The Origins of Shoegaze (1964-1988)

I would like to throw in Robert Fripp’s guitar sound in David Bowie’s "Heroes” as a foundational moment in the development of shoegaze.

Been highlighting "All I Wanna Do" as an early shoegaze song for years now. Love that.

As an old GenXer who went thru late 80s, early nineties show gaze, it makes me really happy that it's been kept alive by a new generation of fans.

Really glad that the Ronettes, Beach Boys, and Byrds were mentioned! For my ears, it’s hard to beat that jangly 12-string sound the Byrds were exploring in psychedelia.

In the 93 I was 18 and a senior and always loved grunge. As a 49 middle aged rocker….I love shoegaze. Glad you mentioned Joy Division. They’re one of my favorite bands of all time.

Curve is one of my all time favorite shoegaze bands- hope they get a mention in your follow-up video. Dean Garcia's wall of guitar distortion married with Toni Halliday's haunting vocals. The result is mesmerizing...

The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" is also considered a mainstay of shoegazing. Kevin Shields himself confirmed that "Loveless" was released on Mono in honor of this album

Great list with some worthy arguments made, I think Wire’s Chairs Missing and 154 deserve a mention and were influential on a lot of late 80s/ early 90s shoegaze artists especially songs like The 15th. I’d also nominate The Chameleons Script of the Bridge and Kitchen of Distinction’s Love Is Hell

Really fun and thought-provoking. As I was watching, I couldn’t help thinking of Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ with Brian Eno, John Lennon’s ‘#9 Dream’ and Bauhaus’ ‘Third Uncle’ would fit well between The Beach Boys and Joy Division.

If you want girl group music that is a precursor to shoegaze, you have to check out the Jaynetts, "Sally Go Round the Roses." It has very melodic, super-repetitive, chanting vocals that were recorded with layers and layers on top of each other. It's like a missing link between 60s girl group & drone & dream pop. I also love their song, "Snowman, Snowman, Sweet Potato Nose." It's like a repetitive, chanting shoegaze Christmas carol.

Good list. I think there's a subtle difference between "sounds a bit like" and "influenced" shoegaze. It's worth recalling that by about 1989 most of the foundations were there - 60s bubblegum, Velvets, Sonic Youth, Cocteaus, Paisley Underground - but it was incredibly varied in terms of influencing musicians, and let's face it people made shit up to seem cool when they were talking to NME or Melody Maker. Except Adam Franklin, who is just cool anyway. By 1989 a lot of indie acts were doing world tours (Sonic Youth, Mudhoney, Dinosaur) which set off a whole new wave of guitar/gaze experimentation, not least because LPs were expensive, music news was slow, MTV didn't exist, so late teens like me had to make do. We did ok.

Zen Arcade is an extraordinary LP. I think its biggest connection to Shoegaze, is mainly cos loads of shoegazers loved Husker Du.

This is a very insightful video. You know your stuff. Well researched, I think. Some pre shoegaze and dream pop could be Dream Syndicate’s When It’s Over, early Butthole Surfers, an obscure 60s band named HP Lovecraft did some wonderful, ethereal albums, Psychic TV’s cover of Good Vibrations, Fifty Foot Hose, from the 60s, insane stuff…some of the Fugs songs like CIA Man, MC5, Great Society Sally Go Round the Roses, Love’s Seven and Seven is, and Little Red Book, East West by Paul Butterfield, Omaha by Moby Grape. Damn, isn’t Shoegaze a sub genre of Neo Psychedelia?

All I wanna do by The Beach Boys was ground breaking not to mention how good the song was in addition to its production techniques

Great video! As a child of the '80s, I was a heavy Jesus and Mary Chain as well as Ride fan.  I always thought JAMC were the quintessential shoegaze band, as they spent much of the concerts I saw with them literally staring at their shoes. Daydream Nation is one of my favorite albums. Gonna have to check into the Nugaze bands.

Catherine Wheel and Lush. 2 great shoegazzer bands.

Glad to see the mention of Daydream Nation. Favourite record of all time.

Great vid! Two tracks that need to be added: “Tomorrow Never Knows” from the Beatles 1966 Revolver. I consider this the first shoegaze record. “Here Come The Warm Jets”. From Eno’s 1974 record. That song is essential

You hit it hard. Thanks for the memories. I am old. My inspiration was Skinny Puppy.

For me the first shoegaze track could be Brian Eno - Here Come The Warm Jets ( closing track on the same titled solo debut by the Eno) released in 1974.