Steve Blacknell; The Story of Failure and Success; How I inspired The Man with the Child in his Eyes

Steve Blacknell joins Steve Blame for a funny, candid conversation about Kate Bush, music television, Live Aid—and rebuilding a life when the work stops coming.

Discussing his memoir, Tales from the Bedroom Wall: The Life and Times of a Thrill Seeker, Steve recalls knowing Kate Bush before her breakthrough, hearing her sing at the piano, and his account of the handwritten lyrics to “The Man with the Child in His Eyes”.

He traces his journey from working with the Incredible String Band and promoting records to BBC television, Music Box and London Calling for MTV’s American audience. There are encounters with Eric Clapton and Tina Turner, missed opportunities involving Eurythmics and Crowded House, and memories of accompanying Phil Collins on Concorde during Live Aid.

Beyond the famous names, Steve speaks openly about addiction, rejection in Hollywood, returning to Britain with little money, and the relationship that helped him carry on. It’s a conversation about ambition, failure and finding reasons to keep going.

00:00 Introducing Steve Blacknell
01:06 His memoir and its funniest endorsements
02:14 Writing about a life of unexpected turns
05:35 The bedroom wall, musical heroes and rebellion
09:27 Top of the Pops and memorable television
10:41 John Peel’s advice and hospital radio
14:11 Joining the Incredible String Band
16:11 Meeting Kate Bush before her breakthrough
19:04 Hearing Kate sing at the piano
21:18 “The Man with the Child in His Eyes” and the handwritten lyrics
22:41 First love, separation and meeting his wife
24:20 Discovering A Flock of Seagulls
24:55 Music PR, meeting heroes and addiction
28:04 Getting his break on Riverside
31:17 Makeup and becoming a television persona
33:14 Believing the work would never end
34:28 Criticism, London Calling and MTV America
37:14 Eric Clapton and encounters with the stars
39:29 Asking Tina Turner out to dinner
40:38 Music Box and early music television
42:31 Connecting with artists and missed opportunities
46:16 Recognition, ambition and the pursuit of fame
48:32 Live Aid, Phil Collins and Concorde
50:39 Moving to Hollywood
55:54 Taking work and returning to Britain
57:24 Rejection, resilience and rebuilding his career
59:40 The relationship that helped him survive
1:00:42 Success, teaching and never giving up

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