The Monochrome Set
When asked about The Monochrome Set, Johnny Marr admitted that, without them, the Smiths wouldn’t have existed. As influential as the Television Personalities, they are the fathers of almost everything—good—that happened in British pop after the emergence of punk. Formed in 1978 and led by the charismatic Bid, this London combo was a pioneer of both post-punk and indie thanks to its characteristic blend of mystery and luminosity. Their album Love Zombie (1981) inspired musicians like Neil Hannon, Alex Kapranos and Graham Coxon.
Update: 17 April 2015