Industrial Music Punk Rock Heavy Metal Hard Rock New Wave 80’s Alternative Bands

The best industrial music, punk rock, heavy metal, hard rock, new wave, and 80’s alternative bands.

Introduction

Industrial music punk rock heavy metal hard rock new wave 80’s alternative bands are a type of music that is known for its loud, aggressive sound. This style of music was popularized in the United States in the late 1970s and early 1980s by bands such as the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and the Clash. Industrial music punk rock heavy metal hard rock new wave 80’s alternative bands typically use electric guitars, bass guitars, and drums to create their trademark sound.

Punk Rock

Punk rock is a music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Punk rock bands typically have fast-paced songs with hard-edged melodies and raw vocals. Punk rock is often associated with a DIY ethic, which includes a rejection of commercialism and pop culture.

The Ramones

The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City borough of Queens in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock band. The group was initially composed of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Joey Ramone, lead guitarist/vocalist Johnny Ramone, bassist/vocalist Dee Dee Ramone, and drummer Tommy Ramone. The original members of the band used pseudonyms ending with the surname “Ramone”, although they were not related.

The Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians. Although their initial career lasted just two-and-a-half years and produced only four singles and one studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, they are considered one of the most influential acts in the history of popular music.

The band was composed of vocalist Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious (John Ritchie) in early 1977. Under the management of impresario Malcolm McLaren, the band attracted controversies that both captivated and appalled their audience. Through erratic behavior and deliberately offensive or obscene lyrics and stage antics, they caused riots at some performances. Their declared aim was to shock people into a new awareness of contemporary social issues.

They promoted anarchy through slogans such as “Anarchy in the U.K.”, “No Future”, “+ No Hope = No Fear”, “Down with this sort of thing”, inflaming tensions between young punks, older generations, mainstream media and police forces throughout 1977–1978. They also appeared in two highly controversial British television programmes: Thames Television’s current affairs series Tonight hosted by Bill Grundy, during which Jones used profanity which led to tabloid headlines the next day; and an edition of Granada Television’s Today hosted by Richard Littlejohn, during which Rotten delivered a monosyllabic put-down to each question asked by Littlejohn which ended with him calling him a “dirty bastard” before walking off set while being escorted by security guards as members of the audience fought on air.

In January 1978, at the end of an overjoyed but short UK tour celebrating their single “God Save The Queen” entering the UK charts at number one despite a BBC ban on airplay, Rotten left the Sex Pistols due to creative differences with McLaren regarding McLaren’s managing style as well as disagreements over money. Vicious was killed by his girlfriend Nancy Spungen in October 1978; this event effectively ended what remained of McLaren’s interest in continuing The Sex Pistols’ legacy after their initial breakup earlier that year—and also made it certain that there would be no reunion going forward without Rotten as frontman or any involvement from him musically speaking with any spinoff projects from subsequent members outside of this documentary film release being discussed here (in addition to a few other archival audio/video releases).

The Clash

The Clash was an English rock band formed in London in 1976 as a key player in the original wave of British punk rock. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, dub, funk, and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, the band consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Joe Strummer, lead guitarist and lead vocalist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky “Topper” Headon. Headon left the group in 1982 and internal friction led to Jones’ departure the following year. The group continued with new members, but finally disbanded in early 1986.

The Clash achieved commercial success in the United Kingdom with the release of their self-titled debut album in 1977. Their third album, London Calling (1979), is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. It was declared the best album of the 1980s by Rolling Stone magazine and ranked number eight on Billboard’s list of Top 100 albums of the 1980s. In 2002, London Calling was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Combat Rock (1982) reached number two on the UK charts and was certified platinum in America.

The Clash’s politicized lyrics were often aligned with leftist ideologies such as anti-racism, anti-imperialism, feminism and pacifism; they also promoted an awareness and critique of working class culture and traditions. As a result, they are today considered one of the most influential bands ever to come out of Britain. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003; Dave Grohl described them as “the Only Band That Matters”, while Bob Dylan said they were “the very best band”.

Heavy Metal

There are many different types of metal, but heavy metal is the original. It is a genre that is marked by its aggressive sound and lyrics. Heavy metal is often associated with rebellion and hard living. The first heavy metal bands started in the 1970s, and the genre has been evolving ever since.

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath was a British rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Black Sabbath are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped define the genre with releases such as 1972’s Black Sabbath Vol. 4, 1973’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and 1976’s Sabotage. They have sold over 70 million records worldwide.

Metallica

American heavy metal band Metallica was formed in 1981. The group’s fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship placed them as one of the founding “big four” bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. Metallica’s fifth album, 1991’s Metallica (commonly referred to as The Black Album), was their biggest mainstream success; it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and became the best-selling album of the year in the United States. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, Metallica is one of the best-selling bands of all time.

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden is a British heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The band’s first album, 1980’s Iron Maiden, was written primarily by Harris and vocalist Paul Di’Anno. Major mainstream success came with the release of their second album, 1981’s Killers, which peaked at number four in the UK Albums Chart and included their first UK top-10 single, “Wrathchild”.

Hard Rock

Hard rock is a rock music genre that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hard rock is a heavier and harder- edged version of rock music. Hard rock developed into a major form of popular music in the 1970s, with bands such as the Who, Boston, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Aerosmith, Kiss, Queen, and Van Halen.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are regularly cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of sources, including blues and folk music.

AC/DC

AC/DC is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been considered a staple of hard rock and heavy metal. The band has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. They are also considered one of the greatest and most influential bands in the history of rock music.

AC/DC’s began their career as a boogie rock band, but soon developed a more hard rock and heavy metal sound. Their early albums, such as High Voltage and T.N.T., are considered some of the greatest hard rock albums ever made. AC/DC’s most successful period came in the 1980s with the release of their album Back in Black, which is the second-best selling album of all time. Other successful albums from this era include For Those About to Rock We Salute You and Flick of the Switch.

In the 1990s, AC/DC found success with their album Ballbreaker and toured extensively to support it. They also released a live album, Live: In Concert, which was certified double platinum in Australia. In 2000, they released their first album in five years, Stiff Upper Lip. Since then, they have released two more studio albums: Black Ice in 2008 and Rock or Bust in 2014.

Guns N’ Roses

Guns N’ Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1985, the group originally consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Steven Adler. The band has released six studio albums: Appetite for Destruction (1987), G N’ R Lies (1988), Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II (1991), “The Spaghetti Incident?” (1993) and Chinese Democracy (2008).

New Wave

New Wave is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the late 1970s and became popular in the 1980s. It was originally used as a catch-all for the music that was coming out of punk rock, but it quickly became its own genre. New Wave is characterized by a heavy use of synthesizers and electronic drums, as well as a focus on more danceable rhythms. Some of the most popular New Wave bands include Duran Duran, The Police, and The B-52’s.

Blondie

Pioneers of the American new wave and punk rock scenes, Blondie formed in New York City in 1974. The band released their debut album in 1976 to critical acclaim, but it was with their second album, Parallel Lines, that they achieve massive commercial success. The album featured the global hit single “Heart of Glass”, and helped to cement Blondie’s place as one of the most successful acts of the early 1980s. Over the course of their career, Blondie have sold more than 40 million records and have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Talking Heads

David Byrne, Talking Heads’ frontman, and his bandmates brought new wave to the United States in the mid-1970s. Byrne’s minimalist approach to songwriting and hisunusual stage presence helped to make Talking Heads one of the most popular new wave bands of the 1980s. The band achieved commercial success with hits like “Burning Down the House” and “Once in a Lifetime,”and their 1984 film Stop Making Sense is considered one of the greatest concert films of all time.

The Police

The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums). The Police became globally popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s and are generally regarded as one of the first New Wave groups to achieve mainstream success, playing a style of rock that was influenced by punk, reggae and jazz. They are also considered one of the leaders of the Second British Invasion of the United States.

The Police’s initial run lasted just over seven years; they disbanded for good in 1986. During that time, they released five chart-topping albums and 17 UK singles, including two number ones: “Roxanne” and “Every Breath You Take”. They also won six Grammy Awards, including five for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 2003, Sting received a CBE from Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for services to music; he was made a Kennedy Center Honored Guest in 2012. In 2009, Copeland was awarded the Polar Music Prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. In 2002, Summers was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside his bandmates. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.

80’s Alternative

The 80’s was a decade of big changes and massive growth in the world of music. With the rise of MTV and the music video, bands started to become more image-conscious and many new genres of music were born. One of the most popular genres to come out of the 80’s was alternative rock. Alternative rock was a response to the polished and commercially successful music of the time. It was a more raw and authentic sound that spoke to the disaffected youth of the decade. Bands like R.E.M., The Smiths, and The Cure were at the forefront of this movement and defined the sound of alternative rock.

R.E.M.

R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, that was formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M.’s success was built on independent record stores and the support of college radio stations during the 1980s. The band released its debut album Murmur in 1983; subsequent work such as Reckoning (1984), Fables of the Reconstruction (1985), and Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) gradually gained renown. Following years of underground success, R.E.M.’s status as a mainstream act was cemented with the 1992 release of Out of Time which topped various international album charts and produced worldwide hit singles such as “Losing My Religion” and “Shiny Happy People”.

The Smiths

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of lead singer Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce.

The Smiths’ music was characterized by Marr’s jangly guitar style and Morrissey’s distinctive baritone vocals, which were often filled with social commentary on subjects such as sexuality, classism, and religion. The band attracted a large cult following and were one of the most successful alternative bands of the 1980s, releasing four studio albums and several singles before disbanding in 1987.

The Cure

The Cure is a British rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The group has experienced several line-up changes, with vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member. The Cure first began releasing music in the late 1970s with their debut album Three Imaginary Boys (1979); this, along with several early singles, placed the band as part of the post-punk and new wave movements that had sprung up in the wake of the punk rock revolution in the United Kingdom. During the early 1980s, the band’s increasingly dark and tormented music was a staple of the emerging gothic rock genre.