United States

Combining elements of punk, boogie, outlaw country, and good old-fashioned American rock‘n’roll, Georgia Satellites were like a rowdy breath of fresh air in the midst of the modern rock 1980s. Originally founded by singer Dan Baird and lead guitarist Rick Richards in 1980, the band didn’t come into full flower until 1985, when a collection of early demos became a European sensation. Georgia Satellites signed to Elektra and unleashed their self-titled debut album the following year. It was a back-to-basics blockbuster, highlighted by dirty rock hits like “Battleship Chains” and the swaggering smash, “Keep Your Hands To Yourself,” which exploded to #2 on Billboard’s “Hot 100.”

Two more collections of rambunctious roots-fueled rock‘n’roll followed before the Satellites called it quits in 1989. Richards later reformed the band sans Baird, who remains an important figure on the Americana scene as songwriter, bandleader, and producer.