Early American synthpop clips on Youtube.
One of my interests is... totally predictable.
So, here you go, chronologically, the video evidence of American synth:
Suicide:
"Ghost Rider" 1977-1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZLC5dseTCg
Relentless. New York institution. Alan Vega and Martin Rev are still doing stuff. "America America is killing its youth".
Screamers "122 Hours of Fear" 1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0UtIx-imX0
The Artaud "Theatre of Cruelty" takes the stage in the form of trained mime Tomata Du Plenty, synth player Tommy Gear, Rhodes player Paul Roessler and drummer KK Barrett. Filmed in Target Studios. Legendary. Lots of Youtube videos.
Dow Jones and the Industrials (concert, probably 1979-1980):
"Hold that Coed"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zb5iyYkBOU
"Can't Stand the Midwest"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwQzNMBbMVM
"Ladies with Appliances"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqvsTkFrr7M
Indiana group exploring early technical rock. The keyboard player's name is in fact "Mr. Science". Greg Horn, on bass and vocals, later became part of Arizona synth outfit Tone Set.
Nervous Gender:
"Live at Target 1980" (with drummer Sven and Paul from Screamers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UU6zFWhEMw
"Scandanavian Dilemna" live 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSKnpwgK2ZM
Harsh synthpunk band from Los Angeles. At the risk of making you hate them, I'd say that if it were not for deathrock musicians ripping them and the Screamers off, deathrock would have been tired glam.
Devo:
"Jocko Homo" (SNL)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNLC8KZWjo8
Mark talks about "Mongoloid":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAesRM0A1CU
(and tons more)
Oh you know the story.
Dark Day "Arp's Carpet" 1980
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXt6j5xrl4M
New York. Former no wavers emerge with cold relentless synth. One of the few videos of this early primitive stuff. "Don't you sweep me under the rug!"
Tuxedomoon:
"Jinx" 1981-1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwavWDTy5rk
San Francisco outfit. Made art music but made it good. Early records are rhythmic and abrasive, later records wonderfully atmospheric.
Ministry:
"Same old Madness" 1982?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGskkcIDdXg
"Revenge" 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh56z0LCdWs
"Over the Shoulder" 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ6P3xMaDTQ
Check out the one on top for the real story. It's a song that was never released in any form and probably is embarassing to Mr. Alain Jourgensen to this day.
Berlin:
"The Metro" 1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buBCmo2WOal
"The Metro ('live')" 1982-1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxH73heTXkY
"Take My Breath Away"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTSuzJNCbBo
Came together around 1979. Released independent records in small runs until hitting it big with the album "Pleasure Victim".
Industry "State of the Nation" 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8SpMwQOjiQ
New York synth band, founded probably 1979, that debuted with a brilliant polyrhythmic clockrock EP in 1980. Over the next couple years they went deeper into synthpop, signing with Capitol and releasing an EP with the semi-hits "State of the Nation" and "Communication". These tight synthetic tracks were unfortunately betrayed by MOR balladering on their 1984 LP "Stranger to Stranger".
SSQ "Syntheside" 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwI_ELFpbQ4
Complete sellouts before there was really anything to sell. For that, I give them credit.
So, here you go, chronologically, the video evidence of American synth:
Suicide:
"Ghost Rider" 1977-1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZLC5dseTCg
Relentless. New York institution. Alan Vega and Martin Rev are still doing stuff. "America America is killing its youth".
Screamers "122 Hours of Fear" 1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0UtIx-imX0
The Artaud "Theatre of Cruelty" takes the stage in the form of trained mime Tomata Du Plenty, synth player Tommy Gear, Rhodes player Paul Roessler and drummer KK Barrett. Filmed in Target Studios. Legendary. Lots of Youtube videos.
Dow Jones and the Industrials (concert, probably 1979-1980):
"Hold that Coed"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zb5iyYkBOU
"Can't Stand the Midwest"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwQzNMBbMVM
"Ladies with Appliances"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqvsTkFrr7M
Indiana group exploring early technical rock. The keyboard player's name is in fact "Mr. Science". Greg Horn, on bass and vocals, later became part of Arizona synth outfit Tone Set.
Nervous Gender:
"Live at Target 1980" (with drummer Sven and Paul from Screamers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UU6zFWhEMw
"Scandanavian Dilemna" live 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSKnpwgK2ZM
Harsh synthpunk band from Los Angeles. At the risk of making you hate them, I'd say that if it were not for deathrock musicians ripping them and the Screamers off, deathrock would have been tired glam.
Devo:
"Jocko Homo" (SNL)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNLC8KZWjo8
Mark talks about "Mongoloid":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAesRM0A1CU
(and tons more)
Oh you know the story.
Dark Day "Arp's Carpet" 1980
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXt6j5xrl4M
New York. Former no wavers emerge with cold relentless synth. One of the few videos of this early primitive stuff. "Don't you sweep me under the rug!"
Tuxedomoon:
"Jinx" 1981-1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwavWDTy5rk
San Francisco outfit. Made art music but made it good. Early records are rhythmic and abrasive, later records wonderfully atmospheric.
Ministry:
"Same old Madness" 1982?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGskkcIDdXg
"Revenge" 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh56z0LCdWs
"Over the Shoulder" 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ6P3xMaDTQ
Check out the one on top for the real story. It's a song that was never released in any form and probably is embarassing to Mr. Alain Jourgensen to this day.
Berlin:
"The Metro" 1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buBCmo2WOal
"The Metro ('live')" 1982-1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxH73heTXkY
"Take My Breath Away"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTSuzJNCbBo
Came together around 1979. Released independent records in small runs until hitting it big with the album "Pleasure Victim".
Industry "State of the Nation" 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8SpMwQOjiQ
New York synth band, founded probably 1979, that debuted with a brilliant polyrhythmic clockrock EP in 1980. Over the next couple years they went deeper into synthpop, signing with Capitol and releasing an EP with the semi-hits "State of the Nation" and "Communication". These tight synthetic tracks were unfortunately betrayed by MOR balladering on their 1984 LP "Stranger to Stranger".
SSQ "Syntheside" 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwI_ELFpbQ4
Complete sellouts before there was really anything to sell. For that, I give them credit.