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2. Boys In The Band Jul 25, 2025

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Now that being in a band is cool again, and now that grotty indie guitar music seems a viable career choice, every corner of the UK sprouts an exciting new group ... or two, or three. Glasgow's Franz Ferdinand seize the moment, winning the Mercury Music Prize. They are the undisputed early leaders of this new scene-without-a-name, setting a tone that is unashamedly artistic and literate. And also quite boozy.

Featured interviewees include Alex Kapranos, The Cribs and Paul Smith Presented by Kate Nash Produced by Jack Howson & Rich Power A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Sounds & 6 Music

Warning: this episode contains strong language and adult themes.

1. Foundations Jul 25, 2025

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Noughties UK indie music was iconic, fashionable and thrilling. These days the kids call it 'Indie Sleaze', although at the time there was no cohesive name for the collection of bands - from Franz Ferdinand to The Libertines, The Long Blondes to The Cribs, Bloc Party to Razorlight, Arctic Monkeys to The Kooks - that erupted from all corners of Britain. These young artists exploded with attitude, tunes, vitality, and misconduct, creating an army of costumed disciples.

This is the story of the UK’s most influential musicians of this millennia, and the wild culture that surrounded them - including a collapsing music industry in the face of new media, a fatal tabloid frenzy, and the lows to be found amidst the highlife. Come and ride the UK Indie Wave, as recalled by the people who were there, sweating into their skinny jeans.

Episode 1 takes us back to Year Zero (aka 2001), when a foreign band invasion led by the Strokes ignites and inspires this nation's youth.

Featured interviewees include Johnny Borrell, Pete Doherty and The Hives Presented by Kate Nash Produced by Jack Howson & Rich Power A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Sounds & 6 Music

Warning: this episode contains strong language, adult themes and descriptions of drug use, which some listeners may find distressing. Details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

8. To The End Jul 30, 2023

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Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Britpop!

7. The Drugs Don't Work Jul 30, 2023

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As the 90s hurtled towards a new millennium, Britpop wasn't just making big headlines, it had also become very big business.

As money flowed through the UK music industry, everyone was desperate to be part of Cool Britannia. However, with the arrival of money came the arrival of excess.

In Episode 7 of The Rise and Fall of Britpop, legendary Evening Session hosts Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq re-unite to look back at what life was like for those in the eye of the storm.

The Rise and Fall of Britpop was presented by Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq. It was written by Steve Lamacq and Paul Sheehan. Technical Production by Tim Heffer. With additional production by Phil Smith. The Editor for BBC Audio was Helen Hobday. The Commissioning Producer was Jonathan O’Sullivan. The Commissioner for Sounds was Will Wilkin. Archive comes from The Word, Fierce Panda, Channel 4, Hattrick, Steve Lamacq, Peel Acres, Creation Call, Ginger Media and the BBC Archive. The producers would like to thank all contributors and archive interviewers and interviewees including Matt Everitt, Jax Coombes, Miranda Sawyer, John Harris, Stephen Merchant, Matt Tasker, Dermot O’Leary, Sara Tabar, Anna Richards, Tom Ravenscroft, Sam Cunningham, Chris Morris, Stuart Maconie, Mark Goodier, Georgia Frampton and Snuff.

6. It Could Be You: The Battle of Britpop Jul 30, 2023

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In August 1995, battle lines were drawn and the North vs South rivalry was reignited as Blur and Oasis battled it out for the top spot in the UK charts. What started off as banter soon became a full Britpop war, with offices, classrooms and friendship groups divided. In episode six of The Rise and Fall of Britpop, Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley tell the real stories behind the ‘Battle of Britpop’.

Listen only on BBC Sounds. Presented by Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq Written by Steve Lamacq and Paul Sheehan Produced by Paul Sheehan with additional production by Phil Smith Technical Production by Tim Heffer Editor for BBC Audio Helen Hobday Commissioning Producer Jonathan O’Sullivan Commissioner for BBC Music Will Wilkin A BBC Audio Production

5. Something Changed: Pulp Fiction Jul 30, 2023

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Despite Blur and Oasis dominating the headlines, one band more than any other came to represent the soaring highs and crushing lows of Britpop - Pulp. From recording in a semi-detached house in Sheffield to writing songs in a tent the night before headlining Glastonbury, the Pulp story has it all. Thirty years on from the legendary Radio 1 Evening Session, Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq look back at the history of Pulp, discuss the band’s impact and reveal how the intervention of Bob Mortimer and David Bowie might just have saved the 90s.

Listen only on BBC Sounds.

Presented by Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq Written by Steve Lamacq and Paul Sheehan Produced by Paul Sheehan with additional production by Phil Smith Technical Production by Tim Heffer Editor for BBC Audio Helen Hobday Commissioning Producer Jonathan O’Sullivan Commissioner for BBC Music Will Wilkin A BBC Audio Production

4. Connection: The Rise of Lad Culture Jul 30, 2023

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As Britpop and lad culture became intertwined, did this heady relationship do a disservice to the women behind the music?

30 years on from Britpop, Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq take a trip back to the 90s to reassess the scene’s relationship with sex and gender. From the front covers of lads mags, to music videos, they delve into the day to day experiences of many band members.

Featuring new and archive interviews with Louise Wener, Shirley Manson, Miki Berenyi and Justine Frischmann, Episode 4 of The Rise and Fall of Britpop highlights the barriers women faced and celebrates the trails they blazed across the decade.

3. What Do I Do Now? A Cultural Take Over Jul 30, 2023

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Thirty years ago a youthquake of creativity took hold of the UK, as Britpop sucked everything into its cultural orbit.

From supermodels at Fashion week, to Edinburgh’s underbelly and from Match of the Day montages, to puppets interviewing rock stars on Breakfast TV, the attitude and aspirations of Britpop reverberated across the country.

In episode 3 of The Rise and Fall of Britpop Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley dust off old note books, photo albums, CDs and tapes and look at the effect Britpop had on every aspect of British culture.

Listen only on BBC Sounds.

2. Rock and Roll Star: The Month That Changed It All Jul 30, 2023

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Britpop, as a term landed in the spring of 1993 but it was a full year later, that everything changed over the course of just twenty days. In Episode 2 of The Rise and Fall of Britpop, Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley revisit the key moments on the road to Britpop’s explosion. Including on air resignations at Radio 1, a band of rowdy Mancunians and a tragic death, which caused shockwaves around the world. 30 years later Steve and Jo are taking advantage of their contacts, going through old note books, photo albums, DATs, Mini Discs and the BBC archives, to chart the Rise and Fall of one of the biggest musical movements ever to hit the UK… Britpop. Warning: this episode contains strong language, adult themes and descriptions of self-harm and suicide, which some listeners may find distressing. Details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

Listen only on BBC Sounds.

1. Oh Well Whatever, Nevermind: The Birth of Britpop Jul 30, 2023

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What was life like before Britpop? Join Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley as they rewind the tape to hear how the UK sounded at the start of the 90’s. Britpop emerged at a very specific time in British History, recession and war had dominated the headlines, the Iron Lady left Downing Street for the final time and the UK’s music scene was fractured. Rave was still in relatively rude health, terrifying the tabloids and the parents of teenagers, Morrissey had felt the wrath of music fans after appearing on stage in a Union Jack and the Manic Street Preachers were bringing their own unique blend of rock n roll to the world. But there was one genre that dominated the airwaves and co-opted the ears of the UKs Youth... Grunge. In Episode 1 of The Rise and Fall of Britpop, Steve and Jo have new interviews, never before heard archive and more giving us a warts and all look back at the genesis of the scene. Discovering how these different elements collided to create the perfect conditions for a big bang which saw a new wave of British creativity spewed into existence. Warning: this episode contains strong language, adult themes and descriptions of self-harm and suicide, which some listeners may find distressing. Details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

Listen only on BBC Sounds.

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