Smash Hits surrenders

It's true - for those of us who reached puberty in the early 1980s, Smash Hits was a must, and we're allowed a moment of sentimentality to mark its final passing. Publishing company Emap reported today that Smash Hits magazine is to close.

It was the place to turn for colour posters (in my case, of Nick Heyward, Boy George and Jon Moss, possibly even George Michael - would you believe?) and to read the full lyrics from the latest single releases. I reckon I was able to recognise homoeroticism from a young age, even if I couldn't name it, and it was definitely all male in the early 1980s.

I still have a couple of Smash Hits Yearbooks for 1983 and 1984, so 1982-1984 were probably the highlight years for me. They're in very good condition, not that I'm looking to part with them just yet, but it did cross my mind that today's news could increase their value very soon.

There was such nostalgia earlier this evening when I looked through the Yearbooks to find Wham!, Tears for Fears and Carmel listed on the "lesser known names of '82 should be the headliners of tomorrow" pages, amongst many a band name I can't recall ever having released a single. Then, in the "Fifteen for Eighty-Four" line-up, who else but Madonna, amidst the hype: "there's no reason why Madonna, a genuine all-singing, all-dancing slum survivor, can't be gigantic." No reason; no reason at all. There's also Prince, Billy Bragg and Everything But the Girl. Did this all really begin in 1984?

I can't help wondering what happened to Physique, destined for fame and fortune in 1984. Did it happen? Nick Casparis of trio Physique is quoted: "We're more intelligent than we are good looking ... but then we're tremendously good looking as well." Hmm ... The money was always on Madonna.

Ahh ... those were the days ... just after the Jackie years and shortly before I discovered The Cure and 'real' music in time to be a sixth former.