The Tube

**The Tube** was a British music television programme, which ran for five series, from 05 November 1982 to 24 April 1987. The show went out live once a week on Fridays from the Tyne Tees Television studios in Newcastle on Channel 4 in the UK.

The Tube's hosts included Jools Holland, Paula Yates, Leslie Ash and Muriel Gray.

The show was one of the first to be launched on the UK's Channel 4 and its lively format was considered to be a reaction to BBC shows such as *Top of the Pops* and *Old Grey Whistle Test* which had grown stale and had failed to keep up with the changing times (as a consequence both shows were later revamped, and new shows such as *Oxford Road Show* were started).

The show fell into disgrace somewhat in January 1987 when presenter Jools Holland used an obscene expletive during a trailer for the programme during children's prime-time television, resulting in it being taken off the air for three weeks. The final show went out on Friday 24 April 1987.[1]

## Notable live performances

As well as features, interviews and video presentations, each show featured one or two live acts from the contemporary music scene, who would usually perform two songs each live in the studio. Memorable (and documented) performances and appearances are listed here with performance/transmission dates where known (links to videos in brackets).

### Series 1 (1982-83)

* 05 November 1982: Heaven 17, The Jam (*last live TV appearance*).([2] [3])
* 12 November 1982: Strange Days, Yazoo ([4]), Duran Duran, Altered Images
* 19 November 1982: Scritti Politti, Haircut One Hundred
* 26 November 1982: A Flock of Seagulls, Simple Minds ([5]), Robert Palmer
* 03 December 1982: Dexys Midnight Runners, Gregory Isaacs
* 10 December 1982: Wall of Voodoo, Soft Cell
* 17 December 1982: Iggy Pop, Twisted Sister, Tygers Of Pan Tang
* 24 December 1982: Imagination, Alison Moyet (Alf), Sylvie And The Saphires, Depeche Mode ([6])
* 31 December 1982: Blancmange ([7]), Gary Glitter
* 07 January 1983: Queen at Milton Keynes (live and interview clips), Elkie Brooks live at Knebworth
* 14 January 1983: filmed live performances.
* 21 January 1983: The Stranglers, King Sunny Ade
* 28 January 1983: Thin Lizzy, Pat Benetar, Jo Boxers
* 04 February 1983: Stranglers [8] (?), Paul Young, Aztec Camera, OMD
* 11 February 1983: Belle Stars, Fun Boy Three
* 18 February 1983: Madness, Icehouse. Frankie Goes To Hollywood feature [9]
* 25 February 1983: Visage - live at Camden Palace([10]), Eurythmics - live in Newcastle ([11])
* 04 March 1983: Fatal Charm, Kajagoogoo
* 11 March 1983: Nick Heyward, Freur
* 18 March 1983: U2 ([12]), Undertones ([13])

### Series 2 (1983-84)

* 28 October 1983: PIL, Paul Young, Eurythmics (*see date page*)
* 04 November 1983: SPK ([14])
* 11 November 1983: The Fixx, the Call
* 18 November 1983: REM (TV debut outside US), ZZ Top
* 25 November 1983: The Fall (presented by John Peel) [15], The Style Council
* 02 December 1983: The Pretenders, Icicle Works
* 03 December 1983: 1.05 am **Late Night Extra** - Michael Jackson Thriller video première
* 09 December 1983: Ian Dury, Simple Minds
* 16 December 1983: Paul McCartney, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Echo & The Bunnymen, Killing Joke.
* 23 December 1983: "A Day In The Night Of New York" special
* 30 December 1983: *co-host Dame Edna Everage*
* 06 January 1984: Gang of Four, Judas Priest
* 13 January 1984: Cocteau Twins [16]
* 20 January 1984:
* 27 January 1984: Madonna - **UK TV debut, from Hacienda, Manchester -** also feat New Order and Quando Quango playing together as Factory All-Stars.
* 03 February 1984: Colour Field, Sade, Swans Way
* 10 February 1984: Thompson Twins, Kool & the Gang, Siouxsie & the Banshees
* 17 February 1984: Big Country, Fiction Factory
* 24 February 1984: Aswad, China Crisis
* 02 March 1984: Thomas Dolby
* 09 March 1984: Elvis Costello, Special AKA, General Public.
* 16 March 1984: The Smiths, Howard Jones, Madness
* 23 March 1984: Danse Society
* 30 March 1984: Depeche Mode [17], Dave Gilmour
* 06 April 1984: Joe Jackson, The Cure, Propaganda
* 13 April 1984: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Spear Of Destiny
* 20 April 1984: Easter special (live repeats)
* 22 June 1984: FGTH Special (1:00 am) - Two Tribes promo and interview

### Series 3 (1984-85)

* 05 October 1984: (*Paula Yates returns)*
* 12 October 1984: Bronski Beat, Level 42, glam rock [18]
* 19 October 1984: Heaven 17, The Style Council [19]
* 26 October 1984: Motorhead, Alison Moyet
* 16 November 1984: ABC
* 30 November 1984: "*MacTube*" (St Andrew's Day special) Tom Robinson, The Kane Gang, Al Jarreau.
* 07 December 1984: live: The Stranglers, The Icicle Works, interview with Ian MacCulloch.
* 25 January 1985: Cliff Richard, Killing Joke

## 1999 Special

On 20 November 1999 *The Tube* was brought back for a one-off live special on Sky1 under the title of "The Apocalypse Tube". It was hosted by BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles and Donna Air, and also featured original presenters Jools Holland and Paula Yates.

## External links

* TV Cream listing
* Gary James - Tube Story

## References

1. ↑ with special thanks to tvpopdiaries.co.uk