New
Romantics
Cabaret

About Blitzage Night

What is Blitzage Night? Blitzage Night is a party born out of deep respect for the "BLITZ CLUB"—the holy ground of the "New Romantic" culture that heavily influenced the global music scene in the early 1980s—and its central figure, Steve Strange.

The community "Blitzage" was originally formed in 2013 to celebrate the first-ever Japan tour of the legendary band "VISAGE." Today, serving as the parent body, we envision this event as an experimental ground to inherit, reconstruct, and project the music, art, and spirit of that era into the modern age.

The Roots: New Romantics & Blitz Club

Emerging from the Grey Winter "New Romantics" blossomed as a counter-culture to Punk Rock among the youth of London.

Britain at the time was suffering through the "Winter of Discontent" (1978–1979), a gloomy era where public service strikes left streets overflowing with rubbish and society in stagnation. The Punk movement, which exploded in 1976, initially countered this with explosive energy and the nihilism of "No Future."

However, over time, Punk itself had turned into a "uniform." Steve Strange and Rusty Egan were disillusioned by the fact that what was once a revolution had devolved into violent rituals and a hangout for mobs lacking creativity.

"We are looked down upon simply because we don't dress 'normal'." Facing a reality where the "liberation of the individual"—which Punk was supposed to hold—was lost to new peer pressure, creative youths sought a new "Sanctuary" where they could express themselves safely yet radically.

The Birth of the Legendary "BLITZ" Steve and Rusty, who had been running "A Club for Heroes" (David Bowie Night), moved their venue to a World War II-themed wine bar in Covent Garden called "Blitz," where the concept evolved further.

The event was held every Tuesday. The reason for choosing the middle of the week was clear: to eliminate the "ordinary people" who only came out on weekends and the drunks with no creativity, and to select only art school students and night dwellers who dedicated their lives to fashion and music. (This mentality mirrors the "London Nite" held on Tuesdays at the disco "Tsubaki House" in Shinjuku, Japan, in the early 1980s).

Starting in February 1979, this night instantly became the epicenter of London's underground. Located near art schools like Central Saint Martins, it functioned as a "Petri dish" for budding fashion designers, musicians, and filmmakers.

They inherited the DIY spirit of Punk but shifted the vector from "Destruction" to "Construction," sublimating themselves into works of art.

Revolutionary Sound & Strict Door Policy Rusty Egan, who served as the DJ, rejected the Soul and Disco music that dominated the charts at the time. He mixed the experimental side of David Bowie, Art Rock, Funk, and the mechanical electronic sounds of Germany's Kraftwerk and Japan's YMO. This fusion of "Electronic Sound (Synthesizer)" and "Humanity (Vocals/Melody)" became the foundation of the New Romantic sound.

What definitively established the myth of the Blitz Club was Steve Strange's strict door policy. Standing at the door, his criteria were not "Are you famous?" or "Are you rich?", but solely "Are you creative?" and "Is there a sense of surprise?" This style, diametrically opposed to modern commercial nightlife that sells high-priced VIP seats to offer a sense of superiority, thrust an existential question upon visitors: "What are you expressing?"

The Icon: VISAGE

The Choir Born from the Church The "Choir" born from this "Church" called Blitz Club was VISAGE. Initially, it started as a studio project to create music for Rusty Egan to play at the club. However, the lineup presented the appearance of a "supergroup" representing the scene, including Midge Ure and Billy Currie from Ultravox, and Dave Formula from Magazine.

Notable was the role of Steve Strange. Against the intricate electronic architecture constructed by Midge Ure and the others, Steve inhabited it, adding narrative and image. He was the "Face." It was a precursor to the 80s MTV culture where "Image" preceded "Substance," and simultaneously the ultimate form of self-realization paved by David Bowie—the idea that "a nobody can become who they want to be."

In 1980, the single "Fade to Grey" became a massive global hit. New Romantics leaped from subculture to the mainstream.

The fact that David Bowie himself visited the Blitz Club and scouted the regulars for his "Ashes to Ashes" music video was a historic moment where the "Father" (Bowie) acknowledged his children and passed on the throne.

VISAGE & Blitzage

The Miracle of 2013, and the Farewell Although VISAGE disbanded in 1985, Steve Strange reformed the band in 2013.

Releasing the album Hearts and Knives, they were reborn as a tangible band capable of live performance. At this time, "Blitzage" was formed to celebrate VISAGE's first Japan tour and to serve as the opening act. We stood on the same stage as our idols, not just as musicians, but as a creative collective crossing boundaries including graphic designers and video artists.

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During their stay in Japan, members of VISAGE and Blitzage spent much time together. The new member Logan Sky used the YAMAHA SS-30 (a string synthesizer iconic to VISAGE) provided by Blitzage for their live performance. In a later interview, he stated: "For me, admiring Japan and YMO, this was a very stimulating experience. I cannot thank the other bands enough, especially Blitzage and RIS." — Logan Sky Interview (https://www.punkglobe.com/loganskyinterview0215.php）

Steve Strange also kindly offered, "Come to London, let's play a gig together."

Loss of a Legend

However, two years later in February 2015, he collapsed from a heart attack while on vacation in Egypt and passed away suddenly. At his funeral, artists who had taken flight to the world from the Blitz Club gathered. Boy George and the Kemp brothers of Spandau Ballet carried his coffin. This scene demonstrated to the world that the New Romantic movement was not merely a fleeting trend, but was connected by a strong "Bond."

Blitz Club Host & Blitz Kids List

Core Members (The Hosts)

The central figures who created the nights at Blitz.

Fashion & Design (The Look Creators)

A group centered around Central Saint Martins students who later became world-renowned designers.

Musicians & Performers

Stars who emerged from Blitz or were regulars.

Art, Media & Culture

Artists and expressors who colored the scene with their unique styles.

Legendary Patrons (The Inspirations)

Not "Blitz Kids" themselves, but special adults who recognized them and visited.

Investigation Report: Re-evaluation of the Legendary Club "Blitz" and the Design Museum Exhibition /

https://designmuseum.org/

A major exhibition focusing on the legendary 1980s nightclub "Blitz" is currently being held at The Design Museum in London. The news that the "Blitz Kids"—many of whom appeared on the "Steve Strange Funeral Guest List" previously discussed—gathered to celebrate the opening has garnered significant attention.

The following is a summary of the exhibition details and an analysis of why "Blitz" is currently being re-evaluated within the creative industry.

1. Exhibition Overview

2. Opening Event and Attendees

The headline "Legendary Blitz Kids unveil..." refers to the opening event of this exhibition. The following key members visited the venue to cut the ribbon. They are the "protagonists" of this story, the very same individuals

listed on the funeral guest list for Steve Strange.

Although Steve Strange has passed away, his legacy and aesthetic have been inherited by his former comrades and successfully restored as "Art" within a contemporary museum setting.

3. Exhibition Features: An Immersive Experience

The exhibition is not merely a display of costumes; the primary focus is on recreating the atmosphere of the era.

4. Analysis: Why is Blitz Being Re-evaluated Now?

This exhibition is more than just nostalgia. The fact that "Blitz created the 'OS' (Operating System) for the modern creative industry" is being re-evaluated from both academic and industrial perspectives. The reasons are summarized in four main points:

① The Birthplace of "Style Press" and Visual Culture

Blitz was the incubator for legendary magazines (Style Press) such as The Face and i-D. The grammar of the modern "culture magazine"—treating music, fashion, and graphic design as equals—was invented here. Masters like Neville Brody (typography) and Nick Knight (photography) launched their careers from this scene.

② Meritocracy of Style over Class

Steve Strange’s famous door policy represented an extreme "Meritocracy of Style." It didn't matter if you were rich or poor; all that mattered was whether you were creative. The story of impoverished students from Central Saint Martins (like John Galliano) changing the world through aristocratic dress—this "fusion of DIY spirit and ambition"—is now studied as a precursor to modern influencer culture and the creator economy.

③ Pioneers of Gender Fluidity

The fashion that nullified the boundaries between men and women, represented by Boy George and Marilyn, resonates strongly with the modern contexts of LGBTQ+ and Diversity. The attitude of "designing who you are by yourself" mirrors the values of Gen Z and is being reinterpreted as a practice of identity politics.

④ From "Punk" to "New Romantics" (Aufheben)

While Punk proclaimed "No Future" (Destruction), the Blitz Kids steered the helm toward "My Future" (Creation). The true value of the New Romantics lies in constructing "new beauty" from the rubble (second-hand clothes and cheap materials) after the destruction. It is highly valued as a case study in urban sociology regarding how youth create culture amidst economic recession.

Conclusion

The fact that The Design Museum is hosting this exhibition signifies that Blitz is no longer just a "subculture" (a playground for a few youths), but has been elevated to official history as "an important art movement in British design history."

NEW ROMANTICS GUIDE

NEW ROMANTICS SOUND GUIDE

1. Definition

The "New Romantics" sound possesses a highly specific and unique aesthetic that sets it apart from generic "80s Pop."

Defined in a single phrase, it is a sound that integrates "the coldness of electronics" and "the hot groove of Soul/Disco" through "the aesthetic of Glam Rock."

2. The 5 Core Elements of the New Romantic Sound

① Synthesizers: Analog "Thickness" and "Coldness"

The protagonists are the state-of-the-art analog synthesizers of the era. However, unlike the "mechanical" approach of Techno-pop (YMO or Kraftwerk), the goal is a more orchestral and emotional expression.

② Rhythm: "White Funk"

This is the most critical element. While using synthesizers, the ultimate goal was to create "dance music." It is a unique groove resulting from the reinterpretation of Black music rhythms (Funk, Disco) through a post-punk white sensibility.

③ Bassline: The Allure of Fretless

A major characteristic is the frequent use of fretless bass (bass without metal frets) in addition to standard bass.

④ Vocal Style: Crooning and Drama

Rejecting the "screaming" of Punk, this style adopts a "Crooner" approach modeled after Frank Sinatra or David Bowie (Berlin era).

⑤ Spatial Processing: Gated Reverb and "Artificial Spaciousness"

The entire sound is treated with an "artificial reverberation" that could not exist in reality.

3. Essential References

A. The Gods (Origins and Apex)

The "parents" of the New Romantic movement. Their aesthetic and sound are the starting point for everything.

B. The Electronic Heavyweights (Innovators of Electronic Music)

Groups that established synthesizers as pop music and evolved them in a darker, more industrial direction.

C. The Blitz Icons (Protagonists of the London Night)

The sound of the "Blitz Kids" who embodied the atmosphere of the scene.

Visage: The establishers of the style. The cold French spoken word and synth pads of "Fade to Grey" are essential elements.

Spandau Ballet (Early Era): The embodiment of White Funk. Snare sounds like marching boots and synth riffs.

Culture Club (Boy Geoge): When Malcolm McLaren, the mastermind behind the Sex Pistols, visited the Blitz, he spotted a "strange and beautiful boy" (George) working in the cloakroom. This encounter led to George being scouted into the music industry; after a brief stint with the band Bow Wow Wow, he went on to form his own group, Culture Club, and rose to global stardom.

Duran Duran: The fusion of Rock and Dance　Funk. A style where distorted guitars ring out over sequencers.

Japan: Sublimation into Art. The sensuality of fretless bass and narcissism.

Ultravox: Dramatic development. Techniques mixing violins or pianos with synthesizers.

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