W.A.S.P.
On stage, they drank fake blood from a human skull, whipped a half-naked woman tied to a torture rack and threw raw meat at...
Wa Wa Nee
In 1986, Australian band Wa Wa Nee were in the unusual position of having a recording contract (with CBS records) but never having played a...
Wackers, The
Anglophile guitarist and singer/songwriter Bob Segarini formed The Wackers in northern California in 1970 before relocating to Montreal, Canada, two years later.
The Wackers released their...
Wah!/Wah! Heat/The Mighty Wah!
This Liverpool band formed in 1979 and kept modifying their name from release to release - Wah!, Wah! Heat and The Mighty Wah!
Pete Wylie
Vocals,...
Waitresses, The
Formed in 1978, The Waitresses existed for the purpose of performing the witty, often female-oriented songs of guitarist Chris Butler, who had previously led...
Walker Brothers, The
They weren't British, they weren't brothers and their real names weren't Walker, but Californians Scott Engel, John Maus (a one-time child actor) and Gary...
Wall Of Voodoo
Releasing its first effort (a self-titled EP) in 1980, this Los Angeles punk dance band offered a serious version of Devo's new wave. Led...
Wanda Jackson
Wanda Jackson started her career as a dare. Her church friends dared her to audition for a local radio station's talent spot when she...
Wanderers, The
Another doo-wop group which was quite popular on the US East Coast but otherwise obscure, The Wanderers began as The Barons in 1952.
Lead singer...
Wang Chung
The London-based new wave group Wang Chung had a handful of hits in the mid-80s, achieving their greatest popularity in America.
Originally called Huang Chung,...
War
War traces its roots back to a Californian high school band formed by bass player and keyboard player BB Dickerson, drummer Harold Brown, woodwind...
Ward 13
Australian band Ward 13 started out as a brash 1960s-influenced rock & roll band, working the Sydney pub circuit for 19 months before issuing...
Warhorse
Warhorse was formed in 1969 by original Deep Purple bassist Nick Simper who had been dismissed from the band prior to their transformation into...
Warm Sounds
Warm Sounds were a harmony duo comprising Barry Husband (aka Barry Younghusband), formerly of Tuesday's Children, and Denver Gerrard. The pair teamed up just...
Warrant
With a pair of double-platinum albums, Warrant were one of the most popular glam-metal bands of the late 80s.
Formed in Los Angeles in the...
Warren Smith
It's astonishing the sheer amount of talent that was beating a path to Sam Phillips' door in 1956 wanting a contract with Sun Records. Jerry...
Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon was born in Chicago, the son of a Russian-Jewish boxer turned professional gambler. He spent most of his childhood in Arizona and...
Warumpi Band, The
This Australian band was formed in 1980 by Neil Murray (a white Victorian working in the Papunya region of the Northern Territory as a...
Was (Not Was)
Was (Not Was) played contemporary R&B dance music, with lyrics that ranged from satire to completely bizarre.
The group was led by Detroit-natives David Weiss...
Wasted Youth
Formed in the summer of 1979, this East London band forged a style with punk and psych roots. Their singles and albums were released on...