Paisley Underground
Encyclopedia
Paisley Underground is an early genre of alternative rock
, based primarily in Los Angeles, California
, which was at its most popular in the mid-1980s.
of the band The Three O'Clock
during a radio interview.
Paisley Underground bands incorporated psychedelia
, rich vocal harmonies and guitar interplay in a folk rock
style that owed a particular debt to The Byrds
, but more generally referenced the whole range of 1960s West Coast pop and garage rock, from the Seeds
to the Beach Boys
. The Dream Syndicate
channeled Crazy Horse
and Creedence Clearwater Revival
via The Velvet Underground
while The Bangles
recalled The Mamas & the Papas
, Green on Red
came on as a cousin to The Doors
, The Long Ryders
honored Gram Parsons
and Buffalo Springfield
, The Three O'Clock owed debt to the Bee Gees
and The Monkees
, and so on. The 1970s Memphis cult band Big Star, whose "September Gurls
" was covered by The Bangles
, was also influential, as were Britain's Soft Boys. Although there were accomplished musicians among them, it was also rooted—as was the punk rock
that preceded it—in an inspired amateurism.
Paisley Underground bands frequently shared bills, socialized and collaborated. Members of Rain Parade, the Bangles, the Dream Syndicate and the Three O'Clock joined together to make Rainy Day, an album of cover versions of songs by the Velvet Underground, Buffalo Springfield, Bob Dylan
, The Beach Boys
, Big Star, Jimi Hendrix
, and The Who
. As "Danny and Dusty," Steve Wynn
of the Dream Syndicate
and Dan Stuart
of Green on Red
made the album The Lost Weekend (A&M
, 1985) backed by members of each band along with most of The Long Ryders
. Clay Allison was an offshoot band composed of David Roback and Will Glenn (Rain Parade
), Kendra Smith (Dream Syndicate
), Sylvia Juncosa (Leaving Trains) and Keith Mitchell (Monitor
).
In the late '70s, future Dream Syndicate
members Steve Wynn
and Kendra Smith were members of the Davis, California band Suspects along with Russ Tolman and Gavin Blair later of True West
. True West
shared many bills with the other members of the Paisley Underground and their debut album was co-produced by Steve Wynn
.
By far the most popular band to emerge from the movement was The Bangles
, who have had massive mainstream success, although many of the groups released at least one album on a major label. Mazzy Star
, another successful band with ties to the genre, evolved from Opal
, which in turn evolved from Clay Allison.
The Paisley Underground sound had a surprising influence on Prince
. Not only did his 1985 album "Around the World in a Day" have a more psychedelic sound than any of his previous or future work, but he also named his record label (Paisley Park Records
) after the movement, wrote "Manic Monday" for the Bangles, and signed the Three O'Clock to his label.
By the end of the 1980s, the movement had passed from public consciousness. However, later acts Mercury Rev
and Grandaddy
have acknowledged its influence.
The wider movement of which it is a part is named jangle pop
after the ringing, light guitar
sounds it often features. It was paralleled in other parts of the world by genres such as New Zealand's Dunedin Sound
, whose chief exponents (such as The Chills
and Sneaky Feelings
) were often cited as directly comparable to Paisley Underground bands.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, based primarily in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, which was at its most popular in the mid-1980s.
History
The term "Paisley Underground" is generally referenced to a comment made by Michael QuercioMichael Quercio
Michael Quercio was the founder, bassist and lead singer of The Three O'Clock. He is also notable for being the apparent source of the genre name Paisley Underground, originally a joke. The Three O'Clock were among the most successful artists of the neo-psychedelic movement of the 1980s...
of the band The Three O'Clock
The Three O'Clock
The Three O'Clock were a United States alternative rock group associated with the Los Angeles 1980s Paisley Underground scene. Lead singer and bassist Michael Quercio is credited with coining the term "Paisley Underground" to describe a subset of the 1980s L.A...
during a radio interview.
Paisley Underground bands incorporated psychedelia
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
, rich vocal harmonies and guitar interplay in a folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
style that owed a particular debt to The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, but more generally referenced the whole range of 1960s West Coast pop and garage rock, from the Seeds
The Seeds
The Seeds were an American rock band. The group, whose repertoire spread between garage rock and acid rock, are considered one of the pioneers of punk rock.-History:...
to the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
. The Dream Syndicate
Dream Syndicate
The Dream Syndicate was an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement.-History:...
channeled Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
and Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
via The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
while The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
recalled The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
, Green on Red
Green on Red
Green on Red was an American rock band, formed in the Tucson, Arizona punk scene, but based for most of its career in Los Angeles, California, where it was loosely associated with the Paisley Underground...
came on as a cousin to The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, The Long Ryders
The Long Ryders
The Long Ryders are an American alternative country and Paisley Underground band, principally active between 1983 and 1987, and which reformed in 2004 to do a reunion tour...
honored Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
and Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
, The Three O'Clock owed debt to the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
and The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
, and so on. The 1970s Memphis cult band Big Star, whose "September Gurls
September Gurls
"September Gurls" is a song written by Alex Chilton for Big Star's second album Radio City, released in 1974. The song was also released as a single...
" was covered by The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
, was also influential, as were Britain's Soft Boys. Although there were accomplished musicians among them, it was also rooted—as was the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
that preceded it—in an inspired amateurism.
Paisley Underground bands frequently shared bills, socialized and collaborated. Members of Rain Parade, the Bangles, the Dream Syndicate and the Three O'Clock joined together to make Rainy Day, an album of cover versions of songs by the Velvet Underground, Buffalo Springfield, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, Big Star, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. As "Danny and Dusty," Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn (songwriter)
Steve Wynn is a songwriter based in New York . He led the band the Dream Syndicate from 1981 to 1989 and afterward began a solo career.- Career in bands :...
of the Dream Syndicate
Dream Syndicate
The Dream Syndicate was an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement.-History:...
and Dan Stuart
Dan Stuart
Dan Stuart is an American musician best known as the leader/singer/songwriter of 80's post punk, alt-country rock band, Green On Red , and for his teaming with Steve Wynn as Danny & Dusty.-History:Raised in Tucson, Arizona, Dan Stuart founded punk band The Serfers in 1979...
of Green on Red
Green on Red
Green on Red was an American rock band, formed in the Tucson, Arizona punk scene, but based for most of its career in Los Angeles, California, where it was loosely associated with the Paisley Underground...
made the album The Lost Weekend (A&M
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, 1985) backed by members of each band along with most of The Long Ryders
The Long Ryders
The Long Ryders are an American alternative country and Paisley Underground band, principally active between 1983 and 1987, and which reformed in 2004 to do a reunion tour...
. Clay Allison was an offshoot band composed of David Roback and Will Glenn (Rain Parade
Rain Parade
The Rain Parade was a band active in the Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles in the 1980s.-History:The band was founded by college roommates Matt Piucci and David Roback in 1981, originally as The Moving Sidewalks. David's brother Steven Roback joined the band shortly thereafter...
), Kendra Smith (Dream Syndicate
Dream Syndicate
The Dream Syndicate was an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement.-History:...
), Sylvia Juncosa (Leaving Trains) and Keith Mitchell (Monitor
Monitor
-Computers:* Computer monitor, a screen that displays output from a computer.* Monitor , an approach to synchronize two or more computer tasks that use a shared resource...
).
In the late '70s, future Dream Syndicate
Dream Syndicate
The Dream Syndicate was an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement.-History:...
members Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn (songwriter)
Steve Wynn is a songwriter based in New York . He led the band the Dream Syndicate from 1981 to 1989 and afterward began a solo career.- Career in bands :...
and Kendra Smith were members of the Davis, California band Suspects along with Russ Tolman and Gavin Blair later of True West
True West (band)
True West were a guitar band, often considered part of The Paisley Underground. Singer Gavin Blair and guitarists Richard McGrath and Russ Tolman were the nucleus of the group.- History :...
. True West
True West (band)
True West were a guitar band, often considered part of The Paisley Underground. Singer Gavin Blair and guitarists Richard McGrath and Russ Tolman were the nucleus of the group.- History :...
shared many bills with the other members of the Paisley Underground and their debut album was co-produced by Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn (songwriter)
Steve Wynn is a songwriter based in New York . He led the band the Dream Syndicate from 1981 to 1989 and afterward began a solo career.- Career in bands :...
.
By far the most popular band to emerge from the movement was The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
, who have had massive mainstream success, although many of the groups released at least one album on a major label. Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1989 from the group Opal, a collaboration of guitarist David Roback and bassist Kendra Smith...
, another successful band with ties to the genre, evolved from Opal
Opal (band)
Opal were an American alternative/psychedelic band in the 1980s. They were part of the Paisley Underground musical style.The group formed in the mid-'80s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback , bassist Kendra Smith and drummer Keith Mitchell...
, which in turn evolved from Clay Allison.
The Paisley Underground sound had a surprising influence on Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. Not only did his 1985 album "Around the World in a Day" have a more psychedelic sound than any of his previous or future work, but he also named his record label (Paisley Park Records
Paisley Park Records
Paisley Park Records was Prince's record label, associated with and funded in part by Warner Bros. Records. It was started in 1985, following the success of the film and album Purple Rain...
) after the movement, wrote "Manic Monday" for the Bangles, and signed the Three O'Clock to his label.
By the end of the 1980s, the movement had passed from public consciousness. However, later acts Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev is an American alternative rock group, that formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker , Jonathan Donahue , Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a...
and Grandaddy
Grandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
have acknowledged its influence.
The wider movement of which it is a part is named jangle pop
Jangle pop
Jangle pop is a genre of alternative rock from the mid-1980s that "marked a return to the chiming or jangly guitars and pop melodies of the '60s" bands such as The Byrds, with their electric twelve-string guitars and power pop song structures. Mid-1980s jangle pop was a non-mainstream "pop-based...
after the ringing, light guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
sounds it often features. It was paralleled in other parts of the world by genres such as New Zealand's Dunedin Sound
Dunedin Sound
The Dunedin sound was a style of indie pop music created in the southern New Zealand university city of Dunedin in the early 1980s.-Characteristics:...
, whose chief exponents (such as The Chills
The Chills
The Chills are a guitar and keyboard-based rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were one of the proponents of the Dunedin Sound.- History :...
and Sneaky Feelings
Sneaky Feelings
Sneaky Feelings were a 1980s New Zealand pop/rock band, led by Matthew Bannister, who recorded on the Flying Nun label. Initially recording with the line-up of Bannister , David Pine , Kat Tyrie and Martin Durrant , Tyrie was replaced by John Kelcher early in the band's career...
) were often cited as directly comparable to Paisley Underground bands.
Notable Paisley Underground bands
- The BanglesThe BanglesThe Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
- Clay AllisonOpal (band)Opal were an American alternative/psychedelic band in the 1980s. They were part of the Paisley Underground musical style.The group formed in the mid-'80s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback , bassist Kendra Smith and drummer Keith Mitchell...
- Dream SyndicateDream SyndicateThe Dream Syndicate was an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement.-History:...
- Green on RedGreen on RedGreen on Red was an American rock band, formed in the Tucson, Arizona punk scene, but based for most of its career in Los Angeles, California, where it was loosely associated with the Paisley Underground...
- The LastThe LastThe Last is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is part of the "Divergent Universe" saga which continued until The Next Life.-Plot:...
- The Long RydersThe Long RydersThe Long Ryders are an American alternative country and Paisley Underground band, principally active between 1983 and 1987, and which reformed in 2004 to do a reunion tour...
- Mazzy StarMazzy StarMazzy Star is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1989 from the group Opal, a collaboration of guitarist David Roback and bassist Kendra Smith...
- OpalOpal (band)Opal were an American alternative/psychedelic band in the 1980s. They were part of the Paisley Underground musical style.The group formed in the mid-'80s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback , bassist Kendra Smith and drummer Keith Mitchell...
- Rain ParadeRain ParadeThe Rain Parade was a band active in the Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles in the 1980s.-History:The band was founded by college roommates Matt Piucci and David Roback in 1981, originally as The Moving Sidewalks. David's brother Steven Roback joined the band shortly thereafter...
- The Three O'ClockThe Three O'ClockThe Three O'Clock were a United States alternative rock group associated with the Los Angeles 1980s Paisley Underground scene. Lead singer and bassist Michael Quercio is credited with coining the term "Paisley Underground" to describe a subset of the 1980s L.A...
- True WestTrue West (band)True West were a guitar band, often considered part of The Paisley Underground. Singer Gavin Blair and guitarists Richard McGrath and Russ Tolman were the nucleus of the group.- History :...
- The PandorasThe PandorasThe Pandoras were an all-female rock and roll band from Los Angeles, California from 1983–1991, who found a following in the Hollywood "Paisley Underground" scene and later adapted a more contemporary Sunset Boulevard, hard rock look and sound. The band ended when, on August 10, 1991 band leader...
Southern California venues where bands played
- Anti-Club - Hollywood
- Cathay de GrandeCathay de GrandeThe Cathay de Grande was a nightclub on the corner of Argyle Street and Selma Avenue in central Hollywood, which featured mostly punk rock bands but also other styles of underground/alternative rock in the 1980s. It was almost as well known for rockabilly, cowpunk, the Paisley Underground bands,...
in Hollywood - Radio City in Anaheim
- Safari Sam's (the original) in Huntington Beach
- Circle City at the Orange Traffic Circle
- The Palace in Hollywood
- The Cuckoo's Nest - Costa Mesa
- The Lhasa Club - Hollywood /Studio City
- Madame Wong's West/Chinatown - L.A.
- Club Lingerie - Hollywood
- Music Machine - West L.A.
- Al's Bar - Downtown L.A.
- The Palomino - North Hollywood
- The O.N. Klub - Silver Lake
- The Cavern Club
- FM Station
External links
- [ Allmusic entry for Paisley Underground]
- Tell Me When It's Over: The Paisley Underground Reconsidered, by John L. Micek
- Davis, California early 80s music scene
- Alan McGee on the Paisley Underground
- Paisley Underground Primer, by Jim DeRogatis at Sound Opinions