Bronski Beat were truly amazing – their album Age of Consent, turns 40, and the BBC’s Front Row has a really great interview that helps give a lot of context as to just how powerful this album was at the time (and has continued to be).
Why is it powerful? They were openly gay, singing about gay rights in Thatcher 80’s Britain, during the AIDS epidemic. The Age of Consent as the album’s title refers to the age two consenting adult men could have sex without it being considered a crime – see this timeline for more background. And if you are not already aware, note that it was only in 2001 that the age of consent was equalised with straight people in the UK.
And they produced great music videos and very catchy tunes!
My favourite track continues to be the opener, Why?, which is a good anthem at any time or for any generation, and you should definitely watch the music video.
If you don’t know the band or the album (though you probably have heard Smalltown Boy off of this album), I recommend that you listen to the Front Row episode, and then listen to the album start to finish.