New Wave songs have been the staple of an entire generation, but some musicians of the genre have been the staple of an entire country. Although the Germans and the Brits catalyzed New Wave, American artists helped bring the popularity to the forefront and made the American youth aware of the marvelous sounds of New Wave.
American bands like Blondie, the Go-Go’s, Talking Heads, the Cars, Devo, and the B-52’s were ringleaders of the American New Wave scene. As we celebrate America’s birthday, this list will detail my top 10 American New Wave and classic alternative artists, some of their hits and contributions to the music world.
#10 – R.E.M.
Founded in Athens, GA, R.E.M. enjoyed cult status before building momentum with their fourth album ‘Lifes Rich Pageant’ which was their first album to reach gold status. Their 1987 album ‘Document’ which featured the top 20 hit The One I Love and the still popular It’s the End of World as we Know It (And I Feel Fine) built on that momentum and became a platinum seller.. ‘Document’ their fifth album marked the end of their relationship with IRS Records before moving to Warner Brothers. ‘Eponymous’, a compilation album, was released in early 1988 which brought further attention to their back catalog and songs like Fall on Me and Radio Free Europe.. In 1988, they released the multi-platinum album ‘Green’ which featured Orange Crush and Stand and showcased lead singer Michael Stipe’s openly political lyrics. R.E.M. went on to even bigger success in the 1990’s becoming one of the biggest rock bands in the world before calling it quits in 2011.
#9 – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, were formed in Los Angeles after the dissolution of Jett’s prior band the Runaways. Their second album, ‘I Love Rock’n Roll’ was certified Platinum and featured the mega-hit single I Love Rock ‘n Roll, which hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks. The song was named by Billboard as the #56 song of all time on their 50th Anniversary chart. Their cover of Crimson and Clover subsequently reached the top ten. The success of the album, also brought interest into their first album ‘Bad Reputation’ which had the single Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) subsequently reached the top twenty. Towards the end of the decade, in 1988, the album ‘Up Your Alley’ featured the top ten single I Hate Myself for Loving You. Still touring, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts have been opening for Billy Idol in 2025, where we saw them in Fort Worth. Joan Jett and her producer, Kenny Laguna, have been the only constants in the band.
#8 – The Pretenders
Despite being a British-American band, The Pretenders still chart on this list of American bands for their valuable input to New Wave. with lead singer Christie Hynde being from Akron, Ohio, before moving to London. The Pretenders were formed in 1978, releasing their hit-laden self-titled debut, featuring the songs Precious, Kid, Brass in Pocket, and Mystery Achievement. This was followed by ‘The Pretenders II’ with Message of Love and Talk of the Town. The Pretenders’ third album ‘Learning to Crawl’ contained Time the Avenger, Back on the Chain Gang, and My City Was Gone, a testament to modernization’s effect on American cities, especially, hynde’s hometown of Akron.
#7 – Blondie
Undeniably the band that helped start it all, Blondie, fronted by lead singer Deborah Harry, kick started the New Wave scene in 1976 with their self-titled debut. New York City based Blondie gained mainstream success in ‘78 with their chart-topping album ‘Parallel Lines,’ containing the songs Heart of Glass, One Way or Another, and Hanging on the Telephone. Blondie’s catalogue grew with the release of 1980’s ‘Autoamerican’ with The Tide is High and Rapture, which spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard charts.. Blondie remains to this day as a beloved American band with beloved music that spans generational lines. Blondie were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
#6 – The Cars
Originating from Chicago, The Cars are a great New Wave/Rock band, The Cars caused a splash in the music scene across America in 1978 with their debut album ‘The Cars,’ on which all three of the singles charted as well as the album all in the US Top 40, a feat difficult for a debut. These three singles were Just What I Needed, My Best Friend’s Girl, and Good Times Roll. The Cars’ success continued along for their next three albums ‘Candy-O,’ ‘Panorama,’ and ‘Shake It Up.’ Among these albums were the songs Let’s Go, Shake It Up, and Since You’re Gone. After ‘Shake It Up’ in 1981, The Cars took a three year hiatus before returning with ‘Heartbeat City,’ spawning the songs Drive and You Might Think. The Cars remain as one of the best rock bands of the early 80s to this day.
#5 – Oingo Boingo
Originally named after the Los Angeles based brother-run surrealist street theatre troupe under the name of The Mystic knights of the Oingo Boingo, led by Richard Elfman from 1972 to 1978, then by Danny Elfman for the next year until Danny Elfman decided to make it into a rock band and renamed it simply Oingo Boingo. Oingo Boingo first released their 1981 album ‘Only a Lad’ with the title track and the undeniably creepy song Little Girls, they rose to prominence with their third album from 1986 ‘Dead Man’s Party,’ which included two songs to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100: Weird Science, the theme track to the John Hughes film of the same name and Just Another Day; the album included another song, the title track, which although it did not chart, has become a halloween classic. Although Oingo Boingo broke up in 1995, Danny Elfman still makes music… as a composer, having done the music for most Tim Burton films, including Disney’s Nightmare Before Christmas, for which Elfman also provided singing vocals for Jack Skellington.
#4 – DEVO
One of the weirdest bands to ever exist, caused by de-evolution, DEVO was a bizarre sensation. From Akron, Ohio, they started in 1978 with their album ‘Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO,’ DEVO showed American audiences that Americans can be weirder than the German new Wave artists. DEVO’s success skyrocketed in 1980 with the release of their third album ‘Freedom of Choice,’ containing the hit single Whip It. The song Beautiful World, which charted in New Zealand and Australia was also included on ‘Freedom of Choice,’ in concert since 1981, though, Beautiful World has been performed by a DEVO created character played by lead singer Mark Mothersbaugh: Booji Boy, a satirical representation of the modern world, described as “a bizarre adult infant freak with pre-adolescent sexuality and Yoda-like wisdom.” DEVO began their 50th anniversary tour in 2023 and will be touring with the B-52’s later this year.
#3 – The Go-Go’s
They have the beat! The Go-Go’s are the original all-girl rock group, forming in 1978 in the heart of the Los Angeles music scene; The Go-Go’s dropped their debut album ‘Beauty and the Beat’ in 1981 with two top forty hits: Our Lips are Sealed and We Got the Beat. Their music gained so much traction that the album was ranked second best of the year (after ‘Asia’ by Asia). Although, their follow up album ‘Vacation’ didn’t sell as well, the title track reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 The Go-Go’s still hold part of the American heart with their music forty-something years on. The Go-Go’s were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
#2 – B-52s
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, the B-52s, named after a long-range bomber, have dropped nothing but party hits since they first took off. From their self-titled debut album in 1979 that spawned the songs Rock Lobster, Planet Claire, and Dance This Mess Around to their 1989 album ‘Cosmic Thing’ a full decade later spawning the international hits Love Shack and Roam. With Fred Schneider’s signature spoken-singing style interlaced with the Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson harmonizing, the B-52s display a uniquely American aspect to their music blending the styles of synth pop with surf rock while becoming America’s favorite party band. The B-52’s will be on a limited tour this fall with DEVO.
#1 – Talking Heads
Despite the internal struggles of the Talking Heads, they endure as the best American New Wave band. From their numerous hits to their 1983 concert film, Stop Making Sense, the Heads have been a fan favourite of American audiences. The Talking Heads were a defining force of the New Wave genre with music that stands the test of time. Their second single was their hit song Psycho Killer from their debut album ‘Talking Heads: 77.’ The Talking Heads’ catalogue continued for the next eleven years with such songs as Burning Down the House, Once in a Lifetime, and Take Me to the River. The Talking Heads often dominate conversations over American New Wave artists from their catchy and (sometimes) meaningful lyrics.
