80s band names involving automobiles?

June 30, 2005 4:05 PM

80sMusicFilter: I'm looking for a list of popular 80s artists whose band names are somehow related to automobiles. I'm trying to rediscover the name of a particular band I have forgotten.

A while ago I heard a song by some 80s artist whose band name had something to do with automobiles, and the only part of the song I can remember had something to do with "falling." The band had a male singer.

Given that this seems to me like a uselessly vague description of the artist/song, I've resorted to just asking for a list of artist names that involve automobiles because I'm sure I'd recognize the name if presented with it.

So, any leads would be appreciated. Thanks for your time :)

posted by Ziggy Zaga to Media & Arts (31 answers total)

Well, there was REO Speedwagon, but I don't know if that's what you're thinking of.... This may be a job for jonmc!
posted by scody at 4:06 PM on June 30, 2005

Response by poster: It definitely wasn't REO Speedwagon, but thanks for trying. :\
posted by Ziggy Zaga at 4:13 PM on June 30, 2005

The Cars?
posted by bendy at 4:14 PM on June 30, 2005

The Cars, Door to Door, "Strap Me In"?
posted by Rothko at 4:14 PM on June 30, 2005

Response by poster: No, it wasn't the Cars either.

From here on out rather than respond to every suggestion I'm just going to lurk and speak up if someone mentions the one I'm looking for.

Proactively speaking though, I do appreciate every suggestion made :)
posted by Ziggy Zaga at 4:19 PM on June 30, 2005

1980s music groups, via wikipedia, and another list of '80s artists. Don't see much car-titled bands though.
posted by icontemplate at 4:21 PM on June 30, 2005

Mike and the Mechanics - Falling
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 4:36 PM on June 30, 2005

Drivin N Cryin?
posted by emptyage at 5:20 PM on June 30, 2005

There's Death Ride '69 and Fabulous Thunderbirds.

The El Caminos are a 90's band, as are the Chevelles and Datsuns.

There was also an outfit in 2001 called Trabant.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:26 PM on June 30, 2005

Also: The Fairlanes, and the (90's era+ group) Cadillac Angels.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:32 PM on June 30, 2005

Of course, you might want to consider The Pontiac Brothers, Cadillac Ranch,
and (again, 90's) the Cadillac Brothers.
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:38 PM on June 30, 2005

Galaxie 500?
posted by mrcircles at 6:09 PM on June 30, 2005

Could you be thinking of Alan Vega and Martin Rev of Suicide?
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:27 PM on June 30, 2005

Mazerati?

A short-lived vehicle (sorry) for Prince's songwriting. Their hit was "100 mph."
posted by googly at 7:28 PM on June 30, 2005

A few more names which came to mind:

Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels

Juile Cruise, while female, sang "Falling".

There was also a group called DMZ; some of the members performed backup for Nina Hagen.
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:35 PM on June 30, 2005

Diesel Queens
Gay Bikers on Acid (named after the comic, but with proper spelling)
Cycle Sluts From Hell (ditto)
The Wipers

The Tailgators was the Slickee Boys' tongue-in-cheek project/alias.

Of course, there's also Scraping Foetus off the Wheel.
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:44 PM on June 30, 2005

Papa said son you gonna drive me to drinkin' if you don't quit drivin' that Hot . . . . Rod . . . . Lincoln.
posted by realcountrymusic at 9:01 PM on June 30, 2005

Fastway
posted by Buzz at 9:18 PM on June 30, 2005

Late 70s but worth a try, Cortinas.
posted by tellurian at 10:31 PM on June 30, 2005

Another try: the Fastbacks?
posted by scody at 11:07 PM on June 30, 2005

Peter Schilling sang Major Tom - "Earth below us, drifting falling..."

And Gary Numan sang "Here in my car, I feel safest of all..."

Andrew Dice Clay singing on the Ford Fairlane soundtrack?

Well, none of these really are artists whose name is associated with automobiles, but I figured you may have misremembered.
posted by stovenator at 11:16 PM on June 30, 2005

Fleetwood Mack.
posted by Goofyy at 11:21 PM on June 30, 2005

Falling - LeBlanc & Carr.
posted by tellurian at 12:17 AM on July 1, 2005

Night Ranger lyrics here.
posted by tellurian at 12:49 AM on July 1, 2005

Any chance you could describe the style of the song? Synth-pop, guitar, jangly college alt-rock, what?
posted by litlnemo at 12:55 AM on July 1, 2005

The Fabulous Thunderbirds? (or where they 90's)
posted by sic at 2:07 AM on July 1, 2005

Juile Cruise, while female, sang "Falling".

Huh?
posted by the cuban at 3:58 AM on July 1, 2005

Galaxy 500 covering Yoko Ono's Listen, The Snow Is Falling, from their 1990 album, "This Is Our Music."
posted by anathema at 4:40 AM on July 1, 2005

Response by poster: argh; thanks everyone for trying but i still haven't found the one i'm looking for.

litlnemo: Any chance you could describe the style of the song? Synth-pop, guitar, jangly college alt-rock, what?

it was 80s "rock" along the lines of duran duran or tears for fears--musically, not vocally. and it had to be relatively well-known because what initially piqued my interest in the group was a question on the tv game show "jeopardy."

the cuban: Juile Cruise, while female, sang "Falling".

Huh?

haha i made it a point earlier that the singer was male, hence the clarification ;)
posted by Ziggy Zaga at 10:13 AM on July 1, 2005

Tossing a few more band names out there...

The Motors
Red Rider
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Aldo Nova
posted by Buzz at 11:44 AM on July 1, 2005

I get it now. And there was me thinking we had a Wendy/Walter Carlos situation :o)
posted by the cuban at 3:19 PM on July 1, 2005