What they sounded like in 1980: from Depeche Mode to Duran Duran

Some bands emerge fully formed. But most are works in progress. Some of the bands I played most as a college radio DJ in the mid-80's were still trying to figure out their sound in 1980, sometimes to comic effect. Here are just a few:

Depeche Mode has already performed in front of their schoolmates in May of 1980, where there is a plaque commemorating their gig. "Let's Get Together", with its happy little synth hooks,  is an example of the kind of demo tapes they were dropping off at record labels. They would demand the companies play it; according to Dave Gahan, "most of them would tell us to fuck off. They'd say 'leave the tape with us' and we'd say 'it's our only one'. Then we'd say goodbye and go somewhere else. 

NME described Graduate's single single as an "energetic little beast of comedic intent, with a nice line in machine-gun burst guitar jabs. Difficult to tell which Elvis they mean, the old one should be fairly two-tone by now anyway." In a few years the band will break up and members Curt and Roland, seen singing above,  will reform as Tear For Fears.

Opening for Hazel O'Connor on her 1980 tour was the big break for Birmingham's Duran Duran who had just added Andy Taylor and  London singer Simon Le Bon to the roster. They became the subject of a bidding war which EMI eventually won. Here, on a demo cut in July of 1980,  they weat their Ultravox/Roxy Music influences on their shiny sleeves.

Before she became so unusual, Cyndi Lauper was singing with the new wave band Blue Angel. Her talent is apparent thirty seconds in. When the band broke up, the manager sued the band. Lauper filed for bankruptcy, temporarily lost her voice and began waitressing at IHOP. 

Two years before "I Melt With You", Modern English area  4A.D. band performing noisy and dark songs, more melodic than label mates Bauhaus. The song is rumored to be about cocaine.

Formed in early 1980, Australia's The Church sounded a lot like Ultravox but they claim The Byrds, Big Star and Pink Floyd are the real inspirations. They'd be recording their debut Of Skins and Hearts before the year was out. 

We're two years out from "Uncertain Smile" when The The releases its first single, "Controversial Subject". Matt Johnson would often tackle dark subjects but bounce them off catchy, melodic music. Not here. 

The Smithereens, a New Jersey cover band released an EP of mostly originals in 1980.The band's name derives from the cartoon character Yosemite Sam who had the expression, "Ya better say your prayers, ya flea-bitten varmint … I’m-a-gonna blow ya to smithereenies!". 

At the last second Pete Burns changed the name of his Liverpool band from Nightmares in Wax to Dead or Alive. Overwrought with a nod or four to Iggy Pop, the band would hit UK#1 in 1985 with "You Spin Me Round". 

Reviewers said the early incarnation of Thompson Twins sounded like a cross between Dire Straits and The Cure. They would score a string of major US and UK hits beginning in 1982 with songs like "Hold Me Now", "Lies", "Doctor! Doctor!" and "You Take Me Up". 

And finally here's Madonna, modeling clothes in a Village Voice article