City With Best Alt Music Scene: 1980's (bands, alternative, 1970's)

[Island_OnThe_Land]

What city do you think had the best alternative music scene in the 1980's and why??

I say the Los Angeles metro area was the best and most influential (and I am NOT including Orange County, just LA County).

Depite the image of horrible hair bands and glam rock, LA spawned a thriving underground music scene in the '80's.

The bands included a wide range of styles including but not limited to:
X, Black Flag, the Germs, The Minutemen, Circle Jerks, Dream Syndicate, Los Lobos, Flesheaters, Green on Red, Lone Justice, and Sacharrine Trust.

In addition to the bands, the very influential and pioneering independent record labels: SLASH and SST Records left a major imprint on the American ALT scene. SST alone had a stable that included: Black Flag, Minutemen, Meat Puppets (from AZ), Husker Du (Minneapolis), Sonic Youth (NYC), Dinosaur Jr (Mass), and Bad Brains (DC).

[mcmastersteve]

The best music scenes for live performances, radio stations, night clubs were in my opinion.
1. New York City - Ramones, Blondie, the only performance by yello, the new music seminar, limelight nightclub
2. Los Angeles - for the reasons you listed above missing persons, and who can forget KROQ.
3. Toronto - CFNY, skinny puppy, the cult, Diodes, Demics, and clubs such as RPM, Nuts and Bolts
,Boom Boom Room
4. Chicago - one word for me Waxtrax records.
Then Montreal, San Francisco, Washington DC, Miami, Athens/Atlanta had wicked scenes happening as well.


Worst place for alternative, Salt Lake City, St Louis.

[truemuck]

Manchester, England.

You had all the bands that came out of Factory Records, as well as The Fall, not to mention the "Madchester" scene that arose later in the decade.

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by mcmastersteve

The best music scenes for live performances, radio stations, night clubs were in my opinion.
1. New York City - Ramones, Blondie, the only performance by yello, the new music seminar, limelight nightclub
2. Los Angeles - for the reasons you listed above missing persons, and who can forget KROQ.
3. Toronto - CFNY, skinny puppy, the cult, Diodes, Demics, and clubs such as RPM, Nuts and Bolts
,Boom Boom Room
4. Chicago - one word for me Waxtrax records.
Then Montreal, San Francisco, Washington DC, Miami, Athens/Atlanta had wicked scenes happening as well.

I'd argue that the NYC peaked in the 1970's. It was pretty spent by 1980. But circa '70's: NYC's scene was kicking on all gears: Richard Hell, Television, Ramones, Talking Heads, etc. Great venues: CBGBs, Max's Kansas City, etc.

[MplsTodd]

I wouldn't claim it to be the best, but a city that deserves note for '80s alt-music is Minneapolis. Although Prince was leading the funk oriented Minneapolis sound (along with Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis, Morris day & The Time), there was another major sound, which included:

The Replacements
Husker Du
The Suburbs
The Hypsterz
The Wallets
Soul Asylum

[perfectcolor]

I couldn't agree more with the list..

Originally Posted by mcmastersteve

The best music scenes for live performances, radio stations, night clubs were in my opinion.
1. New York City - Ramones, Blondie, the only performance by yello, the new music seminar, limelight nightclub
2. Los Angeles - for the reasons you listed above missing persons, and who can forget KROQ.
3. Toronto - CFNY, skinny puppy, the cult, Diodes, Demics, and clubs such as RPM, Nuts and Bolts
,Boom Boom Room
4. Chicago - one word for me Waxtrax records.
Then Montreal, San Francisco, Washington DC, Miami, Athens/Atlanta had wicked scenes happening as well.


Worst place for alternative, Salt Lake City, St Louis.

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by MplsTodd

I wouldn't claim it to be the best, but a city that deserves note for '80s alt-music is Minneapolis. Although Prince was leading the funk oriented Minneapolis sound (along with Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis, Morris day & The Time), there was another major sound, which included:

The Replacements
Husker Du
The Suburbs
The Hypsterz
The Wallets
Soul Asylum

Yes, I agree. Minneapolis had a great scene in the 1980's. Husker Du and the Replacements alone were a HUGE influence on '90's Alt rock.

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by perfectcolor

I couldn't agree more with the list..

The original post asked about "1980's" alt scenes. The NYC scene that produced Blondie and the Ramones was in the 1970's!!!!!!

By 1980, the NYC scene had shifted. If you are going to bring NYC (CIRCA 1980's) then you should be talking about SONIC YOUTH among others.

[janey815]

I would have to agree with LA...why??? well listen to the music~

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by MplsTodd

I wouldn't claim it to be the best, but a city that deserves note for '80s alt-music is Minneapolis. Although Prince was leading the funk oriented Minneapolis sound (along with Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis, Morris day & The Time), there was another major sound, which included:

The Replacements
Husker Du
The Suburbs
The Hypsterz
The Wallets
Soul Asylum

Let's not forget The Jayhawks!