New Wave

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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1980–91, 1996–present) Sheffield’s ABC essentially rewrote classic 1960s soul and pop for the new romantic 1980s. Their golden era began in 1981 with ‘Tears Are Not Enough’. ‘Poison Arrow’, ‘The Look Of Love’ and ‘All Of My Heart’ followed. The perfect pop of Trevor Horn-produced debut The Lexicon Of Love (1982) was a UK No. 1. ‘When Smokey Sings’ was the band’s last big-seller. Singer Martin Fry still flies ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
101 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1977–82) The charismatic Adam Ant (b. Stuart Goddard) was a prominent figure in the boutiques and clubs of the punk scene, appearing in Derek Jarman’s film Jubilee, and releasing Dirk Wears White Sox in 1979. After his backing band became Bow Wow Wow, he started from scratch, gaining huge fame with his follow-up – 1980’s Kings Of The Wild Frontier. Powered by African-style drumming, courtesy of Merrick and Terry ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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Master of guitar-generated sound effects, Adrian Belew (b. 1949) makes his Parker Deluxe guitar not only sing but also scream, squawk, roar, tweet and talk in elephant tongue. Best known for his time in King Crimson during the early Eighties as comic foil to Robert Fripp’s relatively nerdy straight man, Belew is one of the most underrated six-stringers in the world today. Adrian was born Robert Steven Belew in Covington, Kentucky. ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Guitar Heroes, consultant editor Rusty Cutchin
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One of the greatest achievements any guitar player can attain is an immediately recognizable signature tone and style. And though many guitarists have realized this goal, few have done it as emphatically as Police guitarist Andy Summers (b. 1942). From the chord stabs of ‘Roxanne’ and ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me’ to the arpeggios of ‘Message In A Bottle’ and ‘Every Breath You Take’, Summers’s chiming, shimmering Telecaster tones are ...

Source: Rock Guitar Heroes, consultant editor Rusty Cutchin
741 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1980–95) Roddy Frame was 19 when his band’s debut High Land Hard Rain appeared in 1983. His quirky brand of tuneful pop, spiced with clever lyrics, was a breath of fresh air at the time. Two fellow Scots, Craig Gannon (bass) and Malcolm Ross (guitar), joined him for 1984’s Knife. The superb soul pop of 1988’s ‘Somewhere In My Heart’ remains Aztec Camera’s biggest hit, but Frame continues to ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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New-wave guitarist Bernard Sumner (b. 1956) was born in Salford, Manchester. Seeing the Sex Pistols in Manchester in June 1976 inspired Sumner and Peter Hook to acquire their first instruments, guitar and bass respectively. Originally called Warsaw, later Joy Division, they recruited drummer Stephen Morris and singer Ian Curtis for their band, making some self-produced records before joining local independent label Factory. In-house producer Martin Hannett transformed Joy Division from an ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Guitar Heroes, consultant editor Rusty Cutchin
366 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1981–2001) Stuart Adamson began with Scottish punk band The Skids. His Caledonian heritage came to the fore with Big Country, as he employed guitar gizmos to create a choral ‘bagpipe’ sound. The epic, yearning songs of debut album The Crossing (1983) played well in America. The follow-up, the more political Steeltown (1984), was a UK No. 1, and singles such as ‘Wonderland’ and ‘Look Away’ fared well for Scotland’s ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
94 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1974–82, 1997–present) An internationally popular New York outfit emerging from the city’s thriving new wave scene of the mid-to late 1970s, Blondie’s founders were Debbie Harry (vocals) and Chris Stein (guitar), with an eventual supporting cast of Clem Burke (drums), Nigel Harrison (bass), Jimmy Destri (keyboards) and Frank Infante (guitar). More pop-oriented than their contemporaries and influenced by 1960s girl groups like The Shangri-Las, Blondie had a British No. ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1979–95) Liverpudlians Eddie Lundon (guitar, vocals) and Gary Daly (keyboards) shared a mutual love for Eno and Bowie, with a dash of Steely Dan thrown in. Walter Becker from The Dan actually produced their third album Flaunt The Imperfection (1985). The band had hits with ‘Christian’ (1983), ‘Wishful Thinking’ (1984) and ‘Black Man Ray (1985). Their technical ability and almost jazzy musical imagination set them apart from most new ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
91 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1982–86, 1998–99) The larger-than-life George O’Dowd is better known as Boy George. His smooth pop tenor, his outlandish get-up and the band’s catchy tunes made them unmissable. Roy Hay (guitar), Mikey Craig (bass) and Jon Moss (drums) provided the music for the lilting ‘Do You Really Want To Hurt Me’ which topped the UK chart in late 1982, and six smash hits ensued, including ‘Church Of The Poison Mind’, ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1976–present) The band was formed by Essex schoolboys Vince Clarke (keyboards), Martin Gore (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Andy Fletcher (keyboards) and singer Dave Gahan. New label Mute took a punt on their melancholic but hooky synth-pop and were rewarded with the Top 10 album Speak And Spell (1981) and classic dance track ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’. Clarke departed to create Erasure, and Gore assumed songwriting duties, racking up hits that ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
182 Words Read More

(Vocal group, 1977–90) This arty new wave outfit from Akron, Ohio, comprised Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Bob Mothersbaugh (guitar, vocals), Bob Casale (guitar, vocals), Gerald Casale (bass, vocals) and Alan Myers (drums). Devo’s influential electronic music embraced robotic and mechanical elements and is heard at its most potent on the debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978) and at its most daring on their deconstruction ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
92 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1978–86) The brainchild of Kevin Rowland, Dexy’s bagged a UK No. 1 with the punky, singalong soul of ‘Geno’ (1980). The manifesto album Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (1980) backed it up. After internal disruptions, a Celtic element was added, and the stomping anthem ‘Come On Eileen’ from the 1982 album Too-Rye-Ay became a global No. 1. ‘Jackie Wilson Said’ charted in 1982, but a disappointing 1985 album, ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
95 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1978–present) The most glamorous of the new romantic bands, Birmingham’s Duran Duran (named after the evil scientist in the movie Barbarella) looked very good in the ambitious videos that accompanied their many Top 10 hits. These included ‘Girls On Film’ (1981), ‘Hungry Like The Wolf’, ‘Save A Prayer’ and ‘Rio’ (all 1982), ‘The Reflex’ and ‘Wild Boys’ (1984): a mixture of sexually charged, up-tempo pop and beguiling ballads, which ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
170 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1978–93, 1997–present) A post-punk quartet originating in Liverpool’s thriving late 1970s new wave scene, comprising Ian McCulloch (vocals), Will Sergeant (guitar), Les Pattinson (bass) and Pete DeFreitas (drums). Career highlights include the moodily atmospheric 1980 debut Crocodiles and the lushly epic Ocean Rain (1984), but mainstream acceptance eluded them and the band split up in 1988, reforming nine years later minus DeFreitas, who perished in a motorcycle accident in ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
87 Words Read More
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