Coordinates	20°50′24″N156°20′38″N
name	New Wave
Bgcolor	crimson
Color	white
stylistic origins	Punk rock, art rock, garage rock, glam rock, pub rock, ska, funk, electronic music, bubblegum, disco
cultural origins	Mid to late 1970s, United Kingdom and United States
instruments	Electric guitar – bass guitar – drums – synthesizers – vocals
popularity	Late 1970s to mid 1980s; revival in 2000s and 2010s
derivatives	Neue Deutsche Welle – Suomi-rock – New Romanticism – Synthpop – Mod revival – Chillwave
fusiongenres	Synthpunk – 2 Tone – Electroclash – Nu Rave
regional scenes	Argentina – Finland – France – Germany – Italy – Spain – United Kingdom – United States – Yugoslavia
other topics	Post-punk – Alternative rock }}

New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s pop music. While it incorporated much of the original punk rock sound and ethos, such as an emphasis on short and punchy songs, it was characterized by greater complexity in both music and lyrics.

Though New Wave is seen as one of the definitive genres of the 1980s, it has never truly died and there have been several resurgences of the genre since the 1990s. The revivals in the 1990s and early 2000s were small, but became popular by 2004; subsequently, the genre has been influential on the indie rock movement.

Overview

The term "New Wave" itself has been a source of much confusion and controversy. It was used in 1976 in the UK by punk fanzines such as ''Sniffin' Glue'', and then by the professional music press. In a November 1976 article in ''Melody Maker'', Caroline Coon used Malcolm McLaren's term "New Wave" to designate music by bands not exactly punk, but related to, and part of the same musical scene; the term was also used in that sense by music journalist Charles Shaar Murray, while writing about The Boomtown Rats. For a period of time in 1976 and 1977 the two terms were interchangeable. By the end of 1977, "New Wave" had replaced "Punk" as the definition for new underground music in the UK.

In the United States, Sire Records needed a term by which it could market its newly signed bands, who had frequently played the club CBGB. Because radio consultants in the United States had advised their clients that punk rock was a fad, they settled on the term "New Wave". Like the filmmakers of the French New Wave movement whom the genre was named after, its new artists, such as the Ramones and Talking Heads, were anti-corporate and experimental. At first most American writers exclusively used the term "New Wave" to describe British punk acts. Starting in December 1976, ''The New York Rocker'', which was suspicious of the term "punk," became the first American journal to enthusiastically use the term starting with British acts, and later appropriating it to acts associated with the CBGB scene. Music historian Vernon Joynson states that New Wave emerged in the UK in late 1976, when many bands began disassociating themselves from punk. Music that followed the anarchic garage band ethos of the Sex Pistols was distinguished as "punk", while music that tended toward experimentation, lyrical complexity, or more polished production, came to be categorized as "New Wave". This came to include musicians who had come to prominence in the British pub rock scene of the mid-1970s, such as Ian Dury, Nick Lowe, Eddie and the Hot Rods and Dr. Feelgood; and according to Allmusic "angry, intelligent" singer-songwriters who "approached pop music with the sardonic attitude and tense, aggressive energy of punk" such as Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, and Graham Parker. In the U.S., the first New Wavers were the not-so-punk acts associated with the New York club CBGB, such as Talking Heads, Mink DeVille and Blondie. CBGB owner Hilly Kristal, referring to the first show of the band Television at his club in March 1974, said, "I think of that as the beginning of new wave." Furthermore, many artists who would have originally been classified as punk were also termed New Wave. A 1977 Phonogram Records compilation album of the same name (New Wave) features US artists including the Dead Boys, Ramones, Talking Heads and The Runaways.

The New Wave sound of this era represented a break from the smooth-oriented blues and rock & roll sounds of late 1960s to mid 1970s rock music. According to music journalist Simon Reynolds, the music had a twitchy, agitated feel to it. New Wave musicians often played choppy rhythm guitars with fast tempos. Keyboards were common as were stop-and-start song structures and melodies. Reynolds noted that New Wave vocalists sounded high-pitched, geeky and suburban.

Power pop, a genre that started before punk at the very beginning of the 1970s, became associated with New Wave at the end of the decade because their brief catchy songs fit into the mood of the era. The Romantics, The Records, The Motors, Cheap Trick, and 20/20 were groups that had success playing this style. Helped by the success of power pop groups such as The Knack, skinny ties became fashionable among New Wave musicians.

A revival of ska music led by The Specials, Madness and the English Beat added humor and a strong dance beat to New Wave.

Later still, "New Wave" came to imply a less noisy, often synthesizer-based, pop sound. The term ''post-punk'' was coined to describe groups such as Gang of Four, Joy Division, The Cure, and Siouxsie and the Banshees that were initially considered part of the New Wave but were more ambitious, serious and challenging, darker, and less pop oriented. Some of these groups would later adopt synths. Although distinct, punk, New Wave, and post-punk all shared common ground: an energetic reaction to what they perceived as the overproduced, uninspired popular music of the 1970s. Allmusic explained that New Wave's stylistic diversity occurred because New Wave "retained the fresh vigor and irreverence of punk music, as well as a fascination with electronics, style, and art". This diversity extended to the numerous one hit wonders that came out of the genre. Conventional wisdom holds that the genre "died" in the middle of the 1980s. Theo Cateforis, Assistant Professor of Music History and Cultures at Syracuse University, contends New Wave "receded" during this period when advances in synthesizer technology caused New Wave groups and mainstream pop and rock groups to sound more alike.

In Finland in the wake of Punk and New Wave the Suomi-Rock phenomenon occurred. Eppu Normaali were the seminal act of this phenomenon.

Reception in the United States

In the summer of 1977 both ''TIME'' and ''Newsweek'' magazines wrote favorable lead stories on the "punk/new wave" movement. Acts associated with the movement received little or no radio airplay or music industry support. Small scenes developed in major cities. Continuing into the next year, public support remained limited to select elements of the artistic, bohemian and intellectual population, as arena rock and disco dominated the charts. Starting in late 1978 and continuing into 1979, acts associated with punk and acts that mixed punk with other genres began to make chart appearances and receive airplay on rock stations. Blondie, Talking Heads, The Police and The Cars would chart during this period. "My Sharona", a single from The Knack, was ''Billboard'' magazine's number one single of 1979. The success of "My Sharona" prompted record companies to rush out and sign New Wave groups. New Wave music scenes developed in Ohio and Athens, Georgia. 1980 saw brief forays into New Wave-styled music by non-New Wave artists Billy Joel and Linda Ronstadt. The release during this period of Gary Numan's album ''The Pleasure Principle'' would be the pop chart breakthrough for gender-bending synthpop acts with a cool, detached stage presence.

Early in 1980 highly influential radio consultant Lee Abrams wrote a memo saying with a few exceptions "we're not going to be seeing many of the New Wave circuit acts happening very big over here (in America). As a movement, we don't expect it to have much influence." Lee Ferguson, a consultant to KWST interviewed at the time, said Los Angeles radio stations were banning disc jockeys from using the term and noted that "Most of the people who call music New Wave are the ones looking for a way not to play it." Second albums by artists who had successful debut albums, along with the newly signed artists, both failed to sell and radio pulled most New Wave programming.

The arrival of MTV in 1981 would usher in New Wave's most successful era. British artists, unlike many of their American counterparts, had learned how to use the music video early on. Several British acts signed to independent labels were able to outmarket and outsell American artists that were signed with major labels. Journalists labeled this phenomenon a "Second British Invasion". MTV continued its heavy rotation of videos by New Wave-oriented acts until 1987, when it changed to a heavy metal and rock dominated format.

In a December 1982 Gallup poll, 14% of teenagers rated New Wave music as their favorite type of music, making it the third most popular. New Wave had its greatest popularity on the West Coast. Unlike other genres, race was not a factor in the popularity of New Wave music according to the poll. Urban Contemporary radio stations were the first to play dance-oriented New Wave artists such as the B-52's, Culture Club, Duran Duran and ABC. By this period the definition of New Wave music in the United States had changed from the less rebellious, more commercial version of punk that it had been described as a few years earlier. For most of the remainder of the 1980s the term "New Wave" was used in America to describe nearly every new pop or pop rock artist that largely used synthesizers. New Wave is still used today to describe these acts, as well as late 1970s and 1980s post-punk and alternative acts.

Fans, music journalists, and artists would rebel against this catch-all definition by inventing dozens of genre names. Synthpop or "Technopop" as it was described by the U.S. press which filled a void left by disco, was a broad subgenre that included groups such as The Human League, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, a-ha, New Order, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Yazoo, Ultravox, Kajagoogoo, and the Thompson Twins.

New Wave soundtracks were used in mainstream "Brat Pack" films such as ''Valley Girl'', ''Sixteen Candles'', ''Pretty In Pink,'' and ''The Breakfast Club''. John Hughes, a director of several of these films, was enthralled with British New Wave Music and put music from acts such as The Psychedelic Furs, Simple Minds, and Echo and The Bunnymen into his films, helping put New Wave into the mainstream. Several of these songs remain standards of the era. Critics would describe the MTV acts as shallow or vapid, but the danceable quality of the music and quirky fashion sense associated with New Wave artists appealed to audiences. The use of synthesizers by New Wave acts influenced the development of house music in Chicago and techno in Detroit. New Wave’s indie spirit would be crucial to the development of college rock and grunge/alternative rock in the latter half of the 1980s and beyond. New Wave is considered part of alternative rock today.

Post-1980s revivals and influence

thumb|right|200px|Franz Ferdinand performing in 2006. In 1991 retro futurist acts such as Stereolab and Saint Etienne mixed New Wave and kitschy 1960s pop. In the aftermath of grunge, the British music press launched a campaign to promote the New Wave of New Wave. This campaign involved overtly punk and New Wave influenced acts such as Elastica and Smash but was eclipsed by Britpop. Other acts of note during the 1990s included No Doubt, Six Finger Satellite, and Brainiac. During that decade the synthesizer heavy dance sounds British and European New Wave acts influenced various incarnations of Eurodisco and trance. Chris Martin was inspired to start Coldplay by a-ha.

During the 2000s a number of acts emerged that mined from a diversity of New Wave and post-punk influences. Among these were The Strokes, Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand, The Epoxies, She Wants Revenge, Bloc Party, Foals, Kaiser Chiefs, and The Killers. These acts were sometimes labeled "New New Wave". By 2004 these acts were described as "hot". New Wave became revived during the late 2000s with acts such as The Sounds, The Ting Tings, The Birthday Massacre, Tegan and Sara, Hot Chip, Cut Copy, MGMT, Passion Pit, The Presets, La Roux, Ladytron, Shiny Toy Guns, Santigold, Hockey, Gwen Stefani, Ladyhawke and Marina and the Diamonds. While some journalists and fans regarded this as a revival, others argue that the phenomenon is a continuation of the original movements.

The Drums are an example of the current trend in the United States indie pop scene that mines both the sounds and attitudes of the British New Wave Era. British group La Roux who had a number 8 single on the Billboard's Hot 100 is an example on the influence New Wave is having on indie dance. In addition, in the late 2000s a New Wave influenced genre called Chillwave developed, and notable artists are Neon Indian, Twin Shadow and Washed Out.

Parallel movements

Coldwave

Dark Wave

Neue Deutsche Welle

No Wave

Yugoslav New Wave

Movida española

See also

List of New Wave bands and artists

Electronic rock

References

External links

About.com Profile of the New Wave Genre

Encyclopedia Britannica Definition

St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture Article

Punk 2 New Wave Top 100 list and short reviews

Rolling Stone Magazine's ''Rock and Roll Daily blog'' Favorite 1980s New Wave Lists Reporters, Readers

A Real New Wave Rolls Out of Ohio Robert Christgau for The Village Voice 17 April 1978

1997 Interview with Brat Pack Film Director John Hughes Published MTV 7 August 2009

Walking on the Moon: The Untold Story of the Police and the Rise of New Wave book by Chris Campion previewed by Google Books

Rock Against the Bloc A look back at the Punk/New Wave movement in Poland by the Krakow Post 1 February 2010

Drowning In My Nostalgia Philippine Inquirer 7 September 2002 A critic looks back at her teenage fan days in The Philippines and Los Angeles

Further Reading

Cateforis, Theodore. ''Are We Not New Wave?: Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s ''. University of Michigan Press, June 7, 2011. ISBN 9780472034703.

Category:Punk genres Category:Postmodern art Category:1980s in music Category:2000s in music Category:2010s in music Category:Fusion music genres Category:Rock music genres Category:Electronic music genres

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Wave Music is an independent dance music record label founded in 1995 by François Kevorkian, headquartered in New York City.

Its catalog features a wide spectrum of musical styles by many different artists, as well as several successful compilation series, such as Body&SOUL-NYC;, Deep&Sexy;, Bossa Mundo, and Frequencies.

Over the years, Wave Music has launched a variety of imprints (sub-labels) such as Wavetec, clicktracks, Wave Classics, Streetwave, and Deep Space Media. As well, it distributes other independent labels such as Chez Music and Bombay Records.

Mission statement

''"Wave Music was started in 1995 by its owner Francois Kevorkian as a means to release cutting-edge but timeless music that doesn't necessarily fit the norm of what most people come to expect of a New York 'dance' indie label. Rather than concentrating on a specific style, the label's mission has been to bring out an eclectic and musically varied selection of music. Through its association with some of dance music's finest artists, producers and DJ's, Wave has in the span of a short few years achieved a reputation for excellence and innovation in this crowded field."''

Selected List Of Artists

A Hundred Birds

Abstract Truth

Alphamotive

Beat Pharmacy

Barbara Mendes

Blue 6

Boyd Jarvis

Carlos 'GoGo' Gomez

D'Malicious

Eric Kupper Presents Organika

Eternal Sun

Floppy Sounds

Fonda Rae

François K.

Kevin Aviance

Matthias 'Matty' Heilbronn

Moments Of Soul

Peckham Royalty

Solu Music

Willie Graff & T.Tauri

See also

List of record labels

External links

Wave Music Official Site

Discogs Listing for Wave Music

Wave Music on MySpace

Category:Record labels established in 1995 Category:American independent record labels Category:Dance music record labels

Coordinates	20°50′24″N156°20′38″N
Name	Gavin DeGraw
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Gavin Shane DeGraw
Birth date	February 04, 1977
Height	5'11"
Birth place	South Fallsburg, New York, United States
Genre	Blue-eyed soul, pop rock and rock
Instrument	Guitar, piano and vocals
Occupation	Musician and Singer-songwriter
Years active	Since 2001
Label	RCA Records
Website	gavindegraw.com }}

Gavin Shane DeGraw (born February 4, 1977) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is known for his songs "Chariot", "Follow Through", "I Don't Want to Be" (which is featured as the theme song for the television drama series ''One Tree Hill'' (since 2003)), and "In Love with a Girl".

Early life

DeGraw grew up in the Catskills in South Fallsburg, New York. His father was a prison guard and his mother was a detox specialist, which he mentions in his song "I Don't Want to Be". He is mostly of Russian and Irish ancestry. DeGraw began singing and playing piano at the age of eight. He also has two siblings, both older, named Neeka and Joey (born August 1973). It was at his brother's advice that he began writing his own songs. Joey DeGraw is a musician as well, currently touring to promote his own music.

Career

Originally, DeGraw started in Manhattan clubs alongside local pianists Andrew West and Lenny Revell, drawing several of his home town fans. He got his big break when "I Don't Want to Be" was chosen as the theme song for the teen drama ''One Tree Hill''. The song has also been performed on ''American Idol'', ''Australian Idol'', ''Canadian Idol'', ''Idol Sweden'', and ''Idol Norway'' by various contestants during different seasons. Two of DeGraw's other songs, "Follow Through" and "Chariot," have also achieved popularity and radio play. His song "We Belong Together" was also featured in the 2006 film ''Tristan and Isolde''. In 2004, DeGraw released an acoustic version of his album ''Chariot'' called ''Chariot Stripped''. DeGraw and his band recorded the album live in the studio, in only one take on the vocals, seeking an intimate effect.

Since 2004, his profile has grown, bringing him to other states as he tours the country. He made his television debut on ''Last Call with Carson Daly''. DeGraw has also appeared on television shows including ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', ''The Late Show With David Letterman'', ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'', and ''Live with Regis and Kelly''. Recently, he has been seen in cameos on ''Dead Like Me'', ''What I Like About You'', and ''American Dreams''. He also appeared in ''One Tree Hill'', singing ''I Don't Want to Be'' and ''Chariot'' at Karen's Cafe. DeGraw has released a number of music videos as well, including ''I Don't Want to Be'', ''Follow Through'' and ''Chariot''. The latter was directed by Zach Braff, who also directed music videos for Joshua Radin. DeGraw has toured with such acts as Sister Hazel, Barenaked Ladies, Howie Day, Michael Tolcher, Butterfly Boucher, The Allman Brothers Band, Marc Broussard, Saving Jane, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5.

He and his brother opened The National Underground in December 2007, a New York City music venue that is a roots rock Americana music bar located in Manhattan's Lower East Side, at 159 East Houston Street between Allen Street and Eldridge Street. The venue offers music, food, and drink. The idea for the venue came about because the brothers wanted a place where they could hang out on a regular basis, and where other musicians could come in and listen and learn. "We were picky about the quality of musicians that played there," Gavin DeGraw says. "We wanted a place where the players were so good, other musicians were like, 'Wow! I really respect what they're doing.'"

According to DeGraw's official site, he returned to the studio on September 1, 2006 to begin recording his next album. ''Gavin DeGraw'' was released on May 6, 2008, peaking at #7 on the US Billboard Chart. The first single, "In Love with a Girl" was released on February 5, 2008. The second U.S. single "Cheated On Me" was released in September 2008, while the rest of the world saw the release of "She Holds a Key". The worldwide third single is "I Have You to Thank".

Gavin Degraw's third album, ''Free'' was released March 31, 2009. DeGraw made ''Free'' in less than two weeks at the Brooklyn studio of his producer Camus Celli. The first single, "Stay", was released through DeGraw's website on March 11.

DeGraw's song "Follow Through" (from his 2003 album release ''Chariot'') was featured on an advert for Carte D'or ice cream in both the UK and Italy from 2008 to 2010.

DeGraw's song "More Than Anyone" (also from the album ''Chariot''), was featured on an episode of the television series ''What I Like About You''. It was also selected by fans of "One Tree Hill" through a Cingular Wireless contest as the first wedding dance song for Nathan & Haley in the 3rd season finale "The Show Must Go On."

DeGraw's next album ''Sweeter'' was set to release on August 9 but got pushed back to September 20 and will feature tracks co-written with other artists. The first single "Not Over You" was released on iTunes in June. The track was co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder.

DeGraw will be touring the U.S. as a supporting/opening act for Maroon 5 and Train over July and August 2011.

DeGraw is going on a two-month tour with Missouri musician/songwriter David Cook Fall 2011.

Personal life

On August 8, 2011, DeGraw was hospitalized after being assaulted by several persons in New York City. Police said a group of men attacked DeGraw early Sunday morning at 6th Street and First Avenue in the East Village, near The National Underground. He suffered a broken nose, a concussion, two black eyes and lacerations to his face. Only minutes after the attack, DeGraw was then struck by a taxi. He was admitted to Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital Center for treatment. He had to cancel his scheduled August 9 performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, located in Saratoga, New York.

Band Members

Current

Billy Norris – guitar, background vocals (since 2009)

Ian O'Neill – drums, background vocals (since 2011)

Tony Tino – bass (since 2009)

Jimmy Wallace – keyboards, acoustic guitar, vocals (2007–2008, since 2011)

Previous

Johnny "Tsunami" Andrews – guitar, background vocals

Joey DeGraw – guitar, background vocals

Brian Dennis – guitar, background vocals

Matt Flynn – drums

Joey "Coach" Hanna – drums, background vocals

Rodney Howard – drums

Whynot Jansveld – bass, background vocals

Alvin Moody – bass, background vocals

Casey Twist – bass, background vocals

Jimmy Wallace – organ, keyboards, background vocals

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Peak chart positions
!width="50"	!width="50"	!width="50"	!width="50"	!width="50"	!width="50"	!width="50"
	''Gavin Live'' (indie release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
		103	6	—	—	43	48	1
		56	—	2	21	—	—	—
		7	8	35	13	44	23	3
	''iTunes: Live from Soho'' (EP)	167	—	—	—	—	—	—
		19	76	—	—	—	96	29
		—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions											Album
		! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"	! width="36"
	"Follow Through"	—	—	27	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"I Don't Want to Be"	10	3	9	32	25	19	30	13	—	6	15
		30	21	5	—	—	—	—	12	27	19	—
"Follow Through" [re-release]	111	52	22	—	—	68	—	13	—	12	—
	"Just Friends"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	26	—	—	—
"We Belong Together"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"In Love with a Girl"	24	20	5	—	—	—	—	22	41	—	—
"She Holds a Key"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	29	—	—	—
"Cheated on Me"	—	—	30	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"I Have You to Thank"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Stay"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Dancing Shoes"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Not Over You"	76	—	21	—	—	61	8	13	—	—	—	''Sweeter''

Compilations

"We Are the Champions", from the album ''Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen'' (2005)

"Jealous Guy", from the album ''One Tree Hill, Vol. 2: Friends with Benefit'' (2006)

"Follow Through", from the album ''Bath and Body Works, PS: I Love You'' (2009)

Awards and nominations

Year !! Award
2005	Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Soundtrack Single of the Year ("I Don't Want to Be")
2005	Radio Music Award nomination for Song of the Year/Mainstream Top 40 Radio ("I Don't Want to Be")

See also

List of Berklee College of Music alumni

List of Ithaca College alumni

List of people from New York

List of singer-songwriters

References

Billboard Artist Chart History - retrieved March 15, 2009.

External links

gavindegraw.com, DeGraw's official website

Gavin DeGraw collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive

Music videos at AOL Video

Exclusive Gavin DeGraw Interviews at OurStage.com

Category:1977 births Category:20th-century American people Category:20th-century men Category:20th-century singers Category:21st-century American people Category:20th-century men Category:21st-century musicians Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American musicians of Irish descent Category:American musicians of Russian descent Category:American rock guitarists Category:American rock pianists Category:American rock singer-songwriters Category:Berklee College of Music alumni Category:Ithaca College alumni Category:Living people Category:Musicians from New York Category:People from the Catskills Category:People from Fallsburg, New York

da:Gavin DeGraw de:Gavin DeGraw es:Gavin DeGraw fr:Gavin DeGraw is:Gavin DeGraw it:Gavin DeGraw ka:გევინ დეგრუ nl:Gavin DeGraw no:Gavin DeGraw nn:Gavin DeGraw pl:Gavin DeGraw pt:Gavin DeGraw ru:ДеГро, Гевин simple:Gavin Degraw sr:Гавин Дегро fi:Gavin DeGraw sv:Gavin DeGraw th:เกวิน เดอกรอว์

Coordinates	20°50′24″N156°20′38″N
name	Men Without Hats
landscape	yes
background	group_or_band
origin	Montreal, QC, Canada
genre	New WaveSynthpop
years active	1977–199220032010-Present
label	VirginMCAMercury
associated acts	Ivan
website	www.menwithouthats.com
current members	Ivan DoroschukLou DawsonJames LoveMark Olexson
past members	Stefan DoroschukAllan McCarthy (deceased)Colin DoroschukTracy HoweDaniel WheelerMike GabrielJean-Marc PisapiaJoe RobertsLenny PinkasBruce MurphyRoman MartynJeremie ArrobasHeidi Garcia
notable instruments	}}

Men Without Hats is a Canadian New Wave group from Montreal, Quebec. Their music was characterized by the distinctive baritone voice of their lead singer Ivan Doroschuk as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing. They achieved their greatest popularity in the early to mid 1980s with their most successful single, "The Safety Dance", a Top 10 hit in both the US and the UK, as well as other countries including South Africa. Their other big success was the 1987 hit, "Pop Goes the World".

History

Early days

Men Without Hats initially consisted of Ivan Doroschuk (vocals, keyboards) and Jeremie Arrobas (keyboards & electronics), as well as Ivan's brother Stefan (guitars), with various other members joining and leaving the group, including a third Doroschuk brother, Colin (electronics). The band was founded in 1977 in Montreal and would undergo numerous personnel changes through the rest of the decade with Stefan, Colin, and Arrobas as the only relative constants joining Ivan. The name came about because Ivan and his two brothers, following the self-described principle of "style before comfort", refused to wear hats during Montreal's cold winters, calling themselves "the men without hats." (A popular but apocryphal tale is that an announcer at an early gig misread it as "Men Without Pants.")

Their first release was the EP ''Folk of the 80's'', released in 1980. At this point, the band officially consisted of Ivan Doroschuk and Jeremie Arrobas; also appearing on the EP were auxiliary members Stefan Doroschuk (bass), Roman Martyn (guitars) and Lynne Thibodeau (backing vocals).

Shortly after the release of the EP, Martyn left and was replaced by Jean-Marc Pisapia. Pisapia stayed only a short time before leaving; he was replaced briefly by Tracy Howe, who also left in short order — although Howe was around long enough to be credited on a reprint of ''Folk of the 80's'', despite not appearing on it. Howe's interim replacement, Daniel Wheeler, spent a short time as the group's percussionist, before departing for a brief, but successful, career in American local politics after being elected to the State of South Dakota School Board.

Both Howe and Pisapia achieved some success outside of Men Without Hats; Howe with his band Rational Youth and Pisapia after forming The Box. Mike Gabriel also joined Men Without Hats around this time of constant membership turnover and by 1982 both Arrobas and Gabriel would leave to work with Pisapia in a new (pre-The Box) band, before eventually forming their own group, Isinglass.

International success

Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk (now promoted to full membership status) subsequently recruited Allan McCarthy (percussion, electronics) to join the group. Soon after, the trio erupted onto the international scene with their worldwide hit single "The Safety Dance" from their 1982 debut album ''Rhythm of Youth''. The song spent four weeks at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, was also a major hit in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #6, and reached the top ten in various European countries. The song also charted, although less successfully, in their home country of Canada, reaching #4 on the Canadian Singles Chart. It was rated the eleventh biggest selling single of the year in South Africa in 1983.

Adding Colin Doroschuk (who had guested on ''Rhythm Of Youth'') as an official fourth member, Men Without Hats released the album ''Folk of the 80's (Part III)'' in 1984. While lead single "Where Do The Boys Go?" was a top 40 hit in Canada, the album failed to match the international success of ''Rhythm of Youth''.

Reshuffling the line-up again, the band released the album ''Pop Goes the World'' in 1987 with Ivan, Stefan and Lenny Pinkas. The album's title track reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and was #1 in Austria. The song was also featured in the 1987 film ''Date with an Angel'' and became the fifteenth biggest selling single in South Africa for 1988. The touring band added Bruce Murphy on keyboards and guitar, Marika Tjelios on bass, Richard Sampson on drums, and Heidi Garcia on vocals and keyboards.

Their next album, ''The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century'', released in 1989, featured a cover of ABBA's song "SOS". The musicians on the album were essentially the touring band from Pop Goes the World. Their 1991 album ''Sideways'', dominated by processed electric guitars instead of keyboards, revealed a dramatically different sound for the band due to synthpop falling out of style. The album failed to attract an American label, despite the group's efforts to convince their own record label. Soon after this career setback, the band officially disbanded, although Ivan Doroschuk and keyboardist Bruce Murphy would record several demos in 1993, for a concept album tentatively titled 'UFO's are Real', which was never released.

Break-up and reformation

In 1995, one-time band member Allan McCarthy died due to complications of AIDS. Lead singer Ivan Doroschuk released a solo album, ''The Spell'', in 1997. Stefan and Mack MacKenzie (of 3 O'Clock Train) released ''Ride of Glory'', a post-modern Western-themed CD. Stefan and Ivan Doroschuk later regrouped in 2003 to release the group's final album, ''No Hats Beyond This Point''.

On September 24, 2010, Ivan reformed Men Without Hats, with three hired backup musicians, and appeared at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia, performing ten songs from the Men Without Hats back catalogue. The Ivan-fronted band (described by the ''Austin American-Statesman'' as "simply singer Ivan Doroschuk and some hired guns" and by Stefan as a "tribute band") began a "Dance If You Want Tour 2011" with a well attended and positively received performance at Austin's South by Southwest event in March, 2011. At the North by Northeast festival in Toronto on June 18, Ivan announced that Men Without Hats would be releasing a new studio album, and that it would be entitled "Folk of the 80s: Part IV". On June 19, 2011 he played at the Festival "Sound of Music" in Burlington, ON, Canada. Stefan has announced his intention to continue working separately, also under the Men Without Hats name.

Discography

Studio albums

''Rhythm of Youth'' (1982)

''Folk of the 80's (Part III)'' (1984)

''Pop Goes the World'' (1987)

''The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century'' (1989)

''Sideways'' (1991)

''No Hats Beyond This Point'' (2003)

EPs

''Folk of the 80's'' (1980)

''Freeways'' (1985)

Compilation albums

''Collection'' (1996)

''Greatest Hats'' (1997)

''The Very Best of Men Without Hats (1998)

''My Hats Collection'' (2006)

''The Silver Collection (plus bonus DVD) (2008)

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions							Album
		! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"
	"I Like"	—	—	—	—	84	—	—
"[[The Safety Dance">Music recording sales certification	Album
! width="40"		! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"	! width="40"
	"I Like"	—	—	—	—	84	—	—
"[[The Safety Dance"	11	7	2	6	3	1	20		Music Canada>CAN: Gold	British Phonographic Industry>UK: Silver
"I Got the Message"	—	—	—	99	—	—	—
"Living in China"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1984	"Where Do the Boys Go?"	30	—	—	—	—	—	—
	! scope="row"	2	1	15	—	20	27	—		* CAN: Gold
"Moonbeam"	23	—	—	—	—	46	—
	"Hey Men"	8	—	—	—	—	—	—
"In the 21st Century"	35	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991	"Sideways"	50	—	—	—	—	—	—

Music videos

"Nationale 7"

"Security"

"Antarctica"

"The Safety Dance"

"I Like"

"Where Do the Boys Go?"

"Pop Goes the World"

"Moonbeam"

"Hey Men"

"In the 21st Century"

"Sideways"

DVDs

''Live Hats'' (2006)

Covers

''The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century'' featured a cover of ABBA's "SOS"

''Sideways'' featured a cover of The Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" (subtitled "'No You're Not', Said Little Nicola").

The ''Collection'' and ''Greatest Hats'' compilations featured a cover of Roxy Music's "Editions of You"

The Montreal-based punk band, The Nils, performed a cover of "Pop Goes The World" on their compilation release, ''Green Fields in Daylight''.

See also

List of Quebec musicians

Music of Quebec

Culture of Quebec

List of number-one dance hits (United States)

List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

Men Without Hats official site

Lazlo's Discography Machine: Men Without Hats

Jeremie Arrobas official site

Category:Canadian New Wave musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1980 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1991 Category:Synthpop groups Category:Musical groups from Montreal Category:English-language musical groups from Quebec

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