Personally i think that the (mainstream) New-Wave did come from the same roots that disco came from... I think it was a sort of an evolution in dance culture (after the Disco rage) and in the end comes down (and goes way back to) bands like Kraftwerk from Germany.
Only synths and beats, NO guitars (here in Europe that is, not talking 'bout the Usa New-Wave that emerged in the 80's, as that was a very different kinda music from the Euro New-Wave & Synth-Pop). And i think that synths & beats had and have nothing to do with Rock & MOR music whatsoever.
And if you think that New Wave went out and jumped onto the "guitar" based bands coming out of the UK... I don't Agree really. Here in Europe New-Wave (the synth side of New-Wave...as in Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Etc...) came from the the offsprings of Disco and the new technologies of the synthesizers in the 80's. I DO think that a part of that New-Wave went back to the Rock roots a lot more (more guitars, grunge, etc) but only because New-Wave was dying out by the mid 80's...
The 'synth' dance culture went on and developed into (with Disco still fresh in their minds) Acid, house and Techno, and what Dance music is today...
But hey, it's all a matter of oppinion and taste in the end !! Thank God !!
