Musician JOHN SPRINGATE is a former member of the British glam rock band Glitter Band. Born in England, John was a bass guitarist and vocalist for the group during their heyday in the 1970s. John’s professional career started when he was 19 and worked on the gigging circuit for a few years working with people like Jonny Johnson and the Bandwagon and Clem Curtis and the Foundations before joining the Glitter Band.

The Glitter Band originally formed as the backing band for Gary Glitter, a prominent glam rock artist. John joined the band in 1973 and played a crucial role in their success. Known for their energetic live performances and catchy tunes, the Glitter Band achieved considerable commercial success during the glam rock era.

As a member of the Glitter Band, John Springate contributed to several hit songs, including “Angel Face,” “Rock and Roll Part 2,” and “Goodbye My Love.” These songs showcased the band’s trademark sound characterised by a combination of powerful drum beats, infectious melodies, and Springate’s solid bass lines.

However, in the late 1970s, tensions arose between Gary Glitter and the Glitter Band, resulting in the band parting ways with Glitter in 1975. They continued as a standalone act, recording and releasing music under their own name.

After the Glitter Band disbanded in the early 1980s, John Springate pursued other ventures in the music industry. He embarked on a solo career and also worked as a television presenter. In recent years, he has occasionally reunited with former Glitter Band members for reunion concerts and performances, delighting fans of their glam rock era.

John also became a producer. Even more influential in his career development was the moment in the early 80s when he came out and started going to gay clubs. It was the golden age of Hi-NRG and Springate was suitably inspired to move into dance production. This is where he continues to make his living, scoring his biggest hit with Nikki French’s version of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart.’ He’s also written theme tunes for many of Mike Mansfield’s TV programmes and a disappointing Eurovision entry.

In recent times, the association with Gary Glitter has become controversial due to his criminal convictions for child sexual abuse. However, it is important to distinguish between Gary Glitter and the Glitter Band, as the band members themselves were not involved in any illegal activities and swear they knew nothing about Glitter’s crimes at the time.

John Springate joins me this week to tell us his and the Glitter Band’s story. He talks about the early days and why the band broke up and he discusses his latest solo recording called 72.

It’s a fascinating conversation. I hope you enjoy it.

If you’d like more information about John Springate head for his website https://www.johnspringate.com/ or take yourself across to mine here

Please feel free to get in touch with me too with any feedback, comments or suggestions for guests you’d like to hear from,

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Sandy Kaye Sandy Kaye

Hello, I’m Sandy Kaye. A freelance broadcaster, journalist and producer who has spent more than 35 years on both sides of radio and television microphones. I’ve worked with every TV network in Australia, have produced and presented for countless radio stations around the country and have hosted my own commercial radio talk-back show. I’ve even held the distinction of being Sydney’s first female newsreader on radio – way back when!

Today my passion is A Breath of Fresh Air which allows me to immerse myself in one of my favourite things – music. I just love all kinds of music and am fascinated by the people who make it. In particular, it’s the music of the '60s '70s and '80s that takes me back to my youth and means so much to me.

As a journalist, I’m all about digging deep into the classic hits of our time.
I bring you intimate, warm, fireside chats with the artists who tell us about their lives both then and now.
We learn about what makes them tick, who they are in their professional and private lives and how they went about making the soundtrack to our lives.

'A Breath of Fresh Air’ is exceptional - exceptional not because of me, but rather because of the stories that some of the best-known musical artists choose to share with me.

I created this podcast to honour them. It’s all about THEIR lives, THEIR stories, THEIR music, told now, in THEIR voices, before they’re lost forever.

I see my podcast as a personal labour of love, but also as an archival legacy for music fans and practitioners alike, both current and future, who otherwise might never know of the amazing people who helped build the industry.

I really hope you enjoy each and every episode of A Breath of Fresh Air.