Thanks Simon. Yeah, it occurred to me as I was pulling it together that I had only really considered one musical theme - metal - in this list (SOM the asterisk) and that it'd be extremely difficult to attempt something more holistic in one article.

Def a fan of the Smiths and New Order. I'd need to look at bands like the Birthday Party, Black Flag, Bauhaus, Hanoi Rocks - lots of great stuff from that year.

Appreciated.