Derivation of the label "New Wave"

[KYYX4ever]

yes, it was a bit. As you also mentioned above, that is not to say that there was not good music coming out of the Wave after '82, but the "real" new wave had already taken place for the previous 5 or even 6 and 7 years before that. I mean, after that, it's not very "new" anymore, is it? I agree that it later morphed into Modern Rock, which I think is a good label. Also, by '82, even New Wave itself was splitting into different subgenres as well, which quuickly became their own genres; i.e., synthpop, electronica, cheesy dance, power Pop (which was really around before this), etc.

[bpdp3]

I think I tend to agree with the new wave dates above, though I might go 79-82 for the true initial onslaught.

The first (maybe the only, actually) recorded mention of 'new wave' I can think of is Strummer's claim that "I support the new wave, and I hope nobody's saved" in "I'm so bored with the usa".

Anyone know of a musician using the term in an interview, etc earlier?

[Bitter Almonds]

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:381


I was listening to "My Private Idaho" last night after years of not having heard it and it dawned on me...

Sparks
DeVo
Pere Ubu
B-52s
Oingo Boingo
The Gleaming Spires


Very zany. I think only Haircut 100 could match some of that sound, but they did it by resorting to Tropical beats. American New Wave definitely had something going on that the British either completely ignored or didn't do as much of.