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Subject: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/02/08 at 4:04 pm

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: whistledog on 06/02/08 at 4:16 pm

Lots of great stuff here. I know most of these

Never Never by The Assembly featuring Feargal Sharkey on vocals. It was a one off single from Vince Clarke in the gap between Yaz(oo) and Erasure

Red Skies is still my favourite Fixx song ever :)

Hipsway evolved into the group Texas, who are still going strong today. I have all of their albums

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/02/08 at 4:26 pm

Lots of great stuff here. I know most of these

Most of these...? That's a pleasant surprise.

Never Never by The Assembly featuring Feargal Sharkey on vocals. It was a one off single from Vince Clarke in the gap between Yaz(oo) and Erasure

Indeed it was. The concept of the band (a new lead singer with every record) didn't really work out...

Red Skies is still my favourite Fixx song ever :)

This one, and "Stand Or Fall", are the only two songs I know, to be honest.

Hipsway evolved into the group Texas, who are still going strong today. I have all of their albums

I knew about Texas, but that was in the 1990's, so I didn't include them in this survey. Besides, Wayne would probably already know Texas. ;)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: whistledog on 06/02/08 at 4:45 pm

This one, and "Stand Or Fall", are the only two songs I know, to be honest.

The Fixx were bigger stars in North America than they were in Europe. Past that first album, they pretty much went unknown in the UK. Their biggest hit over here was 'One Thing Leads to Another' in 1983 which reached US #4 and topped the chart in Canada

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: apollonia1986 on 06/02/08 at 4:54 pm

I feel like a dingbat. The only band I know of is Curiousity Killed the Cat. :(

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/02/08 at 4:58 pm

I feel like a dingbat. The only band I know of is Curiousity Killed the Cat. :(

That's why this thread is titled "Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands (etc)" ;)

...and to tell the truth: I've included a lot of bands (even some Dutch ones) that I'd never heard of. This has been a voyage of discovery for me too.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/04/08 at 2:21 pm

OK, so I wasn't really expecting this thread to become crowded or anything.... but the silence is deafening.

Has anyone even bothered to click those links I provided?

Is anyone interested in part two?

:-\\

Modified to add:

So I may have been a little impatient. Sorry Wayne.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: SpaceHog on 06/05/08 at 10:23 am

What about the french group Mary Goes Round? they had a song called Mary's garden.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/05/08 at 1:54 pm

What about the french group Mary Goes Round? they had a song called Mary's garden.

Well, they're not in here because this is only Part One (letters A to I). ;)

Apart from that, I have had to limit myself (and I admit, the limits I set are quite random). For every band that I include, there are tons that are excluded - that's why I'm glad you've come up with a band I missed. I will gladly include them in Part Two. :)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part O

Written By: Midas on 06/05/08 at 8:35 pm

Is anyone interested in part two?

ME! I'm familiar with around half of the artists you listed in part one. I'd like to learn more. :)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: whistledog on 06/05/08 at 8:59 pm

I am interested in a Part 2. I like learning about great 80s bands I didn't know about :)

Could Blue System be also included in this part one? I know they started in the late 80s, but I don't think people remember them quite as much as Modern Talking (Blue System formed out of Modern Talking)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: cinnabon on 06/05/08 at 9:02 pm

I'd like to see more as well - I've been discovering 80s bands I never knew existed before via my Retroactive digital cable music channel. :)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: whistledog on 06/05/08 at 9:17 pm

Here's another one for your Part 1. A short-lived late 80s group called Big Bam Boo

They were the duo of British singer/musician Simon Scardanelli and Canadian born singer/guitarist Shark (Yep, his name was Shark). Because they formed in the UK, they were largely considered a British group, but because they were an Anglo-Canadian duo, they qualified under CANCON as a Canadian group as well. Though they never had a Hot 100 hit in the States, 'Shooting From My Heart' apparently reached #17 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart

1989 - Shooting From My Heart
1989 - If You Could See Me Now
1989 - Fell Off A Mountain

Big Bam Boo's lack of success was due to an error on their album 'Fun, Faith and Fairplay'. It was released in 1989, but MCA mistakenly printed 1987 instead, and by the time this was noticed, copies had already been shipped, so radio stations assumed it was a 1987 release and were reluctant to put the singles into heavy rotation

BTW, the guy that uploaded those videos to YouTube is the real Simon Scardanelli. I was chatting with him quite a bit on YouTube before I got banned for uploading too many videos that got deleted by Viacom LOL

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: karen on 06/05/08 at 9:59 pm

Henk

I'm interested in your thread. It might even make me log into my husbands account on this computer so I can watch the you tube vids.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Gis on 06/06/08 at 5:59 am

It's interesting to see bands that were very well known in the U.K. but obviously not so much outside of the U.K.

You have some great rock bands in your list!

Just reminded me of a happy encounter with a Hanoi Rocks roadie........................ all quite innocent I must add!

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: cinnabon on 06/06/08 at 7:07 am

Here's a band that might fit into this category (alphabetically at least) - the Australian band Icehouse; they had sort of a New Wave-ish pop sound

they had their 2 best known hits in 1988 with Crazy and Electric Blue

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/06/08 at 1:30 pm

Here's a band that might fit into this category (alphabetically at least) - the Australian band Icehouse; they had sort of a New Wave-ish pop sound

they had their 2 best known hits in 1988 with Crazy and Electric Blue

Icehouse would fit, alphabetically - but as much as I like Icehouse, I can't include them for one important reason: they're not European. ;)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part O

Written By: Gis on 06/06/08 at 3:14 pm

Come on Henk give us more, stir my poor brain cells some. ;D

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part O

Written By: Henk on 06/06/08 at 3:17 pm

Come on Henk give us more, stir my poor brain cells some. ;D

I'm working on it, Gis. ;)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/06/08 at 3:24 pm

It's interesting to see bands that were very well known in the U.K. but obviously not so much outside of the U.K.

You have some great rock bands in your list!

Well, Wayne's initial question was about rock/pop bands... I must say that, apart from the (hardcore) punk bands, there's not a lot in this Part One that I dislike - much to my own surprise.

Just reminded me of a happy encounter with a Hanoi Rocks roadie........................ all quite innocent I must add!

Hmm-mmm. ::)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: cinnabon on 06/06/08 at 4:13 pm

Now I've thought of two that fit alphabetically and are European: ;)

The Alarm (from Wales)
Icicle Works (from England)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: loki 13 on 06/06/08 at 8:46 pm

Henk, this is some good sh.....stuff. Of the bands listed I often listen to The Gathering, Fields Of Nephilim
Gorefest and Celtic Frost. Please bring more to the table, I am always looking for obscure Goth/Symphonic,
and sometimes, Death Metal Bands.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/07/08 at 1:54 am

Now I've thought of two that fit alphabetically and are European: ;)

The Alarm (from Wales)
Icicle Works (from England)

You're right - those two definitely fit the description. For some reason they didn't make the cut.

Of course, Icicle Works had an international hit with "Whisper To a Scream", and "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" is another pretty well known track, which makes them not so much obscure as easily overlooked.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/07/08 at 1:59 am

Henk, this is some good sh.....stuff. Of the bands listed I often listen to The Gathering, Fields Of Nephilim
Gorefest and Celtic Frost. Please bring more to the table, I am always looking for obscure Goth/Symphonic,
and sometimes, Death Metal Bands.

I knew you'd be interested. :)
It's a shame Triumvirat were more of a 1970's band, else I'd definitely included them in Part Two. ;)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: loki 13 on 06/07/08 at 8:22 am

I knew you'd be interested. :)
It's a shame Triumvirat were more of a 1970's band, else I'd definitely included them in Part Two. ;)

Yeah, Nektar falls into the same category. Another German band that had most of their success in the
70's.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: loki 13 on 06/07/08 at 9:47 am

Henk, I thought this was a little funny. The Boy (little_devil_rider) is a punk. When I asked him if he knew
the bands mentioned on your list, the ones with a hard core punk description, he shown me a patch on
his vest of the band. I guess they are only obscure to us non-punks. ;D

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Little_devil_rider on 06/07/08 at 11:00 am

henk good work, and my dads right he woke me up today asing is i new g.b.h, conflict, exploited and discharge, he pasted over one of my fav band, the english beat i really love the ska/oi but if you like old punk some of the best punk/oi band that came from the uk subhumans. crass, blitz, skeptix but i believe crass came out in 77 but really didnt make it to big mid 80's but good work and i hope you can get more punk in list 2

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/07/08 at 4:17 pm

Henk, I thought this was a little funny. The Boy (little_devil_rider) is a punk. When I asked him if he knew
the bands mentioned on your list, the ones with a hard core punk description, he shown me a patch on
his vest of the band. I guess they are only obscure to us non-punks. ;D

So punk isn't dead after all.

henk good work, and my dads right he woke me up today asing is i new g.b.h, conflict, exploited and discharge, he pasted over one of my fav band, the english beat i really love the ska/oi but if you like old punk some of the best punk/oi band that came from the uk subhumans. crass, blitz, skeptix but i believe crass came out in 77 but really didnt make it to big mid 80's but good work and i hope you can get more punk in list 2

To be honest, I never was into punk, but I'm glad to hear you enjoyed my list (and those bands in particular). :)
Actually, I'm glad to hear from you at all...Haven't seen you in quite a while.

I'm afraid there won't be much (hardcore) punk bands in Part Two... :-\\ Those bands seemed to have a liking for names starting with letters A to I, for some reason.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: whistledog on 06/07/08 at 7:45 pm

Could The Chameleons UK count as an obscure European Band?

I know they went unknown in North America, but I don't think they even had much success even in their native UK. Their 1984 album 'Script of the Bridge' had two awesome singles: Up the Down Escalator and 'As High As You Can Go' plus their 1986 release 'Strange Times' also had a great single with Tears

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part O

Written By: Gis on 06/08/08 at 4:44 am

The Alarm were a great band, still together I think or at least Mike Peters still does stuff. My brother was a huge fan and goes to see him if he plays locally. I think he may be in a band called Dead Men Walking.

Would my brother's other favourite band in the whole wide world make the list I wonder? New Model Army......

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/08/08 at 10:47 am

Thank you all for your contributions and suggestions. I've incorporated a handful of your suggestions, as you can tell by looking at my initial post.

Jason - I've not included Blue System, because it's not really a band. For the same reason, you won't find Modern Talking in Part Two.
(A band should consist of at least three members IMHO, all playing an instrument)
I know, there are other artists in Part One and Part Two that don't qualify as a band either - but rules are there to be broken, and *I* call the shots here. :P ;)

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 06/17/08 at 12:12 am

Bumping this one...just in case.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 05/12/15 at 6:10 am

Bumping this one...just in case.

And bumping once again. Just because I can. :P

FYI: to my surprise, some of the links in my initial post STILL work! :o

I may be fixing the other links (as far as possible), if anyone's interested.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: whistledog on 05/12/15 at 8:03 am

I remember this topic. Good stuff!

One of the bands mentioned is Hanoi Rocks. It's often said the reason they never became big stars was because their drummer was killed in a car crash while they were on a promotional tour of America. They could have replaced the drummer, but I guess it just wouldn't have been the same.

I really enjoyed their cover of Up Around the Bend. As I recall, it was their highest charting single in the UK

iEYtUcIKHTM

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Elor on 05/12/15 at 5:30 pm

Blind Guardian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Guardian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dtNaTRCN_Q

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Henk on 05/13/15 at 1:58 am

Blind Guardian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Guardian

Thanks for your contribution. :)

I'm not a fan of the genre as such, but that didn't keep me from listening the entire song. I must say I was surprised myself.
I'd never before heard of Blind Guardian (like I said: not particularly my style), even though I understand the band is active since the mid-1980s. Not sure if the early days fans were pleased when they finally found mainstream success by the turn of the millennium, with a Top 10 hit in Spain and Hungary to their name even!

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: Elor on 05/13/15 at 7:01 am

Graag gedaan. :)

I think they lost some popularity over the last 10 years as their sound allegedly became softer and softer to a point it sounded more like hard pop than heavy metal. I've not followed them much either but I know they were still quiet popular here around 2000.

Subject: Re: Lesser Known/Obscure European Bands From The 1980's (or thereabout) - Part One

Written By: whistledog on 05/16/15 at 12:48 am

If I may add to the obscure, here's one I really enjoy ...

Cretu and Thiers - School's Out (1988)

Michael Cretu and Manfred Thiers; In the 90s, Romanian-born Cretu went on to world-wide success with the musical project Enigma (Sadness, Return to Innocence), so he technically can be discredited as obscure/lesser known, but with Manfred Thiers, they had zero hits in the UK or North America. I know this Alice Cooper cover was a hit somewhere in Europe. I first learned of it through some cassette compilation I found at a flea market

cmq0jFBAdhQ

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