Writing for Fun
November 2018
The Pulse - Sue Barker
The gang were all there, they had met every Friday night since they left school two years ago. There were usually a dozen or more and they met in the Top Alex pub just off Southend High Street. Jude was jiggling with excitement; there was a buzz in the air; different from a normal Friday night.
They met on a Friday because that was payday; they had an assortment of jobs, from office work to working in Boots, no-one cared it was just a way to earn money to pay for their nights out. People paired off and split up, it was no big deal. The only person to join the group recently was Paul, he was dating Jane; he wasn’t a great fit with the group. He was older than them by a few years and was too edgy for most of them. He had a chip on his shoulder and he definitely did drugs. Most of them smoked a bit of weed but nothing too heavy. Paul was different; he could get any drug they wanted, as he proudly boasted.
They were excited because they were going to a new club tonight up in London. Normally they stayed local either the Zero 6 or maybe TOTS but tonight they were off The Blitz club up in town. Dave had heard of a new group and they were appearing tonight. It was the early 80’s and there were a lot of new romantic bands about; Jude rather liked Adam and the Ants but thought that he’d sold out and was too commercial now. A couple of the lads dressed a bit like the Kemp brothers from Spandau Ballet and had to put up with quite a lot of abuse from the locals down the town. But they were young and didn’t care. They were peacocks and craved attention and were popular with the girls; it was all so different from the time of the punks.
Jude watched as Paul was moving along the bar; he looked dodgier than ever, he was whispering in several peoples ears and he was getting the cold shoulder. What was he up to? Thought Jude? It soon became obvious when he weaved over to her; he was offering people cocaine to get them in the mood to go clubbing; he was a drug pusher. How could Jane date him? Jude would never understand. Luckily her group were not interested; they could get high on music alone. Getting nowhere with the gang Paul decided to stay at the Alex while the rest of them caught the train to town.
All the way there they were laughing and talking about what bands might be on tonight. The Blitz was such an outrageous club; they hoped they’d get in. An androgynous person was on the door; called Marilyn, they realised that he was male when they heard him arguing with another guy. That’s Steve Strange, Dave said, he’s in a band called Visage, Steve had painted the right hand side of his face black, with bright red lipstick and he was the host of The Blitz club.
They got in, after quite a wait, but it was worth it, atmosphere was electric. The gang realised that they looked very tame compared to the mass of people in front of them. Leather was very popular and virtually all the men wore eyeliner and lip gloss. The clothes were flouncy blouses and trousers that looked like a pirate would wear. Standing by a pillar was a very young person with dreadlocks and a full face of make-up, with an unusual hat on, lounging about and posturing for all to admire, it wasn’t certain what gender this beauty was; this seemed to be a common occurrence at this club then someone called him George, well that solved that mystery.
Dave was pushing through the throng of dancers; the music sent a throbbing through their bodies from the soles of their pointed shoes to the top of their highly dyed hair. There was a pulse which was palpable; it stimulated them in ways they had never experienced before. This was being alive; this was being young; who needed drugs? Jude mused; they were high on music.
The next band was announced, it was the one Dave had been raving on about. There was a feeling of exhilaration as the music started; this is where they first heard the band called Frankie goes to Hollywood and the song was Relax. The crowd were going ballistic, all pushing to see more of the band, trying to catch the lyrics as they floated over the buzz of the crowd; Jude realised that music for them would never be the same after this and the experience of the Blitz club would be all they talked about for months.
Several weeks later Relax became No 1 in the charts; helped by Radio 1 banning it for its provocative lyrics. The gang were hoping to go back to The Blitz club one Friday when they’d saved up a little of their wages; although most of their money now went on clothes and make up, they had all embraced the New Romantics movement.
Paul was no longer part of the scene; he said they were stupid to dress as they did, Jane packed him in and took up with a lad who looked just like Boy George; he fitted in with the group perfectly.