Manchester Bands of the 80's and 90's
 

As we all know some of the best music of these decades came from this very city (pity we're shit these days). I'm interested in seeing what people's favourites are, because some sound very similar (Stone Roses and Oasis) and others are completely unique like the Smiths. Say why you've picked a particular band.

My vote goes to The Smiths, because as a friend of mine likes to say "they have two songs for every emotion". Sometimes they don't need to say much to get a point across, "Death of A Disco Dancer" and "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" being two quite similar examples. As songwriting and music go, they're always among my favourites.
Pity Morrissey is so contemptible!

Why are Happy Mondays and New Order not on this poll?

Damn... that's because I'm a nobhead. Can you add them please? I thought I'd put New Order on to be honest, because their frontman did a collaboration with Johnny Marr which I thought ws pretty great.

Oasis rose up out of playing a few pub gigs and sports halls to become one of the greatest bands to ever come out of the UK. They performed epic pop songs and had a slew of B-side songs that were better then most bands at that time.

Done. :)

That's a pretty bold claim. To me they're just a band with a couple of decent singles but not much else of interest beyond that.

The Stone Roses for me. Although bands like The Chameleons deserve to be mentioned.

I'd agree with that. They pretty much rode the success of two or three hit singles and dined out on that for years. Though I did like "Stop crying your heart out". Definitely not one of the "greatest bands ever to come out of England" though in my opinion. At a simple off the top of my head I can think of Sabbath, ELO, Zep, Purple, Rainbow, Dio, probably hundreds more...

The Smiths of course, on account of being one of my favourite bands ever and having a solid discography. The Stone Roses and The Chemical Brothers (who should be included btw!) are tied in second place. Both of those bands lose points for releasing at least one or more mediocre albums.

Also weren't The Fall from Manchester?

The Fall belong in a category unto their own.

I thought about putting in The Fall but they started in the seventies (1976-ish?). Oasis had to be there because although many people think they ripped off the Stone Roses, I've met as many people who do prefer them to the Stone Roses.