To celebrate 25 years of the unashamedly populist pop magazine, I've decided to knock up a list of smash hitters from April 12ths past. I've scanned through the official Top 40 charts from every April 12th from 1978 to today and picked out the five bands most likely to be plastered all over Smash Hits in that week. These are the people who'd have been grinning on the front cover, subjected to meaningful interviews about their favourite colour, and having their lyrics printed out in all their meaningless glory. In which year was Smash Hits your pop bible? It's April 12th - step back in time, pur-lease.
1978 Suzi Quatro, Blondie, Kate Bush, Andrew Gold, Showaddywaddy
1979 Squeeze, Racey, M, Sex Pistols, Village People
1980 Liquid Gold, The Jam, UB40, Madness, The Pretenders
1981 Shakin Stevens, Bucks Fizz, Kim Wilde, Landscape, Toyah
1982 Bucks Fizz, Imagination, Japan, Dollar, Classix Nouveaux
1983 Culture Club, Duran Duran, Jo Boxers, Bonnie Tyler, Nick Heyward
1984 Shakin Stevens, Thompson Twins, Depeche Mode, Captain Sensible, Madonna
1985 Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Tears For Fears, Go West, King, Dream Academy
1986 George Michael, Samantha Fox, Falco, A-Ha, Five Star
1987 Mel and Kim, Madonna, Terence Trent D'Arby, Fine Young Cannibals, Curiosity Killed The Cat
1988 Pet Shop Boys, Bros, Climie Fisher, Tiffany, Sinitta
1989 The Bangles, Simply Red, Jason Donovan, Transvision Vamp, INXS
1990 Madonna, Snap, Happy Mondays, Candy Flip, Adamski
1991 Chesney Hawkes, James, Wonder Stuff, Roxette, Dannii Minogue
1992 Right Said Fred, Shakespear's Sister, Soul II Soul, SL2, Curiosity
1993 Bluebells, Shaggy, New Order, East 17, Boyzone
1994 Take That, Ace of Base, Tony Di Bart, Haddaway, Bad Boys Inc
1995 Take That, Outhere Brothers, Bobby Brown, Let Loose, Deuce
1996 Prodigy, Mark Morrison, Gina G, Cast, Upside Down
1997 Backstreet Boys, Supergrass, No Doubt, Spice Girls, Sash
1998 Run DMC, Savage Garden, Ultra Nate, Robbie Williams, 911
1999 Martine McCutcheon, Eminem, Phats and Small, Britney Spears, TLC
2000 Westlife, Atomic Kitten, Steps, Point Break, 5ive
2001 Emma Bunton, Robbie Williams, Sugababes, Ash, S Club 7
2002 Gareth Gates, Britney Spears, Shakira, Will Young, Blue
2003"A world exclusive as we go inside the bedrooms of Blazin' Squad. We find out why Westlife have turned into cowboys, we hang out with Girls Aloud, meet those saucy lads from Triple 8 plus we're giving you the chance to win your own private screening of the new S Club movie 'Seeing Double' for you and 24 of your mates!"
