Show Notes
Tom Bailey joins me to discuss the rebellion, curiosity and creative experimentation behind the Thompson Twins—one of the defining British pop groups of the 1980s.
With their distinctive fusion of pop, new wave, percussion and synthesizers, the Thompson Twins achieved major success on both sides of the Atlantic with songs including Hold Me Now, Doctor! Doctor!, Love on Your Side, Lies, You Take Me Up, Lay Your Hands on Me and King for a Day.
They also appeared at Live Aid in Philadelphia, joined by Nile Rodgers on guitar and Madonna on backing vocals.
In this conversation, Tom reflects on the band's extraordinary journey, breaking America, his approach to songwriting and production, and the spirit of curiosity that has defined his entire career. We explore how his travels in India transformed his outlook on music and life, eventually leading to the formation of his Indo-Western fusion project Babble, before later embracing electronic music with International Observer and returning to the stage as Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey.
Today, alongside performing the Thompson Twins' greatest hits, Tom continues to celebrate a lifetime of musical exploration, including material from his solo album Science Fiction.
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Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey will perform the Thompson Twins' greatest hits across the UK in September 2026, with special guests Blancmange, led by Tom's longtime friend and fellow synth-pop pioneer Neil Arthur.
Tickets are on sale now: https://www.alttickets.com/thompson-twins-tom-bailey-tickets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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