we were even let in. We certainly didn’t look the part, but everyone else did. I vividly remember standing next to someone in a frilly white shirt, wearing makeup, and balancing what looked like a vintage la…