In April 1980, guitarist Andy Taylor came from Newcastle upon Tyne to audition after responding to an advertisement in Melody Maker . Andy already had a lot of experience from playing with cover bands for years and although he came from a totally different rock music background his versatile playing…
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Pulp were formed in 1978 at The City School in Sheffield by Jarvis Cocker, then 15 years old, and Peter Dalton, then 14. Cocker’s original preference was to name the band after the film Pulp starring Michael Caine , though it was decided that this was too short. Instead, the…
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With the advent of affordable synthesisers and the increasing popularity of electronic music, the group began pursuing a synth-pop direction. The first live concert of Composition of Sound as a four-piece was on 14 June 1980 at Nicholas School, Basildon , Essex, England. There is a plaque commemorating the gig…
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In June 1980, Lydon and Levene were interviewed on NBC ‘s The Tomorrow Show by host Tom Snyder . The interview was awkward (and combative at times). At one point, Snyder asked Lydon if PiL was a band to which Lydon replied with, “We ain’t no band, we’re a company.…
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Between 1977 and 1980, Ian Curtis , Peter Hook , Stephen Morris , and Bernard Sumner were members of the post-punk band Joy Division , often featuring heavy production input from producer Martin Hannett . Curtis died by suicide on 18 May 1980, the day before Joy Division were scheduled…
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On 17 May 1980, the group appeared on the teenage music show American Bandstand at the invitation of host Dick Clark . PiL’s performance was chaotic; they abandoned lip-syncing, invited the audience onto the stage while the music played and Lydon clowned. Clark named the performance among his top 100…
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In May 1980, U2 released ” 11 O’Clock Tick Tock “, their first international single and their debut on Island, but it failed to chart. Martin Hannett , who produced the single, was in consideration to produce the band’s debut album, Boy , but was replaced with Steve Lillywhite .…
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INXS released their first single, ” Simple Simon “/” We Are the Vegetables “, in Australia and France in May 1980.
The Gun Club’s precursor band, the Creeping Ritual, formed in late 1979. Along with Pierce (lead vocals and guitar), the first lineup consisted of Brian Tristan (lead guitar); Don Snowden (bass), who was at the time a music critic for the Los Angeles Times ; and Brad Dunning (drums), now…
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In April 1980 founding bass guitarist Andrew James left because of ill-health and was replaced by Peter Gifford (ex-Huntress, Ross Ryan Band).