1st Wave: Classic Alternative Rock
Hear the 1st wave of alternative music from the '80s era. From Depeche Mode and the Cure to Blondie and Talking Heads.
Listening Preferences
Picking a plan can be tricky and we're here to help.
Tell us how you want to listen to SiriusXM, and any hardware details you know. We'll show you to the best plans and pricing for you.
Choose at least one option below.
Year, make and model are required.
You can listen on your connected device, on the app, or with our web player
Select a radio.
Now Playing
Hear the 1st wave of alternative music from the '80s era. From Depeche Mode and the Cure to Blondie and Talking Heads.
SiriusXM
Join Dave Kendall, creator and former host of MTV's "120 Minutes," as he jump-starts your weekend with 360 minutes of classic alternative party songs.
Hear the 1st wave of alternative music from the '80s era. From Depeche Mode and the Cure to Blondie and Talking Heads.
Entertainment magazine editor, author and Sirius XM Volume morning host, Lori Majewski, shares her “Lust For Lists” with you! Join Lori as she curates an hour-long playlist highlighting special events or themes in classic alternative music!
As a child, Darrin was interviewing visitors to his house with a toy microphone. Now, Darrin spins classic alternative tunes every weekend and is one of the masterminds behind 1st Wave.
Richard Blade was instrumental in breaking many new wave bands, including Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and Tears For Fears. He still holds out for the impossible: a Smiths reunion. Tune in to hear him spin music by these artists and more.
Finally, a soundtrack to your Saturday nights! Eight hours of continuous classic alternative dance mixes from artists like Depeche Mode, The Cure, New Order, The Pet Shop Boys, Yaz and more.
Hear Richard Blade count down the 7 biggest classic alternative songs from a week in 80’s history!
Yes, Swedish Egil really is Swedish. He's collected more than 50,000 recordings and is known for his incomparable music knowledge. Hear him spin the first wave of alternative music from the '80s era.
Explore the darker side of 1st Wave with three hours of alternative rock from artists like Bauhaus, Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, Public Image Ltd, Depeche Mode and Love and Rockets.
Larry The Duck has been a DJ since alternative rock's 1st wave. He's interviewed Duran Duran, Erasure, The Psychedelic Furs, John Lydon and P.I.L., the Ramones, Patti Smith, Johnny Marr, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Robert Smith. Hear him play these acts and more every morning.
DJ Bueller’s Breakfast Beatmix scrambles up classic alternative music every weekday at 8:50am Eastern
Sluggo, aka The SlugMonstrosity and/or Baron Von Slug, spent the early 80's sitting in front of MTV (just like you), started playing music on the radio in 1984, lost his concert virginity to Adam AND the Ants, did the blue hair, Rocky Horror and tacky buttons thing and finally ended up at KROQ in Los Angeles. Yet he still can't get enough! So, we've invited him to play Classic Alternative at you every day of the week.
This Is The Day
Richard Blade features new music from a 1st Wave artist during New Sensation Tuesday. Listen in as he presents an older song with a new one from a classic alternative artist!
Icon Billy Idol recalls 80s memories, music he loves and explores music you may have missed back-in-the-day!
“Where Are They Now Wednesday” answers all your questions about the artists you grew up with. Hosted by Richard Blade.
Richard Blade hosts min-themed playlists with songs that share a common theme.
Forget Me Not Friday features artists and songs that shouldn’t be forgotten. Join Richard Blade as he takes you on a trip down memory lane remembering a deeper 1st Wave song.
Matt Sebastian, a veteran journalist and former music critic, launched SlicingUpEyeballs.com in 2009 to celebrate the legacy of '80s college, modern and indie rock music that paved the way for the alt-rock revolution. With a collection of thousands of records, CDs and cassettes, Matt publishes news items daily about new album releases, reissues, box sets, tours, reunions and other activity by '80s college rock bands.
Yes, Swedish Egil really is Swedish. He's collected more than 50,000 recordings and is known for his incomparable music knowledge. In Sweden he pumped gas, but he moved to the U.S. in the '70s, becoming a booking agent to major nightclubs and starting his radio career. And his favorite interview? Moby.
As a child, Darrin was interviewing visitors to his house with a toy microphone. Now, Darrin is behind the microphone introducing classic alternative tunes every weekend.
Dave created, produced and hosted MTV's 120 Minutes, helping to bring Midnight Oil, Sinead O'Connor, The Cure and more to a mainstream audience. He's hung with Depeche Mode and U2, but his favorite memory is of traipsing around Tijuana with Johnny Rotten, trying on dresses in the pouring rain. Ahh...
Sluggo, aka The SlugMonstrosity and/or Baron Von Slug, spent the early 80 's sitting in front of MTV (just like you), started playing music on the radio in 1984, lost his concert virginity to Adam AND the Ants, did the blue hair, Rocky Horror and tacky buttons thing and finally ended up at KROQ in Los Angeles. Yet he still can 't get enough! So, we 've invited him to play Classic Alternative at you every day of the week.
Google Richard Blade and you'll find several sites about the best of the '80s. He was instrumental in breaking many new wave bands, including Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and Tears For Fears. More recently, he co-produced VH1's Bands Reunited and he still holds out for the impossible: a Smiths reunion.
Larry The Duck has been a DJ since alternative rock's 1st wave. He's interviewed Duran Duran, Erasure, The Psychedelic Furs, John Lydon and P.I.L., the Ramones, Patti Smith, Johnny Marr, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Robert Smith. Hear him play these acts and more every morning.
Sweepstakes
Roll Like a VIP
Enjoy exclusive SiriusXM-Pandora shows and events. Just check out our current list of sweepstakes and enter for a chance to win.
Current Sweepstakes
$1 for 3 Months
with a Premier subscription. Then $13 a month.
Fees and taxes apply. See Offer Details below.
Our premium streaming package. Listen on your phone, at home, and online. View Channel Lineup
offer details for Premier package: Activate a SiriusXM Premier Streaming subscription and get your first 3 months for $1.00. Fees and taxes apply. A credit card is required on this offer. Service will automatically renew thereafter every month. At the beginning of month 4, you will be charged at then-current rates (currently $13.00/month). You must cancel your subscription during your promotional period to avoid future charges. Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1-866-635-2349. Promotional fees and taxes are nonrefundable and there are no refunds or credits for any partially used promotional periods. If you cancel during the initial promotion period, you have the option to continue service through the end of your paid promotional period. All fees, content and features are subject to change. This offer cannot be combined with any other and may be modified or terminated at any time. Offer good only for new SiriusXM streaming subscriptions. Channel lineup varies by package.
$5/mo for 12 Months + an Amazon Echo Dot.
Billed upfront. Then $16.99 per month.
Subject to Amazon's inventory. Please allow a minimum of 8 weeks for delivery. Fees and taxes apply. See Offer Details below.
All your favorites. Listen in your car, on your phone, or at home. View Channel Lineup
offer details for Select package: Activate a new Select subscription and pay $60 upfront for your first 12 months, a savings of 70% off the current monthly rate of $16.99, plus get free activation (an additional $15 savings) and a free Echo Dot, while supplies last. Fees and taxes apply. A credit card is required on this offer. If you cancel or terminate your Select subscription during the first 6 months, you will be charged a $50 EARLY TERMINATION FEE. Your Select service will renew every month thereafter and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates. Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1-866-635-2349. All fees, content and features are subject to change. This offer cannot be combined with any other and may be modified or terminated at any time. Limit 1 free Echo Dot regardless of promotion or number of subscriptions purchased. Offer for new subscriptions only. This offer cannot be reproduced, transferred or sold. SiriusXM reserves the right to verify all claims. Actual or suspected abuse or fraudulent manipulation of the offer may result in service termination and forfeiture of gift item(s). Fraudulent requests may result in prosecution. The Echo Dot will be provided in the form of a code fulfilled on Amazon.com. Please allow up to two weeks for redemption instructions which will be provided upon validation and verification of compliance with this offer. This offer is presented exclusively by SiriusXM and may not be republished without the consent of SiriusXM.
The Echo Dot is sold by Amazon.com Services, LLC, and is covered by a 90-day limited warranty provided by Amazon.com Services, LLC. To receive your Echo Dot use the coupon code in Checkout at Amazon.com. This offer can only be redeemed once and used for a single device. This offer is non-transferable and may not be resold. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions (i.e. no promos stacking). Offer limited to one per customer and Amazon account. Offer only applies to Echo Dot devices (3rd generation) sold by Amazon.com Services, LLC (look for "sold by Amazon.com" or "sold by Amazon.com Services, LLC" on the product detail page). Products sold by third-party sellers or other Amazon entities will not qualify for this offer, even if "fulfilled by Amazon.com" or "Prime Eligible." Shipping charges and taxes may apply to the full value of discounted and free promotional items. Offer discount will be allocated proportionally among all promotional items in your order. If any of the products or content related to this offer are returned, your refund will equal the amount you paid for the product or content, subject to Amazon’s applicable refund policies. If you violate any of these terms, the offer will be invalid. Use of the Echo Dot device is subject to the terms found here: www.amazon.com. Amazon, Alexa, Echo, and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
offer details: The subscription plan you choose will automatically renew and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates. Fees and taxes apply. Please see our Customer Agreement for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1 866-635-2349. All fees, content and features are subject to change.