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These are the UK Official Indie Chart number-one hits of the 1980s, as compiled by MRIB. [1]

1980

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
19 January " Where's Captain Kirk?" Spizzenergi Rough Trade 7 weeks
8 March " Food for Thought" / King UB40 Graduate 12 weeks
31 May " Bloody Revolutions" Crass Crass 5 weeks
5 July " Love Will Tear Us Apart" Joy Division Factory 10* weeks
30 August " Paranoid" Black Sabbath NEMS 5* weeks
13 September Can't Cheat Karma (EP) Zounds Crass 2 weeks
18 October " Requiem" Killing Joke E.G. 1 week
25 October " Atmosphere" Joy Division Factory 2 weeks
8 November " Kill the Poor" Dead Kennedys Cherry Red 1 week
15 November "The Earth Dies Screaming" / " Dream a Lie" UB40 Graduate 5* weeks
6 December Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (EP) Motörhead Big Beat 1 week
27 December " Cartrouble" Adam and the Ants Do It 7* weeks

1981

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
24 January " Zerox" Adam and the Ants Do It 3 weeks
7 March " Nagasaki Nightmare" Crass Crass 2 weeks
21 March " Ceremony" New Order Factory 3 weeks
11 April Four from Toyah (EP) Toyah Safari 3 weeks
2 May " Dreaming of Me" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
9 May Why (EP) Discharge Clay 2 weeks
23 May " I Want To Be Free" Toyah Safari 1 week
30 May " Don't Let It Pass You By" / " Don't Slow Down" UB40 DEP International 1 week
6 June " Too Drunk to Fuck" Dead Kennedys Cherry Red 5 weeks
11 July " New Life" Depeche Mode Mute 7 weeks
29 August " One in Ten" UB40 DEP International 4 weeks
26 September " Just Can't Get Enough" Depeche Mode Mute 2 weeks
10 October " Procession" New Order Factory 3 weeks
31 October " Thunder in the Mountains" Toyah Safari 4 weeks
28 November "Six Guns" Anti-Pasti Rondelet 1 week
5 December Four More From Toyah (EP) Toyah Safari 5* weeks
19 December " Don't Let 'Em Grind You Down" The Exploited & Anti-Pasti Exploited 1 week

1982

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
16 January " Streets of London" Anti-Nowhere League WXYZ 2 weeks
30 January " Do You Believe in the Westworld?" Theatre of Hate Burning Rome 2 weeks
13 February " See You" Depeche Mode Mute 7 weeks
3 April " I Hate People" Anti-Nowhere League WXYZ 2 weeks
17 April " Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" Pigbag Y 4 weeks
15 May " Only You" Yazoo Mute 5 weeks
19 June " Temptation" New Order Factory 3 weeks
10 July " Woman" Anti-Nowhere League WXYZ 2 weeks
24 July " Don't Go" Yazoo Mute 8 weeks
18 September " Leave in Silence" Depeche Mode Mute 6 weeks
30 October " Shipbuilding" Robert Wyatt Rough Trade 3* weeks
6 November " How Does It Feel to Be the Mother of 1000 Dead?" Crass Crass 3 weeks
27 November " The Other Side of Love" Yazoo Mute 4 weeks
25 December " Save Your Love" Renée and Renato Hollywood 3 weeks

1983

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
15 January " Fat Man" Southern Death Cult Situation Two 2 weeks
29 January " Heartache Avenue" The Maisonettes Ready Steady Go! 3 weeks
19 February " Oblivious" Aztec Camera Rough Trade 2 weeks
12 March " Get the Balance Right!" Depeche Mode Mute Records 2 weeks
26 March " Blue Monday" New Order Factory 13* weeks
11 June " Nobody's Diary" Yazoo Mute 1 week
18 June " Pills and Soap" The Imposter (Elvis Costello) F-Beat 2 weeks
2 July " Sheep Farming in the Falklands" Crass Crass 2 weeks
16 July " War Baby" Tom Robinson Panic 3 weeks
6 August " Everything Counts" Depeche Mode Mute 5 weeks
10 September " Confusion" New Order Factory 4 weeks
5 November " Temple of Love" The Sisters of Mercy Merciful Release 1 week
26 November " This Charming Man" The Smiths Rough Trade 7* weeks
3 December " Never Never" The Assembly Mute 2 weeks

1984

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
28 January " What Difference Does It Make?" The Smiths Rough Trade 9 weeks
31 March " You're Already Dead" Crass Crass 1 week
7 April " People Are People" Depeche Mode Mute 3 weeks
28 April " Hand in Glove" Sandie Shaw Rough Trade 1 week
5 May " Thieves Like Us" New Order Factory 2 weeks
19 May " Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops" Cocteau Twins 4AD 2 weeks
2 June " Spiritwalker" The Cult Situation Two 1 week
9 June " Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" The Smiths Rough Trade 3* weeks
23 June " Thanks for the Night" The Damned Damned 2 weeks
14 July " In the Ghetto" Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute 4 weeks
11 August " Walk into the Sun" The March Violets Rebirth 2 weeks
25 August " Agadoo" Black Lace Flair 2 weeks
8 September " William, It Was Really Nothing" The Smiths Rough Trade 2 weeks
22 September " Master and Servant" Depeche Mode Mute 6 weeks
3 November " Marimba Jive" Red Guitars Self Drive 2 weeks
17 November " The Price" New Model Army Abstract 1 week
24 November "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody" Depeche Mode Mute 3 weeks
15 December " Nellie the Elephant" Toy Dolls Volume 7 weeks

1985

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
2 February " Upside Down" The Jesus and Mary Chain Creation 4* weeks
16 February " How Soon Is Now?" The Smiths Rough Trade 4 weeks
30 March " Aikea-Guinea" Cocteau Twins 4AD 2* weeks
6 April " Shakespeare's Sister" The Smiths Rough Trade 3 weeks
4 May " Be with Me" Red Guitars One Way 2 weeks
18 May " Shake the Disease" Depeche Mode Mute 2 weeks
1 June " The Perfect Kiss" New Order Factory 3 weeks
22 June " You'll Never Walk Alone" The Crowd Spartan 3 weeks
13 July " Iron Masters" The Men They Couldn't Hang Demon 3* weeks
20 July " That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" The Smiths Rough Trade 2 weeks
17 August " Tupelo" Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute 2 weeks
31 August " Well Well Well" The Woodentops Rough Trade 3 weeks
21 September " Primitive Painters" Felt 4AD 2 weeks
5 October " It's Called a Heart" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
12 October " The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" The Smiths Rough Trade 3 weeks
2 November " The Battle Continues" Conflict Mortarhate 2 weeks
16 November " Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?" The Cramps Big Beat 1 week
23 November " Sub-culture" New Order Factory 1 week
30 November " Tiny Dynamine" Cocteau Twins 4AD 2 weeks
14 December " Echoes in a Shallow Bay" Cocteau Twins 4AD 8 weeks

1986

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
8 February " Giving Ground" The Sisterhood Merciful Release 4* weeks
1 March " Stripped" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
15 March " The Trumpton Riots" Half Man Half Biscuit Probe Plus 3 weeks
5 April " Shellshock" New Order Factory 3 weeks
26 April " Godstar" Psychic TV & The Angels of Light Temple 2 weeks
10 May " Rules and Regulations" We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It Vindaloo 4 weeks
7 June " Bigmouth Strikes Again" The Smiths Rough Trade 5 weeks
12 July " The Singer" Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute 2 weeks
26 July " Garden of Delight" The Mission Chapter 22 2 weeks
9 August " Panic" The Smiths Rough Trade 4 weeks
6 September " Tokyo Storm Warning" Elvis Costello & The Attractions Demon 2 weeks
20 September " Come Here My Love" This Mortal Coil 4AD 1 week
27 September " State of the Nation" New Order Factory 3 weeks
18 October " Dickie Davies Eyes" Half Man Half Biscuit Probe Plus 1 week
25 October " (Love Affair With) Everyday Living" The Woodentops Rough Trade 1 week
1 November " Love's Easy Tears" Cocteau Twins 4AD 1 week
8 November " Ask" The Smiths Rough Trade 2 weeks
22 November " Bizarre Love Triangle" New Order Factory 2 weeks
5 December " Sometimes" Erasure Mute 4 weeks

1987

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
3 January " Into the Groove(y)" Ciccone Youth Blast First 1 week
10 January " Kiss" Age of Chance FON 3 weeks
31 January " Shoplifters of the World Unite" The Smiths Rough Trade 4 weeks
28 February " It Doesn't Have to Be" Erasure Mute 8 weeks
25 April " Sheila Take a Bow" The Smiths Rough Trade 3 weeks
16 May " Nosedive Karma" Gaye Bykers on Acid In Tape 3 weeks
6 June " Victim of Love" Erasure Mute 2 weeks
20 June " Can't Take No More" The Soup Dragons Raw TV 4 weeks
18 July " Flowers in Our Hair" All About Eve Eden 2 weeks
1 August " True Faith" New Order Factory 3 weeks
22 August " Girlfriend in a Coma" The Smiths Rough Trade 2 weeks
5 September " Pump Up the Volume" M/A/R/R/S 4AD 7 weeks
24 October " Blue Water" Fields of the Nephilim Situation Two 2 weeks
7 November " My Baby Just Cares for Me" Nina Simone Charly 5 weeks
12 December " Touched by the Hand of God" New Order Factory 6 weeks

1988

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
23 January " Behind the Wheel" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
30 January " Rok da House" Beatmasters & Cookie Crew Rhythm King 1 week
6 February " Coldsweat" The Sugarcubes One Little Indian 2 weeks
20 February " I Should Be So Lucky" Kylie Minogue PWL 1 week
27 February " Beat Dis" Bomb the Bass Mister-Ron 4 weeks
26 March " Ship of Fools" Erasure Mute 4 weeks
23 April " Theme from S'Express" S'Express Rhythm King 4 weeks
21 May " Blue Monday 1988" New Order Factory 2 weeks
4 June " Got to Be Certain" Kylie Minogue PWL 1 week
11 June " Moonchild" Fields of the Nephilim Situation Two 2 weeks
25 June " Doctorin' the Tardis" The Timelords KLF Communications 4 weeks
23 July " Superfly Guy" S'Express Rhythm King 3 weeks
13 August " The Only Way Is Up" Yazz & The Plastic Population Big Life 5 weeks
17 September " Birthday" The Sugarcubes One Little Indian 1 week
24 September " Stop This Crazy Thing" Coldcut feat. Junior Reid Big Life 1 week
1 October " Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now?" The Wedding Present Reception 3 weeks
22 October " A Little Respect" Erasure Mute 2 weeks
5 November " Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" Kylie Minogue PWL 1 week
12 November " Stand Up for Your Love Rights" Yazz Big Life 3 weeks
3 December " Say a Little Prayer" Bomb the Bass feat. Maureen Rhythm King 1 week
10 December " Fine Time" New Order Factory 2 weeks
24 December Crackers International (EP) Erasure Mute 8 weeks

1989

Date first reached number one Song Artist Label Duration [2]
18 February " Can't Be Sure" The Sundays Rough Trade 3 weeks
11 March " Hey Music Lover" S'Express Rhythm King 1 week
18 March " Too Many Broken Hearts" Jason Donovan PWL 1 week
25 March " Round & Round" New Order Factory 1 week
1 April The Power of Lard (EP) Lard Alternative Tentacles 1 week
8 April " Monkey Gone to Heaven" Pixies 4AD 4 weeks
6 May " Who's in the House?" Beatmasters feat. MC Merlin Rhythm King 1 week
13 May " Hand on Your Heart" Kylie Minogue PWL 1 week
20 May " Just Like Heaven" Dinosaur Jr. Blast First 1 week
27 May " Ferry Cross the Mersey" The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman PWL 3 weeks
17 June " Sealed with a Kiss" Jason Donovan PWL 2 weeks
1 July " Here Comes Your Man" Pixies 4AD 3 weeks
22 July " Hypnotized" Spacemen 3 Fire 1 week
29 July " She Bangs the Drums" The Stone Roses Silvertone 3 weeks
19 August " Pure" The Lightning Seeds Ghetto 2 weeks
2 September " Hey DJ / I Can't Dance (To That Music You're Playing)" Beatmasters feat. Betty Boo Rhythm King 1 week
9 September " Find Out Why" Inspiral Carpets Cow 1 week
16 September " Run 2" New Order Factory 1 week
23 September " Regina" The Sugarcubes One Little Indian 1 week
30 September " Personal Jesus" Depeche Mode Mute 1 week
7 October " Drama!" Erasure Mute 1 week
14 October " Wrote for Luck" Happy Mondays Factory 1 week
21 October " Street Tuff" Rebel MC & Double Trouble Desire 2 weeks
4 November " Eye Know" De La Soul Tommy Boy 1 week
11 November " Widowermaker" Butthole Surfers Blast First 2 weeks
25 November " Move" Inspiral Carpets Cow 1 week
2 December " Fools Gold / What the World Is Waiting For" The Stone Roses Silvertone 3 weeks
23 December " Getting Away with It" Electronic Factory 3 weeks

See also

References

  1. ^ "Indie Hits". Archived from the original on 16 October 2007 – via Cherry Red Records.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Total number of weeks at number one. * indicates the total of several non-consecutive runs at number one.
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