One of the more popular new wave bands of the early '80s, the British group ABC built upon the detached, synthesized R&B pop of David Bowie and Roxy Music, adding a self-conscious, campy sense of theatrics and style. Under the direction of vocalist Martin Fry, the group scored several catchy, synth-driven dance-pop hits in the early '80s,... [+] Read More

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The German synth pop band C.C.C.P. separated themselves from '80s Depeche Mode and Erasure wannabes by having a tougher, more energetic sound. Led by vocalist Rasputin Stoy, C.C.C.P. released their debut singles "American-Soviets I" and "American-Soviets II" in 1986, both hits in alternative dance clubs. Although C.C.C.P. received scant airplay... [+] Read More

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Haysi Fantayzee was a quirky '80s pop group known most for its colorful thrift shop image and successful debut single "John Wayne Is Leggy." Former Animal Magnet member Paul Caplin was the group's leader, acting as arranger, producer, and lone instrumentally proficient member. Jeremiah Healy and Kate Garner were the band's focal point as... [+] Read More

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A key presence in the synth pop movement of the early '80s, the new romantic duo Naked Eyes formed in Britain in 1981. Comprised of former schoolmates Pete Byrne (vocals) and Rob Fisher (keyboards), Naked Eyes debuted in March 1983 with the LP Burning Bridges, reissued in the U.S. a month later (minus several tracks) as a self-titled effort. The... [+] Read More

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Long one of Israel's most popular singers, Ofra Haza broke through to international recognition during the mid-1980s when her traditional music found favor on the U.K. club circuit, its success leading to a series of unlikely pop projects. Born in Tel Aviv on November 19, 1959, Haza was the daughter of Yemenite parents forced to flee from their... [+] Read More

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Featuring the core members Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey, the Liverpudlian synth pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark formed in the late '70s. Humphreys and McCluskey began performing together in school, playing in the bands VCL XI, Hitlerz Underpantz, and the Id. After the Id split in 1978, McCluskey was with Dalek I Love You for a... [+] Read More

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XTC was one of the smartest -- and catchiest -- British pop bands to emerge from the punk and new wave explosion of the late '70s. From the tense, jerky riffs of their early singles to the lushly arranged, meticulous pop of their later albums, XTC's music has always been driven by the hook-laden songwriting of guitarist Andy Partridge and... [+] Read More

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