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,” […]
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 […]
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 […]
Killing Joke are an English post-punk/industrial band from Notting Hill that debuted with an EP on small-press Malicious Damage in 1979, followed by seven albums on EG between 1980 and 1988. Members: Jaz Coleman (lead vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums, vocals, 1978-88), Geordie (guitar), Youth (bass, 1978-82), Paul Raven (bass, 1982-88, 1989-91), Martin Atkins (drums, […]
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 […]
Josef K were a Scottish New Wave/pop-rock band from Edinburgh that debuted with a single on self-press Absolute Records in 1979, followed by the album The Only Fun in Town with accompanying singles on Postcard Records in 1981. Two further singles followed on Les Disques Du Crépuscule in 1981/82. The album was preceded by the […]
Wah! was the revolving band-moniker of Liverpudlian guitarist/vocalist Pete Wylie. The name first appeared as Wah! Heat on a pair of singles issued by small-press Inevitable Music in 1980. In 1981, the band dropped “Heat” from its name and issued a standalone single and the album Nah=Poo – The Art of Bluff on WEA-subsidiary Eternal, […]
Gang of Four are an English post-punk band from Leeds that debuted with the 1978 single “Damaged Goods” on small-press Fast Product, followed by Entertainment! on EMI/Warner Bros. Their style — a mix of funky rhythms, dischorded riffs, taut vocals, and provocative lyrics — streamlined over their 1981/82 albums Solid Gold and Songs of the […]
The Associates were a Scottish New Wave/art-pop band from Dundee that formed in the late 1970s. Between 1980 and 1982, the band released two proper albums and a compilation of non-album singles on Fiction and Beggars Banquet. During this time, the band centered on the creative team of vocalist Billy MacKenzie and multi-instrumentalist Alan Rankine. […]
Drinking Electricity were a Scottish coldwave/art-punk band that released three shortplayers on local small-press Pop Aural in 1980. The band issued a standalone single on Survival Records in 1981, followed by the album Overload on that label in 1982. Members: Anne-Marie Heighway (vocals), David Rome (guitar, vocals), Paul Edgley (bass) Discography: Overload (1982)
Red Zebra were a Belgian art-punk/coldwave band formed in 1978 in Brugge, West-Vlaanderen. Between 1980 and 1982, three singles and an EP were issued on the band’s namesake self-press Zebra. The band’s singular album from this period, Maquis, appeared in 1983 on Parsley. A further EP was issued the following year on Himalaya. The 1990s and 2000s […]
Section 25 were an English post-punk band from Blackpool, Lancashire, that released four albums and eight shortplayers on Factory between 1980 and 1988. Members: Larry Cassidy (lead vocals, bass, 1978-2010), Vin Cassidy (drums, 1978-85, 2000-present), Paul Wiggin (guitar, vocals, 1978-81), Lee Shallcross (guitar, 1981-85), John Grice (percussion, 1981-82), Jenny Cassidy [Jenny Ross] (keyboards, vocals, 1982-2001), […]
Diagram Brothers were an English art-punk band from Manchester that debuted with a standalone single on self-press Construct Records in 1980. Signed to Buzzcocks-manager Richard Boone’s New Hormones label, the band issued a second single and the album Some Marvels of Modern Science in 1981, followed by the four-song 10″ Discordo in 1982. Members: Andy […]
The Higsons were an English post-punk/funk band that released twelve singles on assorted indie labels between 1981 and 1985. Members: Colin Williams [aka Bilko] (bass), Simon Charterton (drums), Stuart McGeachin (guitar), Charlie Higson [aka Switch] (vocals), Terry Edwards The Higsons formed in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1980. Albums: Live at the Jacquard Club, Norwich (cassette, 1982) […]
The Comsat Angels were an English ethereal-rock/psych band from Sheffield that debuted with a single on self-press Junta Records in 1979, followed by three albums and assorted shortplayers on Polydor between 1980 and 1982. A switch to upstart Jive Records yielded two albums between 1983 and 1985, followed by a sixth studio longplayer on Island […]
Ludus were an English post-punk band from Manchester that released three shorptlayers and two longplayers on local small-press New Hormones between 1980 and 1982. Frontwoman Linder Sterling was also a graphic designer who illustrated sleeves for fellow Mancunians The Buzzcocks (“Orgasm Addict”) and Magazine (Real Life). Members: Linder (vocals), Arthur Kadmon (guitar, 1978-79), Toby Toman […]
Repetition were an English post-punk band from London that released two singles on the Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule in 1981, followed by a third single on Red Flame in 1982. Guitarist Pete Petrol hailed from the 1978/79 iterations of the Spizz franchise, Spizzoil and Spizzenergi. Repetition’s second single, “A Full Rotation,” also features […]
New Model Army were an English art-punk band from Bradford, West Yorkshire, that debuted with a pair of EPs in 1983, followed by the album Vengeance in 1984 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 […]
Modern Eon were an English New Wave/goth band from Liverpool that released an EP on self-press Eon Records in 1979, followed by the album Fiction Tales with accompanying b-sides on DinDisc in 1981. Members: Alix Plain [aka Alex Johnson] (guitar, vocals, percussion, keyboards, horn), Danny Hampson (bass, vocals), Tim Lever (guitar, saxophone, 1980-81), Joey McKechnie […]
Modern English are a U.K. new wave band that debuted with a single on Limp Records in 1979, followed by a trio of standalone singles and three albums on 4AD between 1980 and 1984. They are best known for the 1981/82 albums Mesh & Lace and After the Snow and the singles “I Melt With […]
Medium Medium were an English art-funk band from Nottingham that issued a standalone single on Apt Music Ltd. in 1979, followed by an album on Cherry Red in 1981 and an EP on Sound/Intercord in 1982. Members: John Rees Lewis (vocals, saxophone, horns), Nigel Kingston Stone (drums), Andy Ryder (vocals, guitar), Allan Turton (bass) Discography: […]
The Au Pairs were an English art-punk/funk band from Birmingham that released two singles on small-press 021 Records in 1979/80, followed by the 1981/82 albums Playing With a Different Sex on Human Records and Sense and Sensuality on Kamera. Members: Lesley Woods (vocals, guitar), Paul Foad (guitar, vocals), Pete Hammond (drums), Jane Munro (bass, vocals, […]
Mecano were a Dutch New Wave/art-punk band that issued a standalone single on No Fun in 1978, followed by two 1980 EPs and the 1982 album Autoportrait on Torso. Members: Dik Polak (vocals, accordion, drums), Tejo Bolten (bass, clarinet, 1978-83, 2005-present), Cor Bolten (guitars, keyboards, violin, 1978-83), Ton Lebbink (drums, 1978-81), Pieter Kooijman (guitars, 1978-81) […]
Joy Division was an English mood-rock/goth band from Salford, Greater Manchester, that issued an EP on self-press Enigma in 1978, followed by two albums and assorted singles on Factory Records during 1979 and 1980. Just as the band was breaking through in the U.K., frontman Ian Curtis took his own life on May 18, 1980. […]
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 […]
The Transmitters were an English post-punk band that released two singles and the album 24 Hours on indie Ebony in 1978. Their second album, And We Call That Leisure Time, appeared just after their initial breakup in 1980. Members: Sam Dodson (guitar), Simon “Sid” Wells (bass, 1977-?), Jim Chase (drums, 1977-?), John F. Quinn (vocals, […]
Young Marble Giants were a Welsh bare-pop trio from Caerdydd that released two EPs and the album Colossal Youth on Rough Trade in 1980/81. Singer Alison Statton subsequently formed the sophisti-pop threesome Weekend with later Working Week mainstay Simon Booth. The remainder of YMG morphed into The Gist. Members: Alison Statton (vocals), Stuart Moxham (guitar, […]
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 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 1985 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 […]
The Gadgets were an English electro/experimental trio that issued two albums on small-press Final Solution in 1980, followed by a third on Glass Records in 1983. After musician Matt Johnson departed to focus on The The, two further Gadgets albums appeared on Plastic Head Records Limited during the late 1980s. Members: Colin Lloyd Tucker, John […]
De Press were a Norwegian New Wave/goth-rock band that released two albums and two shortplayers on Siberia between 1980 and 1982. Amid lineup changes, the band later relocated to Poland, releasing 12 albums between 1994 and 2016. Members: Andrej Nebb (vocals, bass), Jørn Christensen (guitar, 1980-83), Anders Sevaldson (keyboards, 1980-83), Ola Snortheim (drums, 1980-83), Maciej […]
The Raincoats were an English avant-pop/folk band from London that released three albums, interspersed with standalone singles, on Rough Trade between 1979 and 1984. The first album features original Slits drummer Palmolive and includes the track “Adventures Close to Home”, recorded by both bands. Bassist Gina Birch was concurrently involved in the 1979–81 incarnation of […]
The Passions were an English New Wave/ethereal-pop band from London that released a single apiece on Soho and Fiction Records in 1979, culminating with the 1980 album Michael & Miranda. Two further albums with accompanying singles appeared on Polydor between 1981 and 1982. Frontwoman Barbara Gogan had earlier played in an unrecorded politi-folk band The […]
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 […]
UK Decay were 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 […]
Eyeless in Gaza were an English ambient/experimental-rock duo from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, that released a string of albums and shortplayers on Cherry Red between 1981 and 1986. Members: Martyn Bates (guitar, vocals), Peter Becker (bass, keyboards, vocals) Discography: Kodak Ghosts Run Amok (EP, 1980) Invisibility (EP, 1981) Others (EP, 1981) Photographs as Memories (1981) Caught in […]
Delta 5 were an English New Wave/art-funk band from Leeds that released three singles on Rough Trade circa 1979/80, followed by the album See the Whirl on Pre in 1981. 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, […]
This Heat was an English avant-rock band from Camberwell that released a self-titled album on David Cunningham’s Piano label in 1979, followed by the 1980 EP Health and Efficiency. A second proper album, Deceit, appeared in 1981 on Rough Trade. The band was formed by ex-Gong/Quiet Sun drummer Charles Hayward, who followed This Heat with […]
The Teardrop Explodes was 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. Frontman Julian Cope took the band name from a caption in issue No. 77 of the Marvel Comics series Daredevil. Members: Julian Cope (vocals, bass), Gary Dwyer (drums), […]
The Sound was an English post-punk band from London that released the 1980/81 albums Jeopardy and From the Lions Mouth on Korova, followed by five albums over the ensuing lustrum on WEA, Statik, and Play It Again Sam. The band evolved from punk trio The Outsiders, headed by guitarist/singer Adrian Borland, who also led the […]
The Slits were an English avant-reggae/funk combo from London that released the album Cut on Island/Antilles in 1979, followed by Return of the Giant Slits on CBS in 1981. 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, 1977-81), Tessa […]
Spizz was the performance alias of English art-punk musician and singer Kenneth Spiers, who applied the moniker to a shifting sequence of band-names between 1977 and 1982, starting with Spizz 77 and preceding to Spizzoil, which issued a three-song single and recorded a Peel session in 1978. The following year, two singles were issued on […]
Scritti Politti was an English art-pop band from Leeds that cut three EPs on self-press St. Pancras Records in 1978/79. The original trio disbanded in 1980 when vocalist/guitarist Green Gartside was waylaid due to health issues. The following year, he reactivated the nameplate for a trio of 1981/82 singles on Rough Trade that culminated in […]
Sad Lovers & Giants were an English New Wave/dream-pop band from Watford, Hertfordshire, that debuted with an EP on self-press Last Movement in 1981, followed by five studio albums and a live disc on post-punk specialty label Midnight Music between 1982 and 1991. Members: Garce (vocals), Nigel Pollard (drums, percussion), Tristan Garel-Funk (guitar, 1981-84), Cliff […]
Rip Rig + Panic were an English avant-funk band from London that released three albums and assorted shortplayers on Virgin between 1981 and 1983. 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), […]
The Mekons were an English post-punk band from Leeds that issued two singles on small-press Fast Product in 1978, followed by the album The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen on Virgin in 1979. After a pause in output, a reconstituted lineup issued a run of albums on Sin Record Company and Quarterstick during the […]
The Pop Group were an English avant-punk/funk band from Bristol that released the single “She Is Beyond Good and Evil” and the album Y on Radar Records in 1979, followed by For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? and the dub release We Are Time on Rough Trade in 1980. Members: Mark Stewart […]
Maximum Joy were an English art-funk/dub band from Bristol that released three 1981/82 singles and the 1982 album Station MXJY on Y Records, followed by a final single on Garage Records. 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), […]
Random Hold were 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 Lemon Kittens were an English avant-punk duo from Reading, Berkshire, comprised of multi-instrumentalists Karl Blake and Danielle Dax. The pair released the EP Spoonfed + Writhing on Step-Forward Records in 1979, followed by the album We Buy a Hammer for Daddy and the EP Cake Beast on United Dairies in 1980. A further album, […]
The Lines were an English art-punk band from London that released a standalone single on self-press Linear Records in 1978, followed by four singles, two albums, and an EP on Red Records between 1979 and 1982. Drummer Nick Cash concurrently played in Fad Gadget. Members: Rico Conning (vocals, guitar, trombone), Joe Forty (bass), Hywel Phillips […]
The Glaxo Babies were an English experimental/dub band from Bristol that released two shortplayers on Heartbeat Records in 1979, followed by two albums on the label in 1980. Members: Robert Chapman (guitar, vocals), Dan Catsis (guitar, vocals), Geoff Allsop (drums), Tom Nichols (bass), Tony Wrafter (saxophone, vocals), Charlie Llewelyn (synthesizer, drums, vocals), Tim Aylett (vocals, […]
Public Image Limited — commonly truncated as Public Image Ltd. and acronymically known as Pil — are an English post-punk band from London. Vocalist John Lydon assembled the band following his departure from The Sex Pistols. The first five Pil albums feature guitarist Keith Levene, who played in a formative lineup of The Clash. Original […]
pragVEC were an English post-punk/avant-rock band from London that released two shortplayers on self-press Spec circa 1978/79, followed by the album No Cowboys on the label in 1980. Guitarist Nick Cash — not to be confused with the 999 frontman — subsequently played in Fad Gadget. Frontwoman Susan Gogan had earlier played in the unrecorded […]
APB were a Scottish art-punk/funk band from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, that issued five singles on Oily Records between 1981 and 1983, followed by two singles apiece on Albion and Red River Records circa 1984/85. Most of these sides were compiled on the 1985 Link Records compilation Something to Believe In. In 1986, the band released the […]
The Art Objects were an English New Wave/art-punk band from Bristol that released a standalone single on small-press Fried Egg in 1980, followed by the album Bagpipe Music on Heartbeat in 1981. Members: Gerard Langley (vocals), Jonathan J Key (guitar), William Stair (bass), John Langley (drums), Robin Key (guitar), Wojtek Dmochowski (dancer) Discography: “Hard Objects” […]
Colin Newman (born Sept. 16, 1954) is an English musician, vocalist, and songwriter from Salisbury, Wiltshire, best known as the frontman of New Wave/art-punk band Wire, which he led through three periods of activity between 1976 and the 21st century. He initially recorded three 1977–79 studio albums with the band before launching his solo career […]
Scars were a Scottish post-punk band from Edinburgh that released the single “Adult/ery” / “Horrorshow” on Fast Product in 1979. They followed it with three 1980/81 singles on Charisma-subsidiary Pre, culminating with the 1981 album Author! Author! Their first single was immortalized by its inclusion on the sampler Fast Product: The First Year Plan and […]
2.3 were an English post-punk trio from Sheffield that released the single “All Time Low” / “Where to Now?” on small-press Fast Product in 1978. The band initially called itself 2.3 Children, based on the average number of children beared per U.S. household. Both their songs were included with early sides by labelmates The Human […]
A Certain Ratio were an English art-funk/New Wave band from Manchester that released a slew of shortplayers on Factory Records circa 1979/80, followed by four albums on the label between 1981 and 1986. Members: Jez Kerr (bass, vocals), Simon Topping (vocals, trumpet, percussion, 1978-83), Martin Moscrop (guitar, trumpet), Peter Terrell (guitar, electronics, 1978-82), Donald Johnson […]
The Swell Maps were an English art-punk band from Solihull that issued a three-song single on self-press Rather in 1978, followed by two albums and four shortplayers on Rough Trade during 1979 and 1980. Members: Nikki Sudden (vocals, backing vocals, guitar, piano, saxophone, percussion, harmonica, handclaps, balloon), Epic Soundtracks (piano, drums, organ, bass, bass synth, […]
