SHARE: Bang Bang & Tears In The Rain & Foluntear (Dead Link)
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 7:17 amLos Angeles in the 80s was a weird place for New Wave. Even though it had some great New Wave bands, it was more of a Rock/Metal place. Even though L.A. had one of the greatest New Wave radio stations in the United States (KROQ) most of the bands coming out of L.A. had more of a Rock sound mixed with New Wave instead of a British/European New Wave/Techno-pop sound.
The New Romantic and Techno-pop scene never really caught on in Los Angeles. The dance clubs and a couple of the radio stations would play all of the British/European New Wave but it never really produced that many local bands in that genre. In the early 80s in L.A. there were three “New Romantic” bands that would play the clubs.
The most popular one in the L.A. club circuit called ‘Bang-Bang’ who got signed to Epic records. Their sound was a mix of Duran Duran and the Sunset Hollywood Glam sound. Even the way they looked was almost like a Hollywood Glam band trying to be Duran Duran (Look at their Mullets) If the band Poison had babies with Duran Duran; that was Bang-Bang. The album didn’t sell and they were dropped by Epic Records and reformed as a Cult inspired Rock band called ‘Dear Mr. President’.
Another ‘New Romantic’ influenced L.A. band that started in Hollywood and existed from
1982-86 was called ‘Tears In The Rain.’ Even though they play clubs, they spent more of their time trying to get a record deal that never happened. Their influences were Japan, Spandau Ballet, and Human League. They did spent some time in a studio recording music, but only a scratch “Demo” of two early songs exists.
The 3rd New Romantic/Duran Duran influenced L.A. band got a later start in the 80’s.
They were called ‘Foluntear’. They were heavily influenced by Duran Duran and Nik Kershaw. The core of the band was together until 1989 and then continued on in various forms for a few more years. During the years of 86-89, they sold over 10,000 of their 45s which featured "Dancing on the Rainbow" and "In My Minds Eye". Both songs were played on KROQ 106.7.
Here are the music files.
https://we.tl/t-2KrKgK199G
Here's a video for Bang-Bang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTgecokUCRo
The New Romantic and Techno-pop scene never really caught on in Los Angeles. The dance clubs and a couple of the radio stations would play all of the British/European New Wave but it never really produced that many local bands in that genre. In the early 80s in L.A. there were three “New Romantic” bands that would play the clubs.
The most popular one in the L.A. club circuit called ‘Bang-Bang’ who got signed to Epic records. Their sound was a mix of Duran Duran and the Sunset Hollywood Glam sound. Even the way they looked was almost like a Hollywood Glam band trying to be Duran Duran (Look at their Mullets) If the band Poison had babies with Duran Duran; that was Bang-Bang. The album didn’t sell and they were dropped by Epic Records and reformed as a Cult inspired Rock band called ‘Dear Mr. President’.
Another ‘New Romantic’ influenced L.A. band that started in Hollywood and existed from
1982-86 was called ‘Tears In The Rain.’ Even though they play clubs, they spent more of their time trying to get a record deal that never happened. Their influences were Japan, Spandau Ballet, and Human League. They did spent some time in a studio recording music, but only a scratch “Demo” of two early songs exists.
The 3rd New Romantic/Duran Duran influenced L.A. band got a later start in the 80’s.
They were called ‘Foluntear’. They were heavily influenced by Duran Duran and Nik Kershaw. The core of the band was together until 1989 and then continued on in various forms for a few more years. During the years of 86-89, they sold over 10,000 of their 45s which featured "Dancing on the Rainbow" and "In My Minds Eye". Both songs were played on KROQ 106.7.
Here are the music files.
https://we.tl/t-2KrKgK199G
Here's a video for Bang-Bang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTgecokUCRo
