How Rockstar Thomas Dolby Met Superstar Michael Jackson. A Magnificent Story

Thomas Dolby, the great pop rocker is a friend of mine. Also, on occasion a colleague. And on occasion a mentor. And on occasion a fellow traveler on the creative path.
I asked him how his first hit record, She Blinded Me With Science was created and how it became one of MTV’s first video hits & one of the early provocateurs of music video. When he began to tell me the story, I realized that my subscribers and others would enjoy not only the story and the period of pop music history it was a part of, but also the way Thomas tells it.
Thomas describes the London underground rock ’n' roll pop culture in the 1970s and early 1980s including many of the top stars like the Sex Pistols, Clash, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, Adam Ant, and Sting, in part because he played backup synthesizer for so many groups. When my documentary colleagues and I first saw MTV and what was being done with Video Killed the Radio Star and She Blinded Me With Science, it opened a whole new opportunity to create without having to go to the networks for money. Thomas and others created a new video music form that became big business and provided fantastic opportunities for outsiders like myself.
I thank Thomas and MTV.
These days Thomas is a music professor at Johns Hopkins University. Please visit his website using the keywords thomasdolbyofficial.

[@TheMxboy199]

I love this

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

You might enjoy watching this. Thomas's son. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6rakId-lsiJjKs David Hoffman filmmaker

[@GhastlyH]

So a little on the personal significance "She Blinded Me With Science" has to my adolescence. I grew up in a small rural town in southern Ontario and I was a nerdy kid. In early part of the 80s nerdy was not chic, it was just nerdy and I had it in spades. Band nerd, theatre nerd, electronics nerd, computer nerd, D&D nerd, I had it all. Nerdiness wasn't a culture so much as an affliction. The cool kids listened to Led Zeppelin and Van Halen and while I appreciated the musicianship that music never spoke to me like it did to them. I liked it, but it wasn't me. Now in the 80s albums were expensive and most of us had to bootleg our music and I can remember sessions with my friends making copies of our cassette tapes. Often they'd be copies of copies of copies of copies of a cassette that someone's cousin in Toronto had. The audio quality was very bad but the only other way for a poor kid to get music was to listen to the radio and hope your song comes on and then record it. I had a stereo boombox but, growing up in a small town the audio quality of radio was always iffy and the local AM station never played the music I liked. In fact it rarely played the music anyone under the age of 35 liked. But then one day something glorious happened. CHNR 1600 played "She Blinded Me With Science". It was love at first listen. Here was a song that spoke to me, in part because all my crushes were smart and nerdy and here was a song that was smart and nerdy and sexy about sexy smart nerds in love. I immediately asked all my music nerd friends what they knew about this song and if they had a copy of it. None of them had heard of the song. I called the radio station from a pay phone in the school cafeteria and asked them about the song and requested that they play it. They wouldn't play my request but they told me it was by an Englishman named Thomas Dolby. Now I was armed with a name but still none of my music nerd friends knew about it. The next week however, BOOM the song was everywhere and then I got to see the video for it. Life changing! Here was a guy who was sexy AND nerdy. Synthesizers and computers and electronics and all the nerdy things I was into but rolled up in a pretty blond package. Holy shit! Nerds can be sexy! I can be sexy! Wow! I was hooked. A lifelong fan was born. No way was I going to be settling for a copy of a copy of a copy of this song. No, I had to go to the source, but in a small rural town where the local record store was well stocked with Anne Murray and Gordon Lightfoot getting a hold of this album was not going to be cheap nor easy. The store was small so it only stocked the type of music that would sell well locally but it did have a catalogue behind the counter and if what you were looking for was in the catalogue you could order it. So I gave the lady behind the counter the name of the artist and she looked through the catalogue, frowning. My heart was in my throat each time she turned the page and then she said, "Oh here it is, Thomas Dolby "The Golden Age Of Wireless". WOAH! What a freaking awesome album name! I bought it right then and there and over the next 2 weeks was a constant thorn in the side of the poor lady running the record store after school to see if my album had arrived. And when it did, oh my! What a glorious treat for the ears this album was. Listening to the drums in She Blinded Me With Science ping-ponging back and forth through my ears with the headphones on. Every song on the album was a gem, sexy, emotive, smart and lyrical and covered in layers of nerdy synthesizer goodness. The entire album became my own personal highschool soundtrack. This album made me proud to be the nerdy kid because some nerdy guy (who was pretty sexy) from over the seas had made it. Fiddling with electronics. Coding on my Commodore 64. Being into synthesizers. I felt good about it all because that English guy showed me nerdy can be very cool. Decades later and I'm an old man now. I've traveled the world. I've raised a family. Had a swell career of my own. Heck, I even got to contribute to one of Thomas's albums (I play accordion on Toad Lickers). Every time "She Blinded Me With Science" comes on the radio I'm a gangly teenage boy thinking "Damn! It feels good to be a nerd."

[@ClownTrader1]

What he said

[@DarkGloComics]

Let me guess...you joined the fan club and got known enough to meet him and BAM? :)

[@shannongodbey7420]

That was an awesome testimonial and fun to read

[@teestjulian]

I graduated from High School in 1982, just to give you an idea of how old I am. I would still watch MTV today if it was the same forum as it was at its inception. I was glued to the TV for 1 year.

[@RosebudKane41]

Thousands of hours of people's VHS recordings of MTV broadcasts here on KZbin (With the commercial breaks included), I make playlists of them to relive that era.

[@JS-jn8ku]

1983....Remember rockumentaries? I loved MTV first decade....loved that song and video.

[@bobablaw1298]

I graduated in 1992. MTV was rockin’ and popular when I was in high school, then I graduated & MTV cut the music to bring an oxymoron called Reality Television. That’s when I quit watching. Fuck that.

[@TheBlister69]

MtV hs several different channels now, i believe one is actually just music again.

[@teestjulian]

Well, I guess I should have said... If I still watched TV I would 😄 I haven't watched the boob tube in 10 years. I do watch Videos on youtube though

[@lilgamgam4767]

You’re one of the coolest guys ever, damn!!

[@thomasdolby]

David Hoffman really IS one of the coolest guys ever, and I should know :)

[@theunknowncommenter3444]

@@thomasdolby Love your music!

[@bearclaw007]

That was an incredibly interesting interview. The anecdote about his chill session with Michael Jackson is fascinating.

[@TheThora17]

I absolutely concur, with both!

[@HisGraceHisGlory]

Ahh yes, the good old days for me, having just graduated high school, Dolby all over the radio and MTV. Listening to him and some of my other faves, like Talk Talk, Haircut 100, Tears for Fears and so many others. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[@websurfer5772]

I had to look up Haircut 100 just now 'cause I forgot what they sang. I remembered when I heard 'Love + 1" just now. That took me back. I got out my ancient Egyptian sistrum and started playing along with it. lol

[@mikekn8j]

Amazing story! This needs to go viral.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

I hope it does, Michael. David Hoffman - filmmaker And thank you.

[@goldtentee]

Thomas Dolby a very sober individual. Thanks for sharing.

[@astroteech]

I was an immediate fan of Thomas Dolby and still am today at 66. Phenomenal unequaled music. Screen Kiss is pure poetry.

[@rubysparrow2975]

I don't know how many VCR tapes I have when I taped MTV in the early days. My son has them now. He says they're pure gold, lol. Blinded Me With Science is on a few of them. I remember it was August, 1st. 1981 a Saturday my friends and I watched Video Killed The Radio Star by the Buggies and we were hooked. My Pop yelled at us as it was midnight. We were singing, dancing, and making to much noise. Our yelling out; I Want My MTV really ticked him off, lol. Those were the days and I was seventeen, the perfect time and place I felt for me for I love music. My T.V. never stopped playing MTV as long as I was home. I miss the olde days when it really was a music channel. I never watch it now. I actually went back to radio so I guess it isn't dead, lol.

[@Caperhere]

Great interview. Confession: I always thought Thomas Dolby invented Dolby, lol. What a wonderfully outgoing, charismatic man. Thank you David.

[@BeatSoma]

Wow this is legendary footage

[@Democratic_Industrialism]

I want my MTV back 🤧

[@RosebudKane41]

Make a KZbin playlist of old mtv commercial breaks and music videos from the era , that's what I do!

[@jasonrigler7020]

Back when MTV was MUSIC TV and not the crap they have now.

[@rodettegross1598]

Yasss!!! I hate that crap they're broadcasting now.

[@flicewatter]

I remember watching that video on MTV in 1984 over and over... and they played it at Skate Time USA..

[@latoyapalmer9135]

Wow this great I love new wave, punk rock music from the UK and USA. I Love Thomas Dolby his music is legendary much love from Millennial

[@kathleenh1998]

Wow, does this ever take me back..."good heavens miss sakamoto, you're beautiful!"

[@optigana]

Thomas Dolby, so nice to see him. He should have his own KZbin channel for all his interesting stories. I'm a big fan of his work. His song Budapest by Blimp is deffinitley in the soundtrack of my life. Very interesting interview, Mr. Hoffman. Thank you!

[@websurfer5772]

He does have his own YT channel with lots of content at Thomas Dolby Official right here on YT!! Yay! I'm checking out 'Budapest by Blimp' right now. This song kind of reminds me of Joe Jackson. I like it. It's very sophisticated music.

[@closertothetruth9209]

He aged well

[@johnbkirby3493]

'Video Killed the Radio Star' actually was the first video ever presented on MTV.

[@d.riprock1546]

Yes. The Buggles?

[@tredaman4382]

D Riprock yes

[@d.riprock1546]

We couldn't get it til DTV came. It had just started going downhill then.

[@mournblade1066]

NO WAY!

[@mournblade1066]

Now tell me what the SECOND video was. When you find out, it will blow your mind. (I mean, it blew MY mind. And I saw this artist in concert TWICE, and I had no idea.)

[@WilliamSilva-dq6zj]

Saw him in San Diego when Hyperactive came out... One of the best shows I've ever seen! When he played 'I scare myself' it was amazing !

[@websurfer5772]

I'm listening to "I Scare Myself' right now and then came upon this comment. It's such a good song. How fun to be finding new cool tunes by someone like Thomas Dolby. We lost MTV, but we've got YT, for now anyway.

[@Nivasi]

a completely new sound.. another time

[@kristinekarlson113]

I am so glad to have happened upon this interviews! I was absolutely fascinated with the music video for “She Blinded me with Science, particularly the scene in which Thomas dances with the woman whose back looks like a cello. I raced out and bought that album, “ The Golden age of Wireless and would listen to it all the way through, over and over. The beats were so cool and different! I had no idea Mr. Dolby had such a long and varied career, nor that he continued to be so good- looking. My college boyfriend looked just like him back in the day, but now Thomas looks ten years younger than him!. ❤Thank you so much for giving us this piece of music history.

[@bikesandcampswithcats]

Wow! So much to say in a half hour. I appreciate the background tutorial; I had never heard of "the Loveys," nor did I know the scientist in the video was real. I like how Thomas gave his assessment of MJ's behavior. I would love to ask him a few questions myself.

[@bearclaw007]

I have a feeling that most people commented before getting to the Michael Jackson part. Makes me sad that he was obviously in a state of arrested development.

[@bikesandcampswithcats]

@@bearclaw007 yeah...

[@enki9006]

Stumbled upon this…..amazing interview. What a charming person Thomas is.

[@RosebudKane41]

I loooove Thomas Dolby, that is so cool you are friends with him!! 👍🏼❤️

[@ThestuffthatSaralikes]

OMG!!! This is fantatic!! I LOVED this song when I was a kid...sigh. here's to the "hermit weirdos"!! thanks for the memories...didnt Mr Dolby go on to compose ringtones? Or was that someone else? I miss Mtv.

[@zibbybone]

yes, he had a company called Beatnik that invented polyphonic ringtones back in the late 90s. Pick up his autobiography "Speed of Sound", it's full of great stories from getting started in the music biz and then onto the tech industry.

[@BenjaminBphotographer]

I just started listening to this song again a week ago having not heard it since childhood, and now wow you have an interview with Thomas... and you are friends :) Love your work!!!

[@SetemkiaFawn]

I've been enjoying your documentaries for a while now. This one is quite special. I was not into this kind of music at all at that time and I thought that MTV was the invention of the devil. One of the worst things MTV ever did to us was inflict Beavis and Butt-head upon us. But hearing these stories and learning the history of this music and getting to see what it was in England at that time, this was very special to me. A decade later when punk scene was big in the US on I was in the Los Angeles area. You could walk up and down Melrose and all the weekend punks would be out. I had no idea how this started in the London Underground. So thank you so much for sharing this video with us. What I'm wondering is how you got the wonderful quality out of Zoom. This really was a wonderful film.

[@DARTHSKATER7]

I'm still watching this and WOW!! this story is so awesome. Life is amazing.

[@EvaCryptic]

I really appreciate the footage you provide. I hope other's find your channel, and can relive the past too. Everything you post is truly fascinating. Thank you!

[@SewardWriter]

I first heard this song when it was a hit--I was probably five or so--and it been among my favorites ever since. This was awesome, and I'd love to see more.

[@michaelhurst4818]

When I saw his video on Mtv I believe my intuition compelled my to appreciate Thomas Dolby’s character. There is a presence about him that lends ones subconscious in trusting him. The last 3rd of the interview seems to corroborate that. What a great piece. Thanks!

[@Isosceles1]

Fascinating guy! So is Thomas Dolby.

[@stephielulu9096]

Brilliant interview! '83 was the first time I saw MTV

[@davidellis5141]

His album " The Flat Earth " is one of the best of the 80's. RIP To Matthew Seligman a frequent collaborator who played with David Bowie at Live Aid 1985 at Wembley Stadium.

[@davidellis5141]

@@EOrtiz-mr3tv Screen Kiss my favorite track. Hyperactive was the hit. Hope you like it ! 🎸

[@perpetualcollapse]

Dolby was on Synths for Bowie at Live Aid iirc

[@angelawierda760]

🤗 OMGoshness! Takin me back to high school days.

[@Stelios78910]

I could've listened to these two for hours!

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you for your comment. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@hellemarc4767]

I love Thomas' music, I bought the "Wireless" album when it came out back in the 80s, but he's such a discreet, quiet guy, I never heard any promotion for records or tours back then... Great interview. Has he written a book? I'd love to read it, I'm sure he has lots of interesting stories to tell. Thank you Sir for this.

[@theresadavis1834]

Blinded me by Science is my favorite video even today.

[@marjieestivill]

This closed a loop in my life in a really satisfying way. What a blast to hear the stories, and then to see the whole MTV video at the end was the frosting, delicious. The enactment of Michael, including his voice, mindful of the kids as he was talking, I could picture that scene.

[@patriciaburke2401]

Amazing bit of the history of music! Thanks! Fascinating!

[@jasonrigler7020]

10,000 what? I miss the 80's. The 80's had the best moves, the best sitcoms(that actually delt with real issues), the best music, and the best of everything.

[@websurfer5772]

I was 21 in 1985 cruising around and a thought came to me that right then at that moment we had the perfect balance between the manmade world and nature. And then I thought, 'Why am I thinking this? Is that gonna change in the future?"

[@DARTHSKATER7]

This is absolute gold. I loved this song and artist when I was growing up 👍🏽

[@neilsumner6440]

Fascinating video. I'm looking forward to seeing Thomas Live next month in Manchester 🌝

[@themontephone875]

?! Really?! What a great connection! Thomas is so creative. Yes...culture in UK originated so much that children replicate and jump for the 80’s (from today.)

[@user-np8yd6ig6t]

Thomas, you're fantastic. Thanks for all your creative output over the years. Keep it going!

[@alexpalko2247]

Thomas Dolby was ahead of his time and is such a great creative music artist

[@iahelcathartesaura3887]

David Hoffman & Thomas Dolby together, in deep talk, describing history & culture - double brilliance & interview bliss! ❤❤❤ Thomas Robertson Dolby, the boffin. First in his school to have a cassette player with the Dolby button 👍Perfect! 😁👏 With Dr Magnus Pike 😀

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you for watching it all. Much appreciated. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@tinah.9864]

That was freaking awesome!!! I stumbled across Thomas Dolby and was obsessed then he showed up on MTV and I lost my mind. I'm completely over a lot of the 80's and 90's music but will always like Thomas Dolby.

[@rosalindr4975]

I graduated high school in 1984, mtv was so fresh and new. Thank you both for interview!

[@Stay___Strong]

I was 10 in 1982. We only had regular tv at that time. We had about 6 channels. Then in 1984 my Dad bought a satellite dish, and all of a sudden we had 100+ channels, and MTV was one of them. They still played videos like “She Blinded Me With Science” regularly in 1984. It was one of my favorite videos. I really liked the old Scientist guy in the video. I enjoyed seeing the playful, funny side of older people.

[@MarkJones-mm3br]

Fun fact #1: The old scientist guy was a prominent TV science commentator in the UK at the time, Dr Magnus Pyke. Fun fact #2: The "deranged scientists" were real professors from the university where Thomas Dolby's father worked as an archeology professor. They said they had a lot of fun that day.

[@websurfer5772]

@@MarkJones-mm3br That is awesome.

[@Detman101]

I remember when MTV came about. We had already had Cable in NYC, but I watched the "U-channels" on my analog tv by running an antenna made of metal coat hangers up to the roof and connecting it to the Rabbit Ears antenna of my little Sony TV. I remember watching "U-68" and finding "Video Music Box" late at night....loved it! But it only played for an hour. Then on Cable this new channel called "MTV" came out and they played music too! But this was on 24-7!!!!! Goodbye "Video Music Box"!!!

[@websurfer5772]

Ah - you're an inventive genius! 👍

[@debbieobryan5607]

We had Countdown here in Australia. Molly Meldrum hosted it. Loved it.

[@SeansMusicVault]

Wow. Well done. Thomas is one of my heroes, for sure.

[@johnnyk4551]

As a fan from wireless and every album since.. I had no idea I would learn that much more. Awesome interview.

[@olrikparlez3152]

One of my favorite channels...you've had quite a life to date Mr. Hoffman. May you continue to prosper in all ways.

[@jolenehauck7019]

WELL DONE! ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS!! THOMAS Please tell me more I loved your music! Your an amazing story teller!

[@zaskarclf]

Oh man...love this. I grew up in the 80s/90s. Love this song. Have it in my mp3 80s collection on my phone. Surreal experience he had with Michael.

[@EvansBrosRacing]

I recall MTV when it just started , I also recall the song Video Killed The Radio Star , and everyone here in the states who watched MTV would remember Thomas Dolby's Hit She Blinded Me With Science , whether it was our style or not . I was more of a hard rock and metal fan but also liked oldies , motown and old country . I was not into new wave or punk , but it invaded the radio stations like it or not . I have to go watch Thomas's videos now , great video David Hoffman

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you Ted. David Hoffman

[@youparejo]

Dear David, I wish you or someone else would make a documentary about your life. You really lived, witnessed, embodied and now telling the History of the USA 🇺🇸 I wish I could meet you one day. Much love from Algeria 🇩🇿

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you. Maybe someday. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@argyleeuphoria6200]

Great interview. Thanks!

[@jpjp3873]

I wish Thomas Dolby was my friend! Seems like a nice guy.

[@KissMyBiscuits]

Oh, thank you! This is awesome! I loved Thomas Dolby and have the fondest memories of listening to this song when I was young! Yes, I think I did hear it first in the clubs before MTV.

[@jacquelinec.6785]

Thomas Dolby [Robertson] has really aged well🎙️ Great Insight

[@autecheee]

Fan of Thomas Dolby...great insight into the era and origin of the ‘She blinded me with science’ song video. I found his ‘bizarre’ meeting with Michael Jackson disturbing in light of what we know today.

[@Djoarhet001]

I agree with your last statement. Dolby seems very protective over Jackson's image. And of course he would be. Imagine going to a foreign country where you know nobody and someone just selfessly invites you in his home and is very hospitable. Imagine that person being one of the biggest entertainers we have known in the last century. That's a story you would cherish for the rest of your life. And rightly so. So the idea of the allegations being true must hurt for Dolby and be unacceptable. His perception of Jackson is all based on that one evening that felt bizarre and excentric to him. BUT it was all innocent right? How could you think such horrible things of a man that has been nothing but kind and inviting to him? I mean what would you expect? Michael Jackson being touchy touchy with those children right in front of you? Of course he made it all seem innocent. That is exactly what grooming is. I'm a victim of abuse myself and I had to hear years of nothing but good words about the person who did those things with me. Nobody had a clue. I don't know what happened and what didn't but from my own experiences I get the sense that Dolby got groomed. The words he uses, the way het tells his story, Michael Jackson couldn't have been a bigger saint to him... It just feels very off.

[@websurfer5772]

@@Djoarhet001 I'm sorry that happened to you. It's something many of us are learning about nowadays and I think the way you've written about it here is very respectful. I feel bad for everyone that gets caught up in it. I mean, the culprits were likely victims as children too. I pray humanity can change for the better and evolve. 😢

[@therealjt6000]

I’m 15 and I found this video super interesting!

[@TheThora17]

Thank you for this unique interview- I came across by accident! What a very genuine individual- thank you for telling your experience with the Late Micheal Jackson as well. He was grossly misunderstood I agree.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that KZbin is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@debbieobryan5607]

Thankyou David Hoffman. very interesting interview.

[@BeliaLastes]

Great interview David with Thomas, Dolby 👍👍 I sometimes sing his song Hyperactive to my cat 🐈😺 when she gets the zoomies 😹😹

[@SongWhisperer]

I'll never forget the day my parents had one of those 10' foot satellite dishes installed in the backyard, we went from only having 2 channels to the sky has no limits (literally). The birth of music videos was a great time for anyone who loved to see their favorite bands, now we use KZbin to watch our favorite entertainers. Video killed The radio star, and KZbin (the internet) killed the monopoly on main stream music/entertainment. Great video as always, one of your best (IMO).

[@TheRealGnolti]

"Dolby the Boffin" has a mythic ring to it.

[@JoeBlow_4]

Interestingly, The Buggles' version of "Video Killed the Radio Star" was the very first music video aired on MTV at 12:01 a.m., on August 1, 1981. That song started it all off.

[@StevieDamnit]

Thomas' video for Hyperactive helped shape my warped sense of humor.

[@Beyond90Seconds]

Fantastic interview and insights. 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@mikemeengs5720]

Dolby looks great! Different, but great!

[@JS-jn8ku]

Very enjoyable. Great interview. The song, for me, as a teen, was " The Eighties"...the generation rebelling against the Woodstock generation, is the best comparison, I can relay from my perception of the song, and time. All I know is, I really had a lot of fun.

[@websurfer5772]

We were either Yuppies or Punks. I guess I was a Yuppie with a hippie .

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

Great interview! Tysm both of you!

[@dimikaitanidis8612]

Dayum, Mr. Dolby !!! How incredibly well you ve aged... still got that boyishly charm ! I was one of the "weird" kids because i was a T. Dolby Fan :D Never regretted it... learned to embrace it, in fact, thanks to your prime example :D much appreciated Also " Aliens ate my Buick" is one of the greatest album-titles someone could come up with... keep going strong...both of you

[@exeter232]

It's interesting to hear the history those things that added to my history

[@hremaddox]

I've always had the biggest crush on him. Funny story. I'm an attorney now and am presenting about defending against junk science in criminal prosecutions. I built his video into my presentation to be playing as people come into the hall and leave the hall. The title of the presentation I'm giving is "She Blinded Me With Junk Science: Successfully Defending Against Junk Science." If you see him, let him know. He might get a chuckle out of that.

[@websurfer5772]

That's incredible! Good job 👏 I hope you're really exposing it all. I can't believe how much we've been lied to after doing deep dives into the 'science' we've all been taught. Now we need to try to sort the truth from the lies. Thank you for doing your part.

[@rodettegross1598]

What a fun interview! Thank you!!

[@ollDeadfishllo]

It always gives me tingles when artists talk about the process behind their music and videos. Your interviews are always awesome! Thankyou Mr.Hoffman :)

[@johnlomax2502]

As an American kid from North Carolina, I moved to England in the summer of 1983, initially to follow the trail of an old family connection/connections. My journey through southern England during that time period is epic within my own life and memories, perhaps unsurprisingly. I can absolutely attest to what Thomas is talking about. England was such a homogenous and very different culture in comparison to American culture back then. It still is, but not in the same way. The contrast then was so starkly apparent. I became the camilion that I am just so people would actually talk to me.

[@websurfer5772]

How did you change yourself to fit in?

[@TheSepticYank]

Wonderful! More!

[@claycountybrian5645]

Greetings from Clay County, Missouri! Ahh, 1982. I was 21. Going to E-RAU in Daytona Beach. Classes from like 4 til 10pm Miles of bars and a different choice of females every week. Living a block and a half from the beach. Yeah , I don't remember much of 1982. But I DO remember MTV and I DO remember seeing Joan Jett and the B52s open for The Who at the T-Bowl in Orlando in Nov '82 well, about a song and a half from the B52s Thanks you two! 569 thumbs up! \m/ later

[@centexrails]

Wow, excellent interview. Thank you for sharing!

[@oomybeauty]

Was just listening to blinded me with science this morning! Sounds great LOUD... Cruising along with the windows down 😁🧡🌺 Thanks for this interview 👍 excellent!! Hi Thomas Dolby 👋🌻

[@carapo66]

I remember this video, loved it.

[@kristabell5107]

Love this interview David. MTV and the clip - blinded me with science - were huge in Australia In the ‘80’s. Brings back memories of high school and being a teen at that time. I could listen to him all day he’s that interesting.

[@RDJim]

David, this is a great interview. Thanks for sharing it.

[@MrsC48]

Really enjoyed the interview. Would like to hear more of Thomas's stories. Great song. Loved it in the 80s and still love it today.

[@timshallbetter9151]

I'm just finding this now. Thank you David. Great interview, I love listening to Thomas lecture. The Invisible Lighthouse anyone?

[@lddixon2394]

David does it again with another fantastic video. This interview with the hugely talented and delightful Thomas Dolby is fascinating, enriching and entertaining. Thank you. Loved it!

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@scottkasper6378]

That was great! I was 11 years old when mtv started, so it was smack in my generation. I saw this video a thousand times. May have even been how I discovered the beauty of Asian women from Ms. Sakimoto😂

[@KathleenMcCormickLCSWMPH]

Another great video, David! You’ve got all the eras covered! I remember this song and video well. This was one of the better songs and well executed videos of the time. Endlessly entertaining...

[@jesilam]

Great interview! I really appreciated what he had to share about meeting with Michael Jackson and his journey breaking into the business. I was a product of the 80's and a musician during the late decade and thoroughly enjoyed MTV, Night Flyte, Night Tracks, Friday Night Videos, Video Jukebox (on HBO) and so many more music video programs (not just on MTV), making for many sleepless nights with my VCR player trying to record my favorites to listen and watch over, again and again. Your interview took me back to those days of Rock n roll and Reaganomics. And being a closet nerd back then, disguised as a rock star singing and playing keyboards with my rock band... keyboard musicians like Thomas Dolby, Howard Jones & Elton John became an inspiration to the kind of musician I wanted to be. Alas... my story through these decades evolved with a very interesting tale (and another closet) - but these were the sounds that shaped me and got me through those times. THANKS FOR SHARING :-)

[@vhscopyofseinfeld]

Amazing video David! Being born in ‘82 I’m becoming progressively more obsessed with 1980s pop culture. Thank you so much.

[@rosalindr4975]

Your name says it all lol

[@jakoblaban429]

Great and most charming interview. I could listen to this all day. Thank you for this piece!

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Ojisan642]

This was a great video. Thomas Dolby is a great storyteller and very interesting. Thank you for sharing this!

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you. I completely agree. Thomas is a great storyteller. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@marcdelaunay1]

Loved this song and video with the uk famous science/scientist TV presenter 😀...dr Magnus Pike, met him along with sir Patrick Moore in the nineties...at xmas pantomime...loved Thomas Dolby's work and still have a signed vinyl EP into the attic haha.....his autobiography is great...as uni students into filming programmes for uni TV rather than attending lectures, we loved and lived through the whole MTV inception....historic pictorial narrative style we used too! Another fantastic video sir, thanks so much!✌️

[@robertpritchett5856]

Love this.❤❤❤ knew this. Feels new.