Who were the "Beatles & Stones" of New Wave?

[deethelurker]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Anonymous[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by deethelurker[/i]
< U2, on the other hand, are very much Duran Duran's antagonists,

Yeah, I read some it on a U2 segment on a some magazine.. they were responsible for Duran's downfall in the 80's.. and never recovered???

Words like Violence
Break the Silence
[/quote]

Oh yes. They, or at least the public perception of, were the catalyst for Duran's decrease in overall popular strength to the degree that by 1988 a group that helped usher in the decade were pretty much toiling in semi-obscurity. Unfortunately the tide has not yet fully changed, though with the younger era of tail-end Gen X'ers the baby boomer model of what to consider "high quality music" has finally been overtaken. Though some have said that it has benefited Duran more to not have been so critically adored because that has instead fostered more of a primal, basic love for their output, instead of having their creative efforts be overanalyzed.

BTW, Blondie were huge but never really had any rivals, so they really wouldn't fit this model. R.E.M. are pretty much the Velvet Underground in this equation, aren't they? Though they've lasted a lot longer, so maybe not. And if you're counting Depeche Mode, slot them in in the Beatles slot vs. the rockist-friendly U2 in the case of "easily accessible synthpop/New Pop vs. baby boomer-ish trad-arena rock".

[Mechi]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Anonymous[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by rotator[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by suttonrecords[/i]
<br>The Lotus Eaters vs. The Pale Fountains

[/quote]

Ha ha that's funny.....more of a pillow fight[;)][B)]

I say Depeche Mode VS. New Order
[/quote]

Did New Order came out w/ an a new album in 06?

Grunge vs Glam rock

Words like Violence
Break the Silence
[/quote]

New Order's latest album came out in 2005. Supposedly, there were enough recordings not used from that sessions to record another album... but seems like No. has made the decission to retire.
Anyway, haven't got any news about New Order's retirement since that interview Hooky gave to Pagina 12 newspaper after their show in Buenos Aires.

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[randy]

Hmmm..I actually agree with Blir...I think.....

[guyinsf]

Blondie probably didn't have any NW rivals because in their heydays, NW was still very much an alternative to mainstream top 40 and arena rock so I would say they had to compete with bigger non-NW groups like ABBA, top heavy metal acts of the time, Olivia Newton john, etc. I would say Blondie's biggest NW competition was the Police, who were also huge!

[guyinsf]

Sex Pistols vs Ramones vs the Clash
Blondie vs Police
Duran Duran vs New Order
U2 vs Depeche Mode

[korova1]

Fun question.

In my opinion for sheer popularity and nailing the whole style of new wave music, the three synth and guitar bands that were "Beatles and Stones-like" were New Order, the Cure, and Depeche Mode. All three bands seemed to enjoy massive success.... "Blue Monday" is the top selling 12 inch of all time, the Cure with "Just Like Heaven"... and the Mode got their success initially with "People Are People" and are still burning pretty bright. All 3 bands have massive catalogue sales to this day. All 3 bands had the worldwide stadium tours when they were popular and they have an ever growing following with younger generations to this day. These three bands have in some way influenced everything that is out right now. Both good and bad. From the current radio songs like Gwen Stefani, 30 Seconds to Mars, My Chemical Romance, to the DFA stuff to the Electro revival to the emo bands... all of it derives in one way or another from NO, DM and the Cure. Emotionally and stylistically.

Artistically in the 80's, these bands also changed up their sound many times over... using different producers, sounds, styles... and were very diverse, and they both had the ability to make an emotional dirge one minute with a dance club classic the next. They all started in the post punk haze of the Joy Division sound around 78 - 79 and progressed with each album they made. Hell, the Cure even had their "Satanic Majesties Request" with "The Top". Constantly expanding, growing, changing throughout the 80's they probably influenced more bands of that style than any other groups. And just like the Stones did in the 70's and 80's in their later incarnations, these bands changed their sounds as the decades rolled by... but kept their core sound intact.

For me, Duran Duran were also a key player, I'd make them the Kinks of the 80's. Two really good albums, some truly amazing songs, amazing videos, but there wasn't as much mystique about that band for me. Although, teenaged girls felt differently. U2 were a very important band in the 80's no doubt... but I'd put them in the ring with Elvis. U2 were a cultural phenomenon... they carried the torch for rock and roll. Elvis was also a phenom, even in his late 60's "Suspicious Minds" stage... on another level, a completely different genre almost... the massive tours, the sellout records, the ever-growing hoopla. To me U2 (and REM for that matter) were always more traditional rock and roll in many ways. Finally, Echo and the Bunnymen were the Doors.... and the Doors were always my favorite band of the 60's anyway.

[Frau_Blucher]

[quote][i]Originally posted by korova1[/i]
<br>Finally, Echo and the Bunnymen were the Doors.... and the Doors were always my favorite band of the 60's anyway.
[/quote]
That's a pretty spot-on observation! Or do we both think that just because they covered People Are Strange? [:I]

[SwampThing]

Seems there is some consensus on who the contenders are, anyone care to create an elimination poll?

Depeche Mode, the Cure, U2, REM fit the bill for me. Even though I'm a huge New Order fan, I don't seem to remember them filling the larger venues here in the states (Which is not a bad thing actually!) Last time I saw them live was the Technique tour, never thought of them as a great live band.




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[Frau_Blucher]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>Seems there is some consensus on who the contenders are, anyone care to create an elimination poll?

Depeche Mode, the Cure, U2, REM fit the bill for me. Even though I'm a huge New Order fan, I don't seem to remember them filling the larger venues here in the states (Which is not a bad thing actually!) Last time I saw them live was the Technique tour, never thought of them as a great live band.
[/quote]
They were definitely in the big outdoor amphitheaters. Not stadiums though...New Order that is.

[SwampThing]

Seems Depeche Mode had the most rabid obsessed fans back when they were doing their huge tours. In the LA area DM could probably play sold out arenas for weeks on end, LOL!

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[glokstadt]

The Plimsouls are the Rolling Stones of New Wave (Power Pop), and they were being compaired to the Stones as such in reviews of their first album... they also opened for the Stones on one of their tours???

Never liked The Beatles, I'm a Who fan! I remember Duran Duran was being compaired to The Beatles as the new Fab Five!



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[Dave]

Lots of great comments on this thread. However rather than the rivalry aspect, I interpreted the question a bit differently. My take: do any of the bands of the new wave era match the legendary status that the Beatles or Stones did twenty years ago? For example, do a large number of kids today admire any of the bands that played during the 70s/80s as many of us did the Beatles & Stones? That is, legendary bands from our parents' era that still rock today.

I know there's still lots of love for the Clash, but I'm not sure how widespread it really is (BTW, is it "lock the cashbox" or "stop the catbox"? [:)]). And the Cure has lots of love in the goth community but as much as I love all the bands mentioned here, I'm not sure how many people outside the NW community really view them as legends. For my money, U2 is the only real Beatles & Stones-like legend.

Regarding rivalries, I do think Blir hit the nail on the head. The closest thing to a "Mods & Rockers" rivalry (and I can't mention "mods & rockers" without hearing Joe Jackson sing "you mods, you rockers and you Beatles-freaks"?) was probably punk/post-punk vs. synthpop and the Clash and New Order are probably the two best representatives from their respective camps. However, I don't remember the Clash slagging off synthpop or vice versa??? Did I miss the rivalry?

One final note, I remember Adam & the Ants being compared to the Beatles too... and lots of DJs took offence.

[deethelurker]

Dave: The question should be "Are the Beatles and the Rolling Stones as legendary as people make them out to be?" I mean, if those two bands' primary demographics weren't baby boomers, the most self-centered generation in American history, would the Beatles or the Rolling Stones be viewed as being as mythic and large as they have been? I don't believe so. I think their reach would have been undeniable, but I also think neither of them would have been lionized as frequently or harped on as much. I know that if I see another Beatles or Rolling Stones book published (even though I was a Stones fan in my early youth) I will tear all my hair out and scream and someone will have to put me in a mental institution. And why should the New Wave scene be measured up with the same yardstick as those baby boomer-friendly groups anyway? Part of the allure for New Wave to me is that it's (supposed to be) a genre that's about inventiveness and breaking the rules, drawing from its punk forebearers in its ability to not be that which had previously existed. I suppose that's why I favor New Wave music with synthesizers, really; synths were a NEW thing, a NEW domain, and a part of the New Wave's legendary "break the tradition, break the mold, create new rules" status among those of us of the post-Generation X era. I'm not stating this to make the thread originator feel bad, I'm just asking because this is something I've wondered about for awhile.

[Anonymous1]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>Seems Depeche Mode had the most rabid obsessed fans back when they were doing their huge tours. In the LA area DM could probably play sold out arenas for weeks on end, LOL!

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[/quote]

Amen.. DM has that Rolling stone feel in there show, u'll be dancin'and singing all throughout the concert.. definately the best concert to watch along w/ (ofcourse) U2!!!!

Words like Violence
Break the Silence

[Mechi]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Anonymous[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>Seems Depeche Mode had the most rabid obsessed fans back when they were doing their huge tours. In the LA area DM could probably play sold out arenas for weeks on end, LOL!

<font size="1"></font>
[/quote]

Amen.. DM has that Rolling stone feel in there show, u'll be dancin'and singing all throughout the concert.. definately the best concert to watch along w/ (ofcourse) U2!!!!

Words like Violence
Break the Silence
[/quote]

Not DM seen live yet... I do imagine it must be great.
However, I'm able to contrast No. vs U2 (which were basically the two big NW artists I had the chance to see this year).
U2's show is made in a form that you won't forget it... but mostly cos there's too much preparation put into it. Bono is always nice, says adorable things about any of the countries he visits and the band plays mostly all the anthemic songs they have (the ones from The Joshua Tree and songs like "One").
New Order... you are not quite sure of what you'll get with the exception of Blue Monday, BLT and Crystal as an opener. They do not play with huge scenaries, they just play as you've never seen a band before. Barney grows confident with every song they play...by the time they get to Blue Monday, he's goofing around the stage. Hooky... is awesome... he's capable of jumping on the speakera and start playing totally out of control,

The point is that one band is good due to prepararation and planning. And the other one is good, due to the fact that they don't plan things that much.
New Order comes

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