Thompson Twins founder Tom Bailey joins Paul Cashmere for an in-depth conversation celebrating Industry And Seduction, the definitive anthology spanning more than 40 years of Thompson Twins history.
In this exclusive Noise11 interview, Bailey reflects on the band’s earliest post-punk experiments, the global breakthrough years of Into The Gap, and the creative decision to constantly evolve rather than stand still. He explains why Thompson Twins never saw themselves as simply a pop band, describing chart success as just one creative experiment among many.
Bailey discusses deep cuts such as Squares And Triangles, Politics And The Animal Laugh, and the underground transition into Babble, revealing how experimentation shaped the band’s long-term identity. He also looks back on the international breakthrough that saw Australia, New Zealand, and US dance clubs embrace Thompson Twins before the UK fully caught on.
The conversation covers iconic singles including Hold Me Now, Doctor! Doctor!, You Take Me Up, Lay Your Hands On Me, and King For A Day, as well as soundtrack work for films like Nothing In Common and Cool World. Bailey shares rare stories involving Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Tom Hanks, and Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey.
The deluxe edition of Industry And Seduction includes the previously unreleased live album Into The Gap Live: Del Mar Racetrack 1984, which Bailey says perfectly captures the band at its peak.
Filmed for Noise11, this interview is a must-watch for fans of Thompson Twins, 1980s pop, and artists who refused to stay in one creative lane.
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