The Cure are an English rock band that released eight albums and eighteen singles between 1978 and 1989 on Fiction Records. They emerged in the British post-punk movement and cultivated a goth-rock sound and image during the early 1980s. Their popular hits include “Boys Don’t Cry,” “A Forest,” “Let’s Go to Bed,” “The Love Cats,” […]
Public Image Limited — commonly spelled Public Image Ltd. and known by the acronym PiL — are an English post-punk band led by singer John Lydon, who assembled the first lineup after his departure from the Sex Pistols. The original PiL with bassist Jah Wobble and guitarist Keith Levene debuted with a charting theme, “Public […]
Siouxsie and the Banshees were an English rock band that released eleven studio albums and twenty-seven singles between 1978 and 1995 on Polydor. They charted with their debut single “Hong Kong Garden” and scored multiple UK hits, including the underground rock staples “Happy House,” “Spellbound,” “Arabian Knights,” “Cities In Dust,” “Peek-a-Boo,” and “Kiss Them for […]
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English rock band that released five albums between 1980 and 1987 on Korova and Sire. They formed amid the post-punk explosion in Liverpool, where singer–guitarist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant, and bassist Les Pattinson performed as a trio with a drum machine dubbed “echo.” After one single, drummer Pete […]
Wire are an English post-punk band from London that released the 1977–79 albums Pink Flag, Chairs Missing, and 154 on Harvest. They disbanded in 1980 when singer–guitarist Colin Newman went solo (backed by drummer Robert Gotobed) and bassist Graham Lewis launched Dome with guitarist Bruce Gilbert. Wire reformed mid-decade and released four albums and two […]
The Teardrop Explodes were an English new wave band that released three 1979–80 singles on Liverpool indie Zoo, followed by the 1980–81 Mercury albums Kilimanjaro and Wilder. They gained US airplay with the neo-psych evergreen “When I Dream” and scored UK hits with the 1981 singles “Reward,” “Treason (It’s Just a Story),” and “Passionate Friend.” […]
Joy Division was an English post-punk band from Manchester, formed as Warsaw by guitarist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook with drummer Stephen Morris and singer Ian Curtis. They co-headed the Northern DIY boom with their 1978 EP An Ideal for Living. On Tony Wilson’s Factory label, Joy Division made their 1979 debut, Unknown Pleasures, […]
Bauhaus was an English post-punk band that sparked goth-rock with their 1979 debut single “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” performed in David Bowie‘s 1983 film The Hunger. As the banner act on 4AD, Bauhaus made the 1980–83 albums In the Flat Field, Mask, The Sky’s Gone Out, and Burning From the Inside. Popular Bauhaus songs include “Dark […]
The Sound was an English post-punk band that made the 1980/81 Korova albums Jeopardy and From the Lions Mouth, followed by the 1982–87 titles All Fall Down, Shock of Daylight (EP), Heads and Hearts, and Thunder Up. They evolved from The Outsiders, a punk trio headed by guitarist/singer Adrian Borland, who also led the coldwave […]
The Monochrome Set was an English post-punk band that released three 1978–79 singles on Rough Trade, followed by the 1980 Dindisc albums Strange Boutique and Love Zombies. They resurfaced with the 1982 Cherry Red disc Eligible Bachelors and again with the 1985 Blanco Y Negro release The Lost Weekend. Guitarist Lester Square and bassist Andy […]
The Comsat Angels were an English post-punk band that co-developed the ethereal neo-psych subgenre with their 1980–82 Polydor albums Waiting for a Miracle, Sleep No More, and Fiction. On Jive Records, they made the 1983–85 albums Land and 7 Day Weekend, followed by the 1986 Island release Chasing Shadows. Members: Stephen Fellows (guitar, vocals), Kevin […]
The Associates were the Scottish new wave duo of singer Billy MacKenzie and multi-instrumentalist Alan Rankine. They made the 1980 Fiction album The Affectionate Punch and scored 1981 indie hits with “Tell Me Easters On Friday,” “Q Quarters,” “Kitchen Person,” and “White Car In Germany,” compiled on the Situation Two release Fourth Drawer Down. In 1982, […]
The Passage was an English post-punk band assembled by drummer, keyboardist, and songwriter Dick Witts. They released two 1978–79 EPs on Manchester indie Object, followed by the 1980 album Pindrop. In 1981, a revised lineup issued For All and None on Virgin-subsidiary Night & Day, followed by the 1982–83 releases Degenerates and Enflame on Cherry […]
Gang of Four are an English post-punk band that released four albums between 1979 and 1983 on EMI/Warner. They emerged with the 1978 indie single “Damaged Goods” on Fast Product, followed by the 1979 album Entertainment!, a strident mix of funk rhythms, dischorded riffs, taut vocals, and provocative lyrics. Notable titles include “Love Like Anthrax,” […]
The Slits were an all-female English post-punk combo that made the 1979 album Cut on Island/Antilles, followed by 1981’s Return of the Giant Slits on CBS. Members: Ari Up [Arianna Forster, aka Ari-Upp] (vocals), Suzi Gutsy (bass, 1976-77), Kate Korus (guitar, 1976-77), Palmolive (drums, vocals, 1976-79), Viv Albertine (guitar, vocals), Tessa Pollitt (bass, vocals) Budgie […]
Magazine was an English rock band led by original Buzzcocks frontman Howard Devoto. They debuted with the 1978 Virgin single “Shot by Both Sides,” followed by the albums Real Life, Secondhand Daylight, and The Correct Use of Soap. The band’s instrumentalists — guitarist John McGeoch, bassist Barry Adamson, and keyboardist Dave Formula — were also […]
Wah! was the revolving band-moniker of English singer/musician Pete Wylie, who emerged on the late Seventies Liverpool post-punk scene. He dubbed the first lineup Wah! Heat for two 1980 singles on Inevitable Music, then shortened the name to Wah! for the 1981 Eternal album Nah=Poo – The Art of Bluff. In 1983, Wah! scored UK/Irish […]
Killing Joke are an English rock band that released eight albums between 1980 and 1990. They emerged on the Southwest post-punk scene with the 1979 indie EP Turn to Red, followed by the EG albums Killing Joke, What’s THIS For…!, and Revelations. They made chart inroads with the 1983/84 singles “Let’s All Go (to the […]
Orange Juice was a Scottish post-punk band that cut four 1980/81 singles on Postcard Records, the Glasgow indie that launched Josef K and Aztec Camera. They signed with Polydor for their 1982 debut album You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever and scored a UK Top 10 hit with the title-track from their second album, Rip […]
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish goth/dream-pop trio that was active for 16 years, starting in 1981. Between 1982 and 1990, the band released six albums and assorted EPs on 4AD. Two additional longplayers appeared on Fontana during the 1990s. Members: Elizabeth Fraser (vocals), Robin Guthrie (guitar), Will Heggie (bass, 1981-83), Simon Raymonde (bass, 1983-97) Background […]
Scritti Politti was an English art-pop band led by singer/musician Green Gartside. The original trio with bassist Nial Jinks and drummer Tom Morley cut three post-punk EPs in 1978/79, including the pioneering DIY release “Skank Bloc Bologna.” In 1981, Scritti Politti resurfaced with a new sound on the Rough Trade single “The ‘Sweetest Girl’,” followed […]
Rip Rig + Panic was an English post-punk and avant-funk band that released the 1981–83 albums God, I Am Cold, and Attitude on Virgin. Original vocalist Neneh Cherry later gained fame as a solo artist. Members: Gareth Sager (piano), Neneh Cherry (vocals), Bruce Smith (drums), Mark Springer (piano), Sean Oliver (bass), Andrea Oliver (vocals, 1982), […]
Diagram Brothers were an English art-punk band from Manchester that debuted with “We Are All Animals,” a 1980 DIY maxi-single. Buzzcocks manager Richard Boon signed them to his New Hormones label for their second single (“Bricks”) and 1981 album Some Marvels of Modern Science, followed by the 1982 10″ Discordo 45. Bassist/trumpeter Andy Diagram doubled […]
New Model Army was an English post-punk band that emerged with two 1983 singles, followed by the 1984 album Vengeance on small-press Abstract Records. Between 1985 and 1991, the band released five albums and assorted shortplayers on EMI. Members: Justin Sullivan (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Stuart Morrow (bass 1980-87), Phil Tompkins (drums, 1980-82), Rob Heaton (drums […]
The Passions were an English ethereal new wave band that cut two 1979 post-punk singles and signed with Fiction Records for their 1980 album, Michael & Miranda. On Polydor, they made the 1981/82 albums Thirty Thousand Feet Over China and Sanctuary and scored a UK hit with “I’m In Love With a German Film Star.” […]
Random Hold was an English New Wave/art-rock band from London that released a self-titled EP and a standalone single on Polydor in 1979, followed by the album The View From Here in 1980. That same year, contents from all three releases were compiled onto the U.S. Passport release Etceteraville. A change in lineup yielded three […]
The Durutti Column was an English ambient project from Manchester that made nine albums and assorted EPs between 1980 and 1990 on Factory Records. Guitarist Vini Reilly led the act through multiple solo and combo iterations. He also played on records by Anne Clark, Richard Jobson, and Quando Quango. Members: Vini Reilly (guitar, piano, vocals), […]
Josef K was a Scottish post-punk band that released five singles and the 1981 album The Only Fun in Town. An earlier demos set later surfaced as Sorry for Laughing. Along with Orange Juice and Aztec Camera, they recorded for Postcard Records, a small but fruitful Glaswegian indie. Their music influenced The Smiths and the […]
The Swell Maps were an English post-punk band that cut four singles and the 1979/80 Rough Trade albums A Trip to Marineville and …In “Jane From Occupied Europe”. Frontman Nikki Sudden launched a prolific solo career. Members: Nikki Sudden (vocals, backing vocals, guitar, piano, saxophone, percussion, harmonica, handclaps, balloon), Epic Soundtracks (piano, drums, organ, bass, […]
Marquis de Sade was a French New Wave/art-punk band from Rennes that issued a pair of shortplayers on Terrapin in 1978, followed by two albums and a standalone single on Pathé between 1979 and 1981. Members: Philippe Pascal (vocals), Frank Darcel (guitar), Anzia (guitar, 1977-78), Christian Dargelos (bass, vocals, 1977-78), Pierre Thomas (drums, 1977-78), Thierry […]
Mi-Sex was a New Zealand new wave band that released four albums between 1979 and 1983 on CBS–Epic. Members: Don Martin (bass), Murray Burns (keyboards), Richard Hodgkinson (drums, 1977-1981), Steve Gilpin (vocals, 1977-1984), Kevin Stanton (guitar, 1977-1986), Paul Dunningham (drums, 1981-present), Colin Bailey (guitar, 1983-present) Background Mi-Sex formed in 1977 in New Zealand when vocalist […]
Modern Eon was an English post-punk band from Liverpool that released the 1979 EP Pieces on self-press Eon Records, followed by the single “Euthenics” and the 1981 album Fiction Tales on DinDisc. Members: Alix Plain [aka Alex Johnson] (guitar, vocals, percussion, keyboards, horn), Danny Hampson (bass, vocals), Tim Lever (guitar, saxophone, 1980-81), Joey McKechnie (drums, […]
The Swamp Children were an English sophisti-jazz/pop band from Manchester that released two albums on Factory circa 1981/82, followed by the album So Hot in 1982. The band morphed into Kalima for a further run of shortplayers and albums during the mid-to-late 1980s. Members: Martin Moscrop (drums), Ann Quigley (vocals), Tony Quigley (bass), John Kirkham […]
Dislocation Dance was an English post-punk/jazz-funk band from Manchester that cut two EPs and the 1981 album Music Music Music on New Hormones. Trumpeter Andy Diagram held dual membership in the Diagram Brothers. Singer Kathryn Way features on their stopgap singles “You’ll Never Never Know” and “Violet” and 1983 Rough Trade album Midnight Shift, a […]
Crispy Ambulance was an English post-punk band that released the 1982 album The Plateau Phase on Factory Benelux. In 1985, an expanded six-piece lineup cut the funk EP Advantage under the name Ram Ram Kino. Members: Alan Hempsall (vocals), Robert Davenport (guitar), Keith Darbyshire (bass), Gary Madeley (drums) Background Crispy Ambulance formed in late 1977 in […]
The Au Pairs were an English art-punk/funk band from Birmingham that released two singles on 021 Records, followed by the 1981/82 albums Playing With a Different Sex and Sense and Sensuality. Members: Lesley Woods (vocals, guitar), Paul Foad (guitar, vocals), Pete Hammond (drums), Jane Munro (bass, vocals, 1979-83), Nick O’Connor (bass, keyboards, 1983), Jayne Morris […]
UK Decay was an English art-punk/goth-rock band from Luton, Bedfordshire, that released two shortplayers on self-press Plastic Records circa 1979/80, followed by a trio of singles on small-press Fresh Records during 1980 and 1981, culminating with the album For Madmen Only. An EP followed on Crass-subsidiary Corpus Christi in 1982, after which the band released […]
Fad Gadget (aka Frank Tovey, 1956–2002) was an English post-punk electronic musician who released four albums between 1980 and 1984 on Mute Records. Members: Frank Tovey (lead vocals, computer, synthesizer), David Simmonds (grand piano, synthesizer), Nick Cash (vibraphone, drums, percussion), David Rogers (double bass, guitar, bass synthesizer), Peter Balmer (bass), Joni Sackett (vocals, viola), Barbara […]
Delta 5 was an English post-punk band that released three 1979–80 Rough Trade singles and the 1981 album See the Whirl. Members: Bethan Peters (bass, vocals), Ros Allen (bass, vocals), Julz Sale (vocals, guitar, 1978-81), Kelvin Knight (drums, 1979-1981), Alan Riggs (guitar, 1979-81), Jacqui Callis (vocals, guitar, 1981-82), Graeme Haigh (drums, 1981-82) Formation Delta 5 […]
Medium Medium was an English art-funk band from Nottingham that released three shortplayers and the 1981 Cherry Red album The Glitterhouse. They scored a Billboard dance hit with “Hungry, So Angry.” Singer–saxophonist John Rees Lewis and drummer Nigel Kingston Stone later formed C Cat Trance. Members: John Rees Lewis (vocals, saxophone), Andy Ryder (guitar, vocals), […]
This Heat was an English avant-garde rock trio that made the 1979–81 titles This Heat, Health and Efficiency, and Deceit, produced by David Cunningham. Their first blends musique concrète and proto-industrial noise rock with experimental tape editing from live and studio sources. Rough Trade issued Deceit, a more song-based set in the post-punk vein. Drummer […]
Fischer-Z was an English new wave band that made the 1979–81 UA/Liberty albums Word Salad, Going Deaf for a Living, and Red Skies over Paradise. They scored Continental hits with “The Worker,” “So Long,” and “Marliese.” Frontman John Watts broke for two solo albums and a second group venture, The Cry. Fischer-Z resumed with the […]
Colin Newman is an English musician, vocalist, and songwriter, best known as the frontman of the post-punk band Wire through three periods of activity. He made three 1977–79 studio albums with Wire and launched his solo career with the 1980 Beggars Banquet release A-Z, followed by the 1981–82 4AD albums Provisionally Entitled the Singing Fish […]
Frigidaire Tango was an Italian new wave band that released the album The Cock in 1982 on small-press Young Records. In 1983, the band released a self-titled EP on their own namesake label. Members: Charlie Cazale [Carlo Casale] (vocals), Steve Dal Col [Stefano Dal Col] (guitar, vocals), Mark Brenda (keyboards), JM le Baptiste (drums), Dave […]
Sad Lovers & Giants were an English post-punk band that released the 1981 DIY singles “Imagination” and “Colourless Dream,” followed by the 1982–83 albums Epic Garden Music and Feeding the Flame, both on Midnight Music. Drummer Nigel Pollard and guitarist Tristan Garel-Funk formed the break-off band Snake Corps. Members: Garce (vocals), Nigel Pollard (drums, percussion), […]
De Press was a Norwegian post-punk band that released the 1981/82 albums Block to Block and Product on Siberia Music. Amid lineup changes, the band later relocated to Poland and released twelve albums between 1994 and 2016. In 2024, they returned with Europa Płonie on Olifant Records. Members: Andrej Nebb (vocals, bass), Jørn Christensen (guitar, […]
Maximum Joy are an English art-funk/dub band that cut the 1981/82 Y Records singles “Stretch,” “White and Green Place,” and “In the Air,” followed by the album Station MXJY. Members: Janine Rainforth (vocals, violin, clarinet, 1979-83), John Waddington (guitar), Tony Wrafter (saxophone, flute, trumpet, 1979-82), Kevin Evans (bass, piano, vocals), Dan Catsis (bass), Charlie Llewellin […]
The Edge was an English new wave/post-punk band from London that debuted with a 1978 single on Albion Records, followed by two 1979 singles on Hurricane Records. That same year, they backed American singer Jane Aire as “The Belvederes” on her singular album for Virgin. The band’s own album, Square 1, appeared in 1980 on […]
The Chameleons were an English post-punk band that released the 1983–85 albums Script of the Bridge and What Does Anything Mean? Basically on Statik Records. Their 1986 Geffen release Strange Times spawned the college radio staple “Swamp Thing.” Singer–bassist Mark Burgess and drummer John Lever carried on as The Sun and the Moon on the […]
Orchestre Rouge was a French post-punk band that released the 1982/83 RCA albums Yellow Laughter and More Passion Fodder. Members: Théo Hakola (vocals), Denis Goulag (guitar), Pascal des A (bass), Pierre Colombo (guitar) , Pascal Normal (drums) Background Singer/multi-instrumentalist Théo Hakola grew up in Spokane, Washington, where he absorbed politics, literature, and local music before […]
A Certain Ratio are an English jazz-funk band from Manchester that emerged in the post-punk milieu of Factory Records. They cut three singles in 1979/80 and scored a transatlantic dance hit with “Shack Up,” their take on Banbarra’s rare groove classic. After their live/demos cassette The Graveyard and the Ballroom, ACR made the 1981/82 Factory […]
The Raincoats were an English post-punk band that released three albums between 1979 and 1984 on Rough Trade. Their first album features original Slits drummer Palmolive and includes “Adventures Close to Home,” recorded by both bands. Bassist Gina Birch played concurrently in the 1979–81 incarnation of Red Crayola. Violinist Vicky Aspinal also worked with Tuxedomoon, […]
The Art Objects were an English post-punk band from Bristol that released a 1980 standalone single on indie Fried Egg, followed by the 1981 Heartbeat album Bagpipe Music. Members: Gerard Langley (vocals), Jonathan J Key (guitar), William Stair (bass), John Langley (drums), Robin Key (guitar), Wojtek Dmochowski (dancer) Background The Art Objects formed in Bristol […]
The Pop Group was an English post-punk band that released the 1979 single “She Is Beyond Good and Evil” and the album Y on Radar Records. They singed to Rough Trade for the single “We Are All Prostitutes” and the 1980 album For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? Guitarist–saxist Gareth Sager and […]
Spizz is the performance moniker of English art-punk musician and singer Kenneth Spiers, who used it with annual variations: Spizz 77, Spizzoil, Spizzenergi, Athletico Spizz 80, Spizzles, and Spizzenergi2. As one of the first Rough Trade acts, Spizzoil (with guitarist Pete Petrol) released two singles. In 1979, he assembled a full band, Spizzenergi, which released […]
Modern English are a U.K. rock band that emerged on the 4AD label with the 1981 post-punk album Mesh & Lace. Their 1982 second album After the Snow features “I Melt With You,” a defining Eighties hit. In 1984, they scored a second hit with “Hands Across the Sea” from Ricochet Days, the last album […]
The Reluctant Stereotypes were an English new wave band from Coventry that released a three-song 1979 post-punk single on Oval. They reconfigured on WEA with four singles and the 1980 ska album The Label. Singer Martyn Bates fronted the first lineup prior to Eyeless in Gaza. Paul King led the WEA quintet and later fronted […]
The Dance was an American post-punk band that emerged on the New York No Wave scene with the 1980 EP Dance for Your Dinner. On the European Statik label, they made the 1981/82 albums In Lust and Soul Force. Members: Steven Alexander (guitar, vocals), Eugenie Diserio (vocals, organ, steel drums, violin, shakers), Robey Newsom (drums, […]
pragVEC was an English avant post-punk band that released two 1978–79 singles and the 1980 album No Cowboys. Guitarist Nick Cash (not the 999 singer) joined The Lines and Fad Gadget. Singer Susan Gogan hailed from pre-punks The Derelicts with her sister Barbara, who fronted the neo-psych Passions. Members: Susan Gogan (vocals, synthesizer, guitar, bass), […]
The Glaxo Babies were an English post-punk/dub band from Bristol cut the 1979 EP This Is Your Life and the single “Christine Keeler,” followed by the 1980 album Nine Months to the Disco. Guitarist Dan Catsis held dual membership in The Pop Group. He and members of both bands formed Maximum Joy. Members: Robert Chapman […]
The Transmitters were an English post-punk band that released two 1978 singles and the album 24 Hours. Their second album, And We Call That Leisure Time, appeared in 1981 after their initial breakup. Members: Sam Dodson (guitar), Simon “Sid” Wells (bass, 1977-?), Jim Chase (drums, 1977-?), John F. Quinn (vocals, 1977-80), Amanda de Grey (keyboards, […]
The Dancing Did was an English art-punk band that issued two singles on Fruit & Veg Records in 1979/80, followed by a 1981 standalone single on Stiff. Their singular album, And Did Those Feet, appeared in 1982 on Kamera Records with two accompanying singles. Members: Tim Harrison (vocals), Martyn Dormer (guitar, synthesiser, vocals), Ollie Harrison […]
Red Guitars were an English underground rock band that released the 1984–86 Virgin albums Slow to Fade and Tales of the Expected. They scored UK indie hits with “Good Technology,” “Marimba Jive,” and “Be With Me.” Members: Hallam Lewis (lead guitar), Matt Higgins (drums), John Rowley (rhythm guitar), Lou Howard [aka Louise Barlow] (bass), Jerry […]
The Work was an English avant/art-punk band that issued the single “I Hate America” on self-press Woof Records in 1981, followed by the album Slow Crimes in 1982. A later round of activity yielded the discs Rubber Cage (1989) and See (1992), both again on Woof. Multi-instrumentalist Tim Hodgkinson hailed from 1970s avant/chamber-rockers Henry Cow. […]
Local Heroes SW9 were an English post-punk trio that made the 1980/81 albums Drip Dry Zone and New Opium on Oval Music. Members: Kevin Armstrong (guitar, vocals), Matthew Seligman (bass), Kim Barti (drums), Lennox Meade (bass), Thomas Dolby (keyboards) Background Local Heroes SW9 formed in London when guitarist/singer Kevin Armstrong and drummer Kim Bart teamed […]
B.Troop was an English new wave band from Doncaster that cut two singles (“Junior,” “Computer Logic”) and the 1981 electro-pop album Europeans. Three members cut two further singles as Time in Motion. Keyboardist Kevin Donoghue (ex-2.3) made another album with Native Europe. Members: Andy Booth (guitar, vocals), Kevin Donoghue (synthesizer, vocals), John Leek (bass), Peter […]
Pink Military was an English post-punk band that released two EPs and the 1980 album Do Animals Believe in God? They had a revolving lineup led by Jayne Case, the frontwoman of Liverpool punk pioneers Big In Japan. In 1981, she formed Pink Industry, a minimal wave trio that instigated Zulu Records for the 1983–85 […]
The Lemon Kittens were an English avant-garde post-punk project launched by multi-instrumentalists Karl Blake, who first teamed with Gary Thatcher for the 1979 EP Spoonfed + Writhing. Musician/illustrator Danielle Dax created the sleeve art and took Thatcher’s place for the 1980–82 titles We Buy a Hammer for Daddy, Cake Beast (EP), and …The Big Dentist. […]
Fay Ray was a Welsh post-punk band that released the album Contact You on WEA in 1982. Members: Sheila McCartney [Sheila Brook] (vocals, guitar), John Lovering (guitar), Owen Hughes (drums), Tony Travis (bass, backing vocals), Jeff Taylor (saxophone, accordion, flute, backing vocals) Hot Water, early singles Fay Ray’s roots trace to the Bangor post-punk combo […]
I’m So Hollow was an English coldwave/post-punk band from Sheffield that issued a single on self-press Hollogram in 1980, followed by the album Emotion / Sound / Motion on small-press Illuminated in 1981. Members: Jane Wilson (vocals, synthesizer), Rod Leigh (guitar, vocals), Dayton Marsden (bass), Josef Sawicki (percussion) Inception, Early Tracks I’m So Hollow emerged […]
The Fire Engines were a Scottish art-punk band from Edinburgh that released the album Lubricate Your Living Room on Bob Last’s Pop:Aural Music small-press in 1980. Just prior to the band, vocalist Davy Henderson cut an EP with Leicester combo the Disco Zombies. During the late 1980s, he recorded two albums with electro-posters Win alongside […]
Placebo was an English post-punk combo headed by life partners Gary and Michelle Wild. Signed to the eclectic Aura label, they made the 1982–83 albums England’s Trance and Shells. Members: Brian Dixson, Gary Wild, George Handleigh, Michelle Wild, Stephen Robson For the 1970s Belgian jazz-rock band, click here. Background Placebo functioned as the duo of […]
Þeyr was an Icelandic post-punk band that released three singles and four shortplayers between 1980 and 1983, primarily on Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson’s small-press Eskvímó. Members: Magnús Guðmundsson (vocals), Þorsteinn Magnússon [aka Stanya] (guitar), Sigtryggur Baldursson [aka Bogomil Font] (drums), Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson (guitar), Hilmar Örn Agnarsson (bass), Elín Reynisdóttir (vocals), Jóhannes Helgason (guitar), Eiríkur Hauksson […]
The Decorators were an English post-punk band that released the 1980 single “Twilight View” on the Buzzcocks‘ New Hormones label, followed by the 1982–83 titles Tablets and Rebel Songs on Red Flame. Members: Michael Bevan (vocals, guitar), Johnny Gilani (guitar), Steve Sandoe (bass), Joe Sax (saxophone), Allan Boroughs (drums), Pete Saunders (keyboards) Background The Decorators […]
The Room was an English post-punk band that released two 1980 self-financed singles, followed by the 1982–85 Red Flame titles Indoor Fireworks, Clear!, In Evil Hour, and Jackpot Jack. Members: Dave Jackson (vocals), Becky Stringer (bass), Robyn Odlum (guitar, 1979-82), Clive Thomas (drums, 1980-82), Alan Wills (drums, 1982-85), Paul Cavanagh (guitar, 1982-85), Peter Baker (keyboards, […]
The Fall was an English post-punk band led by Manchester singer, musician, and songwriter Mark E. Smith. Between 1979 and 1988, they released eleven albums. Members: Mark E. Smith (vocals, tapes, violin, keyboards), Martin Bramah (guitar, vocals, 1976-79, 1989-90), Tony Friel (bass, 1976-77), Una Baines (keyboards, 1976-78), Steve Ormrod (drums, 1976-77), Karl Burns (drums, guitar, […]
Theatre of Hate was an English post-punk band that released five singles and the 1982 album Westworld. They scored a UK hit with “Do You Believe In the Westworld?” Singer Kirk Brandon and bassist Stan Stammers continued in Spear of Destiny. Members: Kirk Brandon (vocals, guitar), Stan Stammers (bass), John “Boy” Lennard (saxophone), Steve Guthrie […]
Drinking Electricity was a Scottish coldwave/art-punk band that released three 1980 singles on Pop Aural. They followed with “Subliminal” and the 1982 album Overload on Survival Records. Members: Anne-Marie Heighway (vocals), David Rome (guitar, vocals), Paul Edgley (bass) Background Drinking Electricity formed in 1980 when synthesist–guitarist David Rome and singer Anne-Marie Heighway, office coworkers, teamed […]
Red Zebra was a Belgian post-punk band that issued three 1980–82 singles and the Bastogne EP on self-press Zebra. Their singular album, Maquis, appeared in 1983 on Parsley, followed by the 1984 Himalaya EP Always. They reunited off-on in subsequent decades. Members: Nicolas Delfosse (guitar), Chery Derycke (bass), Hazy (guitar), Jan D’Hondt (guitar), Patrick Provoost […]
In Camera was an English post-punk band on 4AD that released the 1980 short-players “Final Achievement” and IV Songs. They cut one Peel session (12/15/80) licensed for the 1982 EP Fin. Members: David Steiner [aka Scinto] (vocals, keyboards), Andrew Gray (guitar), Peter Moore (bass), Jeff Wilmott (drums) Background In Camera formed in 1978 in London from […]
Section 25 was an English post-punk band that cut two 1980 Factory singles and the 1981 album Always Now. They moved from stark guitar-led arrangements toward sequencers, synthesizers, and electronic dance rhythms on the 1982–84 albums The Key of Dreams and From the Hip, which spawned the club hit “Looking from a Hilltop.” Section 25 continued […]
