How The 1980's Redifined Popular Music Culture And My Haircut

supanorton

Let's not forget Stevie Ray Vaughn. Still miss him.

thesoundtestroom

@eustressor said:

Doug, 1980 Liverpool, just curious if you ever ran into Pete Burns? Dead or Alive w/Saw really brought a whole new level of complexity to drum programming in the mid 80s ... To my ears the beat to "Brand New Lover" was rehashed for years in various forms until the "stab" took over as the next big dance thing in the nineties. Maybe it was more the Saw production team than DOA, but it seems they were an early precursor to what is now referred to as EDM.

Also, for those of us growing up stateside 80s, most synth/new wave material lived or died on MTV. Fitting Trevor Horn's Buggles were the first video played in August 1981. They used to have like 50 videos and sign off at 10pm, but that swiftly changed by the time Human League released their vid for "Don't You Want Me." That was like THE song for 1982. It was everywhere. After that, getting your vid into heavy rotation on MTV was crucial, and propelled the careers of some of your mates like Frankie, Flock of Seagulls and a lot of the bands mentioned in this thread into the US/international spotlight.

When did MTV arrive in the UK?

Artists I'd add to this list: Devo, Peter Schilling, Berlin and the amazing Tony Carey's Planet P Project.

I knew Pete Burns pretty well, I worked in Hessy's Music Centre, seriously Google that shop, you'll be surprised, anyway there were two Record Shops behind Hessy's in a little side street, one called Probe and one called Backtrax, Google those too, anyway Pete Burns worked in there along with a few other aspiring pop stars, he was strange then too, nappys, black contacts, It always smelt of incence in there and I think I bought my first of many joss sticks from there too.
Probe started early 70’s so from my perspective it was always there, and moved with changes in culture so by 77/78 it was a haven for punk, always loads of punks hanging outside, obivously moving to new wave, then eighties fashion. They also had some sort of indie record label too.

I could talk about this stuff all, tell you guys mad stories about mad people, most of them funny, sone them scary too, if you ever want to know just ask.

Clocktoys

@thesoundtestroom said:

Once you see a thread like this it brings all those memories flooding back and for me thats what the 80's was, but it does seem to to be one of those defining eras in music, the list of bands and groups and indivuduals here is amazing

I completely agree. The unique thing about the 80s was that multiple revolutions were taking place: Punk had just pressed the reset button - clearing away stale preconceptions about what making pop music was about; it was the advent of video so there was greater interest in visual impact; affordable synths and sequencers hit the market so non musicians, bedroom poets and just about anyone could Make sound; the portastudio had just arrived and so making full songs by yourself became a reality; add to all that the flourishing indie music labels and it just became the most amazing period for breaking new ground, experimenting and redefining pop.

My big faves were The Cocteau Twins, the Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, Japan, The Associates, early OMD, the Cure, Dead Can Dance, etc, etc. Wonderful times and unlikely to be repeated.

Clocktoys

@Artmuzz said:

Great underrated 80's band fronted by producer Tony Mansfield.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qbuAa_4kks

I have the albums somewhere. They looked sh1t but Tony Mansfield (for it was really a solo project) did a lot to define the techniques for synth pop. Everyone should get the first album From A to Z. It's a lovingly crafted pop album that amost nobody knows about!

Marcel

I haven't seen Tuxedomoon in the list of great artists/bands already mentioned.

For instance:

u0421793

Landscape - Norman Bates

JeffChasteen

@Marcel said:
I haven't seen Tuxedomoon in the list of great artists/bands already mentioned.

For instance:

Doubleplus for Tuxedomoon!

JeffChasteen

If you're into the 80s nostalgia, the recent Netflix series GLOW will do the trick.

[Deleted User]

@thesoundtestroom said:
Ultravox, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran (still brilliant)

The new Depeche Mode is arguably the best thing they've ever done. The most recent Simple Minds and New Order offerings were also really good. Duran Duran peaked for me with tracks like Come Undone and Reach Up For the Sunrise, then descended into half-hearted pop. Numan, has never been able to write anything as good as Are Friend's Electric and Cars. Why, is a mystery.

BTW, it is ironic, for me, that the exact style of music I was trying to pioneer in the 80's is now successful for Public Service Broadcasting. Good luck to 'em.

[Deleted User]

@syrupcore said:
@thesoundtestroom I just pulled out my slightly moldy 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome' LP to play for my girlfriend last week. I hadn't listened to it for years and years. Turns out, it's real good! Reading up a bit about how it was made, it was mostly a Trevor Horn and Friends record but whatever—it's got a lot of good stuff on it. ugh their back catalog, a lot of which was Alan's doing.

Anyone who likes that should check out the most recent Billy Idol album, produced by Trevor Horn.

JeffChasteen

@Zen210507 said:

@thesoundtestroom said:
Ultravox, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran (still brilliant)

The new Depeche Mode is arguably the best thing they've ever done. The most recent Simple Minds and New Order offerings were also really good. Duran Duran peaked for me with tracks like Come Undone and Reach Up For the Sunrise, then descended into half-hearted pop. Numan, has never been able to write anything as good as Are Friend's Electric and Cars. Why, is a mystery.

BTW, it is ironic, for me, that the exact style of music I was trying to pioneer in the 80's is now successful for Public Service Broadcasting. Good luck to 'em.

Like Mr Bowie once said, it is generally better to be the second person to do something than to be the first.

SpookyZoo

@thesoundtestroom said:

I knew Pete Burns pretty well, I worked in Hessy's Music Centre, seriously Google that shop, you'll be surprised, anyway there were two Record Shops behind Hessy's in a little side street, one called Probe and one called Backtrax, Google those too, anyway Pete Burns worked in there along with a few other aspiring pop stars, he was strange then too, nappys, black contacts, It always smelt of incence in there and I think I bought my first of many joss sticks from there too.

Ha, I used to work in the Bass Guitar centre in Wapping. We had a music instrument distribution centre there too, House Music. We used to send Hessy's our 'Elites' branded bass strings amongst other stuff.

thesoundtestroom

@SpookyZoo said:

@thesoundtestroom said:

I knew Pete Burns pretty well, I worked in Hessy's Music Centre, seriously Google that shop, you'll be surprised, anyway there were two Record Shops behind Hessy's in a little side street, one called Probe and one called Backtrax, Google those too, anyway Pete Burns worked in there along with a few other aspiring pop stars, he was strange then too, nappys, black contacts, It always smelt of incence in there and I think I bought my first of many joss sticks from there too.

Ha, I used to work in the Bass Guitar centre in Wapping. We had a music instrument distribution centre there too, House Music. We used to send Hessy's our 'Elites' branded bass strings amongst other stuff.

Hey Spooky such a small world

oat_phipps

@JeffChasteen said:
If you're into the 80s nostalgia, the recent Netflix series GLOW will do the trick.

The show is pretty darn good. I never knew Marc Maron was actually talented; I thought he just did a podcast about feelings.

SpookyZoo

@thesoundtestroom said:

@SpookyZoo said:

@thesoundtestroom said:

I knew Pete Burns pretty well, I worked in Hessy's Music Centre, seriously Google that shop, you'll be surprised, anyway there were two Record Shops behind Hessy's in a little side street, one called Probe and one called Backtrax, Google those too, anyway Pete Burns worked in there along with a few other aspiring pop stars, he was strange then too, nappys, black contacts, It always smelt of incence in there and I think I bought my first of many joss sticks from there too.

Ha, I used to work in the Bass Guitar centre in Wapping. We had a music instrument distribution centre there too, House Music. We used to send Hessy's our 'Elites' branded bass strings amongst other stuff.

Hey Spooky such a small world

Did you ever meet Pete Wylie? He recorded his album when I was working as a Teaboy at Trident Studios (called Audio One at that time) . That's where the Beatles recorded Hey Jude. It was also directly opposite the famous Shades Record shop St Annes Ct, Wardour Street. Pete Wylie bought me my first beers.

thesoundtestroom

@SpookyZoo said:

@thesoundtestroom said:

@SpookyZoo said:

@thesoundtestroom said:

I knew Pete Burns pretty well, I worked in Hessy's Music Centre, seriously Google that shop, you'll be surprised, anyway there were two Record Shops behind Hessy's in a little side street, one called Probe and one called Backtrax, Google those too, anyway Pete Burns worked in there along with a few other aspiring pop stars, he was strange then too, nappys, black contacts, It always smelt of incence in there and I think I bought my first of many joss sticks from there too.

Ha, I used to work in the Bass Guitar centre in Wapping. We had a music instrument distribution centre there too, House Music. We used to send Hessy's our 'Elites' branded bass strings amongst other stuff.

Hey Spooky such a small world

Did you ever meet Pete Wylie? He recorded his album when I was working as a Teaboy at Trident Studios (called Audio One at that time) . That's where the Beatles recorded Hey Jude. It was also directly opposite the famous Shades Record shop St Annes Ct, Wardour Street. Pete Wylie bought me my first beers.

I knew Pete Wylie well for two reasons, the keyboard player from our band also played live keys for Phil Wylies band Come In Tokyo, Phil was Pete's brother, and I was the live sound engineer for Pete's girlfriends band, he also managed them, I can't for the life of me remember their name though but they were good...happy days...so many stories

[Deleted User]

@JeffChasteen said:
Like Mr Bowie once said, it is generally better to be the second person to do something than to be the first.

Yes, so it would seem.

BTW, while we are reminiscing about those we knew who achieved fame, when I was a Pro DJ I did many gigs at a bespoke hotel called Moor Hall, where the night porter was a great fellow called Baz. We spent many a time after my gigs talking music and having a beer. Baz looked something like a young Elvis, and always bought spectacular looking women to staff parties. Back then, he was the singer with heavy metal band Wolfsbane. Later, he replaced Bruce Dickinson for a tour or two as singer with Iron Maiden. By then he was calling himself Blaze Bailey. Rock 'n' roll.

[Deleted User]

@SpookyZoo said:
Pete Wylie bought me my first beers.

Nice.

knewspeak

Electronic Nostalgia with the latest edition,

JohnnyGoodyear

It was mostly plinkety plink pop to me until I heard the Cabs...

thesoundtestroom

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
It was mostly plinkety plink pop to me until I heard the Cabs...

What do you mean Lord Johnny, there's nothing plinkity plink about Da Da Da by TRIO

JohnnyGoodyear

@thesoundtestroom said:

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
It was mostly plinkety plink pop to me until I heard the Cabs...

What do you mean Lord Johnny, there's nothing plinkity plink about Da Da Da by TRIO

I was all about the sensoria in those days Sir Doug...

[Deleted User]

@JeffChasteen said:

@Zen210507 said:

@thesoundtestroom said:
Ultravox, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran (still brilliant)

The new Depeche Mode is arguably the best thing they've ever done. The most recent Simple Minds and New Order offerings were also really good. Duran Duran peaked for me with tracks like Come Undone and Reach Up For the Sunrise, then descended into half-hearted pop. Numan, has never been able to write anything as good as Are Friend's Electric and Cars. Why, is a mystery.

BTW, it is ironic, for me, that the exact style of music I was trying to pioneer in the 80's is now successful for Public Service Broadcasting. Good luck to 'em.

Like Mr Bowie once said, it is generally better to be the second person to do something than to be the first.

I won't trot out my usual DM anecdote, but after selling them our drum machine and passing on our gig at Crocs, being in the first electronic band in Basildon I'd definitely agree with Mr B.

JohnnyGoodyear

the first electronic band in Basildon

Well, there's the first line in your obit right there....

[Deleted User]

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
the first electronic band in Basildon

Well, there's the first line in your obit right there....

The First Electronic Band in Basildon is a great name for an 80's band.

[Deleted User]

@Zen210507 said:

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
the first electronic band in Basildon

Well, there's the first line in your obit right there....

The First Electronic Band in Basildon is a great name for an 80's band.

Better than the one we had..

RockySmalls

this is my current favourite amongst the many weird & obscure 80’s new wave re-issue compilations around these days..

smallrocks.bandcamp.com/album/entertaining-the-invalid

some manchester stuff on there as far as I can tell..

ricksteruk

@Zen210507 said:

@thesoundtestroom said:
Ultravox, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran (still brilliant)

The new Depeche Mode is arguably the best thing they've ever done. The most recent Simple Minds and New Order offerings were also really good. Duran Duran peaked for me with tracks like Come Undone and Reach Up For the Sunrise, then descended into half-hearted pop. Numan, has never been able to write anything as good as Are Friend's Electric and Cars. Why, is a mystery.

BTW, it is ironic, for me, that the exact style of music I was trying to pioneer in the 80's is now successful for Public Service Broadcasting. Good luck to 'em.

Yeah I think "Spirit" is a fantastic album. I'd virtually forgotten about Depeche Mode, and a colleague mentioned to me that they had a new album... I was hooked almost immediately. So much so that I went and bought tickets to see them in London in June.

It's made me remember how much I love 80s electronic music - and inspired me to want to use those sounds in my own music rather than the more acoustic stuff I've been doing. Bring on the arpeggiator

[Deleted User]

@ricksteruk said:
Yeah I think "Spirit" is a fantastic album.

And a rock album, too. The track being played a lot on the radio I listen to is 'Going Backwards' which is a long way from where they began, in terms of style.

ricksteruk

@Zen210507 said:

@ricksteruk said:
Yeah I think "Spirit" is a fantastic album.

And a rock album, too. The track being played a lot on the radio I listen to is 'Going Backwards' which is a long way from where they began, in terms of style.

It is pretty rock now you mention it.. electro rock!! - and yes "Going Backwards" is a long way from "Dreaming of Me" and "New Life" for sure I'm also really enjoying tracks like Poorman and the end of Cover Me - arpeggiator and nice synths.

I think I really started getting into them around mid 80s - See You, Everything Counts, Leave in Silence.. and I loved the Music for the Masses album.. (wonder if I still have cassette of that). And Violator was the icing on the cake for me - with more prominent guitars.