Clockwise from left: 'The Face', issue 1, 1980 [Library shelfmark: MS.42889], 'Madonna', 1985 [Library shelfmark: HP4.85.1293], 'Smash Hits', April 6 mdash; May 1984, [Library shelfmark: HJ9.76 SER] 'Flexipop', No. 1, 1980 [Library shelfmark: DJ.m.3281(2) SER].
Pop music featured heavily in the 1980s cultural scene. Popstars of the time included Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, and fans could buy publications filled with photos of their heroes performing.
New bands and music sounds emerged at a rapid rate, and accompanying them were myriad pop publications, each with their own style and look. Although many are no longer published, these once-loved titles live on in the Library collections.
Pop magazines
'Smash Hits', published by EMAP began in 1978 as a monthly magazine, but soon moved to being published fortnightly. It included interviews with the stars of the day, as well as regular humorous features which proved enduringly popular with its readership.
'The Face' magazine was launched in May 1980 by Nick Logan, the previous editor of 'Smash Hits'. Combining fashion, style and general interest articles, the first issue featured Jerry Dammers of The Specials on the cover.
'Flexipop' was also launched in 1980. Its unique selling point was the inclusion of a free flexidisc with every issue, containing a single by a popular band.
To read more about 1980s pop music culture, see also:
Further 1980s essays and videos are available in our 1980s retrospective 'Back to the future: 1979-1989' website.