(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 02, 2011 ) Detroit, Michigan – The Motor City is the home to countless rock and roll icons such as Bob Seger, Kid Rock, The Temptations and many more. The city of innovation is often referred to as Detroit Rock City, (made famous from the rock band Kiss). Metro Detroit has seen a lot of phases in music throughout the years from the birth of rock music, (see Bill Haley and the Comets from Highland Park) to the Motown movement in the 1960’s. Today there is an affluent Alternative Music scene in the city that propels little known bands to International attention. But this wasn’t always the case. Hometown artist and business innovator sheds light on the subject with a new website documenting the British rock band, The Smiths, influence over Metro Detroit radio.
The website documents the essential years of the bands rise in America – primarily in Detroit covering 1986 -1988. The Smiths, led by flamboyant singer Morrissey actually played a gig in Detroit at the famous State Theater on Woodward Avenue, (now known as The Filmore). This was to support a little known release, “The Queen is Dead” from Rough Trade and Sire Records. This was a bold move for The Smiths and a bold move for Detroit because in 1986 there was no Alternative Music movement in America. In fact, there was no name for this type of music and that is what the website was about.
“In 1986 there was no media coverage about up and coming bands like The Smiths like we have today. The radio stations were oblivious to what was going on as they stayed to a more classic rock format. It wasn’t until REM released the album Document did any radio stations start paying attention.” Says Ted Cantu, the author of the website – Panic in the Streets of London. “The long lasting effect of The Smiths appearance in Detroit has led to a whole host of bands coming through S.E. Michigan in rapid succession that has never been duplicated since. They opened the door to many Euro-bands including Echo and the Bunnymen, INXS, Love and Rockets and PIL just to name a few. They were the catalysts.”
Today it is a completely different story. The movement has become a mainstay in Metro Detroit radio culture. Stations like Windsor, Canada based 89X have made Alternative Music its primary format. The website documents The Smiths impact on Michigan radio as well as the new rise of up and coming bands in Metro Detroit.
