Birmingham’s 1980s Legacy Reborn: A Time of Music, Rebellion, and Cultural Overhaul
05 December 2024
In a decade marked by dramatic transformation, from the electrifying rise of Duran Duran at the Rum Runner to the city’s response to the 1985 Handsworth Riots, a brand-new book delves into the people, places, and pivotal moments that made the city a cultural powerhouse.
It was a time when music, rebellion, and social change collided, and Birmingham became a hub for creativity, resistance, and new forms of expression.
Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1980s Birmingham not only relives the highs of the era’s iconic venues but also highlights the challenges the city faced, such as the Handsworth Riots and industrial decline, making it a definitive tribute to a decade that shaped modern Birmingham.
The book follows the best-selling Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1970s Birmingham, which was released in 2022.
Authors Jim and Ron Simpson spent over a year researching the book, which contains scores of rare and never-before-seen photos, interviews, and more.
The book covers numerous venues that helped define the era – places like the Rum Runner, Snobs Nightclub, The Powerhouse, Burberries (The Click Club), The Barrel Organ, Edwards, The Odeon (New Street), Digbeth Civic Hall (The Institute), and many more.
It also includes the home-grown artists that provided the soundtrack for the era. Bands like Duran Duran, UB40, Black Sabbath (without Ozzy), Steel Pulse, Swans Way, and Musical Youth, who enjoyed national and international success.
Birmingham punk was also big in the era, with acts like GBH, Drongos for Europe, and Napalm Death all making their mark.
Author Jim Simpson, Black Sabbath’s first manager, was at the heart of the action throughout the era. He said: “From running Brum Beat to managing King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys and starting the jazz festival, it was a privilege to be part of such a transformative era for the city. It was wonderful to revisit those times while researching the book.”
The Birmingham Superprix, the demise of Crossroads, the world’s longest disco dance, and Nigel Kennedy’s Villa obsession are all covered – together with the recording of the groundbreaking Brum Beat album, which was recorded at The Barrel Organ and featured popular local bands like Bright Eyes and Dansette Damage.
Ron Simpson, co-author and Jim’s brother, said: “Although I spent much of the 1980s away from Birmingham, the stories of the city’s thriving music scene and its incredible venues always reached me. Writing this book has allowed me to relive those legendary nights and bring them to life for others.”
Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1980s Birmingham is available from www.dirtystopouts.com for £21.95, with a special collector’s edition on sale for £29.95. The book is also available from all good bookshops.
