"We hope you like our new direction …"

[Jah Womble]

Status Quo and The Cult were the first that sprung to my mind but, also, The Shamen (from indie-crusty types to dance act)...

The Shamen were never 'crusty' types - they started out as psychedelic Syd Barrett/Byrds-disciples (see 1987 debut, Drop) before discovering MDMA. But absolutely they fit here.

As do Japan, and as do The Cult, for whom one can probably go back way earlier than Electric (as suggested by the Snake): as (Southern) Death Cult*, they were Goth/indie darlings before embracing Led Zeppelin around the time of 1985's Love album.

'With dramatic upturn in sales', in all cases.

(*This is to assume that we can accept a lineage between the three Astbury-led bands. Had he not wished us to do so, then I suspect he'd have chosen more distinct names for them. Or something.)

[Jah Womble]

The Stranglers - from pub-rock also-rans via a new-wave commercial zenith to Euro-muso sophistication and finally post-Cornwell anonymity.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - from feedback-drenched sixties-pop-obsessed post-punkers (1984) to brooding, country-tinged Americana types ten years later - and beyond.

Kylie - from innocent SAW-driven soap starlet via sparsely-clad pop siren to introspective songstress and latterly respected grand-dame of dance-pop. 'And beyond'.

[treibeis]

Kylie - from innocent SAW-driven soap starlet via sparsely-clad pop siren to introspective songstress and latterly respected grand-dame of dance-pop. 'And beyond'.

I would have thought Kylie was an "obvious" that you weren't allowed to mentioned (not my rules).

(Southern) (Death) (The) Cult would be another "obvious". But, as I said, it's not my playing field.

[Jah Womble]

Well, until somebody publishes a definitive list, that's going to prove a tough call.

[treibeis]

Am I allowed Depeche Mode?

[Jah Womble]

Floor's yours - argue your case...

[Nefertiti2]

Dr Hook from Satire to MOR

[Snake Plissken]

Am I allowed Depeche Mode?

They had crossed my mind.

[sw2borshch]

The Soup Dragons from off-world childrens' entertainers to winsome indie types to hard rock gods to a one band world party to who knows?

[Stumpy Pepys]

My question is, which other bands, disregarding the obvious … Zeitgeist?

Sorry, by "obvious" I meant artists whose raison d'être was to change genres (Beatles, Bowie …).

[Disco Child Ballads]

Is Scott Walker another one that's too obvious?

[Benjm]

The Soup Dragons from off-world childrens' entertainers to winsome indie types to hard rock gods to a one band world party to who knows?

Don't be ridiculous. There was always a dance element to their music.

[Sporting]

Elvis Presley?

[Sits]

XTC: post-punk, pop, then onto something much more interesting.

[Auntie Beryl]

Something a bit more recent... the bands that swerved towards "Spotify Pop" once the charts started to be dominated by Band X ft Rapper/EDM Duo Y. Examples that come to mind include Maroon 5 and, allegedly fatally, Linkin Park.

[elguapo4]

Everything but the girl went from lounge jazz to jangly Smiths influenced guitar pop to full orchestral with brass and strings in their first three albums before discovering electronica in the 90s.

[3 Colours Red]

Sorry, by "obvious" I meant artists whose raison d'être was to change genres (Beatles, Bowie …).

So I can have Slade then?

[Tramp The Dirt Down]

Demis Roussos - from prog rock with Aphrodite's Child to housewives favourite

[Jah Womble]

Fleetwood Mac (an 'obvious' perhaps, although changing horses was never their raison d'être) - from British proto-blues rockers to globe-conquering sun-kissed LA pop sophisticates. With about as massive an upturn in sales as is imaginable. (Although they weren't doing too badly before.)

Yes - from shrill, prog top-tablers to shrill, US stadium-sized chart-toppers.

Psychedelic Furs - from distinctive post-punk mavericks to less-distinctive AOR-friendly radio favourites.

Dr Hook from Satire to MOR

See also: Spandau Ballet

[DPDPDPDP]

Neil Young? From almost folkier acoustic stuff to the boring electric almost heavy metal garbage with endless guitar solos.

[Stumpy Pepys]

Lionel Richie (in the Commodores) started off quite funky, before settling on easy-listening ballads. By the time he was solo in the 80s he was doing dancey pop.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Neil Young? From almost folkier acoustic stuff to the boring electric almost heavy metal garbage with endless guitar solos.

NY has moved between folk/country and rock throughout his career. He began doing garage-ish pop in Winnipeg and Toronto, moved to LA to join Steve Stills in Buffalo Springfield, then recorded several acoustic albums (which made his name as a solo artist). Simultaneously, however, he was jamming with Crazy Horse on a regular basis, and they went on to become his back-up band. He still uses the same amplifier he had in 1965 BTW. It has it's own techie and an apparatus that enables it to follow him around the stage. It creates just the right quality of distortion, so he says.

[Jah Womble]

Lesley Rankine - from high-octane punk noise (Silverfish) via industrial (Pigface) to introspective trippy electronica (Ruby).

(Just been listening to the latter, that's why.)

[DPDPDPDP]

NY has moved between folk/country and rock throughout his career. He began doing garage-ish pop in Winnipeg and Toronto, moved to LA to join Steve Stills in Buffalo Springfield, then recorded several acoustic albums (which made his name as a solo artist). Simultaneously, however, he was jamming with Crazy Horse on a regular basis, and they went on to become his back-up band. He still uses the same amplifier he had in 1965 BTW. It has it's own techie and an apparatus that enables it to follow him around the stage. It creates just the right quality of distortion, so he says.

My brother saw him in concert last year. Big disappointment. He said it was like a live jam session. 15 minute solos. NY with his back to the crowd jamming with the other musicians.

[Bored Of Education]

Lesley Rankine - from high-octane punk noise (Silverfish) via industrial (Pigface) to introspective trippy electronica (Ruby).

(Just been listening to the latter, that's why.)

Previous to Silverfish, she was in a garage-punk band called Thee Grizzeldas (with White Stripes producer Liam Watson) who covered "Gloria" but called it "Goretex" and supported my first band. So she certainly went uphill from there.

However, that isn't really the same thing, is it, as she went changed bands and went solo.