Inside the Milky Way - A Look at Early Alternative Music

Cocteau Twins II - The Road to Heaven or Las Vegas

In the time after their 1984 album Treasure, Cocteau twins continued to evolve from their early atmospheric and dark post-punk music to pioneer ethereal wave and dream po

The Mekons - Post-Punk Country

The Mekons arrived during the late 70's UK post-punk scene and still perform today as one of the longest running artists from this era. The band never achieved mainstream

The Cult - Origins

The Cult formed in 1983, behind vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy. Initially known as Death Cult before changing their name in early 1984, this English band

The Stranglers - The Men in Black

After starting on the pub rock scene in England, the core line-up of The Stranglers would form in 1975, and they would release their debut album in 1977 during the Britis

The Motels - Out of Los Angeles

Originally from Berkeley, California as the Warfield Foxes, this band relocated to Los Angeles in the mid-70’s and became The Motels.   During the late 70's in L.A., The

The Feelies - Crazy Indie Rhythms

Originating from Haledon, New Jersey in 1976, The Feelies would play a post-punk, indie rock, jangle pop style of music. By 1980, The Feelies had become one of the more u

Siouxsie and the Banshees II - The John McGeoch Years

In late 1979 following their second album, two members of Siouxsie and the Banshees departed the band leaving them without a drummer and guitarist. By early 1980, the ban

Radiohead - Through The Bends

The genre-defying band Radiohead was initially considered as just another alternative rock and grunge act as their debut single "Creep" from their debut album, Pablo Hone

The Birthday Party - More than the Boys Next Door

The Birthday Party was an abrasive and chaotic band that mixed blues, free-jazz, and rockabilly to form a unique style of post-punk music. Initially named The Boys Next

Eurythmics - Dark Synth Dreams

Following the break up of their previous band The Tourists at the end of 1980, Eurythmics were formed by the duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. They released their deb

The Beat (The English Beat) - Socially Conscious Ska

The Beat, also known as The English Beat in the United States and Canada, formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. The music of this post-punk act fused various styles incl

Front 242 - To the EBM Front

During the 1980’s, Front 242 became a pioneer of Electronic Body Music (EBM) and a key artist in the development of the industrial and electronic music genres. Their musi

Altered Images - The Post-Punk Roots of Clare Grogan

Altered Images began in 1979 after forming from a group of five teenagers in Glasgow, Scotland. The band was fronted by singer Clare Grogan with her sweet and bubbly yout

Further Inside the Milky Way - Skeletal Family, Ghost Dance, James Ray

This episode is part of our Further Inside the Milky Way series. These are shows that we will do from time to time where we go deeper into vast collection of the music an

Gang of Four - More than Entertainment!

After forming in Leeds in 1976, Gang of Four became one of the most influential and original post-punk bands from the late 70’s UK music scene. Gang of Four took the musi

The Style Council - The Soul of Paul Weller

When The Jam broke up at the end of 1982, their lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist Paul Weller decided to do something different musically. Weller, along with Mick Ta

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division was one of the first and most influential bands coming out of the early years of the post-punk era, and their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, would inspire g

Severed Heads - Beyond Dead Eyes

The Australian band Severed Heads was a pioneering electronic and experimental artist, and one that is very underappreciated from the early alternative era. As one of the

The Afghan Whigs - Congregation and Gentlemen

The Afghan Whigs earned a cult following during the early 90's with their music that mixed the Motown sound and R&B with indie and alternative rock.  Formed in Cincinnat

Magazine - John McGeoch and Beyond

After being part of Buzzcocks, Howard Devoto left that group in 1977 to start a new band, known as Magazine. He launched this new venture in Manchester, England when he e