Inside the Milky Way - A Look at Early Alternative Music

The Sisters of Mercy rose from the UK post-punk scene after forming in Leeds in 1980. The band’s sound was characterized by gloomy and dark atmospheres, heavy basslines, and cavernous reverb as The Sisters of Mercy and their music became a major influence on the gothic rock genre. 
Initiated by Andrew Eldritch and Gary Marx, The Sisters of Mercy have gone through many members over the years, but the constant force has always been lead vocalist Eldritch along with his drum machine known as "Doktor Avalanche". Eldritch's deep and melancholic singing voice, along with his appearance and style led the media to describe him as "The Godfather of Goth" for inspiring and defining the gothic scene. 
After releasing a number of singles in the early '80s to underground success, the group created their highly influential debut album, First and Last and Always, in 1985. This seminal gothic rock album with tracks like "Marian" and "Black Planet" would be the first of only three studio LP’s from The Sisters of Mercy ,even though the band continues today performing live and touring.
Our podcast episode will tell the story of the band's early years leading up to and through the incredible debut album of 1985, First and Last and Always.

In 1978, Kate Bush hit number one on the UK singles chart with her debut song, “Wuthering Heights”. This was of the start of the unique, creative and successful journey of the legendary English singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, and producer.
After being discovered during her teenage years with the help of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Kate Bush would soon follow the debut single with the release of her debut album in early 1978, The Kick Inside. 
After her second album, Kate Bush would perform her monumental Tour of Life, the first and only formal tour in her career.  
In 1980 her third album, Never for Ever, would reach number 1 in the UK. Bush co-produced this album that saw her sound become more experimental as she discovered new sonic territories, leading to visionary albums and international success.
This podcast episode will tell the story of the influential Kate Bush’s early years covering her debut single, the first two albums followed by the world tour of 1979, and through the third studio album, Never for Ever.

After pioneering industrial music greats Throbbing Gristle broke-up in 1981, founding member Genesis P-Orridge started Psychic TV along with former bandmate Peter Christopherson and Alternative TV founding member, Alex Fergusson. 
Psychic TV would be a multimedia and experimental music and video art collective, while becoming one of the most unique bands of the era. Besides experimental music, the band's music explored psychedelic, acid house, industrial, electronic, punk, post-punk, and even melodic pop.
During the late 1980's, Psychic TV was one of the more influential artists for the genre of acid house music releasing several compilation albums of songs they recorded under various fake band names helping to popularize the sound.
When formed, Psychic TV was more than just a band as they also built a creative occultist organization known as Thee Temple Ov Psychic Youth or T.O.P.Y., which would be the magical order and philosophical portion of the venture.
As a music collective, Psychic TV involved a wide range of artists and collaborators while P-Orridge remained the primary songwriter throughout the band's history. Pyschic TV would release over 100 albums, which included the years 1981 through 1999, and again from 2003 until 2020, until the passing of Genesis P-Orridge. 
This podcast episode shall tell the story of the band and their music from formation through the early years and into the beginning of the 90's.

After The Church formed in Sydney in 1980, the band would begin to develop a distinctive ethereal and psychedelic indie rock sound with atmospheric and surreal soundscapes. 
The Church released their debut album in 1981, Of Skins and Heart, followed by a number of excellent albums including The Blurred Crusade and Heyday. It would be with the fifth studio album, 1988's Starfish with the hit song "Under the Milky Way", that the band would experience their most success on their way to being one of the most accomplished Australian bands from the post-punk era.
Behind lead singer and bassist Steve Kilbey, The Church's  music over the years has ventured through various sounds and genre influences. During the 80’s, they were one of those bands that did not get the attention or notoriety they deserved for their music. Still recording and touring today, the band built a large international following while creating 27 studio albums over their career and has become one of the great alternative bands of the 80’s and beyond.
This episode will tell the story of The Church from their formation and early years, and through through the 80's and into the 90's beyond the song "Under the Milky Way", a song whose title was the idea behind my title of this podcast series.

Jane's Addiction was one of the most influential bands of the alternative rock movement that helped usher in alternative rock of the 1990’s.
The band was founded in 1985 in Los Angeles by lead vocalist Perry Farrell, often referred to as the Godfather of Alternative Rock, and bassist Eric Avery following the disintegration of Farrell's previous band, Psi Com. Jane's Addiction would add drummer Stephen Perkins and guitarist Dave Navarro to round out the band before their first release.
Jane's Addiction's debut was their self-titled live album in 1987 followed by the two studio albums, Nothing's Shocking of 1988 and Ritual de lo Habitual of 1990. Their fanbase grew with these releases that included iconic songs like "Jane Says", "Mountain Song" , and "Been Caught Stealing". 
The band's first farewell tour in 1991 launched the beginning of Lollapalooza. The event was co-founded by Farrell and included bringing together a large and diverse collection of bands forming what Farrell called, the "Alternative Nation".  
This episode will tell the story of the forming of and the early years for Jane’s Addiction,  the band from their live album through the turbulent times of their first two studio albums, all while leading the way to being one of the first commercially successful alternative rock bands and setting the stage for 90’s alternative rock.