20 Greatest New Wave Bands

UltimateClassicRock ^ | 9/12

[Gary from Dayton]

The Cure beat out The Police and The Cars? Why?

[Steely Tom]

They all sucked.

[thegagline]

Joy Division, Stranglers, Echo and the Bunnymen, New Order, Gary Numan, the Clash, Jesus and Mary Chain, Galaxie 500,

[dfwgator]

XTC

[Macho MAGA Man]

Anyone remember “New Wave Theater” late at night on Nightflight hosted by Peter Ivers in the early 80’s? That was one strange dood but they had all the upcoming New Wave bands. One was ‘Fear’ and they were nuts.

[DoodleBob]

Roxy Music was not new wave. As the article admits, Roxy was art/glam rock. And awesome.

The Police were borderline punk. And awesome.

[Macho MAGA Man]

(That was one strange dood)

Meand dude! Dang autocorrect.

[mowowie]

I’ve been to many many concerts in my youth, I forget half of them..
The only band on that list that I remember seeing was Oingo Boingo.
I begged a girl from work to go with me..it was the day before Christmas eve 1985 I believe in Boston.
They were backing up Squeeze.
That was a great concert.
I remember a giant Christmas tree up on stage.
Back in the day we’d always get loaded before the show..I have so many ticket stubs of concerts I barely remember lol.
I may have also seen INXS..I dunno.

Glad to see Devo on the list.

[xp38]

The name itself copies a French film making movement from the early 1960s called nouvelle vague. I saw 7 of the 20 listed live in their heyday. Talking Heads were probably the weirdest and experimental so I guess that earns them the number one spot.

[Irenic]

No Patty Smyth/Scandal? pffft

[dfwgator]

Joy Division - Kamala’s favorite band.

[RandallFlagg]

Yeah.
Where’s Gary Numan on the list?
He’s STILL making music, BTW. It’s pretty dern good, too.

[RandallFlagg]

Gary Numan - Haunted

[Fuzz]

The Smiths
Echo and the Bunnymen
XTC
Squeeze
Psychedelic Furs
Depeche Mode

[maddog55]

I’m with you...they all sucked.

[mowowie]

I was I jr/high school during the entire first half of the 80’s.....A GREAT era to to be a teen.
MISS those days....

[dfwgator]

The English Beat

[dfwgator]

Joe Jackson

[Fiji Hill]

You've Got Your Baby Back--The Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo (1976)

This sounds like something from the 1950s. Dr. Demento played it on his Sunday night show on KLOS (before it went national). Later, the group shortened its name.