History Main / NewRomantic

* [[BritishInvasion Second British Invasion]]: New Romantic videos were some of the first to be shown on MTV. When they turned out to be popular, the "Second British Invasion" was the result. Duran Duran eventually came out on top of it.

* AGoodNameForARockBand: Bands took their names from a variety of unusual sources. Music/DuranDuran, for example, took theirs from Professor Durand Durand from Film/{{Barbarella}}.

* AGoodNameForARockBand: Bands took their names from a variety of unusual sources. DuranDuran, for example, took theirs from Professor Durand Durand from {{Barbarella}}.

* [[BritishInvasion Second British Invasion]]: New Romantic videos were some of the first to be shown on MTV. When they turned out to be popular, the "Second British Invasion" was the result. DuranDuran eventually came out on top of it.

* Music/TheHumanLeague

* {{Flanderisation}}: The entire scene ended up stereotyped as "ugly pop stars", which prompted the rise of simpler groups like the Undertones and especially TheSmiths (who called themselves the Smiths as a reaction to the more over-the-top New Romantic band names).

* Music/{{Visage}}: A band formed by the aforementioned Steven Strange with Blitz club co-owner and DJ Rusty Egan and Midge Ure of Ultravox. They had a few hit singles, but had the misfortune to release them as the movement was on its way out.

The New Romantic was mainly associated with then-popular NewWaveMusic. While everyone was influenced by punk, many performers who fit the New Romantic label were also influenced heavily by {{Disco}}, {{Soul}}, {{Funk}}, SynthPop and the simple music and extravagant image of early seventies [[GlamRock glam rockers]] like Music/MottTheHoople and Music/DavidBowie, as well as the art rock exemplified by RoxyMusic and Bowie's hugely popular Berlin Trilogy. Furthermore, while many punks shunned new technology and recording techniques, New Romantic bands were almost certain to have a keyboard players and often experimented with what could be done on synths. The first band to be described as New Romantics in the music press was SpandauBallet, whose high energy synth-funk tune "To Cut A Long Story Short" was also the first New Romantic song to become a significant hit when it reached number five in the UK charts. Expensive concept videos soon became the thing most people remember about a lot of these groups and allowed them to export their sound to America through the new [=MTV=] channel.

* SurrealMusicVideo: Plenty of famous ones, especially from DuranDuran and SpandauBallet.

* Music/DuranDuran: The most successful group associated with the scene, although they were probably the first to disassociate themselves from it. More rock than the average band associated with the movement. Their cinematic music videos (many of which were directed by [[Film/{{Highlander}} Russell Mulcahy]]) are some of the most famous released in the pre-''Thriller'' era.

* Music/{{Ultravox}}: During the Midge Ure era; during the period with John Foxx on vocals and Stevie Shears and Robin Simon on guitar, they were more of an aggressive PunkRock[=/=]{{New Wave|Music}} band that happened to use synthesizers.

* {{Visage}}: A band formed by the aforementioned Steven Strange with Blitz club co-owner and DJ Rusty Egan and Midge Ure of Ultravox. They had a few hit singles, but had the misfortune to release them as the movement was on its way out.

* Music/DuranDuran: The most successful group associated with the scene, although they were probably the first to disassociate themselves from it. Their cinematic music videos (many of which were directed by [[TheHighlander Russell Mulcahy]]) are some of the most famous released in the pre-''Thriller'' era.

The movement had mostly gone out of style in 1985, by which point many of the original groups had split up or distanced themselves from the New Romantic label. Live Aid turned out to be the movement's peak, after which everyone seemed to burn out; Culture Club broke up, Spandau Ballet released a mediocre [[ArenaRock AOR]] album, Music/DuranDuran went on hiatus for a year before putting out a string of LoveItOrHateIt records. After 1986, music fans were more interested in the likes of Music/{{Prince}}, Music/{{Wham}} and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood. While there was a brief revival in the form of the "Romo" scene, with some groups like Mansun becoming successful, the chances of a serious revival remain highly remote.

* ImpossiblyCoolClothes

The movement had mostly gone out of style in 1985, by which point many of the original groups had split up or distanced themselves from the New Romantic label. Live Aid turned out to be the movement's peak, after which everyone seemed to burn out; Culture Club broke up, Spandau Ballet released a mediocre [[ArenaRock AOR]] album, Music/DuranDuran went on hiatus for a year before putting out a string of LoveItOrHateIt records. After 1986, music fans were more interested in the likes of Music/{{Prince}}, Music/{{Wham}} and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood. While there was a brief revival in the form of the "Romo" scene, with some groups like Mansun becoming successful, the chances of a serious revival remain highly remote.

* ImpossiblyCoolClothes

* AdamAndTheAnts: Probably closer to glam punk, but their look and their style matched the scene.
* AFlockOfSeagulls

* SpandauBallet: Famous for wearing kilts, they were the first band to be described as New Romantic and the first such group to have a big hit single. Later traded their costumes for sharp suits and started performing soul music.
* Ultravox: During the Midge Ure era; during the period with John Foxx on vocals and Stevie Shears and Robin Simon on guitar, they were more of an aggressive PunkRock[=/=]{{New Wave|Music}} band that happened to use synthesizers.
* Visage: A band formed by the aforementioned Steven Strange with Blitz club co-owner and DJ Rusty Egan and Midge Ure of Ultravox. They had a few hit singles, but had the misfortune to release them as the movement was on its way out.

* DepecheMode
* TheHumanLeague
* RoxyMusic

The New Romantic was mainly associated with then-popular NewWaveMusic. While everyone was influenced by punk, many performers who fit the New Romantic label were also influenced heavily by {{Disco}}, {{Soul}}, {{Funk}}, SynthPop and the simple music and extravagant image of early seventies [[GlamRock glam rockers]] like Music/MottTheHoople and DavidBowie, as well as the art rock exemplified by RoxyMusic and Bowie's hugely popular Berlin Trilogy. Furthermore, while many punks shunned new technology and recording techniques, New Romantic bands were almost certain to have a keyboard players and often experimented with what could be done on synths. The first band to be described as New Romantics in the music press was SpandauBallet, whose high energy synth-funk tune "To Cut A Long Story Short" was also the first New Romantic song to become a significant hit when it reached number five in the UK charts. Expensive concept videos soon became the thing most people remember about a lot of these groups and allowed them to export their sound to America through the new [=MTV=] channel.

The main site of the New Romantic scene was the Blitz club in London, where club owner and doorman [[MeaningfulName Steve Strange]] ruled with an iron fist. He became noted for refusing entry to any potential patron he believed was not dressed extravagantly enough to suit his standards. Boy George worked here as a cloakroom attendant before he joined CultureClub, although he was eventually sacked by Strange for stealing from patrons.

The movement had mostly gone out of style in 1985, by which point many of the original groups had split up or distanced themselves from the New Romantic label. Live Aid turned out to be the movement's peak, after which everyone seemed to burn out; CultureClub broke up, SpandauBallet released a mediocre [[ArenaRock AOR]] album, DuranDuran went on hiatus for a year before putting out a string of LoveItOrHateIt records. After 1986, music fans were more interested in the likes of Music/{{Prince}}, Music/{{Wham}} and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood. While there was a brief revival in the form of the "Romo" scene, with some groups like Mansun becoming successful, the chances of a serious revival remain highly remote.



Bands active in the New Romantic scene included:

* CultureClub
* DuranDuran: The most successful group associated with the scene, although they were probably the first to disassociate themselves from it. Their cinematic music videos (many of which were directed by [[TheHighlander Russell Mulcahy]]) are some of the most famous released in the pre-''Thriller'' era.

Bands associated with the scene, but not really New Romantics themselves:

* DavidBowie: His number one single "Ashes To Ashes" was a New Romantic club anthem, and his seventies work (especially ''Ziggy Stardust'' and the Berlin Trilogy) was a significant influence on many of the bands mentioned on this page.

* Japan

The New Romantic was mainly associated with then-popular Music/NewWave music. While everyone was influenced by punk, many performers who fit the New Romantic label were also influenced heavily by {{Disco}}, {{Soul}}, {{Funk}}, SynthPop and the simple music and extravagant image of early seventies [[GlamRock glam rockers]] like Music/MottTheHoople and DavidBowie, as well as the art rock exemplified by RoxyMusic and Bowie's hugely popular Berlin Trilogy. Furthermore, while many punks shunned new technology and recording techniques, New Romantic bands were almost certain to have a keyboard players and often experimented with what could be done on synths. The first band to be described as New Romantics in the music press was SpandauBallet, whose high energy synth-funk tune "To Cut A Long Story Short" was also the first New Romantic song to become a significant hit when it reached number five in the UK charts. Expensive concept videos soon became the thing most people remember about a lot of these groups and allowed them to export their sound to America through the new [=MTV=] channel.

* Ultravox: During the Midge Ure era; during the period with John Foxx on vocals and Stevie Shears and Robin Simon on guitar, they were more of an aggressive PunkRock[=/=]NewWave band that happened to use synthesizers.

The New Romantic was mainly associated with then-popular Music/NewWave music. While everyone was influenced by punk, many performers who fit the New Romantic label were also influenced heavily by {{Disco}}, {{Music/Soul}}, {{Funk}}, SynthPop and the simple music and extravagant image of early seventies [[GlamRock glam rockers]] like Music/MottTheHoople and DavidBowie, as well as the art rock exemplified by RoxyMusic and Bowie's hugely popular Berlin Trilogy. Furthermore, while many punks shunned new technology and recording techniques, New Romantic bands were almost certain to have a keyboard players and often experimented with what could be done on synths. The first band to be described as New Romantics in the music press was SpandauBallet, whose high energy synth-funk tune "To Cut A Long Story Short" was also the first New Romantic song to become a significant hit when it reached number five in the UK charts. Expensive concept videos soon became the thing most people remember about a lot of these groups and allowed them to export their sound to America through the new [=MTV=] channel.

* Ultravox

The movement had mostly gone out of style in 1985, by which point many of the original groups had split up or distanced themselves from the New Romantic label. Live Aid turned out to be the movement's peak, after which everyone seemed to burn out; CultureClub broke up, SpandauBallet released a mediocre [[ArenaRock AOR]] album, DuranDuran went on hiatus for a year before putting out a string of LoveItOrHateIt records. After 1986, music fans were more interested in the likes of {{Prince}}, {{Wham!}} and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood. While there was a brief revival in the form of the "Romo" scene, with some groups like Mansun becoming successful, the chances of a serious revival remain highly remote.

The movement had mostly gone out of style in 1985, by which point many of the original groups had split up or distanced themselves from the New Romantic label. Live Aid turned out to be the movement's peak, after which everyone seemed to burn out; CultureClub broke up, SpandauBallet released a mediocre [[ArenaRock AOR]] album, DuranDuran went on hiatus for a year before putting out a string of LoveItOrHateIt records. After 1986, music fans were more interested in the likes of {{Prince}}, {{Wham!}} and FrankieGoesToHollywood. While there was a brief revival in the form of the "Romo" scene, with some groups like Mansun becoming successful, the chances of a serious revival remain highly remote.

A music and fashion scene which became popular with young people in England in the late 1970s and early 1980s, New Romanticism was all about taking the style and ethos of PunkRock [[BeyondTheImpossible one step further]]. Flamboyance and androgyny were the order of the day as New Romantic club-goers sought to recapture the original excitement and vibrancy of the early punk scene, which some fans believed had grown stagnant and too political after the breakup of the SexPistols.

The New Romantic was mainly associated with then-popular NewWave music. While everyone was influenced by punk, many performers who fit the New Romantic label were also influenced heavily by {{Disco}}, {{Music/Soul}}, {{Funk}}, SynthPop and the simple music and extravagant image of early seventies [[GlamRock glam rockers]] like Music/MottTheHoople and DavidBowie, as well as the art rock exemplified by RoxyMusic and Bowie's hugely popular Berlin Trilogy. Furthermore, while many punks shunned new technology and recording techniques, New Romantic bands were almost certain to have a keyboard players and often experimented with what could be done on synths. The first band to be described as New Romantics in the music press was SpandauBallet, whose high energy synth-funk tune "To Cut A Long Story Short" was also the first New Romantic song to become a significant hit when it reached number five in the UK charts. Expensive concept videos soon became the thing most people remember about a lot of these groups and allowed them to export their sound to America through the new [=MTV=] channel.

* Visage: A band formed by the aforementioned Steven Strange with Blitz club co-owner and DJ Rusty Egan and Midge Ure of Ultravox. They had a few hit singles, but had the misfortune to release it as the movement was on its way out.

* DavidBowie: His number one single "Ashes To Ashes" was treated like a New Romantic anthem by the club-goers, and his seventies work was a significant influence on many of the bands mentioned on this page.

* {{Flanderisation}}: The scene ended up stereotyped as "stupidly dressed synthpop bands", which resulted in several groups changing their style.

The New Romantic was mainly associated with then-popular NewWave music. While everyone was influenced by punk, many performers who fit the New Romantic label were also influenced heavily by {{Disco}}, {{Music/Soul}}, {{Funk}}, SynthPop and the simple music and extravagant image of early seventies [[GlamRock glam rockers]] like MottTheHoople and DavidBowie, as well as the art rock exemplified by RoxyMusic and Bowie's hugely popular Berlin Trilogy. Furthermore, while many punks shunned new technology and recording techniques, New Romantic bands were almost certain to have a keyboard players and often experimented with what could be done on synths. The first band to be described as New Romantics in the music press was SpandauBallet, whose high energy synth-funk tune "To Cut A Long Story Short" was also the first New Romantic song to become a significant hit when it reached number five in the UK charts. Expensive concept videos soon became the thing most people remember about a lot of these groups and allowed them to export their sound to America through the new [=MTV=] channel.

* AGoodNameForARockBand: Bands took their names from a variety of unusual sources. DuranDuran, for example, took theirs from an old science fiction movie.

* Music/ABC

The New Romantic was mainly associated with then-popular NewWave music. While everyone was influenced by punk, many performers who fit the New Romantic label were also influenced heavily by {{Disco}}, Music/Soul, {{Funk}}, SynthPop and the simple music and extravagant image of early seventies [[GlamRock glam rockers]] like MottTheHoople and DavidBowie, as well as the art rock exemplified by RoxyMusic and Bowie's hugely popular Berlin Trilogy. Furthermore, while many punks shunned new technology and recording techniques, New Romantic bands were almost certain to have a keyboard players and often experimented with what could be done on synths. The first band to be described as New Romantics in the music press was SpandauBallet, whose high energy synth-funk tune "To Cut A Long Story Short" was also the first New Romantic song to become a significant hit when it reached number five in the UK charts. Expensive concept videos soon became the thing most people remember about a lot of these groups and allowed them to export their sound to America through the new [=MTV=] channel.

The main site of the New Romantic scene was the Blitz club in London, where club owner and doorman {{MeaningfulName Steve Strange}} ruled with an iron fist. He became noted for refusing entry to any potential patron he believed was not dressed extravagantly enough to suit his standards. Boy George worked here as a cloakroom attendant before he joined CultureClub, although he was eventually sacked by Strange for stealing from patrons.