80s

Kid Creole and the Coconuts are an American band created and led by August Darnell. Their music incorporates styles like big band jazz, disco, and in particular Caribbean/Latin American salsa. The Coconuts are a glamorous trio of female backing vocalists whose lineup changes throughout the years. Thomas August Darnell Browder (aka August Darnell, aka Kid Creole) was born in Montreal, Canada, on 12 August 1950, the son of a French Canadian mother and a father from the Caribbean island of Dominica, but was raised in the New York City borough of the Bronx.

Formed in early 1981 in New Mills, Manchester, as a four piece band, Attak reverted to a trio when their singer left for school commitments. They released two singles in this form, with Lindsay, sister of Mackie from Blitz, being the drummer. A new guitarist was recruited for their album before they split up in late 1983. Gary later turned up in a revamped Blitz and provided the vocals on their "Killing Dream" album. Gary and Lindsay married in 1985.

Sometime in 1982 or 1983 in Manchester’s Hulme district the Inca Babies were formed. Hulme, a concrete, deck access ‘streets in the sky’ projects, was at that time a demi-bohemia over run with artists, musicians, students, addicts and ‘ne’er do wells’. Previous tenants, mainly families, put there to benefit from this ‘magical new living space’, realising a slum was a slum regardless of how high off the ground you put it, had long gone.

Richard Paul Astley (born February 6, 1966) is an English dance-pop singer, songwriter and musician. He was born in Newton-le-Willows, St Helens, Lancashire, England. Astley currently resides in Richmond, Surrey with his Danish girlfriend, Lene Bausager, and their daughter, Emilie. In 1985, Astley was playing the club circuit as a singer with a soul band named FBI, when he was seen by the record producer Pete Waterman and persuaded to come to London to work at the PWL recording studio.