Battle of the New Wave Bands - Elite 8 (Round 3)

We are now down to the remaining Elite 8 bands, all influential in their own right.  Several were near-unanimous selections, namely the Cure, Police, Clash and New Order.  Depeche Mode came soooo close to upending the Ramones, but the last vote cast decided the winner!

Now for Round 3, the selections become that much more difficult but the actual voting process is simple: select one winner for each of the four brackets, ie

A)  Cure vs Police

B)  Ramones vs. Smiths

C)  Clash vs. New Order

D)  Sex Pistols vs. Talking Heads

Simply send a Comment  (enter Name only in Name/URL drop-down option) to this post with your selections.  As a reminder, when voting take into account the Band's legacy to the New Wave genre and their entire body of work.

The winners for Round 3 will be announced in this coming weekend, so DEADLINE is Friday April 11th, 10 pm EST. 

GOOD LUCK and MAKE YOUR VOTES COUNT!

A) El Mocambo			B) CBGB
1. English Beat	4. Cure (91%)		1. Ramones
4. Cure		1. Ramones (55%)	4. Depeche Mode
2. Blondie	3. Police (82%)		2. Smiths
3. Police		2. Smiths (64%)	3. Joe Jackson
D) 100 Club			C) Roxy
1. Sex Pistols	1. Sex Pistols (73%)		1. Clash
5. Duran Duran		1. Clash (91%)	5. Pretenders
2. Elvis Costello	3. Talking Heads (64%)		2. New Order
3. Talking Heads		2. New Order (91%)	6. Undertones

Battle Of The New Wave Bands - Sweet Sixteen (Round 2)

The results for Battle New Wave Bands (Round 1) have been tallied and 32 core acts have been reduced to 16 worthy of consideration for little of Most Popular New Wave Band as selected by your Votes.

Simply send a Comment  (enter Name only in Name/URL drop-down option) to this post with your selections, ie A) 1, 3   B) 1, 2  etc......

As a reminder, when voting take into account the Artist/Band's legacy to the New Wave genre and their entire body of work.

The winners for Round 2 will be announced in one weeks time, so DEADLINE is Sunday April 6th, 6 pm EST.   Good Luck and make your VOTES Count!

A) El Mocambo			B) CBGB
1. English Beat	A Winner 1 vs 4		1. Ramones
4. Cure		B Winner 1 vs 4	4. Depeche Mode
2. Blondie	A Winner 2 vs 3		2. Smiths
3. Police		B Winner 2 vs 3	3. Joe Jackson
D) 100 Club			C) Roxy
1. Sex Pistols	D Winner 1 vs 5		1. Clash
5. Duran Duran		C Winner 1 vs 5	5. Pretenders
2. Elvis Costello	D winner 2 vs 3		2. New Order
3. Talking Heads		C Winner 2 vs 6	6. Undertones

Battle of New Wave Bands - Round 1 Results

The Votes are cast, and the winners of Battle of New Wave Bands Round 1 are tabulated below.

In the end, a baker's dozen UK bands advanced as well as three seminal New York acts that received their first breaks at CBGBs.

With early returns it appeared that Devo, Gary Numan, Billy Idol and Talk Talk were poised to upset their much higher seeded opponents.  However the heavy final Sunday selections pushed them all out of contention.

Nonetheless, #6 Undertones advanced and #5 seeds Pretenders and Duran Duran won handily.  The only unanimous choice was the Sex Pistols (perhaps due to relatively unknown Toronto punk opponent, the Diodes) with Police and Clash nearly perfect.  However the match-ups in the 'Sweet Sixteen' Round 2 will been increasingly more difficult.  Good Luck to all remaining New Wave Bands!!!

A) El Mocambo			B) CBGB
1. English Beat	1.English Beat (64%)		1. Ramones
8. Devo		1. Ramones (86%)	8. Jam
4. Cure	4. Cure (64%)		4. Depeche Mode
5. Eurthymics		4. Depeche Mode (86%)	5. Madness
2. Blondie	2. Blondie (71%)		2. Smiths
7. B-52s		2. Smiths (64%)	7. Simple Minds
3. Police	3. Police (93%)		3. Joe Jackson
6. Human League		3. Joe Jackson (64%)	6. Gary Numan
D) 100 Club			C) Roxy
1. Sex Pistols	1. Sex Pistols (100%)		1. Clash
8. Diodes		1. Clash (93%)	8. Boomtown Rats
4. Cars	5. Duran Duran (71%)		4. Kraftwerk
5. Duran Duran		5. Pretenders (71%)	5. Pretenders
2. Elvis Costello	2. Elvis Costello (57%)		2. New Order
7. Talk Talk		2. New Order (64%)	7. Billy Idol
3. Talking Heads	3. Talking Heads (71%)		3. Specials
6. Joy Division		6. Undertones (64%)	6. Undertones

Battle of New Wave Bands (VOTING DEADLINE: Sunday March 30th 5pm EST)

Borrowing a page from the NCAA College Basketball 'March Madness' tournament, I have created a Battle of New Wave bands (punk, synth, power pop, ska) ranked bracket of 32 artists/bands grouped into four 'concert venue' categories.

Simply send a Comment  (enter Name only in Name/URL drop-down option) to this post with your selections, ie A) 1, 4, 3, 2  B) etc...

When voting take into account the Artist/Band's impact to the New Wave genre and entire body of work.

The winners for each round will be announced in a few weeks after enough votes are collected.  Then the voting continues..... until ONE Champion New Wave Artist/Band is Selected by Popular Vote.

Good Luck and keep the Votes coming in!

A) El Mocambo			B) CBGB
1. English Beat	A Winner 1 vs. 8		1. Ramones
8. Devo		B Winner 1 vs. 8	8. Jam
4. Cure	A Winner 4 vs. 5		4. Depeche Mode
5. Eurythmics		B Winner 4 vs. 5	5. Madness
2. Blondie	A Winner 2 vs. 7		2. Smiths
7. B-52s		B Winner 2 vs. 7	7. Simple Minds
3. Police	A Winner 3 vs. 6		3. Joe Jackson
6. Human League		B Winner 3 vs. 6	6. Gary Numan
D) 100 Club			C) Roxy
1. Sex Pistols	D Winner 1 vs. 8		1. Clash
8. Diodes		C Winner 1 vs. 8	8. Boomtown Rats
4. Cars	D Winner 4 vs. 5		4. Kraftwerk
5. Duran Duran		C Winner 4 vs. 5	5. Pretenders
2. Elvis Costello	D Winner 2 vs. 7		2. New Order
7. Talk Talk		C Winner 2 vs. 7	7. Billy Idol
3. Talking Heads	D Winner 3 vs. 6		3. Specials
6. Joy Division		C Winner 3 vs. 6	6. Undertones

The Greatest Punk Song Ever: "New Rose" vs. "God Save the Queen"

While in Chicago in Feb 2013, I met up with a business colleague and fellow new wave / alternative music fanatic, Taris Lopez.  Over a few local beers and some tasty appetizers, we launched into a full blown debate on what song deserves the title of 'Greatest Punk Song Ever.'  Tarsis was in the Damned's camp with "New Rose" the first official punk song released in the UK.  I argued voraciously that the Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" lay claim to that lofty title because of the controversy at home and simultaneous international shot-in-the-arm it provided Punk Rock.  As we are both strongly vested in our opinions, the case for each song will be made below.

Before we do so, there are several other songs outside the UK that could earn Honourable Mention for "Greatest Punk Song Ever" as indicated:

Ramones - Blitzbreig Bop (US, April 1976 release)
The song that started it all!  "Hey, ho, let's go!"  The Ramones toured the UK and July 4&5, 1976 performances helped to jump-start a burgeoning punk rock scence, where members of the Sex Pistols and Clash were inspired. Unfortunately, the song has been way over-exposed in arena sporting events.

Saints - (I'm) Stranded (Australia, Sept 1976)
This iconic song from Down Under actually pre-dated débuts by the Damned, Sex Pistols and Clash.  Edgy with a great guitar riff, this classic holds up very well.  Too bad the Saints morphed into a pop-ish band by the 80s, leaving the punk roots behind.

Plastic Bertrand - Ca Plane Pour Moi (Belgium, Dec 1977)
A great international French punk hit that was popularized from original English version "Jet Boy Jet Girl" by Elton Motello and later covered by many punk bands, including the Damned and Chron Gen. What unforgettable lyrics, "Ooh, he gives me head."

Viletones - Screaming Fist (Canada, late 1977)
Canada's premier punk band, with this hard-to-find recording released as their first single after a Toronto punk showcase at CBGBs July 1977.  Nazi Dog on lead vocals and Motor X on drums. Sing-along to "Pump your fist, if you love this shit."

O.K.  For the main bout. In one corner, a band that would demonstrate uncanny staying power by becoming pioneers in an evolving genre, goth!  In the other corner, snotty spitting brats that would self-destruct within a year.

              

The Damned - New Rose (UK, Oct 1976, Stiff label)
* The first single by a British punk band, top UK chart position; 81
* From the first UK Punk album, Damned Damned Damned, top UK chart position; 36
* Performed second live performance July 6, 1976 opening for Sex Pistols at 100 Club
* Years Active: 1976 - present (10 studio LPs, 31 singles)
* Members: Dave Vanian, Brian James, Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies

The introductory adrenaline fuelled pounding drums & guitars are unmistakable.  The topic is teen angst love song!! No politics here.  An enduring band still performing today.

" I gotta a feelin' inside of me / It's kinda strange like a stormy sea"
 " I gotta new rose, I got her good / Guess I knew that I always would"

Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen (UK, May 1977, Virgin label)
* The second single released by the band (first was Anarchy in the UK in Nov 1976)
* Song reached #1 on NME charts, but #2 (*fixed) on official UK Single Charts by BBC
* From the bands only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, top UK position #1
* First major live performance Feb 12, 1976 at Marquee supporting Eddie & the Hot Rods
* Years active 1975-1978 (1 studio LP, 13 other albums, 10 singles)
* Members: Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Glen Matlock, Sid Vicious (RIP)

What more can be said about a song released during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977?  The record's lyrics and cover were controversial; direct assault on the queen and monarchy.  The fixing of the charts to keep it out of #1 position, despite it selling more copies than Rod Stewart's "I Don't Want to Talk About It."  REALLY? This song became a rallying cry for disaffected youth in an era of Thatcher's brutal economic policies resulting in high unemployment.  What explosive opening lyrics:

"God save the queen / It's a fascist regime / They made you a moron / A potential H-bomb"
"God save the queen /She ain't no human being / There is no future / In England's dreaming"


So, now it is time to vote:

• The Damned - New Rose 

     

• Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen