Back to the Future

The future used to look like such a brilliant place to live when I was a kid, all sleek and shiny surfaces, rockets, hover cars, robots and talking computers. But now that we're actually living in what I considered "the future" back then — 2001 was eight years ago — it doesn't seem half as exciting and the long-term outlook is even a bit grim. Given the choice I think I'd rather live in the future of Gerry Anderson's 1970 tv series "UFO" which had all the usual science fiction gizmos and vehicles but was also a very hip and groovy-looking world of mod interiors and futuristic babes in cat suits and silver mini skirts, all set to a brilliant theme tune.

Download: UFO (Main Theme) - Barry Gray (mp3)

I was a big fan of the show when it was first broadcast — I even made my own SHADO badge out of cardboard — but as I was only 8 at the time I was more interested in the Interceptors and Ed Straker's car than all the space age dolly birds lounging around on modular furniture. But even I took notice of the girls stationed on the Moonbase who wore tight sparkly uniforms and purple wigs (the function of which has never been explained but who cares), especially Lt. Gay Ellis played by the lovely Gabrielle Drake* whose forceful command of "Interceptors! Immediate launch!" in that posh Head Girl voice of hers conjures up all sorts of, um, thoughts. Innocent though I was, I definitely had the feeling that there was more going on in the show than I understood (it had "adult" themes — ooooh) and scenes like this left a mark on my impressionable young mind.



Unfortunately we don't have this sexy future to look forward to as it's been and gone — "UFO" was set in 1980 which, far as I remember, didn't look anything like that. Though with all the silver outfits and purple hair I like to think Gerry Anderson predicted the look of both Glam Rock and Punk.

*Gabrielle, as you may or may not know, was the older sister of mopey folkie Nick Drake — though in that outfit she looks more like David Bowie's sister — and there's a duet between the two of them on the "Family Tree" collection of Drake's early home recordings which is rather lovely. Though I can't help but picture her singing this wearing a purple wig.

Download: All My Trials - Nick and Gabrielle Drake (mp3)