Los Violadores (“The Violators”, referring to ‘breaking the law’, as mentioned in one of their songs, “Violadores de la Ley”) was founded in Buenos Aires in 1981 by guitarist Hari “B” (born Pedro Braun). The rest of the band included Stuka (bass), Pil Trafa (vocals) and Sergio Gramatika (drums). In…
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Trouble followed the band around and led to their being sacked from Good Vibrations, so their next release was on their own GBH label in 1981, the “Magnum Force” single. This was followed by the band’s first Peel Session for BBC Radio 1 . GBH became Outcasts Only, and their…
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Eager to start a new band after the Teen Idles, MacKaye and Nelson recruited guitarist Lyle Preslar and bassist Brian Baker . They played their first performance in December 1980 to fifty people in a basement , opening for Bad Brains , The Untouchables, Black Market Baby and S.O.A. ,…
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In December 1980, the Clash released the 36-song triple album Sandinista! , which again reflected a broad range of musical styles.
Pressured by their record company for a new record and a prompt return to touring, the Police released their third album, Zenyatta Mondatta , on 3 October 1980. The album was recorded in a three-week period in the Netherlands for tax reasons and was completed the night before the band…
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In October, the band’s US record company released a B-side compilation EP called Black Market Clash , which was later re-released in expanded form as a full-length album.
The next release for Plastic Records was UK Decay’s The Black 45 four-song EP, issued in early 1980. It hovered in the UK Indie Chart for 15 months. Alex Howe from Fresh Records offered to license the first two singles, and signed UK Decay to the label. The first official…
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CBS dismissed this idea and the band released only one single—an original reggae song called ” Bankrobber “, in August.
Released on August 27, 1980, Wild Planet was well received by critics. It reached number 18 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1980 and was certified gold; ” Private Idaho ” became the band’s second Hot 100 entry. The B-52s performed on Saturday Night Live on January 26, 1980, and…
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In July 1980, the band signed a deal with CBS Records and released the single ” Kings of the Wild Frontier “, which reached No. 48 on the UK Singles Chart . Hughes continued to produce the band’s work, and they completed recording at Rockfield by the end of August.…
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