1983

Acts Formed

Bon Jovi

Sayreville, New Jersey, USA
Hard Rock

Guided By Voices

Dayton, Ohio, USA
Indie Rock

Inspiral Carpets

Manchester, England
Indie Rock

Megadeth

Los Angeles, California, USA
Thrash Metal

Melvins

Montesano, Washington, England
Alternative Rock

My Bloody Valentine

Dublin, Ireland
Shoegaze

Nick Cave & the
Bad Seeds

Melbourne, Australia
Punk / Piano Rock

NOFX

Los Angeles, California, USA
Punk

Phish

Burlington, Vermont
Rock

The Flaming Lips

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Neo-Psychedelia

The Jesus and
Mary Chain

East Kilbride, Scotland
Indie Rock

The La's

Liverpool, England
Indie Rock

The Waterboys

London, England
Big Music

February 4th

Karen Carpenter dies at 32 from a heart attack.

February 23rd - Grammy Awards

Album of the Year: Toto - Toto IV

Song of the Year: Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind

April 11th

Dave Mustaine is kicked out of Metallica. He would go on to form Megadeth.

May 2nd

New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies is released. Joy Division are reborn.

May 27th

Swans - Filth is released. Debut album.

June 1st

Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues is released.

July 25th

Metallica - Kill 'Em All is released. Debut album. Thrash metal is born.

August 16th

Johnny Ramone nearly dies from injuries sustained during a fist fight.

August 20th

The Rolling Stones sign with CBS Records in a deal worth $28m. It was the most lucrative recording contract ever made at the time.

September 18th

The members of Kiss reveal their faces for the first time.

October 24th

Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels is released. Dream pop is born.

November 26th

Metal Health by Quiet Riot becomes the first heavy metal record to top the US album chart.

December 3rd

Slayer - Show No Mercy is released. Debut album.

December 28th

Dennis Wilson, of The Beach Boys, dies at 39 by drowning.