Before The Cars and Talking Heads would go on to sell millions of records full of power pop and experimental post punk throughout the 1970s and 1980s, their beginnings could be found in the form of The Modern Lovers. The Boston-based protopunk group formed in 1970 and was led by Jonathan Richman, an eclectic songwriter who has gone on to enjoy a modestly successful career in his own right. Beside Richman, the band included David Robinson and Jerry Harrison, future members of The Cars and Talking Heads, respectively. With driving garage rock songs such as "Roadrunner" and "Pablo Picaso" the group's influence on the soon to emerge punk and new wave scenes is immeasurable. Similar to a band such as The Velvet Underground, The Modern Lovers didn't experience a ton of widespread success during its initial run, but ultimately laid the foundation for much of what would come after it.
