Paisley Underground: History and Sound of Paisley Underground

The Paisley Underground is a term musicians and critics use to describe the psychedelic jangle pop music that came out of California—particularly Los Angeles—in the early 1980s. The music scene’s collaborations and committed fan base helped launch bands including the Dream Syndicate, the Bangles, the Long Ryders, the Rain Parade, and the Three O'Clock.

The Paisley Underground scene is closely associated with Los Angeles, but its roots trace to the University of California at Davis in Davis, California.

• UC Davis: While in school, UC Davis students Steve Wynn and Kendra Smith began a musical partnership that later became the Dream Syndicate. Local radio stations, including the university's KDVS, employed DJs like Scott Miller (founder of Game Theory), Russ Tolman (a future member of True West), and Guy Kyser (a member of Thin White Rope).
• Los Angeles: The UC Davis musicians moved to the music industry capital of Los Angeles, and by the early ’80s, the Paisley Underground scene was in full effect. In Los Angeles, the UC Davis alumni met like-minded musicians, like sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson (co-founders of The Bangles), Sid Griffin (founder of the scene's top alternative country band, the Long Ryders), and Michael Quercio (founding member of the Three O'Clock and inventor of the term "Paisley Underground.")
• Fan base: Thanks to a devoted fan base and several mainstream hits—nearly all of them by the Bangles—the Paisley Underground became known in indie rock circles throughout the world. While the Paisley Underground centered around Los Angeles, its bands shared a fan base with similar scenes in Athens, Georgia (home of R.E.M. and the dB’s); Manchester, UK (home of the Fall); Carteret, New Jersey (home of the Smithereens); and Dunedin, New Zealand (home of the Clean and the Verlaines).
• Disbandment: Eventually, some of the groups disbanded or transformed into new bands. Most notably, the Paisley Underground band Opal regrouped as Mazzy Star and enjoyed 1990s success on MTV.

The Paisley Underground scene features a few core characteristics:

1. 1. 1960s influence: The Paisley Underground features many sounds of music from the 1960s and early 1970s. Groups like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, and Big Star set a template for future Paisley Underground artists.
2. 2. Beyond psychedelia: Many Paisley Underground bands show the influence of psychedelic artists like the Velvet Underground and the 13th Floor Elevators. Yet, the music of the Paisley Underground extends beyond 1960s psychedelia, with the energy of punk rock and the urgent hooks of power pop. Some Paisley Underground records were slickly produced, but many had the raw edges of garage rock.
3. 3. Crossover collaborations: Many Paisley Underground musicians were members of more than one band. The band Rainy Day, for instance, featured members of Rain Parade, the Bangles, the Dream Syndicate, and the Three O'Clock. Danny & Dusty was a pairing of Green on Red singer Dan Stuart and the Dream Syndicate guitarist Steve Wynn.

Critical bands of the Paisley Underground scene include:

1. 1. The Bangles: The Bangles enjoyed the most commercial success of any Paisley Underground band. Founded as the Bangs, the group centered around sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson and vocalist Susanna Hoffs. The group produced multiple FM radio and MTV hits, including "Manic Monday," "Eternal Flame," and "Walk Like an Egyptian."
2. 2. The Three O'Clock: The term "Paisley Underground" comes from Michael Quercio, the bassist and lead vocalist of the Three O'Clock. Originally called the Salvation Army, the Three O'Clock specializes in high-energy power pop with short bursts of psychedelia, as heard on the band’s 1983 debut Sixteen Tambourines.
3. 3. The Dream Syndicate: The Dream Syndicate is best known for its 1982 album The Days of Wine and Roses and its single "Tell Me When It's Over," which instantly recalls the jangly guitars and deadpan delivery of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground. The album came out on Slash Records, a label most associated with punk rock.
4. 4. Rain Parade: While some Paisley Underground groups bubbled with the energy of a punk band, the Rain Parade took a more meandering approach. Records like Emergency Third Rail Power Trip are gentle, psychedelic, and even sleepy, as they explore unconventional sonic territory.
5. 5. Opal: Opal was founded by Kendra Smith of Dream Syndicate and David Roback of Rain Parade. Eventually, Smith departed and was replaced by singer Hope Sandoval. Roback changed the band's name to Mazzy Star and enjoyed a string of hits.
6. 6. Green on Red: Founded by Arizona native Dan Stuart, Green on Red was more on the psych rock end of the Paisley Underground spectrum. Green on Red was represented by Slash Records, the same label as the Dream Syndicate.

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