China Crisis

A bit fiery for most in the new romantic camp during the early '80s, China Crisis were inspired by similar sources but injected their pop songs with occasional political commentary and bluesy reggae rhythms. Their first single, "African and White," appeared in 1982, was quickly picked up by Virgin, and charted at home. They had a series of U.K. hits thereafter, including "Christian," "Wishful Thinking," and "Black Man Ray," and their third album, 1985's Flaunt the Imperfection, reached the U.K. Top Ten and the Billboard 200. They continued to tour after going on a recording hiatus in the mid-'90s, but returned with Autumn in the Neighbourhood in 2015. ~ John Bush & Marcy Donelson