80s | Musicosity

80s

James Young

There are two artists named James Young, one American (ex-guitarist from Styx) and the other British (keyboard player who collaborated with Nico and John Cale back in the day). After Styx's hiatus in 1983, the American James Young continued his musical career and released 3 albums: City Slicker, Out on a Day Pass, and Raised by Wolves. He is currently the sole remaining member of Styx, although Tommy Shaw (from 1975) is still with them and Chuck Panozzo occasionally performs as a guest.

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Fuzzbox

We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It (shortened to Fuzzbox for the U.S. release of their first album) were an all-girl Birmingham, England based, punk-pop quartet that was loud, gaudy, and mildly controversial.
Founded in 1985, they initially fostered a raw amateurness to their playing style but later developed into a smoother, "sexier" look that still caused some controversy.
Their first release came in the spring of 1986, a double A sided single (with a blank B side) of "XX Sex" and "Rules And Regulations".

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John Waite

John Charles Waite, born on July 4, 1955, in Lancaster, Lancashire, England, is a rock singer. Waite has been a solo artist for most of his career but was first known as lead singer of The Babys a group which had moderate chart success but enjoyed a solid following for their concert tours. Shortly after the release of the Babys' fifth album "On the Edge" in October 1980 the group broke up. Waite launched his solo career with his 1982 album titled Ignition, which produced the hit single "Change" written by Holly Knight and included on the Vision Quest soundtrack.

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Akasha

At least five bands have used the name "Akasha." The first was a Norwegian spacey, electronic prog band, who recorded one album in 1977. For more information on the band, visit progarchives.com. The second Akasha is a Swedish group consisting of five women. The group was inspired by Sri Chinmoy's poetry and songs, and started to sing and play together in 1982. Since then the group has been giving concerts in Sweden regularly and has also been on tours in Finland, France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

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The Blow Monkeys

The Blow Monkeys was a British pop-soul group of the 1980s. Fronted by lead singer and songwriter Dr. Robert (born Bruce Robert Howard, in Haddington, Scotland, on 2 May 1961), the group formed in 1981 upon Howard's return to the UK after spending his teen years in Australia. The group gets its unusual name from an offensive term used in Australia, referring to Aboriginals playing the didgeridoo.

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The Icicle Works

The Icicle Works were an alternative rock band which formed in Liverpool, England in 1980. The band's original lineup consisted of Ian McNabb (vocals, guitar), Chris Layhe (bass, percussion) and Chris Sharrock (drums). Layhe and Sharrock left the band in 1988, but McNabb continued the band with replacement members until 1990. McNabb reformed the band with different replacement members in 2006, but this incarnation lasted only until 2008. Sharrock, who remains on good terms with McNabb, later drummed for The La's, World Party and Oasis.

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Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox is an Oscar, Brit and Grammy award-winning pop musician and vocalist. She was born on December 25, 1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland. After three years as lead singer of The Tourists, Lennox achieved her most notable fame as the alto, soul-tinged lead singer of the 1980s rock duo Eurythmics with British musician David A. Stewart. Early in the Eurythmics' career, she was known for her androgyny, wearing suits and once impersonating Elvis. Journalists often referred to her as "the white Grace Jones".

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