The Dream Academy 1985 Interview with JJ Jackson

[siouxdax]

I remember buying their first album on vinyl at the local record shop. I was already in love with Nick Laird-Clowes' voice, then I saw his boyish face and fell in love even more. Later, the song "Hampstead Girl" sealed the deal for me. Great memories!

[rsbarrett4991]

ok... kate is ridiculously beautiful... can't look away

[NegativeBlues]

Kate is so charming and lovely.

[Cristinact]

"We are trying to be very much of the 80s" aaawwww that sounds so cute now!!!

[juanunderground]

When Dream Academy appeared I though that there was a hope for saving the decline of the 80s. Unfortunately, the silly glamour with very clumsy empty brains got the power and it made everything got divorced from the very rich background of the 60s and 70s.

[danh5150]

Interesting seeing this video today. I grew up in the 80's, but I didn't know who Nick Drake was back then (although I love his music now).

The other thing I notice:

J.J. Jackson is asking very intelligent questions, and the band is obviously very intelligent too.

Ahhhh.....

Back before MTV sucked.

[fame1910bbcrown]

WHERE IN THE HELL IS "INDIAN SUMMER"

IS THERE A COPYRIGHT PROBLEM? SOMEONE

PLEASE EXPLAIN.

[BernardProfitendieu]

I was never a JJ fan, but I think he did a great job here asking the right questions and then just getting out of the way and letting them talk - - - and isn't their youthful excitement infectious?

[ruantengyi]

kate's a lovely woman!

[djmigra]

I'd love to have the lovely & angelical backing choir vocals by Kate from Life In a Northern Town to try a Trance remix...

[TrueCourse]

Had a crush on Kate ;) Truly enjoyed every minute of this interview... very rich. They really relished on new concepts and proved themselves successful. Not too many artists like them nowadays. Thanks loads for sharing :)

[maxypaxfilms]

Hes the guy from the epic kiss comercial

[hookydoughy]

Check out her website too, she is still extremely beautiful now

I remember Life in a Northern Town from my teens, my favourite track of the 80's I think.......

[Router2525]

This is an awesome interview. And I agreed I, wish they would get back together. They were so good. To bad they split up. And yes she was one good looking women.

[xarcherx987]

OMG love Kate. So gorgeous.

[djmigra]

@xarcherx987 TOTALLY AGREE!!!!

[Karmy2112]

Not only is she a stone cold looker, but in conjunction with that accent, I forget my name.

[earthboundmisfit1983]

nick is a hottie and still is in my opinion. trashmonk ftw!

[mthivier]

Aside from the question of whether their music "sounded like" the music of the '60s, is the creativity factor. The greatest thing about the '60s (IMO) was the unlimited creativity of the greatest '60s bands (whether the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, the Byrds, The Dead, the Zombies, folk acts like Dylan, Baez and Tim Hardin, etc.). They were all doing different things, but they were all pushing the creative limits and trying to things that were beautiful and unique. During the early...

[mthivier]

...(cont.) to mid '80s, bands like R.E.M., the Police and U2 and 10,000 Maniacs were all at their dizzyingly creative peaks, creating sounds that had never been heard before, while bands like the Dream Academy, Lone Justice and Suzanne Vega were all shaking things up creatively, and all coming out with beautiful things. So whether or not the sounds were similar, I think the '80s were the most creative musical period since the '60s.

[parrishgrady]

This was a wonderful interview. Thanks for posting it.

[rpyon21]

Man, I wish the dream academy would get back together, if only to do a tour. That way, I could see them live.

[AV5Z4]

Oh man the shoulder pads! Thank god it is the music and not the style that has lived on!

[c0m9xa]

the lead singer is so very handsome

[parrishgrady]

Funny you say this. I never seen him before and a fan of Nick's set me to look at him because they say he looks like my dear friend Bobby Kidd from Australia (unsigned popRock singer/musician/songwriter/asp­iring actor. Watch my video with Bobby Kidd on them or Demo songs he has on his channel/bobbykidd Bobby Kidd is a Hottie and a wonderful guy.

[AfroSchmuck]

What on planet earth happened to the black guy's hair?!!?! Can't he afford a hair stylist? They're on tv aren't they? Damn....

[islamrapesthemind]

who? jimmy hendrix jr.? it's called afro-knap baby!

[xtcxtc123]

oh! if only ...... meanwhile they are our little secret - thanks for post

[malachaivideos]

Yeah he talks about Pearls Before Swine!! Great band!

[jorged06]

great video, man!

i miss those years

[Dogsville08]

Nick is gorgeous!

he's aged quite well too.

[midtownjohn]

Wow. This is really cool. Great interview. Nick is such a good looking guy. I love their passion for music.

[angus4463]

just me?..or, was Kate a stone cold looker?

[LBjim]

No man,she is a hottie...

[mcgervey]

@angus4463 She still is!!!

[ThaOneChrisJONES]

@angus4463 Agreed, she's 100% beautiful. Im nowhere nere the kind of guy that would settle down with one woman and do the whole family deal. But she's the type of woman it would take to for me to do so, she's nice, beautiful, talented... what more could a guy want ?!?

[rsbarrett4991]

@angus4463 no... not just you

[UncoolNegated]

yeah they do seem like a good band....and they almost made it too....dont go saying they did make it, they just missed making it

[LaBoricua01]

Wow I think he looks a bit like William Beckett and it's so funny that he does cause I was looking for The Academy Is... interviews and came across this and they're called The Dream academy?... Kinda ironic I think lol

[330R]

These folks, JJ included, are so excited to talk about music. This 8 1/2 minutes is more real than the past three years of MTV. Loved "Life in a Northern Town".. I remember when it premiered.

[peaceinside25]

I agree 100% . I would also like to point out how this band seems like a team , people have respect for each other

[lrewopf]

@330R couldn't have said it better

[humbleradio]

@330R make that the last decade or two of MTV.

[worm73]

Gilmour!

[humbleradio]

This is really great! Thanks. So sad they're not still together and doubly sad we lost J.J. so early.

[Dogsville08]

Wow, imagine Nick dressed in a Rennaisance Festival outfit.

yowza!

[pjscafe]

wow, she's a hottie.

[morethansalt]

Prefab Sprout, Dream Academy, Everything But The Girl... some great music!

[midtownjohn]

Those were my 3 favorite bands in the 90's.

[dannobman]

i miss these days...when mtv was an actual music channel

[pacratboots]

that girl is so pretty... and an english accent to boot.... i think i'm in love

[n3iyr]

I'm with you. If I met her I bet all I could do is mumble.

[shisomiso]

yeah I'm a Canadian living in Asia. I'm same age as you guys too. When I hear this song I feel really Canadian even though they're Brits lol Reminds me of making our home made 1/2 pipes and skateboarding and BMXing when we were kids. Coming home after work in the hot summers and eating our watermelon we soaked overnight with Vodka. Good innocent times. Will never be able to go back :(

[Kelgan]

he looks like a cross between davy jones from the monkees and rachel leigh cooke. He is soo adorable and I wish we could go back to the 80s and listen to the music from when I was a teen!

[emerytownblues]

kate st. john mentioned luther vandross as an influence. wow. i didnt even know who luther vandross was (back then).

[andr1ma]

This is what MTV was like. I wish it was still as innocent as this video, and carried on. These people here (the dream academy, prefab sprout, as mentioned in this interview) are artists. Music was cool. Talking about it was cool. Being a musician was cool Punk rock was cool. Technology is wonderful, but what about the aritsts? Is it the same? Listen to this interview. The band is talking about other people, not themselves. It really is quite wonderful. Thanks to JJ and Martha too.

[Lucia121]

His voice reminds me of Orlando Bloom's.

[jax1492]

i wish mtv was still like this

[denisebrown1956]

52.  same here.

[evolnieveilebi]

I feel sooooo sentimental now. I'm 37 and miss MTV when it was how it was meant to be. I never saw this interview until now, -I am sad that they only had one solid hit because they seem(ed) so potent and sprite and "in it" so to speak. Very real (and quite innovative) musicians, indeed!!!

[Clemburke1111]

evo, I am 47, and was in college when MTC hit, and all the pop stars aare my age to a few yrs older than me. This period was my Favorite Period as far as music and fashion. I diod not like the street fashion ,,nor the top 40,,but I had my own thing going on.

[lisamj]

totally. i am so there with ya. i am 38 and miss the freaking 80s. this is so great. thanks for posting it, connorstreet whoever you are. xxoo

[redtiger111]

I am 40 ditto.

[jpgr69]

Turned 39 last week, boy does this send me right back. Never saw the interview before, but a) boy did I love the Dream Academy, and b) wow I forgot how great MTV was back in the day. Remember I want my MTV? Without commercials? And playing Michael Jackson (not technically rock) was a big deal? And JJ Jackson... this makes me really really nostalgic. I miss this time. It seemed so cutting-edge then, and now... their color-coordinated nehru jackets... so young and optimistic... it gets to me

[Cristinact]

Is this MTV???? Wow... unrecognisable, really!!! Compared to the filth they show nowadays, it is true that those were the days....

[cllamont]

Hearing JJ Jackson again is always great RIP

[67crow76]

Jesus, you don't see girls like Kate St John so much anymore. Great band.

[ghb61]

Kate St. John was GORGEOUS and wonderful!

[jessi1971]

Wow  I forgot how good looking he was

[hilarioph]

If i right on 1:12 that is Gilbert gabriel?

[mythme01]

Nick was dreamy!

[kcdesert05]

The lead vocalist for D.A. works with David Gilmour quite alot.

[retroforever]

JJ Jackson was so cool!

[teawanga]

sensational!! thanks for this, excellent

[cowboysarecool]

thanks for posting this video. I have always liked this song, so to see a interview with the band "back in the day" warmed this eighties childs heart. Hmmm...prefab sprout? I think I found a another obsure eighties band to check out!

[NJkid67]

Wow. I remember when Drean Academy appeared on the scene. This time also represents a time when MTV was brand new. I don't want to sound melancholy, but knowing what I know now on how this country, MTV, and bands like Dream Acadaey has turned out, I really long for this time of innocence again.

[soulstice99]

agreed!

[riderm32]

Wow! So hard to find anything related to the Dream Academy, so this is just amazing! Thanks for posting. So beautifu, so awesome, so great. I miss the Dream Academy. Intersting how they mention Luther Vandross as an influence. JJ Jackson mentions Prefab Sprout, who weren't bad. But to me, they were a poor mans version of The Dream Academy. Bring back The Dream Academy and The Sundays!

[markthnark]

Prefab Sprout were far superior to these guys. This one song was good, but really they were a one hit wonder. Listen closely to albums like Two Wheels Good, and you will find incredible songwriting and singing. Thomas Dolby production is also amazing.

[riderm32]

One Hit Wonders don't mean anything. Just because a band doesn't get played on the radio, doesn't mean they are a One Hit Wonder. Dream Academy was much more than Life In A Northern Town, which is a great tune! The Love Parade, Waterloo, Edge Of Forever, Moving On, Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, In Places On The Run, and so many more. Just my opinion, but Dream Academy was much better than Prefab Sprout. I'm also a big Thomas Dolby fan:)

[markthnark]

fair enough, thats why there is salami and cheese. Dont know much about them but I did buy there first album and it never caught my imagination beyond ...Nothern town.

Dolby, is unquestionably a genius, check out his podcasts.

[riderm32]

Dream Academy is a hard band to define. Kinda pop, jazz, and maybe a bit of shoegaze as well. I dig'em. They're melodic and chill, which isn't for everybody.

"Screen Kiss" is a great tune by Dolby.

[stupidcunts]

you made me laugh,thanks for that.

[seanie002]

prefab sprout were a poor man's dream accademy? - OMG you have obviously never listened to prefab sprout - paddy macaloon is one of the finest songwriters britain has ever produced!!!

[AirbrushReturns]

Oh WOW! I am a HUGE Dream Academy fan and have never seen this. Thank you so much for posting!

[spacecricket]

I'd felch Gilbert Gabriel

[thefreshmaker0202]

Kate St John is so hot!

[claudiocandido]

Awsome... will somebody please post the song "everybody´s gotta learn sometime" with this great band.

[DJFreez]

Ehm... Claudio, aren't you mistaking The Korgis with Dream Academy now? I know The Korgis did "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime".. ;-)

[lava0aval]

The Dream Academy did a cover of this song by The Korgis and although i often prefer the original version of a song i really love the version of the Dream Academy in this case

[Cornishman]

Great interview....thanks for posting it up.

Kate does look beautiful and when I briefly met her in London three years ago she hadn't changed at all from this interview.

Do check out her solo albums which are far superior to the DA albums.

[cyprixx]

The late JJ Jackson mentions Prefab Sprout; another great song "When love breaks Down"

[Will87]

Yeah, that is a good song. Dream Academy and Prefab Sprout were both top 15 in CFNY's countdown from 1985.

[SweetSweetWaldo]

It was September 1985, I remember school had just started. I was in a record shop in the mall and the clerk put the Dream Academy record on; I bought it right there! Yes, Kate St. John is sweetly beautiful, not in the oversexed trashy way women in pop music often look. She also had the most interesting career working in the '90s with Roger Eno and Bill Nelson; she also had a solo album on All Saints.

[xiaoxia5]

oh and interesting that they talk of touring near the end and they never did tour the u.s.

[xiaoxia5]

they are so young here. Nick looks great with the long hair.

[ghb61]

Kate St. John was drop dead GORGEOUS!

[Ymeow]

I love Kate St. John!!!

[ozmusicmaestro]

Thanks for uploading this..have never seen Dream Academy interview..Life in a Northern Town is a classic song...one of the best from the 80s.

[StanMyMan66]

The Dream Academy was one of the better groups of the 1980's. I must be getting old because I remember them when they first came out.