Severed Heads - Beyond Dead Eyes

Severed Heads - Beyond Dead Eyes

Author: ITMW Music May 10, 2026 Duration: 32:41

The Australian band Severed Heads was a pioneering electronic and experimental artist, and one that is very underappreciated from the early alternative era. As one of the pioneering Australian alternative music acts, their music was part industrial, synth pop, electronic, dance, and ambient as well as experimental bringing in found sounds, tape loops, samples, and noise.

The original two members, Richard Fielding and and Andrew Wright, formed the band in the late 70’s as Mr. and Mrs. No Smoking Sign.  Tom Ellard joined in 1979 and soon after the band renamed themselves Severed Heads. By mid-1981, both founding members had departed leaving Ellard to continue the band.

As Severed Heads moved through the 80’s behind Ellard, their sound evolved from the early avant-garde to more accessible electronic body music (EBM) style with  synth hooks and pop structures taking on both an industrial and dance-oriented approach.

In 1983, the band released their fourth studio album, Since the Accident, followed with the single "Dead Eyes Opened ", a critically acclaimed song that would become a dance club classic.  

Beyond the music, Severed Heads were also early pioneers of incorporating video, computer graphics, and digital technology into their performances and releases. In all, the band has 23 studio albums as well a number other releases including a number of video albums over a very prolific career as one of the longest running Australian post-punk era bands.

Our podcast will tell the story of the pioneering Severed Heads, well beyond "Dead Eyes Opened"!


Journey back to the heart of the 1980s alternative music explosion with Inside the Milky Way-A Look at Early Alternative Music. This podcast digs deep into the fertile ground that gave rise to post-punk, dark wave, synth-pop, industrial, and the foundational indie scenes. Each episode is a curated exploration, weaving together the stories of iconic and overlooked artists, the influential contributors behind the scenes, and the seminal tracks that defined a generation. We discuss the cultural themes and pivotal events that shaped this transformative era, from underground clubs to breakthrough moments on the charts. The show’s title, inspired by The Church’s 1988 classic "Under the Milky Way," reflects our focus on the dreamy, introspective, and often gritty soundscapes that characterized the time. Listen for a rich blend of music history, critical discussion, and personal reflection on the bands and movements that refused to follow the mainstream. Inside the Milky Way is more than a retrospective; it’s an immersive audio experience for dedicated fans and curious newcomers alike, offering context and connection to the music that built a lasting alternative culture. Tune in to hear the stories behind the sounds.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 89

Inside the Milky Way - A Look at Early Alternative Music
Podcast Episodes
Japan - The Ghosts of Tin Drum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:19
After forming in the mid-70's inspired by glam rock, the English band Japan would alter their sound by their third album to a more synth-pop, art-pop and electronic approach. Led by singer David Sylvian, Japan would begi…
Clock DVA - The Visions of Adi Newton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:03
Led by visionary artist Adi Newton, Clock DVA came out of Sheffield, England in 1978 with an experimental electronic music that pushed boundaries. Over the years, Clock DVA and Newton would continue the experimental appr…
Adam and the Ants - Antmusic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:14
The second album from Adam and The Ants would be the best selling album in the UK in 1981, and would catapult Adam Ant to the front of the British music scene. The band's follow up album would be another hit, but it woul…
A Certain Ratio - The Factory Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:21
The English band A Certain Ratio, or ACR, would mix post-punk music with heavy funk influences as well as dance, jazz and Latin music to create a unique sound unlike other artists from the era. They were one of the first…
The Comsat Angels - No Sleeping on the Polydor Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:35
After starting in 1978, the post-punk band The Comsat Angels would sign with Polydor Records for their first three albums, including the masterful and highly influential 1981 second album, Sleep No More.The result of the…
The Human League - A Genre-Defining Dare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:55
When The Human League reconfigured after their first two albums, the band would redefine the synth-pop genre with their third album, Dare. This late 1981 critically acclaimed release became a number one album and contain…
The Stone Roses - A Madchester Icon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
The Stone Roses formed in Manchester, England in 1983 and went on to become an iconic figure of the legendary Madchester scene that emerged during the late 80's. Their self-titled debut album of 1989 is considered one of…
Introduction to Early Alternative Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:27
Introduction to our Podcast, Inside the Milky Way - A Look at Early Alternative Music. This episode includes an overview on what our podcast is about, what is early alternative music, the types of episodes we will create…