Having proved themselves as starmakers for everyone from soap actors to shop assistants, rejuvenated ailing careers and gone incognito to score hits of their own, there was only one area left for Stock Aitken Waterman to prove themselves. It was time to take their show to the people…

MARK LINDORES

Throughout their reign, as the Hit Factory churned out hit after hit, Stock Aitken Waterman made no secret of the fact that the Motown label was the biggest inspiration when it came to their production-line approach to pop. After studiously analysing every aspect of Berry Gordy’s iconic organisation, from the distinctive sonic trademarks of the records to the way they were marketed, Mike, Matt and Pete even went so far as to modify Motown’s ‘sound of young America’ tagline to suit, dubbing themselves “the sound of bright young Britain”. Having successfully established themselves as a modern-day Motown in terms of chart success and record sales, Pete Waterman decided to take the SAW show on the road to replicate the Motown Revue tours of the 60s and 70s, showcasing the Detroit label’s roster.

One of the main criticisms levelled at Stock Aitken Waterman - aside from the quick turnaround of their acts - was the questionable vocal talent of some of their charges. Indeed, the all-revealing live setting hadn’t previously been a factor for most of the acts; for them, a mimed performance on Top Of The Pops or on Saturday morning kids’ TV was the extent of their public performance. Pete Waterman decided the time was right to put matters straight. An imitation of the package tours of the 60s, where a bill of many acts would tour the country, was ideal - and Waterman decided to brand the outings as an extension of his late-night TV show The Hitman & Her.