In this engaging Guitar Meets Science episode, the incredible true story of 80s synth-pop icon Howard Jones comes to life. Starting as a broke, classically trained pianist mocked for his one-man band dreams and stuck rolling cling film in a factory, Howard’s life changed when a drunk driver crashed into his vegetable van, yielding insurance money that funded his first Moog synthesizer (plus a lucky shipping error for a second unit). With the help of eccentric mime artist Jed Hoile’s wild performances, Howard defied skeptics, survived BBC censorship drama on Top of the Pops, hit No. 1 with his debut album Human’s Lib, performed at Live Aid, and delivered timeless hits like “Things Can Only Get Better” — proving resilience, innovation, and a positive message could conquer the music world.
