Tom Bailey on Babble; World music, curiosity and being the ‘influence gatherer’ @popthehistorymakers
Tom Bailey on Babble; World music, curiosity and being the ‘influence gatherer’  @popthehistorymakers
Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Tom Bailey joins me to talk about the rebellion, curiosity and creative experimentation behind the Thompson Twins—one of the defining British pop groups of the 1980s.

With their distinctive fusion of pop, new wave, percussion and synthesizers, the Thompson Twins achieved major success on both sides of the Atlantic with songs including Hold Me Now, Doctor! Doctor!, Love on Your Side, Lies, You Take Me Up, Lay Your Hands on Me and King for a Day.

They also appeared at Live Aid in Philadelphia, joined by Nile Rodgers on guitar and Madonna on backing vocals.

Tom discusses the band’s extraordinary journey, breaking America, his approach to songwriting and production, and the musical curiosity that subsequently led him towards electronic and world music. Today, performing as Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, he celebrates those classic hits alongside music from his solo album Science Fiction.

Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey will perform the Thompson Twins’ greatest hits across the UK in September 2026, with special guests Blancmange—led by Tom’s longtime friend and fellow synth-pop pioneer Neil Arthur.

Tickets are on sale now:
alttickets.com/thompson-twins-tom-bailey-tickets
Tom Bailey on Babble; World music, curiosity and being the ‘influence gatherer’Mari Wilson; her 14 Year Old Pop Star Dream  How It HappenedClark Datchler: Why He Left Johnny Hates Jazz—and Why He Came BackAftermath of Clare Grogan of Altered Images inadvertently caught up in a violent incident at 17Marty Wilde on Legacy  My Work vs  Childrens AchievementsMari Wilson; Her Hi-Energy mis-direction; Singing Through Grief  A Difficult Days PerformanceToyah Wilcox on the moment she discovered her tribe; Finding identityCorinne Drewery of Swing Out Sister; My First Band  From School Talent to TriangleDana Gillespie; From Water Skiing Champion to Music  My JourneyChris Difford of Squeeze on Maxine Barker, the quiet force that held the band togetherTom Bailey of The Thompson Twins; How ‘In the Name of Love’ changed everythingMarty Wilde on Kim Wildes Kids in America  The Unexpected Hit Story
Steve Blames POP the History Makers |

Tom Bailey on Babble; World music, curiosity and being the ‘influence gatherer’

SHARE TO X SHARE TO REDDIT SHARE TO FACEBOOK WALLPAPER