The queen of 80s pop is back — and this is one of the most revealing interviews Kim Wilde has done in years.

In this special episode of Long Way to the Top, Shayne Brian sits down with global pop icon Kim Wilde ahead of her 2026 Australian Closer Tour for an in-depth conversation about fame, reinvention, music, creativity, and surviving one of the most defining decades in pop culture history.

From the explosive success of Kids In America to massive worldwide hits like You Keep Me Hangin’ On, Cambodia, You Came, View From A Bridge, Chequered Love and If I Can’t Have You, Kim opens up about the songs that shaped a generation — and the moments behind them that fans rarely hear about.

Image used for the podcast tile courtesy of Expressions 1977
Check them out here - https://www.instagram.com/expressions1977/

This is not your typical rock interview.

Shayne dives deep into:
The real story behind Kids In America
Growing up in a famous musical family
The pressures of being one of the biggest female stars of the 1980s
The darker emotional themes hidden inside her music
Why Cambodia still resonates decades later
Stepping away from fame and reinventing herself
Winning a Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show
The changing music industry
Legacy, identity, creativity and longevity

Plus Kim reflects on:
Touring Australia through the decades
What it feels like performing these songs today
The enduring power of 80s music culture
And the surprising song she never gets tired of singing live

And of course… Shayne finishes the interview with his legendary Fast Five Questions.

If you love:
Classic rock podcasts
80s pop culture
New wave music
Deep dive artist interviews
Stories behind iconic songs
Music documentaries and nostalgia
then this episode is essential listening.

🎟️ KIM WILDE – CLOSER TOUR 2026 AUSTRALIA
Wednesday 18 November – Perth – Astor Theatre
Friday 20 November – Brisbane – The Tivoli
Saturday 21 November – Melbourne – Palais Theatre
Sunday 22 November – Geelong – Costa Hall
Tuesday 24 November – Adelaide – The Gov
Friday 27 November – Newcastle – Civic Theatre
Saturday 28 November – Sydney – Enmore Theatre
Sunday 29 November – Canberra – Canberra Theatre

Tickets and tour information:
David Roy Williams Tours
Metropolis Touring

🎧 Listen now to Long Way to the Top with Shayne Brian on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms.

Hit plus or follow to subscribe to the podcast.

Check out our socials - https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast

The queen of 80s pop is back &mdash; and this is one of the most revealing interviews Kim Wilde has done in years.
In this special episode of Long Way to the Top, Shayne Brian sits down with global pop icon Kim Wilde ahead of her 2026 Australian Closer Tour for an in-depth conversation about fame, reinvention, music, creativity, and surviving one of the most defining decades in pop culture history.
From the explosive success of Kids In America to massive worldwide hits like You Keep Me Hangin&rsquo; On, Cambodia, You Came, View From A Bridge, Chequered Love and If I Can&rsquo;t Have You, Kim opens up about the songs that shaped a generation &mdash; and the moments behind them that fans rarely hear about.
Image used for the podcast tile courtesy of Expressions 1977 Check them out here - https://www.instagram.com/expressions1977/
This is not your typical rock interview.
Shayne dives deep into:
<ul data-start="849" data-end="1276">
<li data-section-id="dfmcx2" data-start="849" data-end="890">The real story behind Kids In America</li>
<li data-section-id="1tmfbtr" data-start="891" data-end="930">Growing up in a famous musical family</li>
<li data-section-id="1fovaqe" data-start="931" data-end="1000">The pressures of being one of the biggest female stars of the 1980s</li>
<li data-section-id="zom0xy" data-start="1001" data-end="1054">The darker emotional themes hidden inside her music</li>
<li data-section-id="12ylidz" data-start="1055" data-end="1101">Why Cambodia still resonates decades later</li>
<li data-section-id="1429h0s" data-start="1102" data-end="1151">Stepping away from fame and reinventing herself</li>
<li data-section-id="14tawy1" data-start="1152" data-end="1201">Winning a Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show</li>
<li data-section-id="4jk77t" data-start="1202" data-end="1231">The changing music industry</li>
<li data-section-id="1d8fb9j" data-start="1232" data-end="1276">Legacy, identity, creativity and longevity</li>
</ul>
Plus Kim reflects on:
<ul data-start="1300" data-end="1494">
<li data-section-id="1o113vn" data-start="1300" data-end="1339">Touring Australia through the decades</li>
<li data-section-id="1a97aaa" data-start="1340" data-end="1389">What it feels like performing these songs today</li>
<li data-section-id="1atms3d" data-start="1390" data-end="1431">The enduring power of 80s music culture</li>
<li data-section-id="1i9cjv4" data-start="1432" data-end="1494">And the surprising song she never gets tired of singing live</li>
</ul>
And of course&hellip; Shayne finishes the interview with his legendary Fast Five Questions.
If you love:
<ul data-start="1599" data-end="1795">
<li data-section-id="k0tfbo" data-start="1599" data-end="1622">Classic rock podcasts</li>
<li data-section-id="94muc0" data-start="1623" data-end="1640">80s pop culture</li>
<li data-section-id="1eodiog" data-start="1641" data-end="1657">New wave music</li>
<li data-section-id="1xyc5n5" data-start="1658" data-end="1687">Deep dive artist interviews</li>
<li data-section-id="1xpol7q" data-start="1688" data-end="1717">Stories behind iconic songs</li>
<li data-section-id="1fqfvq4" data-start="1718" data-end="1795">Music documentaries and nostalgia then this episode is essential listening.</li>
</ul>
🎟️ KIM WILDE &ndash; CLOSER TOUR 2026 AUSTRALIA
<ul data-start="1844" data-end="2240">
<li data-section-id="bamxxe" data-start="1844" data-end="1893">Wednesday 18 November &ndash; Perth &ndash; Astor Theatre</li>
<li data-section-id="ynzvi3" data-start="1894" data-end="1940">Friday 20 November &ndash; Brisbane &ndash; The Tivoli</li>
<li data-section-id="45jm90" data-start="1941" data-end="1994">Saturday 21 November &ndash; Melbourne &ndash; Palais Theatre</li>
<li data-section-id="1qviuzc" data-start="1995" data-end="2040">Sunday 22 November &ndash; Geelong &ndash; Costa Hall</li>
<li data-section-id="fhp92l" data-start="2041" data-end="2085">Tuesday 24 November &ndash; Adelaide &ndash; The Gov</li>
<li data-section-id="17uwc57" data-start="2086" data-end="2136">Friday 27 November &ndash; Newcastle &ndash; Civic Theatre</li>
<li data-section-id="12kjznw" data-start="2137" data-end="2187">Saturday 28 November &ndash; Sydney &ndash; Enmore Theatre</li>
<li data-section-id="1qfyhuu" data-start="2188" data-end="2240">Sunday 29 November &ndash; Canberra &ndash; Canberra Theatre</li>
</ul>
Tickets and tour information: <a href="https://davidroywilliams.com/tours/kimwildecloser/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">David Roy Williams Tours</a> <a href="https://metropolistouring.com/kim-wilde-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Metropolis Touring</a>
🎧 Listen now to Long Way to the Top with Shayne Brian on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms.
Hit plus or follow to subscribe to the podcast.
Check out our socials - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast">https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast</a>

Every song has a story. Every legend has a journey.

Long Way to the Top is where those stories come alive — the raw, revealing, and often hilarious moments behind rock’s most enduring names. Hosted by Shayne Brian, this is the ultimate backstage pass into the minds of the artists who built the soundtrack of our lives.

From chart-topping anthems and studio secrets to the reinventions that kept them alive across decades, each episode dives deep into the grit, the glory, and the genius that made these icons who they are.

Featuring legendary guests including:


Stewart Copeland (The Police) — on the art of rhythm, rebellion, and creating one of the most innovative bands in rock history.


Leo Sayer — sharing stories from a five-decade career of global hits, resilience, and reinvention.


Russell Morris — reflecting on The Real Thing and the timeless spirit of Australian music.


Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock) — taking us through six decades of songs that shaped Aussie rock.


Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) — reliving the glamour, sound, and legacy of the 1980s New Romantic movement.


Steve Kilbey (The Church) — exploring mysticism, creativity, and the making of Under the Milky Way.

Whether you grew up spinning vinyl or streaming playlists, Long Way to the Top takes you deep into the world of the artists who defined generations — and are still climbing.

Hit plus or follow to subscribe to the podcast.

And head over to Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast,

Keep on Rocking!

Every song has a story. Every legend has a journey.
Long Way to the Top is where those stories come alive &mdash; the raw, revealing, and often hilarious moments behind rock&rsquo;s most enduring names. Hosted by Shayne Brian, this is the ultimate backstage pass into the minds of the artists who built the soundtrack of our lives.
From chart-topping anthems and studio secrets to the reinventions that kept them alive across decades, each episode dives deep into the grit, the glory, and the genius that made these icons who they are.
Featuring legendary guests including:
<ul data-start="899" data-end="1588">
<li data-start="899" data-end="1036">
Stewart Copeland (The Police) &mdash; on the art of rhythm, rebellion, and creating one of the most innovative bands in rock history.
</li>
<li data-start="1037" data-end="1143">
Leo Sayer &mdash; sharing stories from a five-decade career of global hits, resilience, and reinvention.
</li>
<li data-start="1144" data-end="1244">
Russell Morris &mdash; reflecting on The Real Thing and the timeless spirit of Australian music.
</li>
<li data-start="1245" data-end="1359">
Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock) &mdash; taking us through six decades of songs that shaped Aussie rock.
</li>
<li data-start="1360" data-end="1476">
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) &mdash; reliving the glamour, sound, and legacy of the 1980s New Romantic movement.
</li>
<li data-start="1477" data-end="1588">
Steve Kilbey (The Church) &mdash; exploring mysticism, creativity, and the making of Under the Milky Way.
</li>
</ul>
Whether you grew up spinning vinyl or streaming playlists, Long Way to the Top takes you deep into the world of the artists who defined generations &mdash; and are still climbing.
Hit plus or follow to subscribe to the podcast.
And head over to Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast,
Keep on Rocking!