Like Punk Never Happened: Culture Club and the New Pop

by Dave Rimmer

Looks at the second British invasion in rock music, describes how pop quickly replaced punk, and describes the rise of Culture Club

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, British Literature, Pop Culture

196 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1985

Reviews

[Keely]

3.5
I went into Dave Rimmer's Like Punk Never Happened thinking the title referred to the the bright, broadly appealing loveliness of early '80s British "New Pop"--as opposed to punk with its dark, hard-edged, and often exclusionary qualities. And Rimmer does mean that very contrast as he examines the rise and flame-outs of artists like Culture Club, Adam Ant, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Human League, Thompson Twins, Talk Talk, Haircut One Hundred, and more. Rimmer celebrates that musical contrast, but by the end of his examination, it's clear he also laments that ultimately, these New Pop groups didn't manage to carry on a little more of punk's anti-establishment ethos. Instead, one by one, the New Pop artists abandoned the DIY approaches to fashion and music that made them endearingly accessible to fans, in favor of generic, high-end glittery pop stardom. Indeed, it was like punk never happened--in more ways than one.

This was pretty fun. A little boring in places, especially in the chapters focused on Rimmer's tour time with Culture Club in Japan. But it was fascinating to read about this era in music that I grew up with and remember fondly. As Rimmer mentions in his 2021 postscript, he wrote this 1985 book from inside the phenomenon of New Pop, at the last moment when it would have been possible to do so. The bubble was about to burst. Anything that followed could only be retrospective.

[Angela]

Fun read, but totally dated since it was from 1985. In a way, that made it more fun, like a time capsule. Loved the info on Boy and the band and how they navigated game in the early 80’s.

[Nicki]

I thought I would like this more than I did. Obviously it’s dated, but the bits with Culture Club touring Japan and the insights into their personalities were interesting. Boy George was my absolute favourite when I was little, so I think I’m pretty much the audience for this book.
Let’s see, I think I like him a little less, and I was kind of bored through all this.
Glad I finally got a chance to read it, but sadly, I’m underwhelmed by it.

[Kurt]

Read for my book club. Pretty good journalism documenting the era, but seriously flawed in its author's narrow perspective on the UK alone - Our Band Could Be Your Life pretty much single-handedly refutes the ideas that this book's (admittedly deliberately provocative) title and thesis suggest. Not to mention the fact that all this "New Pop" stuff was only possible because of punk in the first place (there's even a part where Boy George cites The Smiths as one of his favourite bands)!

[Valery]

A decent time capsule of a moment in music history. The parts about “New Pop” were the most insightful. It’s also simultaneously about the band Culture Club. While I like a couple of their songs, the chapters focusing on them could get a bit boring at times. Still, I recommend it to anyone who is interested in 80s music and pop culture.

[Roxy]

Highlight was definitely the bit on female fandom (in general, not just specific to Culture Club) - ahead of its time.

[Miranda]

Me siento superior por haber leído este libro ajskaksjkas, no me odien.

Que increíble libro, una mezcla de historia y biografía de culture club. Amé y aprendí un montón.

[Leo]

A fairly interesting glimpse into the period, but more opinionated than authoritative. Boy George references the author in his autobiography Take It Like A Man - and not favourably!