Tiswas Sept 1981 featuring Mick Karn (Japan)

[@kdp8133]

Some of the comments here are absolutely hilarious. Tiswas was a Saturday morning TV show for children. Yet it gained such a cult status, it became more popular amongst adults. Queen, Led Zep, Genesis, Duran, all big bands of the day appeared on it and were humiliated in some way and I thought Mick was a great sport. British humour folks....

[@therespectedlex9794]

More of a posh school south England humour to be fair. Hence it isn't funny.

[@stevemckenna2401]

What on Earth was such a wonderful genius bass player doing appearing on a silly children’s tv show. R.I.P. Mick. Sadly missed

[@liborsionko]

Because life was better then

[@kdp8133]

Having fun!

[@TheFartGallery]

@@liborsionko You got that right, Lorne. I would've been about 18!

[@Danthehorse]

Because it was chaotic fun and everyone loved it. It was also where I first had my young ears pricked up when Japan were on the show, first time I had ever seen or heard them, that alien sounding fretless bass. And from that moment music became a thing for me. So that show did me a great service. 👍

[@thesuncollective1475]

That's why I love the brits..humbling experience. Can you imagine MJ on there?

[@mervynqueeley2106]

That was brilliant. I have more respect for him. Humility is so great to see.

[@JimsGym-wj6cd]

Thanks for this, Mick looked like me in 1985, my own mother used to get us confused on tv.

[@BrucePercyPhoto]

I hate that when it happens.

[@stuartwray6175]

Did he look like you in 1981? You mean, you looked like him in 1985?

[@TweedSuit]

The definition of ahead of their time. A song released in 1979 becomes a hit in 1981.

[@heathergeary2724]

Some of their other songs probably would have charted if they had been rereleased like Fall in Love With Me, Swing, Gentlemen Take Polaroids, Methods of Dance, Still Life in Mobile Homes, and Art of Parties.

[@RunawayAngel1]

Mick is too beautiful for this!!!

[@saintetienne755]

He was above that nonsense - definitely a cut above - makes you believe some people are more worthy. An elegant, beautiful man.

[@blackmore4]

We didn't see his reaction but I bet he was fine with being cream-pied. Oh, that didn't come out as I intended ;) My point being that their brilliant music was more than enough, they had no need to be precious.

[@LAMags]

Nice!! Mick you were an absolutely amazing bass player!! It is to bad Japan split up... but as everything in life ... things change .. such a gorgeous man, it is that olive skin, I believe Mick came to London when he was 2 or 3. His birthplace was Cyprus from what I read . Mick you were taken from this world to soon, always remembered, never forgotten. R.I.P. Mick🙏♥️💐🎸 Take care everyone , luv LA 2021🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada

[@johnnyconnelly5706]

Mick's accent changed later..Sylvian sounded the same around this time..South London.Catford, lewisham. He was a Genius gone too soon...smoking kills..

[@madarab37]

I read it was terminal brain cancer

[@CRAIGSCHULER]

Good sport Mick. I hope your appearance inspired many young artists of the time

[@BeYounique...Maryanne]

What a beautiful man and a great talent! I was so lucky I got to see him perform at The Bottom Line in NYC. I love all his work with Japan and favor his solo album, "Titles." My mom loved the song "Sensitive" and when I was young and still lived with her, she often made me play that song for her. She died over a month ago. In the fall I'm going to get a tattoo reading "Titles" in her honor; it will be something that was personal to my mom and myself. And will honor Mick Karn too. 🙏❤

[@darylchambers5945]

Have n`t seen this before. I went to that exhibition. He was very talented. For such an exotic looking man, it`s quite a surprise to hear such a thick S.London accent! Thanks for posting.

[@thesuncollective1475]

Mich Karn on Tiswas. This guy is the most sophisticated , intelligent bass player ever and he's on Tiswas..Mad.

[@HerAeolianHarp]

Whose bright idea was it to drag this (kind) creative genius through banal hell after an artistic all nighter?!?!

[@neugestalt]

Many thanks for this, Paul..... I saw it many years ago and had completely forgotten about it.

[@justinebourke2811]

Poor Mick trying not to look too bored but not exactly succeeding 😅

[@kdp8133]

British humour...

[@andrewjohnstone963]

A total gentleman was Mick! Could you imagine Sylvian doing this no way! Thanx Mick for being you ❤

[@bridgetslavin1084]

Mick wanted the fame. David didn't

[@CusterFlux]

… just read the Foreign Place bio, IIRC, Napier-Bell pretty much did have to drag him out.

[@ronjohnson-r5t]

Tiswas was what it was: a kids programme with custard pies. Brilliant, and I loved it as a kid and it sure spanked the arse of Swap Shop. If you didn't want a custard pie in the face then you shouldn't go on the programme with a face like a slapped arse when it happens. I mean this was a programme that had the 'Phantom Flan Flinger' for goodness sake. Oh, and did I say Japan was my favorite band in the early eighties. I didn't have a problem with either, so shall we just say oil and water, and definitely not oil on canvas.

[@vinny9708]

I shaved my eyebrows off and people just laughed a me

[@stuartwray6175]

Respect.

[@waverider6kj32]

A Giant amongst Bass players ,as good as the late Chris Squire,of Yes.His style of bass playing was unique,and I wish I could just get that "sound "he had on the bass,And another great band this country missed out on,for bubble-gum muzak.

[@winstonchurchill6506]

13 years old were as it gone

[@stuartwray6175]

1981 - that's more than 13 yrs ago. You mean Mick was 13 at the time?

[@winstonchurchill6506]

No I was 13 simples

[@krisscanlon4051]

Wow Karn on Tiswas??? Miss him...

[@texastea350]

Brilliant . Do you think it’s too late to write in with the answer to the question ? 😂

[@PALACEKAV]

Mick Karn is a total gentleman in this,all things considered.Bear in mind she was married to Keith Chegwin.How far removed can you get!

[@MalquiLans]

Sally James / Maggie Philbin same person?? Nope

[@roodivalentino2416]

Maggie Philbin was Chegger's wife not Sally.

[@RighteousBrother]

You doofus! Sally James was hot, it was Maggie Philbin who was married to Cheggers!

[@jake-fj2zi]

pie in da face. i am laughing a bit

[@MrThomas1958]

thx

[@davidhoffmann6040]

omg poor Mike, I think I would be rather unconfortable in this situation 😅 it's look like a nightmare for me 😅

[@paulspence477]

Did Sally James say "David Silverman"

[@madarab37]

Kept awake too long only to be pied in the face for thanks. I wouldn't have the patience Mick had.

[@lucianofigueiredo7220]

Muito top demais

[@ericlindsey3069]

Dear Mick, being such a good sport about this. Kind of a lame ass show and "tradition" of planning people with shaving cream or whatever. I am sure DS enjoyed this, lol ;) Took a brave classy guy to do this show and even got their next tour promoted so Simon was happy.

[@pauly2929]

I wonder if he agreed to custard pie thing prior or he just assumed he’d get it as it was their thing to do?

[@siientsinger6637]

I agree @paulrymer, I'd have cringed even way back, I'd not be surprised if this was not a bit of a "go against DS, his personal life with a certain lady that for a while caused tension between them, plus, it went against DS dominence. But I was very surprised to see this,

[@lindseyirvine9379]

oh my gosh. Mick should've punched her in the face for that. He's such a nice man... give him a break.

[@blackmore4]

And if he had, think about it... would you seriously think he hadn't been a complete dick? I bet he had no problem with it whatsoever.

[@ajs41]

The whole point of this show was that everyone got a pie in their face. Everyone knew that beforehand including Mick Karn.

[@roodivalentino2416]

Turns out he had no idea

[@nocre2948]

@@roodivalentino2416 Did it? :D

[@kdp8133]

It's what they did on Tiswas....

[@paulkazjack]

Hee hee no one's listening....

[@mmmegameat]

Silly Cow interviewer is a real Jabberbox!

[@tb-cg6vd]

Sally James was a childhood legend and their dad's fantasy. You had to be there, Tiswas was genius and never bettered.

[@Bunbury1974]

Era la rutina de la entrevistadora tirar la crema de huevos a los invitados??

[@larst560]

Ma la torta in faccia...perche' 😮???

[@Bigsbeee]

I hope he got well paid for doing the CRAP .. What was he thinking.

[@liborsionko]

Like most folk of a certain age they grew up with Tiswas. It's about having fun. Pomposity free zone!

[@heathergeary2724]

He may have been thinking that some of the children watching the show and their parents watching the show with them might enjoy Japan’s music. I loved music as child and would have enjoyed seeing a show like this but I live in the US. I would have been 6 at the time.

[@fightersweep]

@@heathergeary2724 Absolutely! I was 11 in 1981 and was still watching Tiswas as I enjoyed it's chaotic energy. A lot of the music I love now came from watching shows like this, Tiswas, Swap Shop, Kenny Everett Video Show and stuff like that. These shows introduced a lot of us UK kids to some great music by showcasing a lot of the new wave acts of the time.

[@roodivalentino2416]

All that face makeup ruined!

[@csfan65]

What a strange show. You can tell he doesn't really want to be there.

[@dawnangela4364]

What an awful interview. She hasn't got a clue!!!

[@liborsionko]

She had enough of a clue. It's not the Japan Fan show!

[@dave28d]

I disagree. It is only a children's programme, but she was still informed and reasonably articulate - in fact more so than many presenters of 'adult' content.

[@pinkpyjamas-ey6rw]

Poor bloke, having to be dragged out the house to go on this sh1tty gig.