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Until a couple of years ago, rock 'n' roll was in a death throe. However, with the coming of the New Wave (which some still categorize as Punk), new faces, new names, new blood and new life was injected into the lethargic '70s musik scene. Armed with aggressive energy, simpler creativity and imagination, a danceable beat (not disco) and a loathing for the overpaid, overly-produced and overly technical groups controlling the state of the art, the New Wavers set out to stand the music world on its brass ear.
With the aid of some small record labels such as Stiff, Sire and Berserkeley among others, the New Wave bands (mostly from England and New York) reached many an ear. However, it was mainly the ones whose attention had already been captured that they won over. The New Wavers didn't want to destroy the musical structure so much as they wanted to shake it up a bit by integrating and cutting out the fat in order to make rock a lean, viable force once more.
"Those new groups all sound alike and look alike. No melodies and they can't play their instruments!" Remember those words? They were once said about now-looked-upon rock 'n' roll heroes and others in a former new wave of bands: The Beatles, Stones, Kinks, The Who, Van Morrison & Them, The Animals et al. With that particular New Wave it took the British to clear our heads and rid the airwaves of pap like Frankie Avalon, The Four Freshmen, Nancy Sinatra and others of that neuter-music era, by throwing Chuck Berry, Elvis, The Everly Brothers, Motown and the Blues back in our faces. Sure there were plenty of groups back then of little or no importance, and with no staying power: Merseybeats, Freddy & the Dreamers, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, etc. There will be some this time around too. With that I'll procede to list most of the groups and individuals I think will be around to outlive the New Wave label and make contributions of one kind or another.
THE ENGLISH BANDS
1. Elvis Costello – Perhaps The Man who can capture the largest general audience and become The Next Big Thing. As seminal a force in rock 'n' roll as Buddy Holly was.
2. Graham Parker & The Rumour - This matchup could become as important as Dylan with The Band. Danceable tunes wrapped around strong lyrics and clever hooks. Parker has an instantly recognizable voice propelled by one of the best groups of musicians of the '70s.
3. Nick Lowe – An old hand at rock 'n' roll who as producer, singer/songwriter, musician my become as important a directing force as Zappa or Spector.
4. Th late – Sex Pistols- The anarchistic punk hand who, whether or not talented, forced open the gate for the others.
5. The Jam – The Who sound of the mid-60s re-emerges with more political flavouring. Leader Paul Weller brandishes the same pop intelligence Pete Townshend once did.
6. Dr. Feelgood – These guys swore they'd make R&B important again. They could easily take over for that jet-setting over-the-hill gang known as the Stones. This ain't phoney posturing ala Bad Co. either, and even Robert Plant is a fan.
7. Boomtown Rats – This Irish band can make you sweat too. They combine technical prowess with punk anger… akin to Mott the Hoople.
8. The Stranglers – Another technically brilliant new band whose stance is as threatening as The Doors used to be.
AMERICAN BANDS
1. Richard Hell & The Voidoids – Definitely a punk, but this guy has something to say and is the Che Guevera of the New Wave.
2. Television – Led by poet Tom Verlaine, this band has a sound and vision as unique as Lou Reed's old Velvet Underground.
3. Blondie – The Dave Clark Five fronted by a platinum blonde (Deborah Harry) who looks as good as Elke Sommer. Stiched together with a Farfisa organ sound, this band draws on mid-60s British pop and New York street savvy for its material.
4. The Ramones- Known as the premier US punk band. They make up for a lack of musical talent with their sheer energy and good humor. They've proven that a garage band can sell LPs.
5. Mink DeVille – Like Southside Johnny, Willy DeVille's band takes the good-timey R&B-based sound out of the bars and puts it onto vinyl.
6. Robert Gordon – With old veteran guitarist Link Wray he brings the killer '50s sound to the '70s.
7. Talking Heads – As unique and perhaps a important as the Beatles. Need I say more?
8. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – A stylized rocker whose band has a heavier and more polished sound than some. Definitely needs to be heard on your radio.
GUTLESS RADIO
In fact, all these new groups need to be heard. Chicago, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, Alice, Elton, Frampton, et al need to be in the midst of these New Wavers to make their own creative fires burn brighter through competition. The airwaves will only remain stagnant without new groups. The need a chance to be heard and seen like the older groups.
The listening audience out in Radioland isn't stupid like the programmers and owners think it is. If they'd have and open mind they'd also have an open ear, and eventually so would the listener. Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Ramones, et al. could and would fit easily into a playlist format alongside Led Zep, Boz, Rod, Carly and Kansas, et al. "Let 'em in" as McCartney says. The New Wave is like an idea whose time has come, and you can't stop an idea whose time has come.
If New Wave artists were heard on the radio people would get a taste of what they're like. They would probably purchase more of them in record stores; then if the albums sold enough copies promoters could bring these groups to San Antonio without fear of financial loss. Otherwise, San Antonians will always see and hear the same groups, and SA will remain a stagnant musical city.
Elvis Costello: "Radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools tryin' to anesthetize the way that you feel./ They say you better listen to the voice of reason. They don't give you any choice, 'cause they think that it's treason. So, you better do what you were told. You better listen to the radio. Wonderful radio! Marvelous radio!"
"Radio, Radio" Corp. 1978 Plangent Visions Music, Inc.
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