10 Amazing '80s Bands That Everyone Forgot About
3. Camper Van Beethoven
While the California college rockers remain beloved in certain circles, in a just world it’s fair to say they would have found far more widespread success. Despite their cult following, the only songs you’ll hear regularly on indie radio are the goofy “Take The Skinheads Bowling” and their cover of Status Quo’s “Pictures Of Matchstick Men”.
With an abundance of wit and humour and seamless genre-hopping ability, there’s no reason CVB couldn’t have ascended to the heights of sometime-labelmates R.E.M. From early jangle pop roots, they soon brought in elements of punk, Russian music, and strange electronics on underrated comeback album New Roman Times.
Their best run was the four album spell between 1986 and 1989, when the band split. Key Lime Pie, particularly, sees the band at its most dramatic and beautiful, with the sinister “Jack Ruby” and beautiful “All Her Favourite Fruit” the highlights.
CVB were perhaps too weird to be truly huge - see their bizarre decision to cover Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk in full - but deserve to be remembered for their whole oeuvre, rather than two great but unrepresentative tracks.