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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZNEW WAVEMovement in pop, began c'77 in the wake of punk (seen especially in USA as too unpleasant for mass consumption). A new breed of young rockers emerged with the energy of punk but more finesse and ability; the majority were American (Blondie, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mink De Ville, Talking Heads, Modern Lovers etc) though the UK was close behind with powerpop movement (Rich Kids, The Records, etc). Punk had failed to displace the established superstars; the more tuneful, less outrageous New Wave gradually eclipsed artists of the early '70s until few acts more than ten years old were still on top. The term fell into disuse because it was too general, taking in any new acts in the early '80s except heavy metal, though New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) claimed to replace self-satisfied aging superstars with the hungry young variety. |