Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk and The Cure were all inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame each year in the last four years.
The Hall of Fame is where they etch the names of artists, who have made a mark through the mastery of their craft and invaluable contributions in the annals of music history.
It’s a testament to the pioneering spirit of these bands who at one point were bunched together under a subculture called New Wave back in the 80s.
Decades later, the once outsiders are being acknowledged to have played a major role inspiring the next generation of artists and musicians.
But not all are appreciated and revered. This is where we separate the wheat from the chaff.
If the hall of fame is not in the cards for these bands, they should be at the very least be on your playlist.
New Order
A band that had to go through a period of transition after their original iteration, Joy Division abruptly ended along with the life of their original vocalist Ian Curtis, who committed suicide.
Bernard Sumner took over as vocalist and what they produced was music that was ahead of its time. Their sound represented a period in Manchester, England of great importance as far as the dance club culture and Brit Pop are concerned.
Echo and the Bunnymen
“I’ve always said that The Killing Moon is the greatest song ever written. I’m sure Paul Simon would be entitled to say the same about Bridge Over Troubled Water, but for me The Killing Moon is more than just a song. It’s a psalm, almost hymnal.” said Ian McCulloch, vocalist of Echo and the Bunnymen.
It’s about everything, from birth to death to eternity and God – whatever that is – and the eternal battle between fate and the human will. It contains the answer to the meaning of life. It’s my “To be or not to be …” McCulloch added.
There is just something mystical about this band and it starts with their enigmatic front man.
The Church
Radiohead, Coldplay, Interpol said the same thing about The Church, that they were their influence.
The band from down under Australia has released 25 albums to date but the most remarkable of them all was Starfish which produced a US top 40 hit Under the Milky Way.
To think it was not even considered by the band to be included in the album. But after Arista executives including influential Clive Davis heard it and assured that it’s going to be a hit, they started to pay attention.
Steve Kilby is the lead vocalist of the Church and song writer of one of their greatest hits. It took him just a few minutes to discover a chord progression from an old piano while on vacation that led to the writing of Under the Milky Way.
Psychedelic Furs
Richard Butler has one of the most distinct voices back in the 80s. Psychedelic Furs’ name is as interesting as their journey in music. They took a long hiatus from 1991 to 2001 but they forged a fanbase that stood by them after all these years.
The song Pretty in Pink became their staple. It was used for a movie of the same title starring 80s It-girl Molly Ringwald. In the Philippines, Ghost in You was a popular hit among the new wave fans. But Heartbreak Beat from the 1987 album Midnight to Midnight showcased their unparalleled sound.
The Smiths
How their relevance stood the test of time is best exemplified when their music was featured and the band’s inclusion in the screenplay of the 2009 movie 500 days of Summer as Zooey Deschanels’ character’s favorite band added to their pop lore.
Now if only Morrissey and Johnny Marr can get past their differences.
How soon is now?
The Alarm
If there was one band that could have followed the footsteps of U2, that would be the Alarm.
Mike Peters, the powerful voice behind the band, instead took a more difficult journey. Twice a cancer survivor, he was able to overcome his misfortune to set up the world’s leading rock and roll cancer charity.
Rescue me from Electric Folklore live is easily one of the most memorable performances from the era rivaling only the great Bono as far as stage presence is concerned.
The The
There’s no other way to describe Matt Johnson. He’s a genius. Unfortunately he was spit out by an industry that doesn’t appreciate the artistry and dedication it takes in making entire albums. He was disillusioned by this and quit the music industry entirely.
But it takes one album to fully realize the gem that is The The. Soul Mining is the essential album one has to have. The single to start this trek into this is Uncertain Smile with a piano solo by Squeeze band member, Jools Holland that is stuff of legends.
