Divine undoubtedly contributed to the LGBT narrative contained within pop culture. His consistently fluid (and of course lewd) representation of sexuality and gender challenged the theatrics of 1980s pop music.

Created in collaboration with ‘Pope of Trash’ film maker John Waters, Divine was a brash confident persona. After the success of his partnership with John Waters, Divine would branch out with New York performer/producer Bobby O to launch a musical career that boasted a dizzying angle on Hi-NRG.

Divine’s first charting single ‘Native Love Step By Step’ (NL #28) remains one of his most frenetic hits. ‘Shoot Your Shot’ (DE #15/NL #7) is Bobby O’s brassy brand of club music mock-sexualised at full tilt. ‘Love Reaction’ (UK #65) gloriously appropriates New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’.

Song writing/producing trio Stock Aitken & Waterman continued the success of hi-NRG synthpop giving Divine one of his biggest hits in 1984’s ‘You Think You’re a Man’ (AUS #8/NL #32/UK #16) and ‘I’m So Beautiful’ (GER #38 / UK #52) which is perhaps most reminiscent of Divine’s earlier work with John Waters. ‘Walk Like A Man’ and ‘Twisting The Night Away’ continued the hit streak and kept Divine in the spotlight before his untimely death in 1988.

"Divine - Shoot Your Shot: The Divine Anthology" is out Friday, 3rd May 2024 on Hot Shot Records and available for pre-order here.

Disc One

1. NATIVE LOVE STEP BY STEP
2. SHOOT YOUR SHOT
3. SHAKE IT UP
4. LOVE REACTION
5. T-SHIRT AND TIGHT BLUE JEANS
6. YOU THINK YOU’RE A MAN
7. I’M SO BEAUTIFUL
8. SHOW ME AROUND
9. WALK LIKE A MAN/MAN TALK
10. TWISTIN’ THE NIGHT AWAY
11. HARD MAGIC
12. LITTLE BABY
13. HEY YOU!
14. SHOUT IT OUT

Disc Two

1. JUNGLE JEZEBEL
2. KICK YOUR BUTT
3. ALPHABET RAP
4. NATIVE LOVE (REMIX)
5. SHOOT YOUR SHOT (REMIX)
6. SHAKE IT UP (SPECIAL REMIX)
7. YOU THINK YOU’RE A MAN (SPECIAL REMIX)
8. I’M SO BEAUTIFUL (DIVINE MIX)
9. SHOW ME AROUND
10. GIVE IT UP
11. PSYCHEDELIC SHACK
12. YOU THINK YOU’RE A... MEDLEY
13. NATIVE LOVE STEP BY STEP (ALTERNATIVE REMIX)

Having been ‘discovered’ working in Liverpool’s Probe Records during the punk rock explosion of the late 1970s Pete Burns quickly found himself fronting his very own band Nightmares In Wax who quickly mutated into the more familiar Dead Or Alive. A star was born.

But prior to pop superstardom tabloid-tantalising celebrity and his later revival and recognition as an icon of gay punk and pop culture Pete Burns led Dead Or Alive into far darker waters as one of the earliest explorers of the post-punk Goth scene. Captured on two remarkable 7” singles originally released on Liverpool label Inevitable the band also caught the attention of the ever-reliable John Peel and recorded material for his seminal BBC Radio One programme.

‘Running Wild’ compiles those early singles and related Peel Session highlights bringing the latter to vinyl for the first time. Pressed on berry red vinyl and housed in a cover photograph by Dead Or Alive’s then manager Francesco Mellina 'Running Wild'  presents an early glimpse at the phenomenon Pete Burns would become and a long overdue back story accompaniment for fans and collectors alike.

"Dead Or Alive - Running Wild: The Inevitable Years" is out Friday, 31st May 2024 on Cherry Red Records and available for pre-order here.

SIDE A - The Singles

1. I’m Falling
2. Flowers
3. Number Eleven
4. Namegame (Live version)

SIDE B - Peel Sessions

1. Nowhere To Nowhere
2. Running Wild
3. Number Eleven
4. Number Twelve
5. Flowers

The new single from Marc Almond, Elusive Butterfly, is out now and is taken from his forthcoming album I'm Not Anyone.

Listen to Elusive Butterfly now at: https://MarcAlmond.lnk.to/ElusiveButterflyWE

Alongside his status as one of the best songwriters of his generation, both in his solo career and as a member of the hugely influential Soft Cell, Marc Almond has built a reputation for being one of music's greatest exponents of the art of the cover version. Always adept at taking a song and making it his own, Marc's cover versions represent some of the landmarks in modern pop music – from 'Tainted Love' to 'The Days Of Pearly Spencer', from 'Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart' to 'Jacky'.

For his latest solo outing I'm Not Anyone Marc has done it again, with a deeply impressive suite of impeccably chosen interpretations of gems from the likes of Don McLean, King Crimson, Paul Anka, Colin Blunstone and Mahalia Jackson. Brought together on I'm Not Anyone, the 11-strong song cycle makes for a unified, soulful experience, with a deep emotional resonance.

Available in CD and LP Vinyl Album formats.

The new album, I'm Not Anyone, will be released on 12 July and can be pre-ordered now from:

https://MarcAlmond.lnk.to/ImNotAnyoneWE

Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret: 2024 Edition

(Deluxe 2CD Album) + Postcard Set

The definitive 2024 2CD version of Soft Cell's Non Stop Erotic Cabaret is due for release April/May 2024. The exact release date will be confirmed shortly.

This deluxe 2CD Book format is identical to 2021's "*Happiness not included" and 2020's "Cruelty Without Beauty" reissues. All the upcoming re-issues will also be released in this format to make a set which might even be made complete with a box/slipcase one day!

Comes with a bonus "Look it's so Huge" postcard set.

Regarding the backordered Non Stop Erotic Cabaret Super Deluxe Boxset, this now has an expected release date of 29th March. This boxset, along with various bundles, is still available to backorder.

Pre-Order Now

Tracklisting

CD1: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret: 2023 Remaster + Singles, B-Sides & Edits

Frustration
Tainted Love
Seedy Films
Youth
Sex Dwarf
Entertain Me
Chips On My Shoulder
Bedsitter
Secret Life
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (Original 12″ Version)
Memorabilia
A Man Could Get Lost
Persuasion (Edit)
Where Did Our Love Go?
Facility Girls
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Instrumental)
Fun City (Edit)
Tainted Love (Aborted 1981 Studio Take)

CD2: Non-Stop Extended Cabaret: Full-Length Versions & Extras

Frustration (2023 Extended Version)
Tainted Love (2021 10″ Extended Version)
Seedy Films (2023 Extended Version)
Youth (2018 ‘Wasted On The Young’ Extended Version)
Sex Dwarf (2023 Extended Version)
Entertain Me (2023 Extended Version)
Chips On My Shoulder (2018 Extended Version)
Bedsitter (1981 Original 12” Mix)
Secret Life (2018 Extended Version)
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (2018 Dave Ball ‘Lateral Mix’)
Memorabilia (Original 12″ Version)
A Man Could Get Lost (2023 Extended Version)