Dexys Midnight Runners

Although "Come On, Eileen" will forever be the song that people associate with Dexy's Midnight Runners, the British '80s outfit was more than a one-hit wonder. Leader Kevin Rowland combined his American soul music obsession with the DIY attitude of punk and the instrumentation and musical forms of his native Ireland. The group's debut was hailed by some as a masterpiece, and two years later, on the strength of "Eileen", TOO-RYE-AY became an international smash. On subsequent releases, Rowland retooled the group's sound a bit, but Dexy's was unable to maintain its popularity.

• pop
• pop rock
• 1980s