1984: The Year Pop Went Queer

A Guardian Book of the Year
A Clash Book of the Year

'A loving compendium of what happened during the pinkest twelve-month patch of pop history' Observer

'A flamboyant take on the 1980s ... shows how Bronski Beat, Dead or Alive, Madonna et al. threw open music's closet on Top of the Pops, shifting society's attitudes to a disco beat. Excellent' The Times

'A riveting read about a pop revolution hiding in plain sight' Pete Paphides

In 1984, pop came out of the closet and, in the process, charted the course of the rest of the decade.

In 1984: The Year Pop Went Queer, writer and pop fanatic Ian Wade traces where these artists, including Queen, George Michael, David Bowie, Bronski Beat, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Madonna - who all enjoyed chart success in 1984 - were during that epoch-making year.

It studies the impact these groundbreaking musicians had on the gay community and popular culture, and it demonstrates how they were able to break down barriers, raise consciousness and set in motion the first nascent pop cultural ripples that are still being felt today.

About the author

Ian Wade is a writer, DJ and pop fanatic. He has written for Classic Pop, Record Collector, The Quietus, MusicOMH, Official Charts, Sunday Times Culture as well as doing time for Smash Hits and The Face many years ago. He has worked as a PR on BBC's Later... with Jools Holland and occasionally DJs at Spiritland, Duckie and Soho Radio.

Product details

• Authors: Wade Ian
• Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 21.10.2025
• EAN: 9781785120831
• ISBN: 978-1-78512-083-1
• No. of pages: 320
• Dimensions: 129 mm x 198 mm x 20 mm
• Weight: 234 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Music > General, dictionaries; Music, History: specific events & topics, Rock & Pop music, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / General, MUSIC / History & Criticism, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Pop Vocal, Of specific Gay & Lesbian interest, History of Music, Pop Music, Music reviews & criticism, Music reviews and criticism, Relating to LGBTQ+ people, c 1970 to c 1980, Music: styles and genres, c 1980 to c 1989