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The Zeroes

5. 1990 - Red, Hot and Blue

Season 1, Ep. 5
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Red, Hot and Blue was the first creative project of the AIDS awareness-raising and campaigning Red Hot Organisation, started in 1989 by New York lawyer John Carlin.


He managed to gather together an impressive array of musical artists and film directors to produce an album and TV special comprised entirely of contemporary versions of Cole Porter songs.


Niall first saw the TV special when it was broadcast on World AIDS Day - 1st December 1990 - on Channel 4 in the UK, and he became obsessed with it.


So when he found out that literary scholar and author, John Garrison was writing an entire book about the project for Bloombury’s 33 1/3 series, he had to get him on the podcast to talk about the album, the accompanying TV show, and his own relationship with both.


You can pre-order John's book now, and it goes onsale on 19 September 2024. Go to bit.ly/rhb33 to get your copy now.


Also, check out all his other excellent work at https://www.john-garrison.com/


Please visit the Red Hot Organisation's website to find out more about this amazing project, now well into its fourth decade.


The Zeroes recently invaded our good friends over at Pop, Collaborate and Listen podcast to discuss Nirvana Unplugged. You can listen here.


As always, a big thanks to Tony Wright for giving us our theme tune. Check out his stuff (and buy it) at https://versechorusverse.bandcamp.com/album/versechorusverse


All links (and our socials) available at https://linktr.ee/zeroespodcast

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  • Trailer

    02:34||Season 1, Ep. 0
    The podcast about the years between the decades.How much can we say that the popular culture of 1990 is typical of the decade to come, and how much is still a hangover from the 80s.Our theme tune is No More Years, by VerseChorusVerse. https://versechorusverse.bandcamp.com/e69b0cb1a5908b4c7f4d6ef17e5336d69472a3a6

  • 1. 1990 Fashion and Art

    01:17:00||Season 1, Ep. 1
    In Episode 1 Muireann takes us on a journey from 1986 to 1994, before landing us back at the very start of 1990, and helps us understand where the art and fashion that would define our memories of the 90s comes from.Some links to accompany the episodeA Facebook gallery of images related to what we discuss https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.165575876000608&type=3An Instagram version of the same https://www.instagram.com/p/CgAa8DvjPBT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkAll The Sneakers Will Smith Wore In 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' (opencourt-basketball.com)The 30 best sneakers worn on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (theundefeated.com)MTV News Interviews Nirvana Fans and Kurt's Family in Seattle (9/11/92) FULL - YouTubeLate Review - Sensation Exhibition (BBC2, 1997) - YouTubeOur theme tune is No More Years, by VerseChorusVerse. https://versechorusverse.bandcamp.com/

  • 1.5. 1990 - The Fall of Thatcher with Alwyn Turner

    49:41||Season 1, Ep. 1.5
    Susie and I had the good fortune back in the spring to interview writer Alwyn Turner (www.alwynwturner.com) about the 1990 Tory leadership contest that saw Margaret Thatcher be replaced by John Major.We recommend you read his book about the 90s in pop culture and politics, A Classless Society.You can follow Alwyn on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AlwynTurner

  • 2. 1990 Cinema

    01:55:01||Season 1, Ep. 2
    We've got a full playlist of trailers for all the movies mentioned here. Go to bit.ly/0sCinema90Also, watch Alex Cox talking about The Terminator as he introduced its UK TV premiere in June 1990. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoGGHPLdy5U Our theme tune is No More Years by VerseChorusVerse. Go to https://versechorusverse.bandcamp.com to hear more and buy his music.

  • 2.5. 1990 - The Foundation of OutRage!, with Peter Tatchell

    41:30||Season 1, Ep. 2.5
    The LGBTI communities in the UK experienced an upturn in repression, discrimination and violence in the late 80s, leading to the foundation of Stonewall in 1989, and direct action movement OutRage! in 1990.Peter Tatchell has witnessed the long arc of the history of LGBTI liberation, and this is only a small snapshot of his story.This article will give you a good background on Section 28. Please watch the excellent documentary, Hating Peter Tatchell, on Netflix.Most importantly, please visit Peter's website to subscribe to his mailing list.As always, our theme tune is No More Years, by VerseChorusVerse. Please go to his Bandcamp to listen to more, and buy what you like.

  • 3. 1990 Television

    01:11:11||Season 1, Ep. 3
    Susie and Niall take a side each of the pond as they explore US and UK TV across the 80s and 90s, and try to place 1990 in the arc of change.How did Cheers become Frasier? How did Stavros give birth to The Fast Show? How hot was Jerry Seinfeld? And who the fuck was Stretchy McGillicuddy?Most importantly, how did Twin Peaks change television forever?Some links related to stuff we talk about in the show:Edgar Wright on his time at Hot Shots: https://www.adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts/83 My So Called Life in slo-mo (and back-to-front) https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vunswThe mythical Stretchy McGillicuddy https://youtu.be/jouYWsr2QEk?t=410As always our theme tune is No More Years by VerseChorusVerse. Go to versechorusverse.bandcamp.com to listen to his music and buy it.

  • 4. 1990 - Music

    02:16:30||Season 1, Ep. 4
    In our last main episode of series 1, Conor and Niall invite you to listen in on their nostalgic look back at 1990, as everyone waited desperately for Eric Clapton, Phil Collins et al to get the fuck out of the way.We've made a Spotify playlist to take you on our time traveller's musical journey across the decades. Big thanks to our good friends at Pop, Collaborate and Listen for joining us on this episode. Listen to their entire back catalogue now on their website.And a very big thanks to the composer of our theme tune, Tony Wright (aka VerseChorusVerse) for his brilliant music and his personal reflections on everything Fugazi.

  • 4.5. 1990 - The Release of Nelson Mandela

    01:03:13||Season 1, Ep. 4.5
    John Carlin took over as South Africa Bureau Chief of the Independent in January 1989. Neither he, nor the journalist he replaced had any idea that within 13 months that Nelson Mandela would be released from prison, or that by the middle of the decade that South Africa would go from "the skunk of the world" to a global leader on peace-building and reconciliation.In this episode we listen to John recall what he witnessed from the front row of history, as he reported on the violent final years of the Apartheid regime and the unlikely foundation of The Rainbow Nation.John has written three books about this time - Playing the Enemy, Knowing Mandela, and Mandela and the General.Check out his website at https://johncarlin.eu.As always, our theme tune is No More Years, by VerseChorusVerse. Please go to his Bandcamp to listen to more, and buy what you like.e69b0cb1a5908b4c7f4d6ef17e5336d69472a3a6