Alphaville

The German trio Alphaville began its career as a fairly conventional punk-rock outfit, but soon rode the early-1980s synth-pop wave to international fame, starting with the brooding yet catchy "Big in Japan" in 1984. After subsequent hits, including "Forever Young" and "The Jet Set," Alphaville weathered personnel changes and waning commercial fortunes, persisting throughout the `80s to start a fruitful association with the electronica musician and producer Klaus Schulze on 1989's THE BREATHTAKING BLUE. The band remains well known in Germany, and, in a tribute to the longevity of at least one of its songs, a 2006 remake of "Forever Young" reached number one on the Australian pop charts.

• pop
• electronic
• synthpop
• 1990s
• 1980s