Name a band that was BIG back in the day, but history has forgotten them?

I used to love Diesel Park West when this album came out in 1989. Thought they were superb. Still do. Years later they played Elgins in Redcar to about 20 people who had never heard of them. Took my mate who sadly passed away a year ago and although his bag was heavy rock he loved them. If you haven't heard them and like a jangly quitar song sheck them out.


From one of the most tragically underrated albums of the eighties, Shakespeare Alabama. A near-perfect debut with delivers Byrds/REM-like tunes in a power-pop vein, with celestial melodies and unforgettable tunes. In a perfect World "All the myths on Sunday" or "Here I stand", or in fact any other song in this album, would be all time classics and radio staples.
 
Im with you on Depeche Mode - For an artist to have number 1 albums in this country and the usa at the same time which only a handful have done, and to still sell out stadiums and arena's they get forgetting about in this country but loved everywhere else. Strange
 
10cc. Not forgotten, but a band who never seemed to feature when influences were cited by other musicians.

3 number one singles and some innovative ideas.

Also, a nice (possibly not true) story about the origin of the band's name (see also Steely Dan.)
 
10cc. Not forgotten, but a band who never seemed to feature when influences were cited by other musicians.

3 number one singles and some innovative ideas.

Also, a nice (possibly not true) story about the origin of the band's name (see also Steely Dan.)
Heard an interesting cover version of 10CCs I’m Not in Love on Radio 6 Music yesterday. Not sure about it. I’ll pop it on the unusual cover thread.
 
Im with you on Depeche Mode - For an artist to have number 1 albums in this country and the usa at the same time which only a handful have done, and to still sell out stadiums and arena's they get forgetting about in this country but loved everywhere else. Strange
Totally agree. Read somewhere in an article on this very subject that DM are only behind Beatles, Stones, and one other....can't remember which, in terms of "success", if success is measured by record and ticket sales. The last Live Spirits tour was played to 2.3 million people - and still going forty years later having been inducted int the Rock Hall of Fame last year.

Dave Gahan is also Mrs Thing's "bit of ruff" - in her dreams.
 
Totally agree. Read somewhere in an article on this very subject that DM are only behind Beatles, Stones, and one other....can't remember which, in terms of "success", if success is measured by record and ticket sales. The last Live Spirits tour was played to 2.3 million people - and still going forty years later having been inducted int the Rock Hall of Fame last year.

Dave Gahan is also Mrs Thing's "bit of ruff" - in her dreams.
I can never get my head round it tbh. They have inspired generations of bands linkin park, pumpkins,killers, NIN and a hell of a lot more.
 
Recommend the Live Spirits DVD to those who are interested. Not your standard, run of the mill gig video. Looks at how DM have influenced people from around the world and is more fan-centric than band-focussed, with interviews interspersed with footage from the last night of the tour in Berlin. 👍
 
Recommend the Live Spirits DVD to those who are interested. Not your standard, run of the mill gig video. Looks at how DM have influenced people from around the world and is more fan-centric than band-focussed, with interviews interspersed with footage from the last night of the tour in Berlin. 👍
Yeah mate i enjoyed that. I am going to order the 101 remaster from itunes this weekend. That was original reality TV
 
Yeah mate i enjoyed that. I am going to order the 101 remaster from itunes this weekend. That was original reality TV
Cheers for the heads up mate! I'd seen it was due out but not caught when. I've been a good boy so I'll see if Santa will bring me an early one!! Happy days!!
 
Sigue Sigue Sputnik oh dear

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From across the pond, it has to be one of my all-time faves. The notorious "TUBES".

These ground breaking avant garde musical/theatrical performance artists, were one of the first acts ever - to harness video technology in their live shows.

Following a concerted campaign by Mary Whitehouse, they were banned by many venues and cities on their debut UK tour in the mid-70's (I caught their first ever English gig at the Newcastle City Hall) But a massive music press buzz, along with their outrageous multi-media stage show (featuring simulated sex, bondage, naked dancers and people dressed as giant Marlboro packets!!) combined with their single "White Punks On Dope" entering the lower reaches of the Top 20, caused them to be (I believe) the first band to sell out a full 7 night run at London's Hammersmith Odeon - playing to almost 28,000 people. These shows were recorded for their UK Top 40 live double album, "What Do You Want From Live".

The following year they headlined the second Knebworth festival of the summer, in front of a 45,000 crowd. With the 9 band members arriving on stage in a pink Cadillac, to top a bill featuring Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel and The Boomtown Rats.

Two more sell out UK tours followed - this time featuring sold-out 5 and 4 night runs respectively at Hammersmith, promoting their "Remote Control" and "Completion Backward Principle" albums.

Interestingly, by the early 80's, although the band had achieved 'monster cult headline status' in Europe - topping bills at arenas across the continent, it was only when they changed record labels and adopted a more streamlined commercial rock approach to their music, that they gained any album sales success - back in their native America.

This resulted in less time spent across here, and sadly, the mighty Tubes eventually fizzled out in the mid 80's

Lead singer Fee Waybill went on to forge a lucrative song writing partnership with AOR pop-rocker Richard Marx.

Like many bands of the era, they reformed with a new line up in the 'Noughties'. Featuring many original members, but with a much scaled down stage production, and have been touring small theatres and clubs across the States and occasionally Europe ever since. I saw them again at the Tyne Theatre about 10 years or so ago.

I read in a recent interview that the now 71 year old singer Waybill - works as a part time plumber in Los Angeles, when he's not touring!

For a band that attracted so much attention and made so much history back in the day, The Tubes would have to be my number one choice, as 'gone and most definitely forgotten' in this day and age.

Here endeth the lesson.

The Tubes - Full Concert 1979
 

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Sigue Sigue Sputnik oh dear

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<cough> Please don't judge me! This should really be in the "Secrets" thread but........ Mayfair - Newcastle - 1986. Now move on - there's nothing to see here. Mind they were still better than Ed Sheeran @ Sid James Park - that was absolutely shocking!
 
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