Martin Newell

Martin Newell was a strong force for the DIY camp during the new wave days. He produced, recorded, and played (nearly) all of the instrumentation for his solo recordings. He also wrote and played under the name Cleaners from Venus with Lol Elliot in the early 80's, releasing most of their work together from home on cassette. The following are from his first cassette as Martin Newell, Songs for a Fallow Land (1985).
"Julie Profumo":

"Gamma Ray Blue":

R. Stevie Moore

live on NYC public access TV, the Scott & Gary Show in 1984.
"Showbiz is Dead" from Dumb Philosophy (1981):

"I've Begun to Fall in Love":

Thomas Leer

Thomas Leer's early work masterfully blended blithe pop instrumentation with self-built synthesizers and experimental tape effects.
B-side on the Private Plane/International (1978) single, "International":

Tomo Akikawabaya

Japanese mystery man Tomo Akikawabaya made his brief appearance in the mid 80's with several self-released singles, each featuring model Rena Anju on the cover, and promptly fell off the face of the Earth. there are no pictures of this man known to exist, he gave no interviews, never publicly performed, and he has (presumably) not released any more music since 1986. All instruments and noises played by Tomo Akikawabaya.
"Diamond" from the 1985 single:

Side B - "Dream of No Pillow":

R. Stevie Moore

SIT DOWN. performing on the Uncle Floyd Show, NJ, 1980:

R. Stevie Moore

The one and only, R. Stevie Moore!
"No Know" from Teenage Spectacular (1987):



"Part of the Problem", recorded 1978, appears on Glad Music (1986) and others:

Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren with "Intro" and "Breathless" from his 1972 album, Something/Anything?:

Thomas Leer

Thomas Leer is an experimental composer, musician, recording artist, and producer. His work covers a multiple of genres and mediums from electronic and punk to jazz and classical.
Private Plane (1978) was his first self-released single:


"Letter From America" from the 4 Movements EP (1981):


"Hear What I Say" from the Contradictions EP (1982):

Rüdiger Lorenz

Rüdiger Lorenz built many of his own synthesizers and even a his own label to release his recordings through, originally on cassette, then moving to vinyl and eventually CDs. He self-released 17 albums in the 18 years between 1981 and 1998.
"38-17-34" was originally released in 1984 on a cassette compilation of electronic music called On-slaught No. 5, and also appeared as the title track on Rüdiger's 1985 album The Last Secret of Posiedon:



"Francis and Friends" from Southland (1984):

Cleaners from Venus

Cleaners from Venus; Martin Newell and Lol, "Only A Shadow" from Midnight Cleaners (1982):

Solid Space

another DIY tape release from early 80's UK, Solid Space with the album Space Museum (1982):
"Radio France"

"Destination Moon"

"Contemplation"

Cleaners from Venus

Cleaners from Venus was a DIY cassette band formed in England in 1980 helmed by singer/songwriter Martin Newell, who has continued to produce an enormous amount of recordings to the present day.
"A Blue Wave" from the first Cleaners from Venus cassette, Blow Your Troubles Away (1981):

"This Rainy Day" from Midnight Cleaners (1982):

"Ghosts in Doorways" from In the Golden Autumn (1983):

R. Stevie Moore

3 songs in 3 years ('74-'76) from R. Stevie, the most prolific home recording artist in the solar system.
"I Not Listening" from Next (1974):

"Goodbye Piano" from Returns (1975-76) and also Phonography (1976):

"Benefit of the Doubt" from Play (1976):

Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren with "Born to Synthesize" (1975)

R. Stevie Moore

the sheer size of RSM's recordings is staggering; over 35 commercial releases (including 27 full length albums), not to mention a massive library of self-recorded, reel-to-reel tape sessions and music videos on VHS dating from the late 60s to the present day. every instrument and noise is made by RSM, every one of his recordings is available by mail directly from RSM.
Ill (Worst) recorded in 1968, can be found on the Contact Risk (1993) album: