"Wow, were they ahead of their time!"

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I want a thread of visual evidence of bands or musicians breaking the mold and doing things that few, if any, had done before them... Here are a few I came up with.

Eerie minimalist synthpop from Landscape in 1981
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLvnYwvJMKE

Cool Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" clip from 1975
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c81X6BiI0Y

Did Blue Cheer invent Heavy Metal in 1968?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39W1QicB8j0

This thread is not complete without The Monks on German TV in 1966
http://www.gofish.com/player.gfp?gfid=30-1025385

Of course it can be debated whether something is ahead of its time or "just like (insert band/musician/song) that came along even earlier." In which case make your point with your own YouTube evidence, please... :)

― NYCNative, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 18:38 (eighteen years ago)

Speaking of synthpop, New Musik with "Straight Lines" TOTP in 1979. Can't think of an earlier synthpop group with such an emphasis on the "pop" part.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ysr0A14o24

― scarymuppet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 19:04 (eighteen years ago)

that kraftwerk clip is awesome!

― poortheatre, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 19:56 (eighteen years ago)

Angst during an early Television rehearsal...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqU4sn-JodE

― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 20:45 (eighteen years ago)

Amazingly, the first ever use of a synth on a pop record was "Star Collector" by The Monkees
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ZHPf8dFrY

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 20:47 (eighteen years ago)

man why do the cool youtube threads start after i get to work with no youtube.

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 20:53 (eighteen years ago)

xpost: maybe it's the lack of synths?

― sexyDancer, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 20:54 (eighteen years ago)

the Landscape is interesting, but let us not forget:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkhwLOWt2wk

― dan selzer, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 21:26 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQyFVx8sjxI

this video was made more than six years ago. i find that pretty darn ahead of it's time. but then it IS lu cont, so...

― pisces, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 21:54 (eighteen years ago)

what the fuck is the accent on the intro to autobahn vid

― Catsupppppppppppppp dude ‫茄蕃‪, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 22:02 (eighteen years ago)

Kraftwerk isn't really ahead of their time until Trans Europe express where they had super accurate sequencing

― Catsupppppppppppppp dude ‫茄蕃‪, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 22:03 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0g_zlvYFeM

Boredoms 1999

― Catsupppppppppppppp dude ‫茄蕃‪, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 22:06 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZt64_XOflk

this predates chiptunes by about 20 years.

― funny farm, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 22:07 (eighteen years ago)

chiptunes, for those that don't know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF4FwYcxpGs

that's the best thing i could find that describes it.

― funny farm, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

Chrome's "I Meet You At The Subway" Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3bK8Q3Gym0

― NYCNative, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 22:35 (eighteen years ago)

Ramones at CBGB's in 1974
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWHAL_q1ne8

― NYCNative, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 22:53 (eighteen years ago)

NWA invents Gangsta Rap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkPb4s0-QcI

― NYCNative, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 23:00 (eighteen years ago)

Hip-Hop Gets Socially Aware: Grandmaster Flash's "The Message"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6e9G-ump3Y

― NYCNative, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 23:02 (eighteen years ago)

DJ Kool Herc talks about hip-hop's origins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usFQiACv1WE

― NYCNative, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 23:05 (eighteen years ago)

Sugarhill Gang "Rapper's Delight"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBS5G8vYf4Q

― NYCNative, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 23:08 (eighteen years ago)

Run DMC and Aerosmith set the table for millions of lousy rap-rock collaborations with one good one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8A0rhVG91U

― NYCNative, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 23:10 (eighteen years ago)

Freeez - Southern Freeze on TOTP, my favorite youtube music clip at the moment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh0hGoESFcE

― mrcs, Thursday, 19 April 2007 03:40 (eighteen years ago)

Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up, live on soul train
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9li1w2sMyE

let's make love until we both wake up

― The Macallan 18 Year, Thursday, 19 April 2007 05:08 (eighteen years ago)

What the fuck was that ahead of?

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 05:30 (eighteen years ago)

That "Southern Freeez" on the other hand... Wow... Would it be incredibly rockist of me to ponder what that song would have sounded like in Primus' hands?

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 05:34 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MtXvtZAPWY

Schooly D, who actually invented Gangsta rap. I couldn't find a clip of PSK though.

I think late Kraftwerk was initially the most influential although as time goes on, early Kraftwerk has become more influential.

― filthy dylan, Thursday, 19 April 2007 05:54 (eighteen years ago)

wow fuck that freez clip. man alive. people going crazy about it in the comments underneath on there too which just goes to show you.

― pisces, Thursday, 19 April 2007 05:56 (eighteen years ago)

Screaming Jay Hawkins influences Alice Cooper & a whole generation of shock rockers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV413Qck2QM

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:12 (eighteen years ago)

Link Wray on a TV show in 1960 - it's not "Rumble," the quality sucks, but SHIT, man!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i-VAaLQ27o

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:17 (eighteen years ago)

Douchebag insults Pink Floyd in 1967 with performance of "Astronomy Domine"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfGCX3iqnLo

"Why does it all have to be so terribly loud?"

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:26 (eighteen years ago)

Velvet Underground and various hipsters; "Venus In Furs"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgcuU_JWuQU

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:38 (eighteen years ago)

Rites Of Spring anticipate Emo in 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acePsTqkQvY

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:44 (eighteen years ago)

MC5 "Kick Out The Jams"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7R5OkWVNfM

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:46 (eighteen years ago)

New York Dolls "Personality Crisis" in 1973
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-iwHbnXXo

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:50 (eighteen years ago)

The Clash doing "White Riot" (no idea when though)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YYJ19W5o-A

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:51 (eighteen years ago)

The Who: A Quick One While He's Away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUu0B63qnAI

"Tommy" may not have been the first rock opera, but they sure pioneered rock operas anyway, releasing this track already in 1966.

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:52 (eighteen years ago)

Old-ass Melvins clip (Kurt Cobain says hi!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI91QEc0mO0

Old-ass Young Gods clip (Trent Reznor says hi!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdhHMXTGCC8

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:58 (eighteen years ago)

Bands that had a dream, a dream that one people, regardless of hair length, could mosh together:

DRI in 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yn68eGDZL4

SOD in 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxz0TaMOtQk

COC in 1987
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKmV2xuh-sc

Suicidal Tendencies in 1984 (less metal than they would eventually be, but still...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQbZIEknAYM

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 08:12 (eighteen years ago)

Speaking of synthpop, New Musik with "Straight Lines" TOTP in 1979. Can't think of an earlier synthpop group with such an emphasis on the "pop" part.

Well, here's Sparks with "Number One Song in Heaven", also from 1979:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X_8OnDpayI

Don't know if this predates "Straight Lines" though.

― Tuomas, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:10 (eighteen years ago)

If those Sparks songs were synthpop, then "I Feel Love" was too.

Anyway, the first synthpop song was this (sadly didn't find the Giorgio Moroder original):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNmhs_jhXOI

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:12 (eighteen years ago)

(Plus those on-screen lyrics predated Karaoke too) ;)

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:13 (eighteen years ago)

Souther Freeez is great, Freeez is great, John Rocca solo is great.

― dan selzer, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:16 (eighteen years ago)

actually geir, I'd say the first sythpop is the SIlver Apples. Synth. and Pop.

― dan selzer, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:16 (eighteen years ago)

I like that New Musik song. Are they worth pursuing further?

― chap, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:26 (eighteen years ago)

I think "Number One Song in Heaven", and even more some other tunes on the Number One in Heaven album are closer to synth pop than disco, even if they were produced by Moroder. They feel more like pop tunes than "I Feel Love", and they don't have such a disco groove. I mean, it's hard to listen to songs like "La Dolce Vita" and not to think this is the starting point for Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, etc.

― Tuomas, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:29 (eighteen years ago)

Bo Diddley inventing Garage Rock on Ed Sullivan in 1955

Buddy Holly and the Crickets invent the self-contained rock band in 1957

ditto

ditto again

― C. Grisso/McCain, Thursday, 19 April 2007 14:12 (eighteen years ago)

Richie Valens invents the Led Zep lawsuit in 1958

― C. Grisso/McCain, Thursday, 19 April 2007 14:23 (eighteen years ago)

Another early Rock/Pop song w/a Synth part:

Rolling Stones-"We Love You" (Brian Jones on an unseen Mellotron)

― C. Grisso/McCain, Thursday, 19 April 2007 15:00 (eighteen years ago)

Was Roxy Music The First Rock Band To Do a Disco Song?

― C. Grisso/McCain, Thursday, 19 April 2007 15:22 (eighteen years ago)

I always thought Laurie Anderson's "O Superman" was ahead of it's time...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hhm0NHhCBg

Am I the only person who used it as an outgoing answering machine message?

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 16:46 (eighteen years ago)

The Kingsmen invent all kinds of shit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ9qn-tlMTw

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 16:55 (eighteen years ago)

Johnny Burnette and The Rock and Roll Trio Kinda Sorta Invent Hard Rock and Metal In 1956

― C. Grisso/McCain, Thursday, 19 April 2007 17:27 (eighteen years ago)

Was Roxy Music The First Rock Band To Do a Disco Song?

nope, epsecially not when you realize disco was built on stuff like Woman by Barrabas, not to mention stuff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvGa-8-Lns

― dan selzer, Thursday, 19 April 2007 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

Africa Bambaataa and John Lydon (as Time Zone) Invent The Rock/Rap Crossover Collaboration In 1984

― C. Grisso/McCain, Thursday, 19 April 2007 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

Venom invent Black Metal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XZnjTELeVI

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 17:37 (eighteen years ago)

The Cramps invent punk/psychobilly for an appreciative audience of insane people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2epj61MEYH8

"Somebody told me you people are crazy but I'm not so sure about that; you seem to be alright to me..."

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 17:42 (eighteen years ago)

Good call on that Chicago clip Dan. They were doing Disco before the genre technically exhisted!

― C. Grisso/McCain, Thursday, 19 April 2007 17:45 (eighteen years ago)

That Time Zone is awesome, never heard that before, thanks!

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 17:51 (eighteen years ago)

Bathory invent Viking Metal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDpc-831GPs

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

(I dream of a world where Geir likes Viking Metal...)

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

Possessed invents Death Metal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKDfJyDXmtY

― NYCNative, Thursday, 19 April 2007 18:10 (eighteen years ago)

so what was happening in NYC and FIre Island wasn't technically "disco"? Francis Grasso playing Chicago at the Sanctuary in 70, Nicky Siano djing Woman at the Gallery in 1973 isn't Disco?

― dan selzer, Thursday, 19 April 2007 19:30 (eighteen years ago)

Miles, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter & Tony Williams doing postbop 30 years before everybody else:

Part One
Part Two

lol @ 'esculine' in the comments section

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 20 April 2007 01:57 (eighteen years ago)

About 98% of Sonic Youth's (and the VUs' and the Stooges' and the MC5's) sonic vocabulary can be traced directly to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNMB88gxCTE

― Standing In The Shadows Of Bob, Friday, 20 April 2007 01:59 (eighteen years ago)

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"Wow, were they ahead of their time!" - a YouTube Thread