ABC
Their heavily produced, stylish live performances
were a wry antidote to the New Romantic excesses of the day. All
hail Sheffield's Martin Fry.
Arthur
Brown
Whitby's
very own God of Hellfire. But is he your God of Rock?
Beautiful
South
Chart regulars born out of Hull's "fourth best
band", The Housemartins.
Cabaret
Voltaire
Profoundly influential dark Electronica from Sheffield,
still worshipped by a generation and beyond.
Comsat
Angels
Rotherham born New Wavers who set up home in Sheffield's
Red Tape studios. One big hit, "Independence Day", but so much
more…
Chumbawhumba
One collective from Leeds, one hit, one starring
moment at the Brit Awards…
The
Cult
Born out of Bradford's Southern Death Cult, these
home grown Rock Gods of the 80's and 90's produced 19 singles.
Def
Leppard
Sheffield's Heavy Metal heavy weights are truly
Gods of Rock worldwide.
Everything
But The Girl
Hull based Tracy Thorn and Ben Watt produced their
critically acclaimed album "Eden" while studying at Hull University
in 1984.
Embrace
Huddersfield's McNamara brothers and their band
got a 1998 Brit Award nomination for Best New Band.
Fine Young Cannibals
Hull's charismatic frontman Roland Gift took The
Beat's rhythm section and created a local legend.
Gomez
Mercury prize winners from Sheffield, their back
to basics raw, acoustic style resulted in a 26 record label frenzy
to sign them.
The
Gang of Four
Post Punk political guitar Rock from Leeds. Guitarist
Andy Gill was the last producer to work with the late Michael
Hutchence.
The
Human League
No introduction needed for Phil Oakey's New Romantic
chart toppers from Sheffield who's album "Dare" knocked spots
off all pretenders in the race to chart domination in 1981.
Heaven
17
Half of the original Human League went on to form
this additional Sheffield success story of the 80's.
The
Housemartins
Hull's politically motivated four piece signed
to Go Discs on the Adelphi Club stage and produced some of the
best live performances of the decade.
The
Jags
From Scarborough, they had one hit "I've got your
number" but it was a good one.
Joe
Cocker
Sheffield born vocal legend with a stage presence
to die for.
Kingmaker
Early 90s 3 piece from Hull had catchy tunes, critical
acclaim and a Chrysalis deal. Just 5 years touring. Much missed.
Longpigs
Melodic songsters from Sheffield on the fringe
of the Britpop revolution. Now big in the States.
The
Little Angels
Scarborough based American-style rockers who sold
a million.
The
Mission
Goth favourites from Leeds with ex Sister of Mercy
members, great stage show and a big American following.
New
Model Army
Bradford's much banned political post- Punks, still
touring after all these years.
Pulp
Sheffield Brit Poppers took 13 years to make it
big but then did it in style with Mercury prize nominations, and
a clutch of songs to rival the best of the Brit Pop era.
Robert
Palmer
Scarborough educated, this celebrated singer was
a 1980's icon.
Red
Guitars
Hull's politically charged five piece performed
their African-tinged guitar style on numerous BBC sessions in
the 80's.
Red
Lorry Yellow Lorry
Much loved by John Peel, these Leeds lads delighted
in their idiosyncratic label.
Mick
Ronson
Hull born Bowie guitarist who sang those great
backing vocals on "Starman".
Southern
Death Cult
Bradford's early 80's Goth Punks fronted by Ian
Asterbury.
Soft
Cell
Leeds Poly students who led the New Romantic explosion
of the early 80s.
Sisters
of Mercy
Leeds born Goth Rockers, still going strong after
24 years.
Saxon
These Gods of Heavy Metal made their debut at a
Barnsley youth club in 1977 and went on to world domination.
Scarlet
Hull one hit wonders who had one of the most played
songs of the year in 1995. "Independent Love Song" stayed in the
Top 20 for 12 weeks.
Shed Seven
Stylish York based Indie popsters who hung up their
guitars for the final time last year at York Barbican.
Terrorvision
Legendary Bradford Indie Metallers who rubbed shoulders
with Oasis and Blur at mid-90's festivals and were subsequently
hailed kings of "Brit Rock".
Ultrasound
Late 90s Indie success story from Leeds.
Utah
Saints
Ahead-of-their-time Leeds duo who successfully
mixed Rock, Dance and Electronica to achieve chart success.
The Wedding Present
Prolific Indie legends from Leeds released one
single a month during 1992, each charting and tying a record set
by Elvis.
Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction
Bradford Heavy Rock Metallers led by Mark Manning,
now a poet and sometimes collaborator of KLF's Bill Drummond.
Zoot
and the Roots
Big
suits, brass section and bucketloads of style typified this York
band's unforgettable live stage performances in the 1980s.
