16 Glasgow bands that soundtracked growing up in the 1980s

The 1980s were an exciting time to be attending gigs in Glasgow, with a wave of new talent emerging across the city’s music scene.

The independent Glasgow-based label Postcard Records was founded by Alan Horne at the start of the decade, carrying the motto “The Sound of Young Scotland.”

Its first release came from Bearsden band Orange Juice, who issued the single “Falling and Laughing” in spring 1980. The band went on to influence many of their contemporaries. Another standout act was East Kilbride’s Aztec Camera, widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most significant bands of the era, especially after the release of their acclaimed debut album High Land, Hard Rain in January 1983.

The decade also marked a period of major social and economic upheaval in Glasgow, as Margaret Thatcher’s conservative government pursued policies that contributed to the decline of traditional industries across the city and surrounding areas. In response, many artists channelled these changes into their music, while bands such as Simple Minds also rose to major international success during the decade.

Here are 16 Glasgow bands that soundtracked growing up in the 1980s.