This reference work offers a guide to the groups and artists who have moulded the shape of popular music in the 70s 80s and 90s. From the beginning of punk in the late 1970s with the Sex Pistols, Clash, Damned, X-Ray Spex and the Buzzcocks in the UK, and Television, Talking Heads, Blondie and the Ramones in the US, modern popular music was shaken to its foundations. These bands paved the way in the ensuing years for many new and varied forms of exciting music including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division/New Order, the Cure, Smiths, Cocteau Twins, Birthday Party, Jesus and Mary Chain, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, James and REM. The book contains entries on all these bands plus many more who are often ignored in more mainstream music publications. In all there are over 2000 entries including contributions by some of the leading pop and indie writers.