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The Official subreddit dedicated to discussing the most mysterious song on the internet, which has been sought since 2007, but to this day, it remains unidentified. Join the sub for the most up to date news and leads on the search.


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December, 1984 bands to check

Search Idea

Here is the next list of bands for checking. These bands played on NDR radio in December, 1984.

I've removed bands that were already in the October or November 1984 lists as these have already been checked and so have been removed. Also quickly went through and removed some obvious wrong bands. Thanks to everyone but especially to u/Nitokris666 and u/violetvvviolet for checking the November, 1984 list so carefully (I think both went through almost the entire list).

Search terms I use with youtube, google, discogs for rarer bands are "[band name] +band +1984 (or +demo)".

If you think a band is ruled out - please leave a comment with the band name and the workds "RULED OUT" - and please give a sentence as to why they are ruled out ('female lead', 'jazz band', etc.) but please ONLY say RULED OUT if it is clear they are not the TMS band. Just because you hear they are using a synth and no guitars in a song doesn't mean that they didn't use heavy guitar in another song!
If you think a band sounds similar - please leave a comment with the band name and "SIMILAR" so we can really dig deeply into them more.

  • A la Carte

  • Abwärts

  • Al Stewart

  • Alex Conti

  • Alice & Stefan Waggershausen

  • Alison Moyet

  • Alvin Stardust

  • Amen Corner

  • Andre Heller

  • Andreas Doroue

  • Andy Giorbino

  • Anita Ward

  • Anne Turner

  • Anthony Moore

  • Arche Nokah

  • Arno & Andreas

  • B.Sharp

  • Bad Boys Blue

  • Bel Ami

  • Belfegore

  • Best

  • Billy Bragg

  • Billy Haley

  • Blue Face

  • Blue Nile

  • Bonds '81

  • Bone Orchard

  • Boston

  • Bowwowwow

  • Bronski Beat

  • Bruce Cockburn

  • Bryan Ferry

  • Byna

  • Caramel

  • Carles Santos

  • Casablanca

  • Chaka Khan

  • Chewy Raccon

  • Chi Coltrane

  • Chiefs of Relief

  • Chilly

  • China Crisis

  • Chris Rea

  • Christine McVie

  • City Blues Connection

  • Climax Blues Band

  • Cowley & Sylvester

  • Crusader

  • Cyan Revue

  • D.I.A.

  • Dalbello

  • Dave Ball

  • David Christie

  • David Jay

  • David Sanborn

  • David Tieghem

  • David Van Tieghem

  • Dazz Band

  • Dead Or Alive

  • Debbie Cameron

  • Debile Menthol

  • Dee C. Lee

  • Deniece Williams

  • Dennis DeYoung

  • Dennis Edwards

  • Der Plan

  • Dexy's Midnight Runners

  • Die Vorsitzenden

  • Die Ärzte

  • Dire Straits

  • Disco Band

  • DNA

  • Don Henley

  • Donald Fagan

  • Earth; Wind & Fire

  • Eberhard Schoener

  • Echo & The Bunnymen

  • Echo Echo

  • Ede Und Die Zimmermäenner

  • Edward Kaspel

  • Edwina

  • Einstürzende Neubauten

  • Engelbert Humperdink

  • Erlend Krauser

  • Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung

  • Eurption

  • Everything but the Girl

  • Fancy

  • Fay Lorsky

  • Feelabeelia

  • Feldmann Trommelt

  • Felix de Luxe

  • Fiat Lux

  • Fisher Z

  • Forest

  • Fou Gorki

  • Foyer des Arts

  • Fr. Miller

  • Frank Zappa

  • Freddie Mercury

  • Free

  • Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle

  • Freur

  • Galaxy

  • Gary Boyle

  • Gary Brooker

  • Gary Byrd

  • Gary Moore

  • Gasolin

  • Gazebo

  • Geistesfaher

  • Gen X

  • Georg Denzer

  • George Kranz

  • George McCrae

  • Gerhard Polt

  • Gerry Rafferty

  • Gianna Nannini

  • Gino Vanelli

  • Gloria Gaynor

  • Godley & Creme

  • Golden Earring

  • Grace Slick

  • Hall & Oates

  • Hannes Wader

  • Heaven 17

  • Heegar

  • Heinz Rudolf Kunze

  • Herb Alpert

  • Herbert Grönemeyer

  • Herbie Hancock

  • Holger Biege

  • Holger Hiller

  • Hot Chocolate

  • Howard Carpendale

  • Hubert Kah

  • Hugh Masekela

  • Hylton George Minott

  • I.S.C. & Sunshine Band

  • Imagination

  • Ina Deter

  • Inner Circle

  • Irene Cara

  • Isotope

  • J.J. Cale

  • Jacky Cleever

  • Jeey Albrecht & Gustl Lütjens

  • Jennifer Rush

  • Jennifer's Rush

  • Jim Diamond

  • Jimmy Cliff

  • Jo Jackson

  • Joachim Kühn

  • Joachim Witt

  • Joan Baez

  • Jobim

  • Jochen Brückner

  • Jody Watley

  • Joe Cocker

  • Joe Jackson

  • John Cafferty

  • John Denver

  • John Martyn

  • John Miles

  • John Stewart

  • John Waite

  • Johnny & the Drivers

  • Johnny Thunders

  • Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

  • Josis James; BB King & the Crusaders

  • Judas Priest

  • Juice Newton

  • Julia and Co.

  • Julian Cope

  • Kane Gang

  • KC & the Sunshine Band

  • Kenny Loggins

  • Kid Creole & The Coconuts

  • Kiki Dee

  • Kim Carnes

  • Kim Larsen

  • Kim Wilde

  • King Sunny Ade

  • Kirlian Effect

  • Klaus Lage

  • Klavierduo Anthony & Joseph Paratore

  • Kolbe & Illenburger

  • Kool & The Gang

  • Kosmonautentraum

  • Kraftzwerg

  • Kumulus

  • Köpke & Badenius

  • Lad

  • Lake

  • Laura Branigan

  • Laurie Anderson

  • League Of Nations

  • Leif Garrett

  • Lemon Kittens

  • Les Coballos

  • Level 42

  • Little Heroes

  • Lloyd Cole

  • Lloyd Cole & the Commotions

  • Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers

  • Loriot

  • Malcolm McLaren

  • Manfred Gunzer

  • Manfred Man's Earth Band

  • Marc Almond

  • Maria Vidal

  • Marius Müller Westernhagen

  • Markus Oehlen

  • Marquee Moon

  • Martha & The Muffins

  • Martin Grunwaldt

  • Matt Bianco

  • Me & The Heat

  • Meat Loaf

  • Mecano

  • Mercy Mercy

  • Mezzoforte

  • Miami Sound Machine

  • Michael Sembello

  • Microdisney

  • Midge Ure

  • Mike Oldfield

  • Mike Oldfield & Maggie Reilly

  • Minimal Compact

  • Minisex

  • Mink de Ville

  • MKB Fraction Provisoire

  • Mo & the Souvenirs

  • Modern Romance

  • Modern Talking

  • Molly Hatchet

  • Montana Sextett

  • Mr. Mister

  • Mtume

  • Murray Head

  • Mystic Rythm

  • Münchener Freiheit

  • Nanna

  • Nazareth

  • Neil

  • Neil Young

  • Nena

  • Neon (Netherlands)

  • New Model Army

  • New York Dolls

  • Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

  • Nude Ants

  • Oliver Cheatham

  • Orgelanfang

  • Pasodoble

  • Paul McCartney

  • Paul Young

  • Pentangle

  • Peter & The Test Tube Babies

  • Peter Allen

  • Peter Frampton

  • Peter Holler

  • Peter Maffay

  • Philip Bailey

  • Picture

  • Pointer Sisters

  • Precieux

  • Propaganda

  • Public Image Ltd.

  • Purple Schulz & die Neue Heimat

  • Raff

  • Rainbow

  • Raindancer

  • Ray Parker Jr.

  • Re-Flex

  • Real Life

  • Rebbie Jackson

  • Red Guitars

  • Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

  • Redskins

  • Rheingold

  • Richard Romeo

  • Richard T. Bear

  • Rick Springfield

  • Robert Calvert

  • Robert Long

  • Rodgau Monotones

  • Rodger Hodgson

  • Roger Chapman

  • Roger Hodgson

  • Rudolf Rock und die Schocker

  • S.O.S. Band

  • Sade

  • Saga

  • Sam Harris

  • Santana

  • Scotch

  • Semaja

  • Senfkorn

  • Shadowfax

  • Shakatak

  • Shakin' Stevens

  • Shango Fun Theology

  • Shaun Cassidy

  • Sheena Easton

  • Sheila E.

  • Shoes

  • Sideway Look

  • Siruca

  • Sister Sledge

  • Sivuch

  • Slim Harpo

  • Sly Dunbar

  • Smokey Robinson

  • Snakeman Show

  • Soft Cell

  • Spencer Davis Group

  • Spyro Gyra

  • Staple Singers

  • Stefanie Werger

  • Steve Miller Band

  • Steve Winwood

  • Steven Reich

  • Stevie Ray Vaughan

  • Street Fighter

  • Stricher

  • Sun Palace

  • Supermax

  • Swansway

  • Taco

  • Talk Talk

  • Tangerine Dream

  • Terje Rypdal & David Darling

  • Terry Riley

  • The Alarm

  • The Carpenters

  • The Cars

  • The Chameleons

  • The Cocteau Twins

  • The Comsat Angels

  • The Cult

  • The Enemy Within

  • The Everly Brothers

  • The Explorers

  • The Fall

  • The Flirts

  • The Flood

  • The Flying Lizards

  • The Flying Pickets

  • The Good Bye

  • The Honey Drippers

  • The J. Geils Band

  • The Jam

  • The Jazz Butcher

  • The Kane Gang

  • The Kinks

  • The Legendary Pink Dots

  • The Mighty Wah!

  • The Monkees

  • The Moody Blues

  • The Pretenders

  • The Psychedelic Furs

  • The Scorpions

  • The Stranger

  • The Stranglers

  • The Teardrop Explodes

  • The Temptations

  • The The

  • The Tramps

  • The Wolfgang Press

  • This Island Earth

  • Thomas Dolby

  • Thompson Twins

  • Tim Curry

  • Timothy B. Schmitt

  • Tivoli

  • TNT

  • Tom Robinson

  • Tommy Shaw

  • Tough Enough

  • Toy

  • Tracie

  • Triumph

  • Trust

  • Twelve Drummers Drumming

  • U Webler ??

  • Ultravox

  • Under For

  • Unknown Cases

  • Various Popstars

  • Video Kids

  • Visage

  • Vobrigdi Kakafonia

  • Wally Warning

  • War

  • West of Sunset

  • Wishbone Ash

  • Womack & Womack

  • X-Mal Deutschland

  • XTC

  • Yes Let's

  • Zazou; Bikaye; & OYI

  • Zerra 1

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Okay, please actually try going through lists like this yourself before posting them here for others to do that for you. A quick skim through reveals Bryan Ferry, Bronski Beat, Freddie Mercury, Pointer Sisters, The Carpenters, etc. You don't need anyone to tell you why 99% of this list is just not viable whatsoever.

u/TvHeroUK avatar

Alison Moyet! Joe Cocker! The Temptations! Can we rule out Chaka Kahn being behind TMS?

Meat loaf cracked me up

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What's with the sharp comments always? Some wrong names will always get through on these lists but this started with about 1000 names and was about an hour work removing all the ones that were ruled out in the previous searches.

Instead of complaining let's give all the new people to something to start looking for.

After independently filtering out the obvious no-its, if you need help looking into obscure acts with few Google results we can try to help you. That's what we're interested in. I don't see why you're posting a list of everything NDR played month by month and why you need Reddit to rule out Laurie Anderson, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, etc for you. The playlists sheets that people pored over years ago already answer such potential questions and common sense tells us 99% of artists that get most of the radio airplay won't be viable. We're looking for a very obscure artist that probably played once.

Dude- maybe you don't need a list but there are a bunch of new searchers lately who don't even know where to start. This is more for them.

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u/TvHeroUK avatar

A big part of this sub has always been its sense of humour. I think we’re allowed to laugh when someone inadvertently suggests TMS might be a Freddie Mercury song. 

I did go through the list but when you're dealing with 1000 bands listed some stupid ones always get through :)

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I see alot of well known bands and singers on here, but I'm looking forward to investigating the ones I don't know (again). Honestly for me, the research is more fun than the actual outcome of this whole quest 😁 I've discovered all sorts of cool sites and new music, due to this search.

Edited

Here we go. Updated list with all well known names removed: 

 • A la Carte • Abwärts • Al Stewart • Alex Conti • Alice & Stefan Waggershausen • Alvin Stardust • Amen Corner • Andre Heller • Andreas Doroue • Andy Giorbino • Anthony Moore • Arche Nokah • Arno & Andreas • B.Sharp • Bad Boys Blue • Bel Ami • Belfegore • Best • Blue Face • Blue Nile • Bonds '81 • Bone Orchard • Byna • Caramel • Carles Santos • Casablanca • Chewy Raccon • Chi Coltrane • Chiefs of Relief • Chilly • China Crisis • City Blues Connection • Climax Blues Band • Cowley & Sylvester • Crusader • Cyan Revue • D.I.A. • Dalbello • Dave Ball • David Christie • David Jay • David Sanborn • David Tieghem • David Van Tieghem • Dazz Band • Debile Menthol • Dee C. Lee • Dennis DeYoung • Dennis Edwards • Der Plan • Die Vorsitzenden • Die Ärzte • Disco Band • DNA • Donald Fagan • Eberhard Schoener • Echo Echo • Ede Und Die Zimmermäenner • Edward Kaspel • Edwina • Einstürzende Neubauten • Erlend Krauser • Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung • Eurption • Fancy • Fay Lorsky • Feelabeelia • Feldmann Trommelt • Felix de Luxe • Fiat Lux • Fisher Z • Forest • Fou Gorki • Foyer des Arts • Fr. Miller • Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle • Freur • Galaxy • Gary Boyle • Gary Brooker • Gary Byrd • Gasolin • Gazebo • Geistesfaher • Gen X • Georg Denzer • George Kranz • George McCrae • Gerhard Polt • Gianna Nannini • Gino Vanelli • Godley & Creme • Hannes Wader • Heaven 17 • Heegar • Heinz Rudolf Kunze • Herb Alpert • Herbert Grönemeyer • Holger Biege • Holger Hiller • Howard Carpendale • Hubert Kah • Hugh Masekela • Hylton George Minott • I.S.C. & Sunshine Band • Imagination • Ina Deter • Isotope • Jeey Albrecht & Gustl Lütjens • Jim Diamond • Joachim Kühn • Joachim Witt • Joan Baez • Jobim • Jochen Brückner • Jody Watley • John Cafferty • John Martyn • John Miles • John Stewart • Johnny & the Drivers • Johnny Thunders • Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers  • Julia and Co. • Julian Cope • Kim Larsen • King Sunny Ade • Kirlian Effect • Klaus Lage • Klavierduo Anthony & Joseph Paratore • Kolbe & Illenbu • Kosmonautentraum • Kraftzwerg • Kumulus • Köpke & Badenius • Lad • Lake • Laurie Anderson • League Of Nations • Leif Garrett • Lemon Kittens • Les Coballos • Level 42 • Little Heroes • Lloyd Cole • Lloyd Cole & the Commotions • Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers • Loriot • Malcolm McLaren • Manfred Gunzer • Marc Almond • Marius Müller Westernhagen • Markus Oehlen • Marquee Moon • Martin Grunwaldt • Matt Bianco • Me & The Heat • Mecano • Mercy Mercy • Mezzoforte • Microdisney • Minimal Compact • Minisex • Mink de Ville • MKB Fraction Provisoire • Mo & the Souvenirs • Modern Romance • Molly Hatchet • Montana Sextett • Mtume • Mystic Rythm • Münchener Freiheit • Nanna • Neon (Netherlands) • New Model Army • New York Dolls • Nude Ants • Oliver Cheatham • Orgelanfang • Pasodoble • Pentangle • Peter & The Test Tube Babies • Peter Allen • Peter Holler • Peter Maffay • Picture • Precieux • Propaganda • Purple Schulz & die Neue Heimat • Raff • Raindancer • Re-Flex • Rebbie Jackson • Red Guitars • Red Lorry Yellow Lorry • Redskins • Rheingold • Richard Romeo • Richard T. Bear • Robert Calvert • Robert Long • Rodgau Monotones • Roger Chapman • Rudolf Rock und die Schocker • S.O.S. Band • Saga • Sam Harris • Scotch • Semaja • Senfkorn • Shadowfax • Shango Fun Theology • Shaun Cassidy • Shoes • Sideway Look • Siruca • Sivuch • Slim Harpo • Sly Dunbar • Snakeman Show • Spyro Gyro • Stefanie Werger • Steven Reich • Street Fighter • Stricher • Sun Palace • Supermax • Swansway • Taco • Tangerine Dream • Terje Rypdal & David Darling • Terry Riley • The Alarm • The Comsat Angels • The Enemy Within • The Explorers • The Fall • The Flirts • The Flood • The Flying Lizards • The Flying Pickets • The Good Byes • The Jazz Butcher • The Kane Gang • The Legendary Pink Dots • The Mighty Wahs • The Stranger • The Teardrop Explodes • The The • The Wolfgang Press • This Island Earth • Timothy B. Schmitt • Tivoli • TNT • Tom Robinson • Tommy Shaw • Tough Enough • Toy • Tracie • Triumph • Trust • Twelve Drummers Drumming • U Webler ?? • Under For • Unknown Cases • Various Popstars • Video Kids • Vobrigdi Kakafonia • Wally Warning • War • West of Sunset • Wishbone Ash • X-Mal Deutschland • Yes Let's • Zazou; Bikaye; & OYI • Zerra 1

u/sjc21twice avatar

You can also remove Al Stewart, Alvin Stardust, Amen Corner, Donald Fagan, Gary Brooker, Heaven 17, Herb Alpert, Joan Baez, Julian Cope, Level 42, Lloyd Cole, Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, Malcolm McLaren, Marc Almond, Matt Bianco, New York Dolls, Tangerine Dream, The Fall, The Flying Pickets, The Legendary Pink Dots, The Teardrop Explodes, The The, and Tom Robinson.

Sweet. Some of those sounded familiar but I wasn't 100%

u/TvHeroUK avatar

Entertaining 1984 Matt Bianco incident:

The first documented sighting of the word "Wanker" on British Children's TV  In 1984, at the height of their popularity in the United Kingdom, jazzpop band Matt Bianco was featured on the BBC's kiddie - show Saturday Superstore to promote their album Whose side are you on?. Saturday Superstore was, next to Top of the Pops pretty much they only place on British TV then to hear and see contemporary music at a decent time, and was pretty much the grandfather of shows like CD:TV. So there they were, happily sitting, chatting and surrounded by numerous kids, awaiting questions from the public in of the show's regular phone - ins.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be the worst day of their career, and if one of them has a bit to drink these days, you'll still see them reminiscence with shudders and even the odd misty eye... 

With the Phone In beginning, DJ Mike Read, sitting next to Basia, Danny White and Mark Reilly, introduced Simon Roberts on Line 1 and asked him for his question for Matt Bianco, just to hear on prime time telly:

"Matt Bianco? They're a bunch of Wankers!".

To this day, Matt Bianco are associated with this one, simple line.

u/sjc21twice avatar

I remember that story, but I can never remember who the band was :)

It's a shame Cheggers is no longer with us. TMS could be a previously undiscovered demo by Brown Sauce...

u/TvHeroUK avatar

Haha all the old kids tv memories coming out! The other famous one was Five Star ‘why are you so fucking crap’ from a phone caller at 10.30am on a Saturday morning  

 https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49794167

The Brown Sauce song was written by BA Robertson who im sure has been looked into (quickly dismissed) as a lead here before! 

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Goddamit phone...it was listed properly. Will go on computer and fix format later.

u/mi5i3k avatar

I think we can rule out:

Joachim Kühn – jazz

Olivier Cheatam – disco

Tangerine Dream – electronic

Terje Rypdal – jazz guitarist

War – funk

Wishbone Ash – hard/blues rock

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u/hulmanoid7 avatar

Lol it’s not Joan Baez or Blue Nile or Wishbone Ash.

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Has anyone tried posting to German area subreddits? Whoever made tms almost certainly was not a major act and tms was likely just a demo tape that got air time. Asking around about personal connections might be a better bet. Someone who knew the singer has to be floating around still.

German subreddits? Not that I know of. Worth a try?

There was talk about a Facebook ad campaign in northern Germany as well. That could also work.

u/381672943 avatar

IIRC r/de didn't like it when TMS was brought up in the past. However, regional subreddits and Facebook Groups could be a good search avenue - even just to observe and check out old concert flyers that get posted from time-to-time. There may even be "Hamburg in the 80s"-type FB groups. Private/invite-only would be ideal to scan through (obviously not spamming them if you do get accepted) since their posts won't be indexed on Google.

u/LordElend avatar

Yes it had been posted to German subreddit but the age is way below our target group and Reddit isn't really popular in Germany.

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Well, it’s not Boston or Bow Wow Wow, for many obvious reasons.

u/son_ches avatar

Mtume RULED OUT (female singer)

u/son_ches avatar

The Flirts RULED OUT (female band)

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Well, it’s not Boston or Bow Wow Wow, for many obvious reasons.

You can off-load this task to AI.

Just give it that list and ask to count number of google search results for each.

It doesn't do that stuff well. In fact I don't get it to do anything on these lists any more as it gets to much wrong

I went thru the whole GEMA list, and one of entries for "like the wind" returns Diether Bohlen as an author :D

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