Name a band that was BIG back in the day, but history has forgotten them?

DrummerMan

Well-known member
I was talking to an old punk a few weeks ago, he was telling me about some 80s bands like The Alarm? - Never heard of them, but he said they were huge

Also The Dogs D'Amour (only know of them because of Steve James)
 
Pulp, the Hives, Kula Shaker, the Magic Numbers, Ocean Colour Scene, Dandy Warhols. All festival headliners at one stage. Not sure history’s been that kind to any of them.
 
Saw the alarm at kubix year before last, quite a few there especially to see them
 
My Life Story. Saw them years ago sell out Shepherds Bush Empire. They tour now to smaller and smaller places. Saw them in Yarm before lockdown playing to about 30 people. They were still brilliant and put on a great show but it was kind of sad. They are playing places as small as Bannerman's in Edinburgh on their next tour.

Similar with Fountains of Wayne before they split up and then Adam Schlesinger died. Every your I went to see them they played smaller and smaller places.
 
The Darkness. During the period 2003/04 you could argue they were the biggest band in Britain but their 2nd album flopped and they disbanded shortly after touring the 2nd album.

They eventually reunited and still tour now but they only really attract a cult following these days.
I booked The Darkness for a gig in Newcastle for £120 in September 2003 at the Head of Steam, maybe 70 capacity at best. Their tour bus broke down in Leeds, had to cancel - singer very apologetic on the phone.

Three months later they were Christmas number 1.

My Life Story. Saw them years ago sell out Shepherds Bush Empire. They tour now to smaller and smaller places. Saw them in Yarm before lockdown playing to about 30 people. They were still brilliant and put on a great show but it was kind of sad. They are playing places as small as Bannerman's in Edinburgh on their next tour.

Similar with Fountains of Wayne before they split up and then Adam Schlesinger died. Every your I went to see them they played smaller and smaller places.
Yeah good shout! My mate dragged me to a gig on Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine's last tour, about 20 people there. Very sweet, the band came off stage, personally thanked everyone there and had a few pints with everyone. Must be so weird on the way down, but also nice in a way.
 
Pulp, the Hives, Kula Shaker, the Magic Numbers, Ocean Colour Scene, Dandy Warhols. All festival headliners at one stage. Not sure history’s been that kind to any of them.

I reckon Pulp sold more records before they split up than the rest of those bands put together. If they reformed and toured I think they'd sell out pretty much anywhere they played.
 
Supertramp.
Enormous success on both sides of the Atlantic for a few years then it was like they fell off a cliff.
History certainly hasn’t forgotten Supertramp. Breakfast in America is an iconic album and many of its tracks are still played regularly on radio stations globally.
 
Horslips, huge in Ireland, probably on the cusp of breaking the UK and USA when punk happened. The odd thing about punk was that it didn't kill the big bands, the likes of Led Zep, Yes, Genesis and many others just carried on selling and touring it was like a fly biting the rrse of a hippo, but bands lower down the food chain either had to change like The Clash or give it up/reform.

 
Back
Top