The 70s Guy

Chris Eubank

Born 8 Aug 1966 British boxer Chris Eubank has been ranked 3rd-best super-middleweight boxer of all time in Britain. Raised in Jamaica, he later returned to Britain but lived amid poverty & battled drug and alcohol addiction till he stepped into boxing, inspired by his elder brothers. #ChrisEubank

Yorkie bar

Remember when the Yorkie Bar was launched? It was Rowntree's answer to Mars and Cadbury's Dairy Milk, and in 1975 it captured a significant part of the chocolate buying marketplace. Happy days! #Yorkie

Austin-Morris advert from 1974

"When the price of petrol goes up, we sell more 1100's!"
Austin-Morris advert from 1974 - following the OPEC decision to massively increase the barrel price of oil. #Austin

Olivia Newton John in the film Grease

We lost the wonderful Olivia Newton John three years ago today, aged just 73. I remember only too well going to the pictures in October 1978 and being absolutely awestruck at her performance opposite John Travolta in "Grease". What a film! So sorry to lose you, Sandra Dee. #OliviaNewtonJohn

Marc Bolan singing Get It On on TOTP 1971

8 August 1971, T. Rex were at no 1 in the UK singles chart with "Get it On" (called 'Bang a Gong' in the USA). In their Top Of The Pops appearances, Elton John guested, playing piano. #TRex #MarcBolan

Airrion Love

Born 8 August 1949 - Airrion Love, singer with the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics who had the 1974 US No.2 single 'You Make Me Feel Brand New', and the 1975 UK No.1 single 'Can't Give You Anything But My Love'. They had 12 consecutive US R&B top 10 hits. My wife loves them. #Stylistics

Cover of Abbey Road by The Beatles

8th August 1969, the photo session for the cover of The Abbey Road album took place on the crossing outside Abbey Road studios. Photographer Iain McMillan, balanced on a step-ladder in the middle of the road, took 6 shots of John, Ringo, Paul & George walking across a zebra crossing. #Beatles

My Name Is Jermaine was the 3rd solo album from Jermaine Jackson

My Name Is Jermaine was the 3rd solo album from Jermaine Jackson and the first post-Jackson 5 album from him. It was released on 8th August 1976. The single released from this album was "Let's Be Young Tonight" which went to No. 19 on the Black Singles chart. #JermaineJackson

Dustin Hoffman in All the President's Men

Born 8 Aug 1937, actor/director Dustin Hoffman. Amongst many major film roles, he starred opposite Robert Redford in "All the President's Men" (1976) a biographical political thriller about the Watergate scandal that brought down the presidency of Richard Nixon. #DustinHoffman

Nigel Mansell

Born 8 August 1953, racing car driver Nigel Mansell. He won his debut race in 1976, entered 42 races in 1977 and won 33 of them to become the 1977 British Formula Ford champion, despite suffering a broken neck in a qualifying session at Brands Hatch. Like me, he was born in Hall Green. #NigelMansell

Didn't know that. Has anything been proven? Sad to hear - I enjoyed some of his books - Lake Wobegon Days was one, I seem to recall.

Garrison Keillor

Born 7 August 1942, Garrison Keillor is the legendary radio host of the well-known live radio variety show ‘A Prairie Home Companion’. Also an acclaimed author, Keillor has published more than 15 books and is a regular columnist for ‘Time Magazine’ and ‘Atlantic Monthly’. #GarrisonKeillor

The Goose Lake International Music Festival

7th August 1970 - The Goose Lake International Music Festival was held in Leoni, Michigan. Over 200,000 fans attended the 3 day festival. Acts who appeared included, Jethro Tull, 10 Years After, Chicago, Bob Seger, John Sebastian, Stooges with Iggy Pop, MC5 & Rod Stewart. #GooseLake

Coppertone advert from 1973

In the 1970s the goal was to get as tanned as possible. This is a Coppertone ad from 1973. #70srule

Triumph advertisement

1973 ad for the Dolomite Sprint. Seems a strange strapline to run with. I guess they were different times... #Triumph

A Question of Balance was the 6th album by The Moody Blues

A Question of Balance was the 6th album by The Moody Blues. The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their lush, psychedelic sound in order to be able to better perform the songs in concert. Released on 7 Aug 1970, the album reached No 1 in the UK and #3 in the US. I loved it! #MoodyBlues

Cast of The Young ones

Born 7 Aug 1952, comedian Alexei Sayle. Famous for many things, for me he will always be remembered as the anarchic (and frightening) landlord Mr Balowski, in 'The Young Ones', appearing alongside Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer & Christopher Ryan. Happy birthday Alexei! #AlexeiSayle

Melanie Sykes

Born 7 Aug 1970, TV & radio presenter Melanie Sykes. She's best known for co-hosting Today with Des and Mel with Des O'Connor and Let's Do Lunch with Gino D'Acampo. She also co-hosted Going Out with Alan Carr on Radio 2 with Alan Carr on a Saturday from May 2010 until March 2012. #MelanieSykes

Brian Conley

Born 7 Aug 1961, comedian & TV presenter Brian Conley. He was the host of The Brian Conley Show, as well as presenting the Royal Variety Performance 8 times. My favourite sketches were when Brian hit his squirrel puppet sidekick, Larry the Loafer and then shouted "It's a puppet!" #BrianConley

Cover of Record Mirror 29 July 1972.

Record Mirror 29 July 1972. Bolanmania was just about to be usurped by Bowiemania! #RecordMirror

Davy Jones in Los Angeles on this date, August 6 1970. Photo by George Brich. #DavyJones

Bravo Magazine 4th October 1971. Marc and Mickey adorn the cover. "Get it On" was No 3 in the Greman singles chart at the time. #TRex #MarcBolan

Geri Halliwell

Born 6 Aug 1972, Geri Halliwell achieved international fame as part of The Spice Girls, who have sold more than 85 million records worldwide. Also a well-known philanthropist, Geri Halliwell has worked closely with the UN Population Fund, becoming its goodwill ambassador in 1998. #GeriHalliwell

the Concert For Peace 6 August 1970

6 Aug 1970, Steppenwolf, Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Poco & Johnny Winter appeared at the Concert For Peace at New York's Shea Stadium. The date coincided with the 25th anniversary of dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The U.S. was embroiled in the Vietnam War at the time. #ConcertforPeace

the 10th National Jazz, Blues and Pop four day Festival

6th Aug 1970, the 10th National Jazz, Blues and Pop four day Festival was held at Plumpton Racecourse in Sussex, England. Featuring, Family, Groundhogs, Cat Stevens, Deep Purple, Fat Mattress, Yes, Caravan, The Strawbs, Black Sabbath, Wild Angles, Wishbone Ash and Daddy Longlegs. #70srule

Judge Dread

Big Six" was the 1st single released by Judge Dread on the Trojan label in 1972. Despite being banned by the BBC due to lewd lyrics, it made no 11 in the singles chart and sold over 300,000 copies. Dread played it to an audience in Kingston Jamaica who were surprised that he was white. #JudgeDread

TVTimes cover 1977

TV Times, 13 August 1977. On the cover are Leslie Crowther and Lena Zavaroni. #TVTimes

I Feel Love, Donna Summer single cover

6th August 1977, this week's UK Top 5 singles:
5. Fanfare For The Common Man, ELP.
4. Pretty Vacant, the Sex Pistols.
3. Angelo Brotherhood Of Man.
2. Ma Baker, Boney M
1. I Feel Love, Donna Summer

The single laid the foundations for electronic dance music. #DonnaSummer

Lucille Ball

Born 6 August 1911, one of the most popular actresses of the 1950s and 1960s, Lucille Ball created the sitcom, I Love Lucy in 1951. In 1962, she started managing Desilu Productions, becoming the first woman to run a major TV studio. She died in 1989, aged 77. #LucilleBall

Andy Warhol

Born 6 Aug 1928, artist & filmmaker Andy Warhol. He spearheaded the pop-art movement of the 60's. In 1971, in The Factory in NY, he met aspiring musician David Bowie; a meeting that resulted in Bowie penning the immortal "Andy Warhol" which appeared on Hunky Dory. He died aged just 58. #AndyWarhol