along with 'Brookside', The Tube was most definitely one of a handful of long term projects for the all new Channel 4. The overriding factor and viewing appeal of the idea was that in those days, the only terrestrial music shows were on the BBC and they were somewhat superficial. The all new 'The Tube' marketed itself as a musician's music show. Sure there was the Whistle Test, but despite its status these days, it was a dour affair and always seemed to be presented by the nerds of the music business. The Tube on the other hand was brashy, colourful fresh and pioneering. Immediately form the titles you could tell it was born out of Punk and New Wave. It's style was also very Channel 4! Remarkably In its early days (due to non-national coverage because of transmitter issues), large parts of the UK could not receive the show and missed out on some landmark performances - including the last ever live performance by the Jam! (1982) For the record, The Jam performed the songs 'Precious' and 'A Town Called Malice'...back to back! Other notable artists who came on during the early days were Wham! who performed their controversial version of Wham! Rap (the U.S. Remix) as well as Madonna, who famously had to pay for her own plain ticket to appear...!
It has to be said that in the early days, not many were convinced by the presenters Holland and Yates. Jools Holland was seen as an also ran from the recently split 'Squeeze' band, whilst Paula Yates was largely unknown outside of London. In addition to the presenters, the music journalist Muriel Gray was always an active participant and did well. What the Tube had going for it was that it provided a platform for gig style live music. The fact respected artists would come on - even requested to be on - went a long way to making it an anchor for Channel 4 and cult music show of the 1980's.
What really got the Tube going though was its 'Midsummer Nights Tube' events held every Summer. At the time in the 1980's there was a mini-fad for all nighter festival types of TV events, tied in of course with Live Aid. The format worked. Midsummers Night Tube was a musical highlight on TV in 1984 and 1985.
What really did it for the Tube though was the arrogance of Jools Holland. The omission of a four letter swear work live on air - well before the watershed - provided ammo for the critics. Holland was sacked and the show possibly never recovered.
The best days of The Tube were definitely the early years, say 1982-1985, it went downhill in viewing figures from around 1986, and the BBC's decision to go live on TOTP was a hammer blow. The Tube was cool originally but started to believe the hype and by the time it was decommissioned not many people even realised it was going - unlike Brookside! Despite this, those who watched it and those who never did, would and should rightly regard it as an iconic piece of 1980's pop culture.
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