United Kingdom

1980
The Stupids (band) Formed in Ipswich , England in the mid 1980s, The Stupids released

Formed in Ipswich , England in the mid 1980s, The Stupids released four albums and six EPs, and recorded three sessions for John Peel ‘s BBC Radio 1 show in the 1980s, and toured the United States (with Ludichrist ) and Australia (the Hard-Ons ) as well as Europe, the…
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Public Image Ltd PiL had a series of contentious live shows and behind-the-scenes

PiL had a series of contentious live shows and behind-the-scenes controversies during their first American tour in 1980. Their appearance at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles was fraught with hostile exchanges between Lydon and the audience. Tensions offstage mounted as well. PiL demanded that they work only with…
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Witchfynde In 1980, the band released their second album Stagefright . Like

In 1980, the band released their second album Stagefright . Like their debut, it was recorded at Fairview Studios in Willerby, East Riding of Yorkshire , and is considered their most experimental work to date. During the period the album was released, bassist Andro Coulton was replaced by the more…
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Primal Scream The band features in the book Postcards from Scotland detailing the

The band features in the book Postcards from Scotland detailing the 1980s and 1990s independent music scene in Scotland.

The Clash Rhodes was reinstated

In January 1980, Rhodes was reinstated as the band’s manager and the single “Hitsville UK” reached number 54 in the UK Singles Chart while “The Magnificent Seven” charted at number 34, and the band spent most of the year touring.

The Vibrators During the 1980s, John Ellis recorded with Peter Gabriel , as well as

During the 1980s, John Ellis recorded with Peter Gabriel , as well as recording and touring frequently with Peter Hammill , then subsequently the Stranglers , eventually joining the latter full-time in the 1990s. Pat Collier went on to work closely with the Soft Boys , producing their seminal album…
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The Mekons By the mid-1980s (revitalised by the 1984 coal miners’ strike ) the

By the mid-1980s (revitalised by the 1984 coal miners’ strike ) the band had returned as an active group. The band was now augmented by vocalist Sally Timms , violinist Susie Honeyman, ex- Damned member Lu Edmonds , accordionist/vocalist Rico Bell (a.k.a. Eric Bellis ), and former The Rumour drummer…
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APB (band) During the 1980s, APB was one of the most popular underground

During the 1980s, APB was one of the most popular underground alternative bands in the New York Tri-State area. Thanks to constant radio play on WLIR 92.7 FM on Long Island and New York college radio, the Scottish band made its mark with funky bass.

The Sundays Vocalist Harriet Wheeler and guitarist David Gavurin had met as

Vocalist Harriet Wheeler and guitarist David Gavurin had met as students at Bristol University in the mid-1980s. Wheeler was from Reading , the daughter of an architect and a teacher, and studied English literature. Gavurin was from Wembley and actively pursued a degree in the Romance languages , particularly French…
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King Crimson form a new “first division” rock group

In the late autumn of 1980, having spent several years on spiritual pursuits and then gradually returning to music (including playing guitar for David Bowie , Brian Eno , Peter Gabriel and Daryl Hall ; pursuing an experimental solo career; and leading the instrumental new wave band The League of…
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