The The

The The
Steve Knight from Halstead, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	The The
Background	group_or_band
Origin	London
Years active	1979–present
Genres	Post-punk, New Wave, Alternative rock, Synth-pop
Labels	Some Bizarre Records, Epic Records, Sony Music
Associated acts	Marc and the Mambas, Marc Almond, Cocteau Twins

The The is an English musical project formed in London in 1979 by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Johnson. Initially emerging from the late 1970s post-punk milieu alongside acts from Manchester and Liverpool, the project evolved through numerous collaborators and stylistic shifts across synth-driven new wave, brooding alternative rock, and socially conscious art pop. Over four decades, the group recorded on independent and major labels, toured internationally, and influenced musicians in the United Kingdom, United States, and continental Europe.

History

Matt Johnson founded the project amid the cultural aftermath of the Sex Pistols era and the DIY ethos of Punk rock scenes in London and Croydon. Early releases on Some Bizarre Records placed the project alongside contemporaries like Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, and Spandau Ballet; the debut single gained attention on independent charts and college radio in New York City and Manchester. The 1983 breakthrough album involved production contacts from A Certain Ratio and sessions with figures linked to Factory Records, leading to visibility during the mid-1980s alongside tours with Echo & the Bunnymen and festival appearances at events associated with Reading Festival and Glastonbury Festival. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw Johnson sign to Epic Records and collaborate with guest musicians from U2-adjacent circles and session players who had worked with David Bowie and Brian Eno. Political events such as the aftermath of the Falklands War and the social debates around Thatcherism informed lyrical themes on successive albums. After a hiatus and health setbacks in the late 1990s, the project returned for new recordings and multimedia projects in the 2000s, including film collaborations with directors connected to British cinema and festivals in Cannes.

Musical Style and Influences

The musical style blends elements of Post-punk, New Wave, and alternative rock, incorporating synthesizers, guitar textures, and orchestral arrangements reminiscent of collaborators who worked with Ennio Morricone-influenced composers or pop producers affiliated with Phil Spector-style production. Johnson cited influences ranging from songwriters associated with Bob Dylan's era and Leonard Cohen to contemporary experimentalists linked to Brian Eno and Kraftwerk; the project also drew aesthetic inspiration from visual artists exhibited at institutions such as the Tate Modern and galleries in SoHo, Manhattan. Critics compared certain albums to works by Talk Talk and Siouxsie Sioux-adjacent acts, while collaborators included musicians who had performed with Peter Gabriel and members of ensembles tied to The Cure's extended circle. The lyrics often referenced historical events like the Suez Crisis and cultural figures discussed in essays by commentators from publications such as NME and Melody Maker, producing narratives that crossed literary sensibilities akin to writers featured in The Guardian and The Independent.

Band Members and Line-up Changes

Although centered on Matt Johnson, the project featured rotating contributors from across the British and international music scenes. Early line-ups included musicians who had connections to Marc and the Mambas and performers who later worked with Sinéad O'Connor and Elvis Costello. Notable collaborators included multi-instrumentalists with histories in bands associated with The Psychedelic Furs and session players enlisted by producers linked to Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite. Drummers and bassists cycled through personnel who had previously been part of touring ensembles for Iggy Pop and Morrissey, while guest vocalists and string arrangers counted contributors who had credits on projects by R.E.M. and PJ Harvey. The revolving cast enabled stylistic flexibility but also created tensions familiar from collective experiences documented by members of groups like Joy Division and The Smiths.

Discography

Studio albums include early independent releases that prefigured the breakthrough LPs distributed by Epic Records and later catalogued by Sony Music. Key albums were promoted with singles that impacted charts in Germany, France, and Australia, and received airplay on stations linked to BBC Radio 1 and KEXP. Compilation and soundtrack contributions connected the project to film soundtracks screened at festivals such as Sundance and art-house cinemas in Berlin. Reissues on vinyl and remastered editions were handled by labels associated with archivists who have worked on catalogs for The Clash and The Stranglers.

Live Performances and Tours

Live appearances ranged from intimate club dates in Camden to headline shows at major venues in New York City and Los Angeles. The project supported acts on bills with U2 and Depeche Mode-era tours, and performed at international festivals including appearances curated alongside artists showcased at Montreux Jazz Festival and SXSW. Stage presentations sometimes incorporated filmic projections and visual collaborators connected to collectives that had exhibited at Biennale di Venezia and multimedia events sponsored by institutions like The Barbican. Touring personnel included musicians who previously played with artists represented by agencies linked to Live Nation-associated rosters.

Legacy and Impact

The project's longevity and Johnson's songwriting influenced generations of alternative and art-pop musicians across the United Kingdom and United States, cited by artists emerging from scenes in Seattle, Brooklyn, and Glasgow. Music journalists in publications such as Rolling Stone, Q and The Wire discussed its role in bridging post-punk and 1990s alternative sensibilities, and scholars referenced its work in studies of British popular music alongside examinations of bands like The Smiths and New Order. Retrospectives at institutions including British Library sound archives and curated exhibitions at venues like Victoria and Albert Museum have examined the project's recordings and artwork. Contemporary musicians and producers have acknowledged sampling or covering material in tribute albums organized by producers who worked on landmark compilations featuring artists from Rough Trade Records and 4AD.

Category:English musical groups