The 80s was a period like no other in Birmingham, with a number of incredible bands emerging from the city.
As the decade arrived, so did electronic dance music and new wave, also known as Modern Rock. The New Romantics underground subculture movement also gripped the nation - characterised by flamboyant, eccentric fashion inspired by the glam rock of the 70s as well as fashion boutiques such as Kahn and Bell which was located on Birmingham's Hurst Street.
The iconic Rum Runner nightclub on Broad Street also became the place to be for music fans as the venue played a significant role in the New Romantics scene in the city - hosting a number of Birmingham's up-and-coming bands at the time, including Duran Duran.
It was certainly a glamorous and glitzy decade - but it was also a time of great civil unrest for Birmingham with the Handsworth Riots and huge job losses.
Industries were dying out with Birmingham’s car industry hit. Margaret Thatcher also came to power, and for many Brummies it was a final nail in the coffin due to the recession of the early 1980s that saw Birmingham’s economy collapse. Despite the economic difficulties, many bands created music in the face of this, with some going on to achieve worldwide fame in the process.
Here is a look back at some of the best bands to come out of the city during the era.
1. Duran Duran
One of Birmingham's most successful groups, Simon le Bon, Roger Taylor and co emerged in the 1980s as members of the New Romantic scene. John Taylor and Nick Rhodes formed the group in Birmingham, with Le Bon joining a few months later. In early 1980, they became the resident band at the city's Rum Runner nightclub. They released their wildly popular self-titled debut, Rio in 1981, with their first major hit being Girls on Film. By 1984, the band had achieved levels of fame not far off Beatlemania in the UK. Their 1983 hit The Reflex also topped the charts in the US.
2. UB40
UB40 may have formed in 1978 but they are known as one of Birmingham's biggest groups to have emerged during the 80s. Many of the group's members grew up in Moseley, and their hit singles include their debut "Food for Thought" and two Billboard Hot 100 number ones with "Red Red Wine" and "Can't Help Falling in Love". Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart. Photo: UB40 /Archive
3. Dexys Midnight Runners
Another Brummie band known for their success in the 1980s is Dexys Midnight Runners. Best known in the UK for their 1980s hit songs "Come On Eileen" and "Geno", both of which peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as six other top-20 singles. "Come On Eileen" also topped the US Billboard Hot 100. The band formed in Birmingham and grew up playing shows in the city before achieving major commercial success in the early to mid-1980s. Photo: x
4. Musical Youth
The British-Jamaican reggae band formed in the city and are best known for their hit track Pass The Dutchie which went to number one in 1982. They went on to release two albums, 1982’s The Youth Of Today and Different Style! in 1983, and received a Grammy nomination for the best new artist in 1984. In 1985 they disbanded but Seaton and Grant reformed as a duo in 2001. They reunited to play at the 2022 Commonwealth Games