Back to the 80s

Friday 23 July is 80s day on Radio Scotland. There'll be a day of programming inspired by the decade of the filofax, Frankie and The Kids from Fame. In this mood of nostalgia we thought we'd take a look back in time and see what connections we can spot between River City and the world of 80s music!

As Glasgow's a city of music it's not surprising that, at one stage or another, many of the River City cast, past and present, have dipped their toes into the world of pop and rock.

During the 1980s Deacon Blue brought their anthemic soul-tinged rock to a world stage. At the forefront, singing her heart out, was Lorraine McIntosh, who played Deek's troubled mum Alice.

We hear on the River City grapevine that Libby McArthur, aka Gina Rossi, was in a band called Sophisticated Boom Boom. They performed in some Peel Sessions. Meanwhile, in another 80s connection, Juan Pablo di Pace, who played Jo Rossi's illicit other half Luca, made an appearance in the video for a song first made popular by Steve Winwood in 1982. The 2004 video by Eric Prydz for 'Call on Me' featured Juan Pablo enjoying a rigorous work-out.