page_title: Music of Pennsylvania
section_title: The Eighties and Nineties
hierarchical_section_title: Music of Pennsylvania / Rock and popular music / The Eighties and Nineties
caption_attribution_description: The Bloodhound Gang Lietuvių: The Bloodhound Gang
context_page_description: The Philly sound in 1970s soul music, notable performers including Gamble and Huff, The O'Jays, The Stylistics, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and The Delfonics, is well-known, as are jazz legends like Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and John Coltrane. Philadelphia gave to the musical world diverse singers such as Marian Anderson, Mario Lanza, Solomon Burke, Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp, and the trio performing as The Golden Boys, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell and Fabian Forte, who grew up together in the same Philly neighborhood. This city is also the birthplace of American Bandstand, and the home of Cameo-Parkway Records and the famed Philadelphia Orchestra.
  Following the American Revolution, Philadelphia became especially renowned for musical development and was the home of the esteemed Alexander Reinagle, John Christopher Moller, Rayner Taylor and Susannah Haswell Rowson. Reinagle became the most influential figure in Philadelphia's musical life, organizing a number of concerts, organizations and musical events. Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a notable composer of the period.
context_section_description: Pennsylvania had a number of key entries into the music scene of the 1980s and 1990s.
  Pittsburgh's Iron City Houserockers, kicked off the decade with immense critical acclaim for their first three albums (Love's So Tough, Have a Good Time But Get Out Alive and Blood On The Bricks).  Associated with the heartland rock subgenre and with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, John Mellencamp, and Tom Petty, the Houserockers were regarded by many as both grittier and more kinetic.  Although commercial success eluded the group, leader Joe Grushecky and the later incarnation of the band remain popular regional artists. In the Houserockers' wake came a number of other Pittsburgh area bands, including Norman Nardini and the Tigers, whose minor hit "If You Don't Love Me (Someone Will)" put the band briefly on the pop map.  More recent entries in the heartland rock scene (sometimes counted as Grushecky protégés) include Bill Toms and Hard Rain and Tom Breiding who have strong local followings.
  Donnie Iris, former member of The Jaggerz, had national success in 1980 with "Ah! Leah!", "Love Is Like a Rock", and a string of subsequent minor hits from 1980 to 1984.
  The Stabilizers was a duo with sessions players for touring. They released a full album with many memorable songs. The song "One Simple Thing" went to number 21. The song "Tyranny" with hard hitting lyrics on how governments control their people had a lot of radio play but failed to chart. The song had two different versions that both got airplay. "Sounds Of The Underground" was never released as a single but was played by many local fans.
  The Cynics were a garage rock band formed in Pittsburgh in 1983.  They started their own label, Get Hip Records.
  The Hooters, from Philadelphia, broke into nationwide attention when they became the opening band at Live Aid where they performed "All You Zombies," soon to become their first hit single.  The album Nervous Night followed with several more major hits like "And We Danced" and "Day By Day" in 1985 and 1986.
  Hair metal band Poison were originally from the Harrisburg area, but as was common with glam metal bands, relocated to Los Angeles before becoming successful. They had a #1 Hot 100 hit with "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" in 1988.
  In 1979, The Sharks were formed in Harrisburg. In 1986, they won the MTV Basement Tape Competition. The Sharks were regular performers at the iconic Metron, a large concert venue/nightclub in Harrisburg.
  Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor hails from Mercer, Pennsylvania; while former drummer/programmer Chris Vrenna (also known for his work in other projects) is from Erie.
  Live, who achieved commercial success with their second album Throwing Copper, hail from York.
  Fuel, despite forming in Henderson, Tennessee, moved to Harrisburg in 1994 and eventually got signed while based there.
  Acoustic-pop singer Jeffrey Gaines is also from Harrisburg.
  The alternative band, The Ocean Blue formed in Hershey.
  Death metal band Incantation are from Johnstown.
  The Clarks, a rock/pop band who achieved major success in the 1990s with the songs "Born too late", "Penny on the floor", "Cigarette", "Better Off", are native to Pittsburgh.
  Rusted Root, a jam band who has also had a prolific music career with the songs "Send Me on My Way", "Ecstasy", "Heaven", and "Free my soul", also call Pittsburgh home.
  Train lead singer, Patrick Monahan, hails from Erie. He co-wrote the song Drops of Jupiter, which won two Grammy Awards in 2002.
  G. Love and Special Sauce, who has had a string of successes with songs like "Stepping Stone" and "Recipe", is from Philadelphia.
  The Bloodhound Gang are from the Philadelphia area, as are the hair metal bands Cinderella and Britny Fox.
  Ween is from New Hope, Pennsylvania.
  Christina Aguilera (from Pittsburgh) had 5 #1 Hot 100 hits, including "Genie in a Bottle" in 1999.
caption: Philadelphia-based alternative rock group The Bloodhound Gang
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