(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 ...
(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 ...
(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 ...
(Singer-songwriter, b. 1949) New Yorker William Martin Joel released his first solo album in 1972, and broke into the US Top 30 with his second set, Piano Man, in 1975. The quality of his classic pop rock songwriting and equal skill with a ballad was obvious, and ‘Just The Way You Are’ became his first major hit in 1977. 1980’s chart-topping Glass Houses also furnished his first No. 1, the infectious ...
America’s leading hard rock band in the 1980s, Bon Jovi have broadened their appeal still further by combining their musical aggression with catchy pop songs to achieve a universal appeal. The band was formed in 1983 in New Jersey by singer Jon Bon Jovi (b. John Francis Bongiovi, 2 March 1962), guitarist Richie Sambora (b. 11 July 1969), keyboard player David Bryan (b. David Bryan Rashbaum, 7 February 1962), bassist Alec ...
(Experimental vocal/instrumental group, 1973–94) Founded in Sheffield by Krautrock fans Chris Watson, Richard H. Kirk and Stephen Mallinder. The trio manipulated tapes and played conventional instruments against and over them. Signed to Rough Trade in 1978, an underground hit ‘Nag Nag Nag’ emerged. The group became more interested in danceable beats, but still retained an experimental edge. 1984’s ‘Sensoria’ and 1985’s ‘James Brown’ are seen as precursors of house music. Many ...
(Vocals, b. 1946) Born Cherilyn Sarkasian La Pier in California, her early career yielded hits such as ‘All I Really Want To Do’ (1965) and ‘Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves’ (1971), alongside successes with husband, Sonny Bono (‘I Got You Babe’, ‘All I Ever Need Is You’). She emphasized her Native American heritage on ‘Half-Breed’ (1973) and ‘Dark Lady’ (1974); but apart from 1979’s ‘Take Me Home’ the next decade was a ...
(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 ...
‘Love Changes (Everything)’, 1988 A duo, vocalist Simon Climie and keyboardist Rob Fisher co-wrote their best-known song with Dennis Morgan. It hit No. 2 in the UK charts, and featured on their debut album, Everything. They split up after their follow-up LP, however, 1989’s Coming In For The Kill. Fisher died in 1999, while undergoing surgery for bowel cancer, whereas Climie has since done production work for Louise (Redknapp), and co-written ...
(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’, ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1977–present) The band appropriately formed in Sheffield, erstwhile home of the British steel industry. Their fresh brand of poppy heavy metal, led by Joe Elliott (vocals) and Pete Willis (lead guitar), soon won them fans. An early B-side ‘Hello America’ hinted at their ambitions. Debut album On Through The Night (1980) just missed the US Top 50, but with 1983’s Pyromania they became giants of the genre, hitting the ...
(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 ...
(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, ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1977–95) Led by guitarist Mark Knopfler with brother David (guitar), John Illsley (bass) and Pick Withers (drums), Dire Straits went from playing the London pub circuit to a US hit album. Knopfler’s inventive, plectrum-free guitar playing, street-poet lyrics and fine pop rock tunesmithery combined to launch their huge career. Their debut single, ‘Sultans Of Swing’, was a punchy, likeable helping of Dylanesque roots rock. Communique (1979) and Love Over ...
(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 ...
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An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...
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David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.