10 Forgotten 80s Bands Worth Rediscovering

10. Sandkings

Indie rockers The Sandkings came up alongside a slew of great bands which arose from the midlands of England during the early '80s, touring alongside The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays and The Wonder Stuff, all of whom went on to successful careers. That The Sandkings didn't join them on that journey is a bit of a mystery. Their exciting, visceral brand of melodic rock easily stands favourable comparison with any of the aforementioned acts.

Possibly they were simply crowded out by a bustling market. Whatever the reason, The Sandkings released only a sole album, 1992's Welcome To England, during their lifetime, and it's a record well worth seeking out. Two points of Sandkings trivia worth observing – firstly, the band named themselves after a collection of short stories by Game Of Thrones author, George R. R. Martin. Secondly, The Sandkings were fronted by Jas Mann, who later formed Babylon Zoo, and scored a huge hit with the single, Spaceman.

Of further note, other ex-Sandkings, Dave Brown and Glenn Dodd, went on to found Gravity Wheel, with producer Lee Perry. Gravity Wheel's 1998 album, the splendidly-titled Bulldog Tuna Wasp, is a fine slice of big-beat electronica worth adding to any collection.