Part of an irregular series of bite-sized posts about 7″ singles I own – shameless nostalgia from the days of vinyl. (Search ‘Backtracking’ to collect the set!)

Altered Images – Dead Pop Stars b/w Sentimental (Epic Records, 1980)

Sleeve design by David Band

Nobody in their right mind could ever have accused John Peel of impropriety.

His hugely influential Radio 1 shows were a model of non racist, non sexist broadcasting without getting all tight-assed and PC about it.

He famously smashed a hip-hop record on air for its homophobic content and played reggae bands before any other mainstream DJ, refusing to be put off by the bigoted hate mail he received as a result.

This was also a man who was once seduced by Germaine Greer!

However, while the music  always came first , there were frequently occasions when Peel was given to crushes on female artists, especially if they combined femininity with a strong, sassy attitude. Into this category I’d place PJ Harvey alongside modern Alt.Country divas Neko Case and Laura Cantrell.

Perhaps a more paternal affection was reserved for super cute Glaswegian 19-year-old Clare Grogan whose schoolgirl voice was more petulant than rebellious.

Grogan was the main attraction of Scottish new-wave band Altered Images as well as an aspiring actress who appeared in the early Bill Forsythe movies, notably as Susan in Gregory’s Girl.

Dead Pop Stars was Altered Images’ debut single, produced by Siouxsie & The Banshees’ Steven Severin and a great tune with a self-explanatory theme. It’s a sharp and witty song about juvenile drooling over the “pretty bodies” of deceased stars who loved to “make the little girls scream”. The timing wasn’t the best, being released soon after John Lennon’s assassination ( although it was recorded before).

The reference to Andy Warhol’s old chestnut about everyone having 15 minutes of fame shows that Grogan and her chums (‘Caesar’ McNulty – guitar, Tony McDaid – guitar, John McEhone – bass, ‘Tich’ Anderson – drums) were well aware of the disposable nature of pop.

The band’s subsequent singles Happy Birthday and I Could Be Happy gave them short-lived chart success but Dead Pop Stars remains my personal favourite song of theirs.

The B side is another slice of feel-good pop : “Enter the vast arena ………………it’s a nice dream; you’d like it”