Inside the Milky Way - A Look at Early Alternative Music

The Mekons arrived during the late 70's UK post-punk scene and still perform today as one of the longest running artists from this era. The band never achieved mainstream commercial success, but has consistently received critical acclaim throughout their career especially in the mid-1980's while blending punk rock with traditional folk and country music to pioneer the alternative-country genre.
The Mekons, or just Mekons, formed in Leeds in 1976 as an art collective with many musicians contributing over the years as they operated on principles that everything is created by the band and not individuals. This uncompromising band has always maintained their political edge with their lyrics and their style has constantly evolved over time to incorporate aspects many genres including country music, folk music, and alternative rock, among others.  
Although The Mekons' lineup has changed from time to time over the years, the core line-up gathered in the mid-80s and is still together today. This includes Sally Timms on vocals and Susie Honeyman on violin, along with founders Jon Langford on vocals and guitar, and Tom Greenhalgh on vocals and guitars.
The Mekons, well known for their exuberant live performances, have released a total of 16 studio albums, starting with the 1979 debut and the most recent in 2025. 
This episode tells the story of the band from formation through the creative work of their albums of the 80’s and into the early 90’s.

The Cult formed in 1983, behind vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy. Initially known as Death Cult before changing their name in early 1984, this English band would establish a following with their post-punk and gothic rock sound before changing to a more hard rock sound in the later 80’s.
The Cult's debut studio album, Dreamtime, was released in 1984 and their second studio album, Love, followed in 1985. Love was the band's breakthrough success and included the classic singles, "She Sells Sanctuary" and "Rain⁠⁠⁠".
The Cult’s early work mixed dark, atmospheric sounds with heavy guitar riffs while adding spiritual themes and Native American imagery. The band would be influential for bridging the gap between gothic rock/post-punk with later 80’s hard rock as they changed their musical direction working with producer Rick Rubin for the album Electric in 1987. The Cult would finish out the 80’s with the fourth studio album, Sonic Temple, which included the song “Fire Woman”. 
This podcast episode will explore the origins of The Cult from before the Death Cult days and through the first four albums as The Cult, all before the end of the 80’s.

After starting on the pub rock scene in England, the core line-up of The Stranglers would form in 1975, and they would release their debut album in 1977 during the British punk explosion.  During the band's early years, the aggressive and uncompromising approach of The Stranglers would result in the press and critics grouping them with the emerging UK punk rock scene. 
However The Stranglers, beyond dressing in all black outfits, were different. After the first two albums and over the following years the sound of the band would gradually shift through various genres and styles as the music matured and became more refined. 
Throughout the band’s history, The Stranglers have had multiple hit singles while releasing 18 studio albums, of which the first ten albums hit top 20 on the UK top album charts. The Stranglers are amongst the longest-surviving bands to have originated in the British punk scene, and one of the most commercially successful band from the UK punk era. 
This episode tells the story of the band through the first six albums, all by 1981 over a 4 and a half year span, including The Raven, Black and White, and The Gospel According to Meninblack.

Originally from Berkeley, California as the Warfield Foxes, this band relocated to Los Angeles in the mid-70’s and became The Motels.  
During the late 70's in L.A., The Motels became a vital part of the club circuit that helped launch the local punk and new wave scenes.  The band’s early tracks were along punk rock lines, but by the early 80’s The Motels were more new wave and alternative rock behind atmospheric sound, theatrical style, and the sultry vocals of lead singer Martha Davis.
Following their third studio album, The Motels became a fixture of the early 1980s MTV. Their music blended moody, melancholic lyrics with catchy, melodic pop-rock and synth-driven arrangements as they achieved commercial success with hit singles, "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer".
Led by the charismatic Martha Davis, The Motels were one of the most successful and acclaimed bands to emerge from the Los Angeles new wave scene.  The initial run of the band would end in 1987, but Martha Davis later revived the band that is currently known as "The Motels featuring Martha Davis." 
This episode will tell the story of the band from their early years through the 1980’s.

Originating from Haledon, New Jersey in 1976, The Feelies would play a post-punk, indie rock, jangle pop style of music. By 1980, The Feelies had become one of the more unique bands from the New York City underground music scene.
Arriving during the early post-punk era, the band’s debut album was 1980’s Crazy Rhythms. This trend setting and influential album combined jangly guitars with chiming and droning guitar patterns, along with fast and sharp percussive beats setting the rhythm.  
The band was not commercially successful, but The Feelies  would help shape the sound of American alternative and indie rock music in the 80’s and 90’s, influencing many artists.  
It would not be until six years after the debut when album number two would be released. That second album, The Good Earth, was co-produced with Peter Buck of R.E.M. By 1992, The Feelies would create two more studio albums before the end of their first run as a band.  
The band reunited in 2008, and released new studio albums in 2011 and 2017.
This episode tells the story of the band from formation and early years through today.