Soundtrack to your studies - 1989

Long hair and heavy guitars were the style of the day. The glam metal and proto-grunge bands found they could fill even the cavernous Powerstation if they arranged “five bands for five dollars” shows. This scene also had an impact on the university campus, in particular through gigs at the Uni Cafe.

Along with the new styles of rock came a popularity for stage diving, as seen at this Uni Cafe gig in 1989.

This was also the year that bFM finally became a 24-hour radio station. The station gradually started to play more hip hop music, which caused an outcry amongst some listeners who saw it as a home for indie guitar music. Despite this, the station helped put together a compilation of the city’s best rap groups called AK89.

The biggest concert of the year was the two night stand by U2 and BB King at Western Springs, though hair metal also had its moment at the venue when Bon Jovi headlined a few weeks later.

However, the biggest album of the year was Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut. Funnily enough, its breakthrough single ‘Fast Car’ has become a huge hit again recently through a country cover by Luke Combs which saw Chapman receive the US Country Music Association’s song of the year 2023. 

What was on the turntable while you were on campus? Suggest songs to add to our 1980s playlist, and you could win $100 Flying Out voucher.