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Series exploring the relationship between British rock and pop music and fashion. The 70s saw Suzi Quatro's leathers, Queen's outrageous costumes and, of course, punk rock.

Just how did Britain become the place where the best music goes with the most eye-catching styles? Lauren Laverne narrates a series about the love affair between our music and fashion, looking at how musicians and designers came up with the coolest and craziest looks and how we emulated our idols.

British pop and rock is our great gift to the world, at the heart of the irrepressible creative brilliance of Britain. But it has never just been about the music. Across the decades we have unleashed a uniquely British talent for fusing the best sounds with stunning style and fashion to dazzling effect.

The second episode takes us through the 1970s, a decade of political, social and cultural upheaval reflected best in its music and fashion. Suzi Quatro on Top of the Pops unleashed her leather jumpsuit into the living rooms of Britain at the birth of the rock chick look. The fantastical world of prog rock emerged, with its golden-caped leader Rick Wakeman and his army of intellectual but corduroy-wearing followers journeying from the university campus to medieval and fantastical Arthurian worlds. Queen rocked the rainbow in their Zandra Rhodes-designed costumes, amazing the audience and cementing the band as one of the country's most loved and most flamboyant bands of all time.

But no other British music and fashion movement has had more reverberation than the international phenomena of punk, beginning (and, some say, ending) with The Sex Pistols' sweary appearance with Bill Grundy on the Today programme.

However, this isn't just a story of brilliant musicians and maverick designers, it's a story that touches us all because, at some point in our lives, we've all delved into the great dressing-up box and joined the pageant that is British music and fashion.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Queen

    Now I'm Here

  • Magazine

    The Light Pours Out of Me

  • The Who

    I'm Free

  • Suzi Quatro

    Can the Can

  • Suzi Quatro

    Devil Gate Drive

  • Elvis Presley

    Jailhouse Rock

  • Suzi Quatro

    48 Crash

  • Blue 脰yster Cult

    Golden Age of Leather

  • Suzi Quatro

    The Wild One

  • Chris Spedding

    Motor Biking

  • The Kills

    Satellite

  • Supertramp

    Dreamer

  • King Crimson

    21st Century Schizoid Man (incl. Mirrors)

  • Queen

    Killer Queen

  • Queen

    Bohemian Rhapsody

  • The Struts

    Could Have Been Me

  • The Struts

    Kiss This

  • The Struts

    Put Your Money On Me

  • Sex Pistols

    Pretty Vacant

  • Buzzcocks

    Boredom

  • Sex Pistols

    Anarchy in the UK

  • Sex Pistols

    God Save The Queen

  • Richard Hell

    Blank Generation

  • X鈥怰ay Spex

    Identity

  • X鈥怰ay Spex

    Oh Bondage Up Yours

  • Siouxsie and the Banshees

    Christine

  • Siouxsie and the Banshees

    Dear Prudence

  • Siouxsie and the Banshees

    Spellbound

  • Specimen

    Beauty of Poison

  • Public Image Ltd

    Public Image

  • London Symphony Orchestra & Roger Daltrey

    I'm Free

  • Queen

    Killer Queen

  • Queen

    Bohemian Rhapsody

  • Sex Pistols

    Holidays In The Sun

  • Buzzcocks

    Boredom

  • Sex Pistols

    God Save The Queen

  • Buzzcocks

    Moving Away From The Pulsebeat

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Lauren Laverne
Executive Producer Steve Condie
Series Producer Matt Hill
Director Matt Hill

Broadcasts

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