.
Search

Follow Us

Edit Content
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
Facebook Instagram Spotify Tiktok
RPM031 Menu-3
  • NEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Belinda Carlisle Once Upon A Time In California Artwork Demon-4

    Belinda Carlisle announces new album Once Upon A Time In California

    The new album from Belinda Carlisle is The GoGo’s star’s first English language pop record since 1996’s ‘A Woman & A Man’.

    Kesha Period Tits Out Tour Press Handout Credit Brendan Walter-4

    Kesha bringing Tits Out tour to UK and Europe in 2026

    The latest extension to Kesha’s previously-announced run of shows, is her first headline run on this side of the pond in over a decade.

    ABBA Credit ABBA Voyage (1)

    ABBA add new songs to Voyage show for third anniversary

    On Tuesday, May 27, the show, ‘ABBA Voyage’ relaunched with the addition of three classic hits from the group’s repertoire.

    Saint Etienne International Press Handout Credit Robert Baker-4

    Saint Etienne announce ‘final’ album International, release lead track Glad

    Serving as the follow-up to Saint Etienne’s ambient collection, ‘The Night’, the LP brings to a close 35 years of material from the group.

  • EXCLUSIVES
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Cascada Studio 24 Handout-4

    Cascada on her Studio 54-inspired new album and 20 years of global hits [Exclusive]

    As they return with their fifth album, Cascada’s Natalie Horler looks back on 20 years of hits and reacts to her recent interview that went viral online.

    Nicki French Who, What, Where Handout Energise-4

    Nicki French considered Eurovision return with new album track: ‘Would they really go for a 60 year old singer… again?’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her new album, Nicki French reveals she almost submitted one track into the running for next year’s Eurovision.

    Pixie Lott Encino Press Handout-4

    Pixie Lott talks new album Encino: ‘When you fall into your authentic self, that’s when the magic happens’ [Exclusive]

    A decade after releasing her self-titled third album, Pixie Lott returns with a body of work that reflects the place she’s at in her life today.

    Betty Boo Rip Up The Rulebook Credit Sandro Hyams-4

    Betty Boo: ‘It’s a philosophy that I have to not let anybody tell you that you can’t be who you want to be!’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her epic new album ‘Rip Up The Rulebook’, Betty Boo opens up about creating her most diverse work to date.

  • NEW MUSIC
  • REVIEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Tom Aspaul Cabin Fever Artwork

    Tom Aspaul – Cabin Fever

    Kim Wilde Closer Artwork Cherry Red

    Kim Wilde – Closer

    Gwen Stefani Bouquet

    Gwen Stefani – Bouquet

    Cascada Studio 24

    Cascada – Studio 24

  • CAUGHT LIVE
  • FUTUREPOP
  • RELEASE RADAR
Home News

Martin Fry on ABC’s Mantrap: ‘We wanted to be as glam as Duran Duran – but they were in Sri Lanka and we were in a Sainsbury’s car park!’

Connor Gotto by Connor Gotto
August 4, 2023
in News
Martin Fry ABC Press Courtesy
36
SHARES
355
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As ABC’s seminal debut album, ‘The Lexicon Of Love’, is celebrated with a 40th anniversary reissue, Martin Fry opens up about the making of its accompanying film, ‘Mantrap’. 

The longform video uses songs from the record while telling the story of how the unsuspecting lead singer is duped into fronting the band, in what soon unravels as an espionage thriller. 

Don't Miss...

ABC announce Lexicon Of Love orchestral tour dates for 2024

Martin Fry: ‘If there can be 37 episodes of ‘Breaking Bad’, why can’t there be another episode of ‘The Lexicon of Love?’ [Exclusive]

In line with the celebrations, the Julien Temple-directed film has been restored and remastered for the first time in four decades, released as part of the Blu-Ray edition of the LP, with Fry sharing his recollections of the project during an intimate press screening in London. 

“We’d had a couple of hits with Tears Are Not Enough, Poison Arrow and The Look Of Love, so we were on a roll, and the ‘Arena’ documentary makers from the BBC said they wanted to do a film about ABC,” he shares. “It quickly transpired that it was going to be about five deranged lads from Sheffield, moving from the north of England to London, and we felt a bit uncomfortable with that. 

“At the same time, we had a pretty good relationship with Julien Temple and we loved ‘The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle’, which he directed, so we approached him and Polygram video said, ‘Here’s some money (not a lot), and off you go make your feature film,’ which is how ‘Mantrap’ came about.”

Clocking in at just under an hour and starring Lisa Vanderpump, parts of the feature were shot in Austria “and Ladbroke Grove Sainsbury’s car park,” laughs Fry. “We were very very ambitious, probably arrogant and rather stupid, and I’ve always found those qualities are very good in rock and roll. So we started filming on Boxing Day and went for 10 days, crammed in between tour dates. 

“We’d seen Duran Duran in Sri Lanka [in the Save A Prayer music video] and ours was definitely an attempt to be as glam as those guys – but it was on a shoestring,” he adds. 

The budget was so tight, in fact, that not all of the band was able to shoot on location when Martin headed to Europe. “We couldn’t afford to take everybody to Europe, so the four string players Jocelyn pook and the band had to get on the ferry, film their bits, then go back home again. Only me, Julien Temple, Oliver Stapleton [cinematographer] and Lisa Vanderpump got to continue into Europe.”

Having just watched the film for the first time in four decades, does he have any words of advice for his 24-year-old self? “I’d say, ‘Look ahead – 40 years later, you might still be out there playing shows’…  A lot of the [performance] footage was from the Hammersmith Odeon, which was the biggest place you could get to play back then, and we’d only made one album, so when we played those shows we only had nine songs really.

“It was very much an experiment, but it feels good, 40 years later, to be sitting here,” he smiles. “That was my apprenticeship.”

The Lexicon Of Love (Half Speed Master)
The Lexicon Of Love (Half Speed Master)
The Lexicon Of Love (Half Speed Master)
£65.66
in stock
4 new from £65.66
4 used from £25.53
as of June 5, 2025 1:45 am
BUY NOW
Amazon.co.uk
Tags: ABC
Connor Gotto

Connor Gotto

Founder and editor of RETROPOP. Self-proclaimed pop aficionado. Usually seen with a wine in hand.

More Like This

Martin Fry Lexicon Of Love Live
News

ABC announce Lexicon Of Love orchestral tour dates for 2024

by Connor Gotto
July 10, 2023
Martin Fry ABC Credit Press
Exclusive

Martin Fry: ‘If there can be 37 episodes of ‘Breaking Bad’, why can’t there be another episode of ‘The Lexicon of Love?’ [Exclusive]

by Connor Gotto
May 3, 2023
Martin Fry
News

Martin Fry revisiting ABC’s Beauty Stab for Twitter listening party

by Connor Gotto
June 4, 2020
Martin Fry
News

Let’s Rock TV returns this week with Martin Fry exclusive

by Connor Gotto
May 25, 2020
Let's Rock 80s Lockdown Fest
News

Five Star, Sonia added to 80s Lockdown Fest line-up

by Connor Gotto
May 13, 2020

Follow Us

The RETROPOP Edit

Never miss a story - sign up to RETROPOP's Daily Edit newsletter for free!

Please wait...

You're in! Keep an eye on your inbox for all the latest!

The Latest

Belinda Carlisle Once Upon A Time In California Artwork Demon-4

Belinda Carlisle announces new album Once Upon A Time In California

June 4, 2025
Agnes Balenciaga Covered Eyes Press Handout Credit Fredrik Hvass-4

Agnes returns with shimmering new single Balenciaga Covered Eyes

May 30, 2025
Hurts Happiness Album Artwork Credit Sony-4

Hurts celebrate 15 years of Wonderful Life with Purple Disco Machine remix

May 30, 2025
RETROPOP No. 31 : Sept '24
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Change privacy settings
MEDIA KIT

RETROPOP participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Copyright © 2025 Irresistible. All rights reserved.

  • Home
    • Home – Layout 1
    • Home – Layout 2
    • Home – Layout 3
  • News
  • Fashion

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

CloseMenu

New issue out now

SHOP HERE