Bands who should have been big, but weren't

[Uncle Spielberg]

The Fall

 

[Trufflehound]

B Movie

Comsat Angels

Xmal Deutschland

Wire

The Monochrome Set:

All criminally underrated and overlooked.

Some good choices there.

But I'd say Wire weren't underrated at the time. They got huge amounts of acclaim in the press. It's just that as great as they were, sadly no one bought their records - too weird for most people I guess, especially the later ones.

The Monochrome Set were one of my favourite bands - excellent live, and Bid always had a good banter with the crowd. Don't know why they never made it as their tunes were as easily accessible as anything in the charts at the time - lazy marketing on the part of their record label probably.

On the other hand, the Comsat Angels were rubbish live when I saw them, though they may have just had an off-day. I did like their records.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

The Icicle Works

The Lotus Eaters

 

[Trufflehound]

The Fall

50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong...

 

[Trufflehound]

The Icicle Works

The Lotus Eaters

If you liked them, listen to the Wild Swans - they have effectively the kind of sound.

Not surprising really in the case of the Lotus Eaters, because they were founded by the Wild Swans' guitarist Jeremy Kelly after the latter split up.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

The Lotus Eaters did one of the best songs of the 80's

" The first picture of you ".

 

[Curious Orange]

Hmm, interesting thread. I think I'll add:

The Beta Band - always cool, everyone has heard their music, but few bought their albums
Pusherman - awesome live, awesome album, though apparently I'm the only person on the planet who bought that one
Audioweb - great live, several TV appearances, even troubled the charts on occasion

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

Good shout for Graham Parker and the Rumour

North of the border The Delgados for me were superb, as were the Cosmic Rough Riders.

Willco deserve to sell many more albums over here. They skirted with the top 20 albums in the US, and sell well in Germany, Italy etc. but have never really broken through to mainstream popularity.

 

[Gwylan]

But I'd say Wire weren't underrated at the time. They got huge amounts of acclaim in the press. It's just that as great as they were, sadly no one bought their records - too weird for most people I guess, especially the later ones.

I saw the reformed Wire at the Festival Hall about five or six years ago. It looked totally packed out to me.

I'd say that if a band can sell out a big venue like that about 15 years after they split up, they have to be a reasonably big band.

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

The Wildhearts, saw them at Donnington's second stage, they were awesome then faded away.

Since when did the wildheartys fade away ??the wildhearts

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Red Guitars a good shout

From the 80s - the Silencers, Silent Running, Seona Dancing (yes, Ricky Gervais really could sing!)

The 90s - The Waltons. Fish (solo), the Muttonbirds, Paul Kelly

2000+ - Sister Hazel, Nine days.

 

[Gwylan]

Good shout for Graham Parker and the Rumour

I believe that GP suffered from the same problem as Peter Perret of the Only Ones - might be a reason why they never became big. Saw them at the Dome in '77 and they were excellent.

Slightly earlier; how about Brinsley Schwartz? Never recovered from their over-hyped launch but were a pretty good band.

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

FOURTEENTH EYE SHOULD BE MASSIVE!!!

 

[Trufflehound]

I believe that GP suffered from the same problem as Peter Perret of the Only Ones - might be a reason why they never became big. Saw them at the Dome in '77 and they were excellent.

Slightly earlier; how about Brinsley Schwartz? Never recovered from their over-hyped launch but were a pretty good band.

Brisnley Schwartz WERE the Rumour weren't they?

By all accounts Peter Perrett spent around 10 years driving a London cab to fuel his drug habit after the Only Ones split. He cleaned up in the mid-90s and released a pretty decent solo album.

 

[Woodchip]

The La's

 

[tinx]

Pusherman - awesome live, awesome album, though apparently I'm the only person on the planet who bought that one

Spot on, I absolutely loved them, I still listen to their album sometimes still sounds great.

Agreed, one of the best bands live I ever saw.

 

[Shirty]

Senser... quality first album (Stacked up)... rave reviews for live shows.. on the verge of charting... and then half the band left... back together again now, but last album wasn't a patch on the first.

 

[tedebear]

The Desperate Dan Band.

saw 'em in a pub in Worthing in the 80's,and after my gallon of ale I thought they were the dogs doodahs.

Are you still out there?

I'll ask my other half - I think he knows of them or used to play with them or something....I've heard them mentioned lately round these ere parts so I think they are still playing...

 

[Gwylan]

Brisnley Schwartz WERE the Rumour weren't they?

By all accounts Peter Perrett spent around 10 years driving a London cab to fuel his drug habit after the Only Ones split. He cleaned up in the mid-90s and released a pretty decent solo album.

Brinsley Schwarz and Bob Andrews were part of the Rumour. Nick Lowe had other fish to fry by then.

Good band though. What's so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding is one of the GREAT British pop songs.

 

[tedebear]

Moloko Plus (aka Shiner)