Moore on pop

When Kim Wilde recorded Kids In America, her regard was for the tune rather than the lyrics. She was not, she says, trying to make any kind of social comment. But when it comes to the kids in England particularly those in Liverpool and Brixton – the hot-bed of riots and trouble recently – the blonde singer has some serious thoughts.

“It was something that had been snowballing for some time,” said Kim, during her promotional visit to Australia. “The kids had nothing better to do; many were being made redundant and the frustration just escalated. There has been a lot of antagonism between the police and the black communities and I guess things just got out of hand. In some ways, it made people realize what a sorry situation it is for young people. Before, there were figures saying unemployment had gone up, but it was the riots that made people actually stop to think. However, I don’t think the situation is uncontrollable.”

Kim doesn’t know much about the kids in America. She hasn’t been there yet, although her “discoverer” Mickie Most is “sussing out” the possibility of a trip there next year. But Kim Wilde has had her plate full enough anyway, travelling the globe on the success of the single and the follow up, Chequered Love. When we spoke she was waiting for her third single to be released in London, Water On Glass, to enter the charts.

She is the daughter of Marty Wilde, rock’n’roll star of the late ’50s, who writes songs for her with Kim’s producer, brother Ricky. If there was any pressure on Kim to come up with more hits after her chart debut, there’s none now.

“It worried me initially,” Kim said. “But Dad and Ricky work very well under pressure. And when Chequered Love went into the English charts… well, I’m not worried now.”

Although Kim was thrilled with the success of Kids In America, she says there has been no “massive knees-up” to celebrate yet. “We just had the odd bottle of champagne in the fridge to have for breakfast with the bacon and eggs,” she said.