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From The Desk Of The Muffs: When Rock Went New Wave

After a decade adrift, the Muffs have gotten their melodic pop groove back. Frontwoman Kim Shattuck has reunited with longtime backing members Ronnie Barnett (bass) and Roy McDonald (drums) for Whoop Dee Doo (Cherry Red/Burger). The Los Angeles-based trio will also be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand-new feature on the band.

Who

Barnett: Like most of the subjects I’ve taken on here, this deserves a long, in-depth article. When punk and “new wave” came along in the late ’70s, everything really did change. And that includes pretty much all of the established rock bands, most of who I’m convinced were not pleased. Some like Yes, Genesis, J. Geils Band, Kinks, Todd Rundgren/Utopia, Tubes, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie and King Crimson made the transition well. Others … not so much. Here’s a partial list of established performers who seemed a little lost. Who all of the sudden had short hair, shorter songs, pastel clothing, different art directors doing their album covers and new attitudes.

Foghat
REO Speedwagon
Journey
Styx
Chicago
KISS
Pat Travers
Bob Seger
Who
Peter Frampton
Kansas
Eddie Money
E.L.O.
Robert Plant
Toto
Starship
Heart
Doobie Brothers
Village People