Blancmange are a British synthpop group who became famous with a number of hit singles from 1982 to 1984. Among their best known songs are 'Living on the Ceiling' and a cover version of the Abba song 'The Day Before You Came'. The duo of Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe released three albums in the eighties before splitting up. Arthur has since returned to the music scene under the Blancmange name and continues to record and play live. Luscombe passed away in September 2025.
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Links to Peel[]
John Peel featured the group's debut single 'God's Kitchen' on his show in early 1982 before they had achieved any mainstream success. Their one and only session was also recorded and aired in February of that year prior to the band's first commercial release.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- 1982 Festive Fifty: Feel Me #35
- 1982 Festive Fifty: Living On The Ceiling #34
Sessions[]
BLANCMANGE John Peel 13th February 1982
One session. 'Running Thin' was originally released as the B-side to the group's first hit single Living On The Ceiling in October 1982. Tracks 'Running Thin' and 'I Would' had an official release on The Very Best of Blancmange, 2012, and all four tracks were included on Happy Families Media Book Edition, 2017.
1. Recorded: 1982-02-13. First broadcast: 23 February 1982. Repeated 17 March 1982, 05 May 1982, 23 December 1982, 01 June 1983
- I Would / Living On the Ceiling / Waves / Running Thin
Other Shows Played[]
- 1982
- Peel Tape XVII Late March April 1982: I've Seen The Word (12" - God's Kitchen / I've Seen The Word) London
- 01 April 1982: God's Kitchen (12" - God's Kitchen / I've Seen The Word) London
- 20 July 1982: Feel Me (Extended Version) (12") London BLANX 2
- 12 October 1982: Feel Me (LP - Happy Families)
- 14 October 1982: Living On The Ceiling (7") London
- 27 October 1982: Unknown
- 08 November 1982: Living On The Ceiling (7") London
- 21 December 1982: Feel Me (LP - Happy Families) FF#35
- 21 December 1982: Living On The Ceiling (LP - Happy Families) FF#34
- 1983
- 26 December 1983: Living On The Ceiling (12") London
Top Of The Pops[]
- 18 November 1982 (TOTP): Living On The Ceiling #12
- 05 May 1983 (TOTP): Blind Vision #28
- 09 August 1984 (TOTP): The Day Before You Came #22