The Paisley Underground is a genre of alternative psychedelic rock based primarily in Los Angeles..California which was most popular in the mid 80s.
Influenced by 60s psychedelic/garage bands it spawned some influential groups like RAIN PARADE,DREAM SYNDICATE,GREEN ON RED,THE LONG RYDERS,THE FUZZTONES etc.......with only THE BANGLES gaining any major mainstream success
So I will start with one of my faves from this era..the mighty
RAIN PARADE
Formed 1981 around the talents of Matt Piucci [guitars/vocals] and brothers Dave and Steven Roback.Released debut self financed single 82.
Dave Roback left to form OPAL..[then later MAZZY STAR]The rest of the band continued to record as a 4 piece. The LP "Emergency third rail power trip" and the excellent mini album "Explosions in the glass palace" were released in 83 and 84.Both were successful in the UK indie album charts reachjng no 4 and no 5.This was rewarded by a major record deal with Island records.Unfortunately sales slumped and the band split 1986. Years later RAIN PARADE are still being talked about
This track "no easy way down" is one of my favourite tracks from the 80s......I just love that vibrato guitar and keyboards so trippy and hypnotic!!
I am googling Paisley.......I never heard of this underground movement before!
Notable Paisley Underground bands (per Wiki)
28th Day
Absolute Grey
The Bangles
The Chesterfield Kings
Danny and Dusty
Dream Syndicate
The Eyes of Mind
The Fuzztones
Flower Quartet
Flying Color
Game Theory
Gravedigger Five
Green on Red
The Green Pajamas
Grey Bouquet
House of Freaks
The Long Ryders
The Lost Patrol
The Morlocks
Opal
The Pandoras
Rain Parade
Rainy Day (band)
The Spoilers
Thin White Rope
The Three O'Clock
True West
The Untold Fables
The Verge
The Fegs
That is a great list.....MAGIC...let me say there are some great undiscovered gems in that list........which has inspired me to start this thread!!!!
THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS are one of my fave bands at the moment.....and they are still going strong!!!
some of the bands from the Paisley Underground....caused more of a stir in the UK.....than in the States...of course we all love THE BANGLES
THE UNTOLD FABLES From Southern California circa 1988 ,based round band member Robert Butler........If anyone has any recordings of this band Im well jealous!
THE MORLOCKS Originally from San Diego California formed 1984. This group "love"to play live and are still going strong! This summer they have an impressive tour that also takes them to Europe....Spain,Italy,France,Portugal. The band feature ex Gravedigger 5 vocalist Leighton Koizumi. Rolling Stones,The Yardbirds,MC5 influences here............
THE THREE O CLOCK.....Previously named THE SALVATION ARMY but because of obvious lawsuits a name change was due. It is said that it was vocalist/bassman Mike Quercio who coined the phrase "The Paisley underground". THE THREE O CLOCK had reasonably success and airplay due to their commercial psychedelic pop sound.Recording albums on Frontier,IRS and PRINCEs Paisley park records.They split in 1988 Quercio later recording albums with PERMANENT GREEN LIGHT and THE JUPITER EFFECT
As AUSTIN POWERS would say..............GROOOOOOOVY
I was listening to your videos, LOU, and Rain Parade is a trip! A good bottle of wine and I would be set !
Three 0'Clock is like you said "groovy"....not my cup-o-tea, though. There is just something about the music from that time period that seems "dated". Like they all had a Beatles influence or something.
TRUE WEST ...........Gained attention in 1982 with their cover of Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd song "Lucifer Sam". Featuring vocalist Gavin Blair and the clever twin lead guitar interplay of Richard Mcgrath and Russ Tolman.
They promised so much ...released the album "Drifters". Toured with R.E.M..!! Tom Verlaine of TELEVISION took them to record demos for EMI.Even Rolling Stone magazine raved about them.......but a major deal eluded them and split up. Russ Tolman went on to recordnumerous solo Lps
FLYING COLOR............ I know nothing of this band... I think they only released one album...sound good..nice guitars great vocal harmonies...
DREAM SYNDICATE............Highly regarded band from L.A.Active from 81 to 89.Various line up changes over the years,based around singer/guitarist Steve Wynn.Recorded debut album"The days of wine and roses" in 82. in later years they used the talents of Sandy Pearlman[ Blue oyster cult/The Clash] behind the mixing desk.Toured with U2 and REM.After the break up Steve Wynn went solo
THE BANGLES...........Cant believe there is no thread about this marvellous band here on CRF.
Formed 1980 featuring Susanna Hoffs,Vicki and Debbi Peterson. Other members..Annette Zilinskas[left 83] and Micki Steele[left 2005]
In 81....released debut single on their own label [bet this is a real collectors]
in 82....signed to Miles Copelands label Faulty products
By the times the albums were released THE BANGLES became huge international stars with bestselling singles like "walk like an egyptian" "eternal flame" etc The rest is history....with Hoffs going solo...the band reforming for an album
I love the first video.....with Leonard Nimoy in ...how cool is that!!!!
THE LONG RYDERS.......A band Ive neglected over the years.....Im a fool because they ooze class. Strongly influenced by Gram Parsons and The Byrds/ Buffalo Springfield with country and even at times punk influences.Formed 83 around guitarist/vocalist Sid Griffin the band had many extra qualities with various members playing instruments like steel guitar,banjo,mandolin and even bugle! The Long Ryders are back together again and there is talk of European dates in 2010.Check out these tracks.......they rock!!!......hairstyle dodgy...love the rickenbacker 12 string guitars!!!
THE GREEN PAJAMAS.........Now heres a undiscovered gem...the band are from Seattle and not L.A ! I must admit heres another group id never heard of........even though they have done....22 albums lol !! Formed 83 and are still going......I like their style
GREEN ON RED.............Originally from Tucson Arizona.....they moved to L.A where they were active in the 80s being rewarded with a major deal with Mercury/phonogram records.....still play the odd show now and again,this song sounds very Neil Young influenced....
GAME THEORY..........Formed 81 featured vocalist Scott Miller. Had moderate success and reviews but fell apart in 1989 when their record label Enigma folded.Miller went to join THE LOUD FAMILY.......while Donnette Thayer [backing vocals guitars] linked up with THE CHURCHs Steve Kilbey to record an album under the name HEX [ I Own this album.....superb ]
THIN WHITE ROPE..........Highly acclaimed band who made half a dozen albums between 84 and 92. Fronted by Guy Kyser on vocals and guitarist Roger Kunkel. Kysers vocals are a bit of an acquired taste.....but after hearing more of their tracks warmed to them.............
HOUSE OF FREAKS.......were a two man band Bryan Harvey [guitars/vocals] and Johnny Holt [percussion]. Made a couple of influential albums...but failed to break through. They later joined the group GUTTERBALL .
On New years day 2006 after a performance with his later band NRG KRYSYS Harvey,his wife and two young daughters were brutally murdered in their Richmond home.The killers were convicted. One was sentenced to death the other recieved life in prison. A despicable crime that robbed music of genuine talent R.I.P
OPAL..............[also under the band name CLAY ALLISON] OPAL made an album and a few 12 in singles. The band featured ex RAIN PARADE s Dave Roback and DREAM SYNDICATEs bass player Kandra Smith .Smith walked out on the band during a gig......Roback formed MAZZY STAR
THE DROOGS.......72 to 92 This band were heavily inspired by 60s garage rock and at times had a punk edge. Dave Provost of Dream Syndicate had a spell with the group in the 80s.Found success in Europe signing with German label Music maniac
THE PANDORAS........were an all female 60s revival garage rock band from 83 to 91.They were fun and very tongue in cheek. In later years THE PANDORAS even had a deal with Elektra records and towards the end were becoming a heavy rock band...they even got played on headbangers ball
The band ended when on Aug 10th 91 band leader Paula Pierce came home from the gym suffered an aneurysm and died.She was only 31 years old R.I.P
I must admit I havent heard of the Paisley Underground either (hangs head in shame).
I was quite surprised to see The Bangles in that list Magic and thank you for leaving a list as the only other band Ive heard of is the Chesterfield Kings although having said that I think I vaguely remember hearing of The Morlock.
Liking the pics of the budgies and the also the song cheap wine Lou Lou I can relate to both lol
I will have to take a listen to the vid clips you have put up also so I can give you some feedback
Ha ha ha sorry guys, couldnt resist the pics :p xx
Well as Mr L has posted quite a few Vids and thank you for that. It will take a while to give some feedback on them all.
Firstly, Rain Parade - No Easy Way Down, I thought this was very trippy lol and I could easily have pictured The Doors doing this one
Cheapwine I thought was better.
Re the Paisley vid - Omg! Was that Mark Skinner? He looked so young :-(
The Pontiac Brothers I thought sounded very much like Rolling Stones lol along with The Morlocks also
Untold Fables reminded me of The Ramones, isnt it funny how music seems to intergrate with the bands.
You know I remember when Paisley shirts came in and I think that may have coincided with all this Paisley underground stuff, not sure as I was such a baby lol
I like the shirts and the music ? Hmmmmmm some of it is ok lol if you were a hippy
That reminds me, I had some paisley leggings not that long ago lol
The Paisley Underground thread !! 
,Vicki and Debbi Peterson. Other members..Annette Zilinskas[left 83] and Micki Steele[left 2005]
Formed 83 and are still going......I like their style
.....but after hearing more of their tracks warmed to them.............
Re: The Paisley Underground thread !! 
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