The Family Trees were some of the earliest books published by Omnibus Press (we are currently celebrating our 50th anniversary) and they remain in print today. This remarkable longevity is, for our money, because they not only contain a wealth of information but they are like works of art themselves. This helped Pete Farmer look into the history of Siouxsie and the Banshees, as well as various other bands spawned from the punk movement such as Public Image Ltd, Adam and the Ants and The Slits.

In 1995 and 1997, the BBC aired two six-part television series based on the books. John Peel presented this series, which was seen by more than 200 million homes. They started as a result of my obsession with detail,’ he says. ‘Before I interviewed a musician I would write copious notes on a big piece of paper, with arrows and asterisks all over it, and over a couple of years, these developed into rudimentary family trees.” However one man has made a career of chronicling these splits and rubs his hands in maniacal Monty Burns-like glee* when such things happen: his name is Pete Frame. It’s seldom a happy time when a band splits up. There are few people who really rub their hands with glee. I don’t mean Boy Bands of course. When the “talented one” leaves a boy band, generally half of the population uncorks the champagne and slays the fatted calf to celebrate not having to see their stupid chubby faces on the gogglebox again. Meanwhile the other, younger half are jumping onto counselling helplines to guide them through the five stages of grief.New York Punk - broadcast 22 July 1995. Featuring The New York Dolls, Blondie, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Television, Jayne County and Patti Smith. Heroically detailed personnel reconstructions... so elegantly organised as to defy credibility' Rolling Stone Low budgets, shared flats, complicated relationships and small clubs makes for tightly connected family trees, in the 1970s. With Echo and the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes and OMD on the Liverpool New Wave family tree (join the dots from Ian McCulloch to Julian Cope) you can spend a happy half-hour tracing connections. The new Merseybeat - broadcast 5 August 1995. Featuring Echo & The Bunnymen, Teardrop Explodes, Big in Japan, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, OMD and Ian Broudie.

The Fleetwood Mac story - broadcast 24 June 1995. Featuring the formation and spin offs of Fleetwood Mac. The British R'n'B boom - broadcast 29 July 1995. featuring Manfred Mann, Cream, Graham Bond Organisation. The Yardbirds and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. If only I could take over for Mr Frame once/if he retires, but that's like saying, "I want to be Eric Clapton once he retires." There can be only one.Banshees and other creatures - broadcast 25 September 1998. Featuring bands to evolve from the English Punk scene including Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd, Adam and the Ants and The Cure. I can’t help thinking that a White Stripes / Raconteurs / Dead Weather chart would look great, alongside a QOTSA / Desert Sessions / Them Crooked Vultures / Foo Fighters display – but as Pete says, he’s always pleased when a band changes it’s line up, as that’s more opportunity for work… The Mersey Sound - broadcast 18 September 1998. Featuring Merseybeat acts The Beatles, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Gerry and the Pacemakers and The Searchers. The Birmingham Beat - broadcast 1 July 1995. Featuring The Moody Blues, The Move and Electric Light Orchestra