Ah, American Bandstand. We’re going hopping, we’re going hopping today…
For over 30 years, this show has entertained teenagers, brought today’s hottest rock and pop stars onstage, and has showcased the newest dance moves. I could even argue that it, along with Candid Camera, was one of the earliest “reality TV shows,” in that we all followed what was going on with each of the dancers – was Bob dancing with Justine, etc.
You would not believe how many artists and groups have graced the American Bandstand stage. In fact, take a look at these clips from artists who you might not automatically assume would have been part of Bandstand’s history.
PINK FLOYD
Apples and Oranges
Yes kids, that’s Syd Barrett and the Pink Floyd on the Bandstand stage. And Dick Clark looks like he’s really happy to introduce them.
PUBLIC IMAGE, LTD.
Poptones / Careering
You are not in need of glasses. That’s PiL with lead singer Johnny Lydon. Yes, THAT Johnny Lydon, he who once was known as Johnny Rotten and who once snarled lead vocals for the Sex Pistols.
PRINCE
I Wanna Be Your Lover / Why U Wanna Treat Me So Bad
A classic TV broadcast – Dick Clark trying to ask Prince questions, and Prince avoiding them as much as possible.
ADAM AND THE ANTS
Antmusic / Dog Eat Dog
You know, at one point in time Adam and the Ants were supposed to be the big bad new rock group that would take over America. Yeah… not so much.
ABBA
S.O.S. / I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
Okay, I could understand them playing “S.O.S.” for Bandstand, but the other song is essentially a Swedish schlager track that has about as much rock and roll as a cup of water.
THE GO-GO’S
Our Lips Are Sealed / We Got The Beat
Nice. Nice. Very nice. This was where most of us first saw the Go-Go’s. And where most of us fell in love with them.
THE BEASTIE BOYS
(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)
Yep. Near the end of Bandstand’s ABC run, the show actually added some rap groups to the mix – Run-D.M.C. appeared in 1985; and the Beastie Boys appeared a few months later.
THE DOORS
Light My Fire
No controversy between Jim Morrison and Dick Clark over lyrical content for this song.
DEF LEPPARD
Photograph / Rock of Ages
Gotta love Joe Elliot and Def Leppard… especially when they get interviewed by Dick Clark.
So I hope you had a good time going through Dick Clark’s teenage years… here on K-Chuck Radio!
Chuck The Writer 
Pil being on american bandstand it pretty shocking in and of itself, but Poptones? That’s one of the creepiest songs ever!
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I remember John Travolta looking distinctly uncomfortable on “Bandstand” while performing his pre-“Fever” and “Grease” single “Let Her In,” not exactly the peppiest of songs.
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Loved the Doors clip. They look like college kids the way they’re dressed. Everyone talks about and has seen the Ed Sullivan clips where they did “Light My Fire” with literal doors hanging in the background. Also on Bandstand this same episode, the Doors played “Crystal Ship.”
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Looking at the roster of bands appearing on the show over the years on the Wikipedia page, I get the feeling it was based on whoever was available at the time. The studio time was expensive, sets were not cheap to put up, it’s likely that they recorded multiple episodes in a day’s shooting. The next day, the set might be used for another show. “Who is in Los Angeles next Saturday? PiL? Never heard of them, they have albums out? BOOK ‘EM!”
One of my coolest Google stumbles (looking for one thing and finding something better) came in the form of sort of memoires of a Soul Train dancer, reminiscences of all day marathons where they weren’t allowed to leave the Burbank studio to eat, so the production company supplied as craft service – ta da – KFC box lunches. And never enough to go around! So dancers would descend like vultures on the tables where the boxes were set to make sure they got one before they were gone. It was a cool insight because when you watch the old clips, sometimes the dancers really do look beat, even when someone amazing is on. Isley Brothers, going to phone this one in….
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