Gary Numan is a pioneering synth-pop and electronic rock artist born in Hammersmith, West London. Rising to fame leading Tubeway Army, he released the 1979 chart-topping hits "Are Friends Electric?" and his worldwide smash "Cars". Influencing industrial and goth rock, he later won Ivor Novello and Moog Innovation awards.
Formed in Los Angeles by Martha Davis, The Motels signed with Capitol Records in 1979. They released five albums, earning two gold records and Top Ten hits with Only the Lonely and Suddenly Last Summer. Davis also released the solo album Policy in 1987.
Formed in Colchester, England, Modern English evolved from dark post-punk to a commercial New Wave sound. They are best known for the iconic hit I Melt With You from their 1982 album After the Snow. The band gained early support from BBC DJ John Peel and later received honors at the 2024 BMI London Awards.
British new wave band ABC, led by Martin Fry, gained fame in the early '80s with hits like "Poison Arrow" and "Look of Love." Known for their synth-driven pop and theatrical style, they topped charts with their debut album and found success on MTV and in the US market.
Formed in Liverpool in 1978, Echo & the Bunnymen are known for a dark, psychedelic post-punk sound led by singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant. Their acclaimed albums include Crocodiles and Ocean Rain.
New wave artist Adam Ant formed Adam and the Ants in London in 1977. Known for his theatrical style, he achieved major U.K. success with albums like Kings of the Wild Frontier and Prince Charming, featuring hits such as Stand and Deliver and Goody Two Shoes before launching a solo career.
Formed in Sheffield, England in 1977, the Human League became synth pop pioneers. Their landmark album Dare! and its smash single Don't You Want Me brought them international fame. Later hits included Human, which topped the U.S. charts.
Formed in 2014 by Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller, electro-pop duo Boy Harsher combines minimal synth textures with dark, danceable beats and dynamic vocals. Known for underground hits like Pain and albums such as Careful, the Savannah-based group also scored the 2022 film The Runner and released Get Mean in 2026.
Colombian multi-instrumentalist Ela Minus blends live hardware electronics and voice to craft bright, improvised electronic music. Boston Berklee grad, acclaimed worldwide.
Billy Idol is a punk rock pioneer who brought the spirit of ’77 to the dance floor, blending club throb, rockabilly desperation, and rock’n’roll decadence. An early MTV megastar, he’s sold 40M albums, with hits like White Wedding and Rebel Yell.
Molchat Doma is a post-punk/new-wave/synth-pop trio founded in 2017 in Minsk, Belarus. Known for dark yet danceable, goth-tinged songs and a brutalist aesthetic, they broke through in 2020 and later relocated from Minsk to Los Angeles.
Born in Michigan, Iggy Pop is a ferocious punk pioneer (The Stooges: Funhouse, Raw Power); famed for wild shows, Bowie collabs, Grammy lifetime, RRHOF, Polar Prize.
Love and Rockets: ex-Bauhaus trio Daniel Ash, David J & Kevin Haskins; psych/glam-pop w/ folk/R&B. Hits “So Alive” (Top 10) & “No New Tale to Tell”; gold album.
Twin Tribes, a dark wave and post-punk duo from Brownsville, Texas, formed in 2017. Luis Navarro and Joel Niño, Jr. create brooding, melodic soundscapes influenced by 1980s goth. Known for captivating live performances, their discography includes albums like Ceremony and 2024's Pendulum, featuring popular songs such as "Fantasmas" and "Monolith". They are recognized for their atmospheric sound and extensive global touring.
Glass Spells, a synth-pop duo from San Diego, features Anthony Ramirez's instrumentation and Tania Costello's emotive vocals. Known for dreamy, retro-inspired sounds and infectious hooks.
Urban Heat, a post-punk/darkwave trio from Austin, Texas, blends cinematic 80s synth with modern urgency. Known for hits like "Wellness" and touring with Molchat Doma.
Leeds-born post‑punk/funk rock pioneers; angular, political sound. Influenced RHCP, R.E.M., U2, Rage, Franz Ferdinand & more; sampled by Frank Ocean; praised by Pharrell.
The Vapors are a UK new wave band formed in late-70s Surrey. Discovered by The Jam’s Bruce Foxton, they toured on the 1979 Setting Sons tour and signed to United Artists. Their hit Turning Japanese reached UK No.3; debut album New Clear Days.
