E269 - Pearl E. Gates (aka Pearl Harbour) - Top 5 New Wave Artists

E269 - Pearl E. Gates (aka Pearl Harbour) - Top 5 New Wave Artists

Author: O3L Media April 29, 2025 Duration: 1:03:30
This week, Pearl E. Gates (aka Pearl Harbour) from Bay Area new wave faves Pearl Harbor & The Explosions gives us a glimpse of some of the artists of the era who had the biggest impact on her. Along the way, Pearl shares her fascinating story: a military brat growing up in Germany who makes her way to San Francisco with a plane ticket and $75, joins The Tubes as a backup singer and dancer, which led to joining Leila and the Snakes before spinning off to form Pearl Harbor & The Explosions. After the moderate success of their single "Drivin'" for indie label 415 Records, the band was signed to Warner Bros. Records for their self-titled debut album, released in January 1980. It's a dynamic record that mixes new wave energy with pop, R&B, rockabilly, and jazz. They shared stages with the likes of Talking Heads, The Police, The Clash, and The B-52's. Differences in opinion regarding the Explosions' musical direction led to Pearl departing for England, where she recorded her rootsy, rockin' 1980 solo album Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too, with a dream band including Wilko Johnson from Dr. Feelgood and members of the Blockheads and the Clash. In fact, in the '80s, Pearl was married to Clash bassist Paul Simonon. She also takes us through her rare mid-'80s album that never saw a U.S. release (Pearls Galore), her blazing '90s set Here Comes Trouble, and how her countrified return was sidelined by a lung cancer diagnosis. Now thankfully in remission, we are blessed to have this living icon of new wave history share her story. Oh, and in a head-turning twist, Uncle Gregg tackles the one question that nobody else has dared to ask! Liberation Hall has just released an expanded edition of Pearl Harbor & The Explosions on opaque sky-blue vinyl, CD and digital, containing bonus tracks and the original UK album cover design. https://pearlharbortheexplosions.bandcamp.com/album/pearl-harbor-the-explosions Special thanks to Randy Haecker from Prime Mover Media for the introduction and coordination! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the sonic landscape of the '70s, '80s, and '90s with Only Three Lads-Classic Alternative Music Podcast. Hosted by Uncle Gregg and Brett Vargo, this podcast is a weekly conversation with a rotating cast of "Third Lads" who share their deep knowledge and personal passion for the era's defining sounds. Each episode feels like hanging out with friends who can't wait to tell you about a forgotten B-side or argue the merits of a classic album. You'll hear curated Top Five lists, behind-the-scenes stories, and spirited discussions that span the entire alternative spectrum-from the raw energy of punk and the shimmering hooks of power pop to the dense atmospheres of shoegaze and the gritty rebellion of grunge. The show thrives on discovery, whether revisiting a new wave classic or unpacking a Britpop phenomenon. More than just a retrospective, this podcast captures the ongoing conversation and community around the music. It’s a space for both lifelong fans and curious newcomers to find common ground in a shared love for the artists and anthems that built a genre. Tune in for the insightful, often humorous, and always genuine chat that makes this podcast a destination for anyone who believes great music never gets old.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast
Podcast Episodes
E302 - Elf Power's Andrew Rieger - Top 5 Elephant 6 Obscurities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:22
This week, we are heading back into the weird and wonderful world of the Elephant 6 collective - this time to talk about E6 obscurities. Yes, "obscurity" is relative. To the casual music fan, perhaps it's all obscure. We…
E301 - The Shut-Ups - Top 5 Albums with 20+ Songs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:09:40
Sometimes too much is just enough! This week, our criteria is simple…but that doesn’t make it easy. We're looking at albums with 20 or more songs - whether they are long or concise, and regardless of how many slabs of vi…
E300 - O3L's 300th! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:59
Well, geez, you caught us feeling all nostalgic and celebratory. It's time for the landmark 300th episode of Only Three Lads! During this episode, you'll hear: Your messages! A special visit from the original Third Lad..…
E299 - Acapulco Lips - Top 5 Beach Albums [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:57
Cowabunga, Moondoggie! Let's pack up the woody and go Huey at the beach! Whaddya say? Yeah, call it bad timing, call it wishful thinking, or call it wistful nostalgia for the bygone summer, but this week we’re having an…
E296 - Rebecca Pidgeon - Top 5 Musician-Actors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:46
Well, dog our cats...it's a new episode of O3L! This week, lovin' is what EGOT, as we celebrate those artists who successfully traversed the worlds of music AND acting. And, it just so happens that our Third Lad today, R…
E295 - Gun-Shy Butterfly - Top 5 Women-led Albums of the '90s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06:26
We like women. Not in a creepy way (usually)...we mean we really like music created by women. So, in our ongoing series of episodes celebrating women in alternative music, this week we are covering our top 5 women-led al…
E294 - Splitsville - Top 5 Covers That Are Better Than the Originals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:01
We've covered covers before, but this week we're really blowing our cover by covering covers that we feel are better than the originals. With such a controversial topic, you'd best believe that there are petty arguments,…
E293 - The Rain Parade - Top 5 Debut Singles, Vol. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:56
Who said you never get a second chance to make a first impression!?!? Well, we covered some of the best debut singles waaaay back in Episode 32...and now, five years later, we're back to revisit that topic. So take that,…