# List of UK Independent Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s

These are the UK Official Indie Chart number-one hits of the 1980s, as compiled by MRIB.

## 1980

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 19 January | "Where's Captain Kirk?" | Spizzenergi | Rough Trade | 7 weeks |
| 8 March | "Food for Thought" / King | UB40 | Graduate | 12 weeks |
| 31 May | "Bloody Revolutions" | Crass | Crass | 5 weeks |
| 5 July | "Love Will Tear Us Apart" | Joy Division | Factory | 10* weeks |
| 30 August | "Paranoid" | Black Sabbath | NEMS | 5* weeks |
| 13 September | Can't Cheat Karma (EP) | Zounds | Crass | 2 weeks |
| 18 October | "Requiem" | Killing Joke | E.G. | 1 week |
| 25 October | "Atmosphere" | Joy Division | Factory | 2 weeks |
| 8 November | "Kill the Poor" | Dead Kennedys | Cherry Red | 1 week |
| 15 November | "The Earth Dies Screaming" / "Dream a Lie" | UB40 | Graduate | 5* weeks |
| 6 December | Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (EP) | Motörhead | Big Beat | 1 week |
| 27 December | "Cartrouble" | Adam and the Ants | Do It | 7* weeks |

## 1981

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 24 January | "Zerox" | Adam and the Ants | Do It | 3 weeks |
| 7 March | "Nagasaki Nightmare" | Crass | Crass | 2 weeks |
| 21 March | "Ceremony" | New Order | Factory | 3 weeks |
| 11 April | Four from Toyah (EP) | Toyah | Safari | 3 weeks |
| 2 May | "Dreaming of Me" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 1 week |
| 9 May | Why (EP) | Discharge | Clay | 2 weeks |
| 23 May | "I Want To Be Free" | Toyah | Safari | 1 week |
| 30 May | "Don't Let It Pass You By" / "Don't Slow Down" | UB40 | DEP International | 1 week |
| 6 June | "Too Drunk to Fuck" | Dead Kennedys | Cherry Red | 5 weeks |
| 11 July | "New Life" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 7 weeks |
| 29 August | "One in Ten" | UB40 | DEP International | 4 weeks |
| 26 September | "Just Can't Get Enough" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 2 weeks |
| 10 October | "Procession" | New Order | Factory | 3 weeks |
| 31 October | "Thunder in the Mountains" | Toyah | Safari | 4 weeks |
| 28 November | "Six Guns" | Anti-Pasti | Rondelet | 1 week |
| 5 December | Four More From Toyah (EP) | Toyah | Safari | 5* weeks |
| 19 December | "Don't Let 'Em Grind You Down" | The Exploited & Anti-Pasti | Exploited | 1 week |

## 1982

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 16 January | "Streets of London" | Anti-Nowhere League | WXYZ | 2 weeks |
| 30 January | "Do You Believe in the Westworld?" | Theatre of Hate | Burning Rome | 2 weeks |
| 13 February | "See You" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 7 weeks |
| 3 April | "I Hate People" | Anti-Nowhere League | WXYZ | 2 weeks |
| 17 April | "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" | Pigbag | Y | 4 weeks |
| 15 May | "Only You" | Yazoo | Mute | 5 weeks |
| 19 June | "Temptation" | New Order | Factory | 3 weeks |
| 10 July | "Woman" | Anti-Nowhere League | WXYZ | 2 weeks |
| 24 July | "Don't Go" | Yazoo | Mute | 8 weeks |
| 18 September | "Leave in Silence" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 6 weeks |
| 30 October | "Shipbuilding" | Robert Wyatt | Rough Trade | 3* weeks |
| 6 November | "How Does It Feel to Be the Mother of 1000 Dead?" | Crass | Crass | 3 weeks |
| 27 November | "The Other Side of Love" | Yazoo | Mute | 4 weeks |
| 25 December | "Save Your Love" | Renée and Renato | Hollywood | 3 weeks |

## 1983

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 15 January | "Fat Man" | Southern Death Cult | Situation Two | 2 weeks |
| 29 January | "Heartache Avenue" | The Maisonettes | Ready Steady Go! | 3 weeks |
| 19 February | "Oblivious" | Aztec Camera | Rough Trade | 2 weeks |
| 12 March | "Get the Balance Right!" | Depeche Mode | Mute Records | 2 weeks |
| 26 March | "Blue Monday" | New Order | Factory | 13* weeks |
| 11 June | "Nobody's Diary" | Yazoo | Mute | 1 week |
| 18 June | "Pills and Soap" | The Imposter (Elvis Costello) | F-Beat | 2 weeks |
| 2 July | "Sheep Farming in the Falklands" | Crass | Crass | 2 weeks |
| 16 July | "War Baby" | Tom Robinson | Panic | 3 weeks |
| 6 August | "Everything Counts" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 5 weeks |
| 10 September | "Confusion" | New Order | Factory | 4 weeks |
| 5 November | "Temple of Love" | The Sisters of Mercy | Merciful Release | 1 week |
| 26 November | "This Charming Man" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 7* weeks |
| 3 December | "Never Never" | The Assembly | Mute | 2 weeks |

## 1984

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 28 January | "What Difference Does It Make?" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 9 weeks |
| 31 March | "You're Already Dead" | Crass | Crass | 1 week |
| 7 April | "People Are People" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 3 weeks |
| 28 April | "Hand in Glove" | Sandie Shaw | Rough Trade | 1 week |
| 5 May | "Thieves Like Us" | New Order | Factory | 2 weeks |
| 19 May | "Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops" | Cocteau Twins | 4AD | 2 weeks |
| 2 June | "Spiritwalker" | The Cult | Situation Two | 1 week |
| 9 June | "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 3* weeks |
| 23 June | "Thanks for the Night" | The Damned | Damned | 2 weeks |
| 14 July | "In the Ghetto" | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | Mute | 4 weeks |
| 11 August | "Walk into the Sun" | The March Violets | Rebirth | 2 weeks |
| 25 August | "Agadoo" | Black Lace | Flair | 2 weeks |
| 8 September | "William, It Was Really Nothing" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 2 weeks |
| 22 September | "Master and Servant" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 6 weeks |
| 3 November | "Marimba Jive" | Red Guitars | Self Drive | 2 weeks |
| 17 November | "The Price" | New Model Army | Abstract | 1 week |
| 24 November | "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 3 weeks |
| 15 December | "Nellie the Elephant" | Toy Dolls | Volume | 7 weeks |

## 1985

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 2 February | "Upside Down" | The Jesus and Mary Chain | Creation | 4* weeks |
| 16 February | "How Soon Is Now?" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 4 weeks |
| 30 March | "Aikea-Guinea" | Cocteau Twins | 4AD | 2* weeks |
| 6 April | "Shakespeare's Sister" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 3 weeks |
| 4 May | "Be with Me" | Red Guitars | One Way | 2 weeks |
| 18 May | "Shake the Disease" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 2 weeks |
| 1 June | "The Perfect Kiss" | New Order | Factory | 3 weeks |
| 22 June | "You'll Never Walk Alone" | The Crowd | Spartan | 3 weeks |
| 13 July | "Iron Masters" | The Men They Couldn't Hang | Demon | 3* weeks |
| 20 July | "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 2 weeks |
| 17 August | "Tupelo" | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | Mute | 2 weeks |
| 31 August | "Well Well Well" | The Woodentops | Rough Trade | 3 weeks |
| 21 September | "Primitive Painters" | Felt | 4AD | 2 weeks |
| 5 October | "It's Called a Heart" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 1 week |
| 12 October | "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 3 weeks |
| 2 November | "The Battle Continues" | Conflict | Mortarhate | 2 weeks |
| 16 November | "Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?" | The Cramps | Big Beat | 1 week |
| 23 November | "Sub-culture" | New Order | Factory | 1 week |
| 30 November | "Tiny Dynamine" | Cocteau Twins | 4AD | 2 weeks |
| 14 December | "Echoes in a Shallow Bay" | Cocteau Twins | 4AD | 8 weeks |

## 1986

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 8 February | "Giving Ground" | The Sisterhood | Merciful Release | 4* weeks |
| 1 March | "Stripped" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 1 week |
| 15 March | "The Trumpton Riots" | Half Man Half Biscuit | Probe Plus | 3 weeks |
| 5 April | "Shellshock" | New Order | Factory | 3 weeks |
| 26 April | "Godstar" | Psychic TV & The Angels of Light | Temple | 2 weeks |
| 10 May | "Rules and Regulations" | We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It | Vindaloo | 4 weeks |
| 7 June | "Bigmouth Strikes Again" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 5 weeks |
| 12 July | "The Singer" | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | Mute | 2 weeks |
| 26 July | "Garden of Delight" | The Mission | Chapter 22 | 2 weeks |
| 9 August | "Panic" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 4 weeks |
| 6 September | "Tokyo Storm Warning" | Elvis Costello & The Attractions | Demon | 2 weeks |
| 20 September | "Come Here My Love" | This Mortal Coil | 4AD | 1 week |
| 27 September | "State of the Nation" | New Order | Factory | 3 weeks |
| 18 October | "Dickie Davies Eyes" | Half Man Half Biscuit | Probe Plus | 1 week |
| 25 October | "(Love Affair With) Everyday Living" | The Woodentops | Rough Trade | 1 week |
| 1 November | "Love's Easy Tears" | Cocteau Twins | 4AD | 1 week |
| 8 November | "Ask" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 2 weeks |
| 22 November | "Bizarre Love Triangle" | New Order | Factory | 2 weeks |
| 5 December | "Sometimes" | Erasure | Mute | 4 weeks |

## 1987

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 3 January | "Into the Groove(y)" | Ciccone Youth | Blast First | 1 week |
| 10 January | "Kiss" | Age of Chance | FON | 3 weeks |
| 31 January | "Shoplifters of the World Unite" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 4 weeks |
| 28 February | "It Doesn't Have to Be" | Erasure | Mute | 8 weeks |
| 25 April | "Sheila Take a Bow" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 3 weeks |
| 16 May | "Nosedive Karma" | Gaye Bykers on Acid | In Tape | 3 weeks |
| 6 June | "Victim of Love" | Erasure | Mute | 2 weeks |
| 20 June | "Can't Take No More" | The Soup Dragons | Raw TV | 4 weeks |
| 18 July | "Flowers in Our Hair" | All About Eve | Eden | 2 weeks |
| 1 August | "True Faith" | New Order | Factory | 3 weeks |
| 22 August | "Girlfriend in a Coma" | The Smiths | Rough Trade | 2 weeks |
| 5 September | "Pump Up the Volume" | M/A/R/R/S | 4AD | 7 weeks |
| 24 October | "Blue Water" | Fields of the Nephilim | Situation Two | 2 weeks |
| 7 November | "My Baby Just Cares for Me" | Nina Simone | Charly | 5 weeks |
| 12 December | "Touched by the Hand of God" | New Order | Factory | 6 weeks |

## 1988

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 23 January | "Behind the Wheel" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 1 week |
| 30 January | "Rok da House" | Beatmasters & Cookie Crew | Rhythm King | 1 week |
| 6 February | "Coldsweat" | The Sugarcubes | One Little Indian | 2 weeks |
| 20 February | "I Should Be So Lucky" | Kylie Minogue | PWL | 1 week |
| 27 February | "Beat Dis" | Bomb the Bass | Mister-Ron | 4 weeks |
| 26 March | "Ship of Fools" | Erasure | Mute | 4 weeks |
| 23 April | "Theme from S'Express" | S'Express | Rhythm King | 4 weeks |
| 21 May | "Blue Monday 1988" | New Order | Factory | 2 weeks |
| 4 June | "Got to Be Certain" | Kylie Minogue | PWL | 1 week |
| 11 June | "Moonchild" | Fields of the Nephilim | Situation Two | 2 weeks |
| 25 June | "Doctorin' the Tardis" | The Timelords | KLF Communications | 4 weeks |
| 23 July | "Superfly Guy" | S'Express | Rhythm King | 3 weeks |
| 13 August | "The Only Way Is Up" | Yazz & The Plastic Population | Big Life | 5 weeks |
| 17 September | "Birthday" | The Sugarcubes | One Little Indian | 1 week |
| 24 September | "Stop This Crazy Thing" | Coldcut feat. Junior Reid | Big Life | 1 week |
| 1 October | "Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now?" | The Wedding Present | Reception | 3 weeks |
| 22 October | "A Little Respect" | Erasure | Mute | 2 weeks |
| 5 November | "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" | Kylie Minogue | PWL | 1 week |
| 12 November | "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" | Yazz | Big Life | 3 weeks |
| 3 December | "Say a Little Prayer" | Bomb the Bass feat. Maureen | Rhythm King | 1 week |
| 10 December | "Fine Time" | New Order | Factory | 2 weeks |
| 24 December | Crackers International (EP) | Erasure | Mute | 8 weeks |

## 1989

| Date first reached number one | Song | Artist | Label | Duration |
| 18 February | "Can't Be Sure" | The Sundays | Rough Trade | 3 weeks |
| 11 March | "Hey Music Lover" | S'Express | Rhythm King | 1 week |
| 18 March | "Too Many Broken Hearts" | Jason Donovan | PWL | 1 week |
| 25 March | "Round & Round" | New Order | Factory | 1 week |
| 1 April | The Power of Lard (EP) | Lard | Alternative Tentacles | 1 week |
| 8 April | "Monkey Gone to Heaven" | Pixies | 4AD | 4 weeks |
| 6 May | "Who's in the House?" | Beatmasters feat. MC Merlin | Rhythm King | 1 week |
| 13 May | "Hand on Your Heart" | Kylie Minogue | PWL | 1 week |
| 20 May | "Just Like Heaven" | Dinosaur Jr. | Blast First | 1 week |
| 27 May | "Ferry Cross the Mersey" | The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman | PWL | 3 weeks |
| 17 June | "Sealed with a Kiss" | Jason Donovan | PWL | 2 weeks |
| 1 July | "Here Comes Your Man" | Pixies | 4AD | 3 weeks |
| 22 July | "Hypnotized" | Spacemen 3 | Fire | 1 week |
| 29 July | "She Bangs the Drums" | The Stone Roses | Silvertone | 3 weeks |
| 19 August | "Pure" | The Lightning Seeds | Ghetto | 2 weeks |
| 2 September | "Hey DJ / I Can't Dance (To That Music You're Playing)" | Beatmasters feat. Betty Boo | Rhythm King | 1 week |
| 9 September | "Find Out Why" | Inspiral Carpets | Cow | 1 week |
| 16 September | "Run 2" | New Order | Factory | 1 week |
| 23 September | "Regina" | The Sugarcubes | One Little Indian | 1 week |
| 30 September | "Personal Jesus" | Depeche Mode | Mute | 1 week |
| 7 October | "Drama!" | Erasure | Mute | 1 week |
| 14 October | "Wrote for Luck" | Happy Mondays | Factory | 1 week |
| 21 October | "Street Tuff" | Rebel MC & Double Trouble | Desire | 2 weeks |
| 4 November | "Eye Know" | De La Soul | Tommy Boy | 1 week |
| 11 November | "Widowermaker" | Butthole Surfers | Blast First | 2 weeks |
| 25 November | "Move" | Inspiral Carpets | Cow | 1 week |
| 2 December | "Fools Gold / What the World Is Waiting For" | The Stone Roses | Silvertone | 3 weeks |
| 23 December | "Getting Away with It" | Electronic | Factory | 3 weeks |