Stephen Duffy : The Uncomfortable Popstar

Stephen Duffy founded Duran Duran then left before they got famous.
He then became a pop star in his own right with hit singles Kiss Me and Icing on the Cake before leaving the world of Top of the Pops for life as a folk troubadour with his much loved band The Lilac Time.
He returned to the spotlight many years later, first as a britpop star in the short-lived supergroup Me, Me, Me, and then as co-writer of Robbie Williams’ huge selling Intensive Care album.
He then shuffled back to life outside the public eye, returning to reconvene where he left off with The Lilac Time.
The Courtauld Institute of Art's Artbeat music/arts docs project popped round to Stephen Duffy’s house in Cornwall for a nice cup of tea and a natter about his music career.
Stephen’s first solo album was titled ‘The Ups and Downs’, which turned out to be brilliantly prophetic.
The Lilac Time are celebrating their 30th anniversary and Stephen Duffy has just reissued his classic and classically underrated solo album 'I Love My Friends' - buy it/stream it, you won't regret it. To find out more about Stephen Duffy and The Lilac Time, head to thelilactime.com
We've also put together a playlist of excellent Stephen Duffy/The Lilac Time songs on spotify at open.spotify.com/user/jakebic...

[@witchslaugh]

'Grey Skies and Work Things' and 'A Child is Waiting' are absolute masterpieces. This man is a marvel, but sadly not enough people are listening.

[@carltiivas6131]

Always loved Stephen Duffy and the Lilac Time. Glad to see he is still making music. The latest album is great !

[@peterkadelbach7010]

Music in colour is a masterpiece!

[@richardhal]

Have been a fan of Stephen since Kiss Me brought him to my attention, and will stay with him as long as he continues to produce fantastic music. He is so incredibly underrated. Thank you, Stephen, for your artistic vision and talent.

[@Cosmic-Dancer]

The Lilac Time records are among the best albums ever made. My life would not have been the same without them. Thank the stars for the love of making records!

[@gulbalagulba23]

Icing on the cake is one of the most positive songs ever!! Still play it (again, and i m almost 60 !! Still makes me feel super happy !!

[@roseadams5362]

Loved Stephen and his work since i was 15 in 1985. At that tender age i knew he was exceptional

[@martinwedge7732]

I met Stephen twice when he was doing promo in record stores as Tin Tin and he was with Stoker ex Dexys one time. He was absolutely lovely and one of the nicest people happily signing records for fans. Really nice bloke xx

[@sn8323]

Oh, Stephen "Tintin" Duffy... You Humble Soul... You positively DEFINED the harmonic zeitgeist of the summer of '82. And not many musical summers can rival that one! Anyway, I was a teen who DRANK in your harmonies, every morning, through my walkman, as I delivered The Gazette on my paper route in Montreal, with only a random few hopping sparrows and sidewalk pigeons for company. Amazing KZbin, taking me back to your voice, in a flash. So much love & gratitude to you.

[@LULUBELLEIII]

Stephen Duffy has never been fully appreciated. His songs are always beautifully crafted vignettes. "Natalie" is my favourite, but there are a lot.

[@MrBrutal33]

Britain's best and least appreciated singer-songwriter. I must have virtually everything he's ever recorded and there's always something in his back catalogue to suit my mood! Nick Duffy is also an underestimated talent.

[@brassneck96]

Loved the Lilac time 😎🖤👏

[@jimmyolsenschannel6263]

His self-titled 1995 album is one of the very best records made during Britpop, with enough melodic 1960s feel to make a grown man cry. Outstandingly good songwriting, his deep voice amazing and unique, superb arrangements with great riffs and backing by Velvet Crush et.al., truly poetic and meaningful lyrics. A neglected masterpiece.

[@JakeBickerton]

Totally agree.

[@arricammarques1955]

Steven Page with Duffy. Gifted writers.

[@jessmanuel540]

Stephen Duffy is one of Britain's finest alongside Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout & the late Mark Hollis of Talk Talk.

[@kachanski]

Agreed!

[@vordman]

Glad to see he's doing well. Obviously he could have had mega-fame if he had stayed with Duran Duran but artistic integrity meant more to him.

[@slyasleep]

Wonderful, thank you.

[@rainpoetry3695]

Stephen Duffy has such an extraordinary and poignant voice. He veers into genres which are sometimes not my cup of tea but I’m always transfixed by his vocals. His depth and tenderness always come through. Have been a fan since Kiss Me and I love the Lilac Time.

[@grayruffell5967]

Fabulous thanks @Jake

[@mlml7854]

what a lovely modest man. totally refreshing. love you stephen your album "ups and downs" was a constant on my tape deck in the 80s. "The Darkest Blues" is one of the most beautiful sings ever written and criminally under rated.

[@peter_aka_hamamass]

I LOVE "Music In Colours", one of my favourite albums! But, i do love everything SD did/does! Very underrated artist!

[@waziotter]

Me too. Totem is a masterpiece.

[@johnbellamy3406]

What a wonderful little video. I love Stephen Duffy and The Lilac time. It's comforting to hear from Stephen that he has experienced set back and depression etc. Life as an artist isn't all glitz and glamor, and his honesty about this just makes him better in my view.

[@menial_scientist]

my very first 12” vinyl amigos ❤🎉 salud mr duffy 🥂💕🤗🎾

[@parakart]

Well I’m one of those 500 that bought his next album (and it’s bloody excellent)

[@gedsilvers4418]

A very informative interview. Stephen Duffy comes over as so sincere and genuine and his love of music is obvious. I have always loved his Kiss Me song. If he never made another record - that one alone was so good - I would always be grateful for that song.

[@Drexxaal]

What a beautiful man! I love u! Always have!

[@Chalecosalvavidas]

Grey Skies and Work Things really is the perfect example.

[@maha77]

I remember when I first heard this song at a dance club in San Diego in 1985, absolutely loved it the second I heard it and it took me a long time to find out who it was

[@sunnybearbuds]

I still think "She Loves Me" is his best. So catchy, great lyrics, well - used in SKOW movie.

[@tbwatch88]

top gent. the lilac time are INSANE. so good.

[@YesMeistres]

Timeless song. I always wanted to hear more.

[@JedHead77]

So glad Simon LeBon took over lead vocals for Duran Duran.

[@Fletcher1976]

Stephen is a class act loved his songs in the 80s didnt realise he worked with Robbie Williams just got our new band going would love his knowledge experience and input with putting our album and video together for our new song Scarlett woman

[@waziotter]

The Nigel Kennedy album - Music in Colours *is* a work of genius. Totem is one of my favourite songs .

[@twitchygiraffe4636]

I’d love to get hold of the demo’s that Stephen did with Duran Duran!!!!

[@JakeBickerton]

Some of them were re-recorded for The Devils album Dark Circles, so it’s worth getting hold of a copy.

[@CroxleyEducator]

I used to contribute to the US fanzine 'The Ups And Downs', and despite its demise have never lost my love for SD and his marvellous tunes. Stephen was just too good for major success!

[@keithsymington6068]

Paradise Circus is much an amazing album IMO. I hadnt know about his affiliation later with Stephen Paige but that kinda seems like a natural combo.

[@gemspa73]

There is a very important piece missing and that is Stephen's pre-Duran band, The Subterranean Hawks, with Dave Kusworth.

[@JakeBickerton]

gemspa73 If my memory serves me well, Stephen talked through all the pre-Duran bands but we needed to keep the edit pretty tight so left that stuff out. I’m tempted to make a much longer (say, half hour) edit as there’s loads of material that we couldn’t use in depth in this piece.

[@gemspa73]

@@JakeBickerton I think it would be appreciated by a lot of folks, Jake. I believe a Hawks CD release may be in the pipeline.

[@nickroscoe9211]

@@JakeBickerton only just discovered this video. Excellent stuff and please DO make that longer edit.. Stephen is a very underrated part of our musical history, please help get the story out there.

[@zoec4972]

no doctor calculus either. a brillantly silly jazzy record

[@hilarycordell8097]

He's a wonderful musician and seems a nice bloke too.

[@justinebourke2811]

The Art of Noise spoiled that version... such an underrated Diamond is Stephen...perhaps the most so of that time..

[@grayruffell5967]

Does anyone know where to find the Stephen Duffy documentary?

[@thaumatology]

anyone know how/where to view Memory & Desire: (30 Years in the Wilderness with Stephen Duffy & the Lilac Time)

[@mikeydread62]

You probably know the film had very limited festival release and was then withdrawn. My understanding the film is being reconsidered. I think the book will see the light of a day first, then the film remodelled, perhaps. (I have never seen the film, only the trailer that was on KZbin for a while.)

[@thaumatology]

@@mikeydread62 thanks

[@sin3231]

Simon is soo much better singer than he is