Blancmange (The Tube, Dec. 1982)

1) Blind Vision
2) Living on the Ceiling
The Tube was an innovative UK pop/rock music television programme, which ran for 5 seasons, from 1982 until 1987.

[@Penny-Lane]

It is a live performance! Back then the youngsters really needed to have musical skills. Glad that I grew up in the 80s.

[@emmetdonnelly2072]

There simply isn't anything like this anymore and never will be! Only sounds like this can be done on old machines. I love it! A beautiful, mysterious, caring magical time.

[@Rafaeldeimperial]

////___Blancmange son Geniales❤❤❤

[@eightieslover75]

Yep, thats why an original Jupiter-8 can cost upwards of £20,000

[@eightieslover75]

back then the cost £4000 which was a lot of money, that's equivalent to £13000 in todays money.

[@whjess]

so true

[@user-os1nh7xq1z]

@@eightieslover75 But 20 years ago you could get them for like $800...I did! Still got mine!

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Despite my name I'm an 80s synthpop geek also, I bloody love Blancmange and this awesome. The tube was a fantastic TV programme

[@yannmakosso6535]

The most underrated

[@christopheradderley45]

Takes me back to seeing Blancmange at the Hammersmith Palais back in '83. A standing only venue that soon turned into a magically happy sweaty disco of swirling synthesizers and sitars. Brilliant concert and all for just £3.50p....although the memories are priceless

[@Lee-sv8su]

Now I realise how brilliant these guys were. I was 12 at the time and my love affair started with this kind of music and still is to this day. That Roland machine!!!!

[@geekpie100]

If I could go back to the early 80s, I wouldn't come back here.

[@dream-67]

+royal nass why not? 1980-84 was extremely creative! It all got too corporate with Band Aid, Live Aid and all that crap by 1984

[@dream-67]

+royal nass Yes mostly in the early 80s! Poppier stuff like Human League, Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, Associates even Haircut 100 were much better than the overproduced PWL era of the late 80s, in the early 80s the mainstream was exciting

[@JamesWilliams-ki7im]

@@dream-67 let's not forget Gary Numan and Yazoo!

[@spartanx5806]

words i live by

[@redrotten1]

@@royalnass1029 shut up ! Superb times superb music ..

[@Charlietwice]

I always remember the power of those synths. The buzz and hum at the start was a thing of dreams.

[@garymacmillan6401]

I saw them supporting Japan an Newcastle City Hall. It was eightiestastic.

[@brianheaney9040]

dont believe it! i remember watching this getting ready to go out. i think this live version is better than the studio single, brill.!

[@alexanderthomas542]

One of my favourite youtube live performances 😘

[@alygodsquad]

Blancmange still performing in 2022 ! Saw them a few years ago in the Acapela Studio in Cardiff. Awesome !

[@guttersnippeesmithers3905]

Get the potatoe pie on mum lol brilliant

[@garyandrewranford]

Can't wait until 16th September 2021... Blancmange are playing live in Colchester Arts Centre... and I have tickets 🎟 ☺ Its been a long time, and long overdue to see Neil and Stephen on stage 👌 👍 😀

[@wreckage-vs5jv]

"1981..they were signed to London Records which allowed them to make their first synth purchase, a Roland Jupiter 8" The Roland came out October 81, with a £3995 price tag, that's £16339 today. There is one on ebay for €11500.

[@ceephaxx]

'TAL-J8' is a very agreeable and affordable VSTi alternative!

[@DannyAnzaldua]

Always been my favorite song from the 80's Blancmange definitely did an amazing job on this song always watching this on MTV was my go to video very masterful without a doubt

[@unclethomas64]

A lot of folk think that the Synth Player is Vince Clarke. It is not Vince Clarke. It is Stephen Luscombe.

[@pauljohnpinkybennett3557]

The first band I seen live, at the Royal Court, Liverpool, 82'. Living on the ceiling was my first ever 7 inch single I bought. The start of my love for proper music. ❤️ 💯

[@ERINYES10]

I was 14. I totally get it.

[@ERINYES10]

Although as an American I had to hunt exhaustively for any British New Wave. Plus no TOTP. We had the awful "Solid Gold".

[@securityrobot]

They were fantastic and had a unique sound that was well apart from the stuff going around at that time.

[@silverwing8203]

55. How goddam lucky was my generation.

[@Charlietwice]

the Tube was the greatest TV programme of all time. great bands great presenters great music every friday.

[@alexsmyth9579]

Was never into Blacmange in the 80s and I don't know why - they're really great!

[@mcdazz2011]

Absolute gold.

[@HiggyBungy]

Wow thanks for sharing this vid. 1982 I think the crowd weren't ready for Blind Vision. Seeing it performed on this vid makes me think it was as though the Newcastle crowd were not aware of what they were witnessing because it is almost house music in style (not many dancing). Pity at this performance they didn't start off with the bigger Living on the Ceiling first to warm the crowd. Its like watching genius ahead of their time seeing this clip. Thanks again so much for posting. ❤😊

[@stablestaple]

You’re most welcome and tx for the interesting comment 👍

[@skyhawk747]

Those Jupiter 8's nowadays are absolute insane money.

[@luissoriano1492]

Wowww ! Love this live presentation of Blancmange . . im dancin on my seat at my job . i want to sing this both nice tunes at kareoke and have a great time . . !! " and im so tall, im so tall "" LIKE !!

[@Botele]

Simply awesome!❤

[@SteveAFCLondon]

Great 'live' voice

[@rsmith7912]

The Tube was a great show on a Friday evening with a live audience. They always had the best new upcoming bands & comedians of the early '80s. This is great to see Blancmange on The Tube again after all theses years. First time I saw them was in '81 when they were supporting Grace Jones doing her 'one man show' at London's Drury Lane theatre. Then last month, Dec '22, I went to the Islington Assembly Hall gig in London. They went on to have a good few classic hits & it's brilliant that Neil Arthur is still touring & still putting out great new music after all these years.

[@timotheegerost4173]

hello from France and gold medals for this great bands !!

[@loobycarroll]

They just don't make music like this any more!! Always felt that they were so unappreciated!! Loved them in the 80's and love them even more now!! Saw Neil twice last year!! He was on top form! Shame about Stephen tho... Cheers for sharing... ;) x

[@ianc1269]

I miss the Tube

[@Rafaeldeimperial]

////___ Super Cool y Banguardista a su Epoca. Unos kapos ❤❤❤

[@richardhorry]

I remember seeing Blancmange at Rock City, Nottingham back in the early 80's. I think it was on a school night🙂 They had a reel to reel tape machine for the backing and the Jupiter 8 for the lead parts. Sheer brilliance though. Many Thanks for posting this👍

[@josmith2031]

Neils hair brill 🥳my boy has that hair now 🤣🤣

[@fleabee2]

Brings back good memories ....now this is what real talented pop stars are not rubbish like one direction ...Happier times sadly

[@Mr11Worcester]

Lee F Couldn’t agree more

[@pauljohnpinkybennett3557]

Such a true comment that only the baby boom will understand.

[@ianday5115]

totally underrated band!!!

[@lorrainemosley6216]

Seeing. Them. In. November. 2021

[@djphineart]

That roland jupiter8 is 50% of the genius of this song

[@jaggass]

+djphineart the roland jupiter 8 made it sound like 4 people playing at once that synth was the backbone of this song

[@moroder65]

only if you know how and what to program in it, and you have to still know music in theory

[@KidMrRemixes]

What a load of twoddle.

[@paullee2449]

It's a great synth. My favourite analogue. But the genius is the song writing, it always is. There's a simple test. If the song works on an acoustic guitar or piano, then it's a good song. (Not just production)

[@ThePhilGrimm]

@@paullee2449 Yes, like a film. If the story and acting grip you, the size of the screen doesn't matter.

[@eightieslover75]

Jeez almost had to look twice, keyboard guy looks like Vince Clarke

[@electrozaps]

Neil still has the same enthusiasm playing live ! great banter between songs ! that JP8 must be worth 10 K now !

[@jaggass]

2 JP8's went for about 6.8k on ebay this week.

[@kvfive]

Blancmange - Happy Families, still a great album :)

[@richardrickford3028]

The track off it that never gets enough attention is "Kind" - like quite afew blancmange tracks I have no idea what the lyrics are about but it is still bloody brilliant.

[@jasoncollins1702]

Like New Order with a decent singer; and these guys aren't afraid to show they're having fun. Neil Arthur is a rapper.

[@mrb018538]

Glad you aren’t the only one who thinks Bernard Sumner is a horrendous singer. Like bad karaoke.

[@MaleTears]

@@mrb018538 the worst singer of all the famous new wave bands

[@Charlietwice]

That’s funny

[@joeogle7729]

He tried bless him...

[@deletebilderberg]

Few months before this was broadcast I stood with Neil watching New Order at Futurama in north Wales.

[@peterabram62]

Aah Friday evenings, London, the Tube. Great days.

[@Seschet]

❤ 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤎 🤍 🧡 ❤ 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤎 🤍 🧡 ❤ 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 🤎 🤍 🧡 Auch die originäre Version aus 2023 von Blancmange ist sensationell !

[@nitroherm1]

Vince Clarke and Ian Curtis if they formed a duo.

[@andykenny5674]

The great thing about punk and post punk era music was that anyone could get together and make a band. You didn’t need an army of management, producers, PR people or any of the other crap that modern music “requires”. As a result, the music sounded fresh and creative and not utterly utterly sterile like nowadays. Oh, and it wasn’t a prerequisite that the song had to be about going to a club and meeting/breaking up with a girl either.

[@richardrickford3028]

This was really shown to be true when OMD wrote the album track Stanlow off Organisation. It was about an oil rig!

[@nutster9000]

You'd be surprised at a few new artists that descibe exactly that, which have appeared over the last ten to fifteen years. Depends what sort of music you listen to & if you keep your ear to the ground. Agreed, you will rarely ever hear music of this quality standard in the charts, but saying that of all the artists recently I'd say Sigrid & her band & production team have made some of the best music in the last three years. Also from Ukraine of all countries I'd highly recommend Onuka, their music is just sublime. kzbin.info

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

More people and money were needed back then than now. You needed a recording studio with specialists who knew how to run the equipment back then to get anything that sounded remotely good, even for punk records. You also had to invest in vinyl pressing. Neither of those investments are required now to get an adequate sounding release now. You don't even need to invest in guitars or synthesizers now; music can be created by downloading free software recreations. Not making a claim about the quality of such music, just that it is easier and cheaper now than in the era you're praising for accessibility of music-making.

[@prokesuk]

All you need now is a youtube channel and a bit of luck. Maybe it's the ease and the tech that is making it "sterile." Personally, I thought the Yamaha DX7 and the introduction of CDs ushered in a lot of sterile crap in the 80s.

[@psiPeople]

​@@nutster9000 I just watched the video you posted and there's nothing original there, and it's also about the victorious warriors in a war (I think against Russia), this topic by itself aside the supposedly artistic content, is very very suspicious for many reasons I won't try to mention here. Are you suggesting that this is comparable to the music and the spirit of the video where we are commenting on, or do you think that these type of self proclaimed artists are at the same level of...? Believe me that I'm not trying to dismiss new artists, I actually like many of the current era.

[@MrKingers]

Man, seen the "reunion"stuff cool........This is how I first saw it on a Thursday night at 7 on Top of the Pops in the UK.......I was Blown away. My hair wouldn't grow long enough fast enough!!!!!

[@iandoyle1969]

MrKingers Same here tho i never had curly hair

[@sarafox5792]

saw them live last night, very tight, excellent!

[@BARDAKABRAMA]

7:21 "bloody tree" was replaced with "Christmas tree" as per BBC demand

[@jacquelineiona1996]

Wow...THANK YOU for uploading this performance 😘💯🎵💖🎶

[@RalphsiegfriedGrundmann]

Simplification ✨timeless...

[@pauljohnpinkybennett3557]

This takes me back to the Royal Court, Liverpool. What a night. 93'At least hse said 'bloody'.

[@mrrandom177]

Great version !

[@Flur1]

Magnificent Blancmange.

[@philippebrun5182]

Superbe performance A quiet perfect live ! How many groups are able to do the same ? One synthetizer and one guitare.... orchestration rythms colours of sounds all is here

[@JaniceLalla]

The best ever!

[@wam44]

Have always loved this band-some of the vocals sound out of key to me on Blind Vision. Thanks for posting...

[@andyb7339]

Excellent 👍

[@rachelleyoung488]

Watched him at Rochester castle concert on wed he was brilliant

[@joeogle7729]

Those synths!! 🤯🤯

[@jfphotoandlife8287]

Jupiter 8 ❤

[@patrickhicks9880]

this man had a great voice

[@sarafox5792]

he still has, fab live last night

[@patrickhicks9880]

@@sarafox5792 i was going to see them i had tickets but my cat died and i just didn't feel like going i think he lives in stroud now

[@melgrant7404]

@@patrickhicks9880 that's just 9 miles from me in glos.

[@anabltc]

seriously 🔥

[@BossySwan]

Up t'bloody tree

[@darrenthomas5634]

Hi and thanks again so much fun Christmas happy New year doing today know that you have some fun with you doing today

[@lizc2023]

Blancmange fucking rule

[@blixaland]

Man I don't think I ever seen any of their stuff live yet. Thanks for this! I also haven't heard Blancmange in FOREVER. Forgot how good their sound was if I'm honest.

[@martinparker9249]

is it me or does the first track remind one of a cross between Ian curtis from Joy division and vince clark from erasure/depeche ?? with a bit of Kraftwerk too in the middle ......MAGICAL COMBO !!

[@spud912]

Yep definitely see Vince C in him

[@TheNouveauxdecadence]

Stunnning

[@tr9092]

I want that Jupiter-8!

[@richardrickford3028]

Check out "Western" off the more recent album "Blancburn" for another absolutely brilliant dance track by Blancmange that uses wonderful Asian instrumentation.

[@darrenthomas5634]

Dear David thank you for all of your family and friends see you and Darren Thomas àirwolf Knight rider fan page and beautiful nurses are beautiful teachers and students Wales

[@WeAreTheTrappists]

Thanks for sharing this. One thing though - it's Dec '82 isn't it (pre- 'Blind Vision' single release)?

[@darrenthomas5634]

Beautiful.blacmange..blind.vision.......darren.thomas..vision. àirwolf Knight rider and friends see the best wishes and beautiful teachers and staff and students Wales and best wishes

[@zulux90]

JUPITER 8 I SALUTE YOU 🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹

[@stablestaple]

You're very welcome and thanks for the correction - now amended. Best regards.

[@macker8017]

Were is the old woman from the video

[@DarrenBonJovi]

ahm up t'blooody tree

[@chacotaco8045]

Neil Arthur (singer) would have been about 24 years old here.

[@darrenthomas5634]

Hello lovely day Japan best wishes to you love you Darren Thomas àirwolf Knight rider love the best wishes and thanks again and again so much fun Christmas happy New year to you love you

[@chrissofad]

You should listen to their latest release - Reduced Voltage - not a dissimilar sound - very industrial. Still making great music after all these years.

[@andrewhillis2269]

I can hear the tablas but where is Pandit Dinesh ? ? ? 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@timcoffey5927]

Is the Jupiter 8 playing the arpegiators too ? - what drum machine is that

[@synth1002]

So "Blind Vision" is actually from 1982? Some say it is from 1983, anyway they are also pioneers of synthpop, very underrated

[@joaquindominguez1526]

yep, the single was released in april 1983, this was a type of "premiere" on New Year Eve.

[@synth1002]

@@joaquindominguez1526 Interesting! Thanks for the info!

[@darrenthomas5634]

Hi Darren Thomas àirwolf Knight rider fan page and beautiful Knight rider fan page and beautiful Knight rider love to hear from you and Darren Thomas àirwolf Knight rider

[@darrenthomas5634]

DD free and students Wales and best wishes and thanks again and again so much fun Christmas happy New year doing well happy New year

[@darrenthomas5634]

We will have to see you soon àirwolf Knight rider fan hello lovely ladies Hollywood Wales and best wishes to all is good morning hope all is good morning hope all is well happy with you doing today know that you have some fun with you doing today

[@stevel.2759]

Roland synthesizer

[@80ssynthfan48]

Is the sequenced bassline being piped in, or is it from one of the things hanging off the Jupiter 8?

[@Andy-kd1kb]

In those days on a Tascam reel to reel tape machine. These days Neil uses a Akai Professional MPC X live, Chris (Pemberton) (his new keyboard player uses Mainstage)

[@80ssynthfan48]

@@Andy-kd1kb thanks

[@paulbradley705]

Is there comeback any good ?

[@darrenthomas5634]

Do you think of my life is good morning hope all is well happy New year doing today love you Darren Thomas àirwolf Knight rider fan page and friends see you and Darren Thomas

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

I loved this duo in their prime but I had to admit: Neil Arthur has all the compelling stage presence of a sweet dessert popular throughout Europe commonly made with milk or cream and sugar thickened with rice flour, gelatin, corn starch, or Irish moss (a source of carrageenan), and often flavoured with almonds.

[@offworldnetwork]

Gratuitous Jupiter 8 filth... back for my monthly fix... bring it on

[@eightieslover75]

Getting Talking Heads vibes here

[@anabltc]

+ Gang of Four

[@darrenthomas5634]

Hi and thank of you Darren Thomas àirwolf Knight rider love you Darren Thomas àirwolf Knight rider and friends see you and Darren Thomas ☺️🤣🤣☺️🤣🤣🤣☺️🤣🤣

[@captmack007]

Tough crowd I guess. I'd be bouncing of the ceiling lol.

[@dominiquemessager3008]

😂😂😂😂😂❤

[@darrenthomas5634]

Hi Darren Thomas àirwolf Knight rider fan page and beautiful nurses and doctors hope all is well happy New year doing today love you and I have some fun with you doing today

[@lorrainemosley6216]

when are blancmange touring again!!!

[@sarafox5792]

now!

[@darrenthomas5634]

What do we need anything further from the university college London United States Japan and China Christmas happy New year doing well happy New year to you love you Darren Thomas