Nitzer Ebb. RIP, Douglas McCarthy
“Dark Wave,” hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Matt Sebastian, explores the darker side of classic ’80s alternative, including vintage goth, post-punk and industrial. The shows airs at 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern every Sunday on Sirius XM satellite radio’s 1st Wave (Channel 33).
The most recent two episodes are also available to subscribers to stream via the Sirius XM app.
Got a request? Requests will be considered for future episodes as long as they fit the show’s format and fall generally within the 1st Wave era — and provided the host doesn’t harbor an intense dislike of the song. If there’s something you’d like to hear, drop it in the comments below.
HOUR 1
Nitzer Ebb, “Ascend” (Ebbhead)
Alien Sex Fiend, “Mad Daddy Drives a UFO” (Curse)
Liquid Liquid, “Cavern” (Optimo)
Bauhaus, “In Fear of Dub” (Mask: Omnibus Edition)
The Slits, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (Cut)
The Chameleons, “Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing” (Arctic Moon)
The Sugarcubes, “Delicious Demon” (Life’s Too Good)
The Flaming Lips, “All That Jazz/Happy Death Men” (Yeah, I Know It’s a Drag… But Wastin’ Pigs Is Still Radical)
The Cure, “Faith” (Faith)
Ministry, “Where You At Now?/Crash and Burn/Twitch (Version II)” (Twitch)
Cabaret Voltaire, “Spies in the Wires” (Micro-Phonies)
Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel, “The Throne of Agony” (Nail)
HOUR 2
Depeche Mode, “Precious” (Playing the Angel)
Severed Heads, “All Saints Day” (Bulkhead Plus)
The Love Interest, “Bedazzled (The Horned One)” (Bedazzled)
Cranes, “Rainbows” (Forever)
Cocteau Twins, “Iceblink Luck” (Heaven or Las Vegas)
Joy Division, “Disorder” (Heart and Soul)
Sad Lovers an Giants, “Lost in a Moment” (Epic Garden Music)
Japan, “The Unconventional” (Adolescent Sex)
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Green Fingers” (A Kiss in the Dreamhouse)
The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Kill Surf City” (Barbed Wire Kisses)
Mission of Burma, “Trem Two” (Vs.)
Wayne County & The Electric Chairs, “Storm the Gates of Heaven” (Storm the Gates of Heaven)
Christian Death, “Burnt Offerings” (Only Theatre of Pain)
Public Image Ltd., “Careering” (Plastic Box)
HOUR 3
Nitzer Ebb, “Control I’m Here” (Belief)
Coil, “It’s In My Blood” (The Age of Naples)
Skinny Puppy, “Tear Or Beat” (Cleanse Fold and Manipulate)
Mephisto Walz, “Dear Familiar Phantoms” (Crocosmia)
Skeletal Family, “Cry Baby” (Cry Baby)
Adam and The Ants, “Physical (You’re So)” (Kings of the Wild Frontier)
Gang of Four, “If I Could Keep It All For Myself” (Solid Gold)
The Sisters of Mercy, “Adrenochrome” (Some Girls Wander By Mistake)
The Smiths, “London” (Louder Than Bombs)
Bigod 20, “Like a Prayer” (Like a Prayer)
Front 242, “Serial Killers Don’t Kill Their Girlfriends” (05:22:09:12 Off)
This Mortal Coil, “Drugs” (Dust & Guitars)
Love and Rockets, “Sweet Lover Hangover” (Sweet F.A.)
Echo & The Bunnymen, “Paint It Black” (Live) (Crystal Days 1979-1999)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (6/8/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (6/1/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (5/25/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (5/18/25)
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Great episode of Dark Wave. Here are some requests in honor of Sly Stone, Brian Wilson, and Douglas McCarthy from Nitzer Ebb
Duran Duran – I Wanna Take You Higher (Version 1)
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Surfin’ USA
Nitzer Ebb – Godhead
Matt, I know how you like covers. Have you heard Nick Cave covering the Johnny Cash song Bullrider?
I still prefer Cave’s version of In the Ghetto.
Ian Stuart also does a cover of In The Ghetto, worth a listen for sure.
For next week can you dig out
Cotton Crown – Sonic Youth
Heart and Soul – Joy Division
Ceremony – New Order
Judgement Day – Love and Rockets
Game above my head – Blancmange
Second the Sonic Youth!
Third for Sonic Youth!
Stefan Sonic approves the request for Sonic Youth (for sure, always)
Really great episode! Storm the gates to heaven was a fun track
That was my request, after several weeks of asking, Wayne County finally got played!
Was cool to hear some Wayne, as I slowwwwly make my way through the early chapters of Thurston Moore’s memoir.
Tear or Beat?
Love this show!
I have a request ministry’s land of rape and honey thanks and keep it up
Request as the 4th of July approaches soon.
I came across Galaxy 500 – 4th of July
Thanks
Seconded!
Yes, love this request!
while we’re at it…
X – 4th of July (DEMO VERSION!!)
Yes for X! A gem of a song.
Matt, I’v enjoyed your show every Sunday for the past 13 years. I never miss an episode. Thank you for making Sunday evenings special!
I would like to request the song, “interlude” by Morrissey and Siouxsie Sioux,
For a future episode, the Buzzcocks’ “I Don’t Mind” would be fun. Best to all reading this!
Always a good show.
Requesting some Death In June, Sol Invictus, and SixthComm , for the month of June.
Second that request for Death In June
(I have been asking for several weeks now,
along with Wayne County)
Wayne County got played tonight, finally, maybe there’s hope for Death In June.
While we’re talking Death In June, how about Above The Ruins, or Final Sound,
New Model Army – Grandmother’s Footsteps
Sugarcubes Delicious Demon was great!
A Promise by Echo and The Bunnymen
Would be great to hear on an upcoming show. I love this track and I rarely hear it get radio play.
Hi Matt! Love the show every Sunday. I would like to request a song. Tears (Silent Servant Remix) by Boy Harsher. Dedicating it to a friend Daniela
Good tribute to McCarthy and good deep cuts. And thanks for the new Chameleons and looking forward to seeing them later this year.
Here’s a request –
The Gun Club – Lupita Screams
Thanks!
Hi Matt, great show. Thanks for playing Nitzer Ebb, and thanks for playing Cry Baby!
Hi Matt, it’d be awesome to hear ‘Last’ by Nine Inch Nails. Thank you!
Kitchens of Distinction :)
Yes please!
Hey Matt Can we hear Siouxsie & the Banshees – Christine please?
First of all RIP Douglas….Nitzer Ebb was a huge part of my music scene in the 90’s (especially)…and beyond. Also thank you for playing my Like A Prayer request!!!! Definitely a favorite cover of mine! Some possible suggestions for next time:
Dig For Fire – Pixies
The Jesus And Mary Chain – You Trip Me Up
Teenage Fanclub – Star Sign
Thanks again as always! 。◕‿◕。
Love all three of these requests!
Thanks bud!
Thanks for the Nitzer Ebb cuts, makes me cherish my 12 inches even more. Perhaps for future episodes:
St Etienne – Only Love Can Break your Heart
Primal Scream – Higher than the Sun
My Bloody Valentine – Soon (Weatherall Mix)
“She’s a Carnival” by Siouxsie + the Banshees for (the next after) next Sunday’s show
Thanks for The Love Interest. Don’t know why I like that one, but I do. Hour 2 this week. The back to back Cranes and Cocteau Twins was a nice touch.
Thanks for great music. Have a good week.
Road tripping yesterday with the fam from Montreal heading west on the Trans Canada Highway with the dark wave replay as the soundtrack was a blast. Thanks for playing my JAMC request and for ending the show with the Bunnymen cover. So many great covers on the show. RIP Mr. McCarthy, he was far too young. Thank you for giving us a double dose of Nitzer Ebb. There are a ton of awesome requests above so I’ll skip one this week.
Have a great week Matt, cheers!
Great show and RIP Douglas McCarthy.
For the next show:
Elysium – One Afternoon
Hey Matt, this show was really good. I loved the Flaming Lips, Bunnymen, Gang Of 4, Smiths, Cranes, JAMC, and New Chameleons tracks. Maybe on a future episode you could have a block of Roky Erickson/13th Floor Elevator covers. Here are some suggestions for a block like that, and just in general.
JAMC- Reverberation
Primal Scream- Slip Inside This House
Echo & The Bunnymen(Noel Burke) – Reverberation
Spacemen 3- Rollercoaster
The Shamen – Fire Engine
The Cramps – You’re Gonna Miss Me
Butthole Surfers – Earthquake
Spacemen 3- We Sell Soul
Julian Cope – I’ve Got Levitation
Red Temple Spirits – Rollercoaster
Thanks
I was wondering if you could put into your absolutely wonderful show;
“Incubus Succubus II ”
Xmal Dectschland
Listen every Sunday, never miss the music!!
Matt,with a heavy heart I appreciate you playing a fav or mine Nitzer Ebb.Also,I noticed my Severed Heads request,thanx much darkster.
Show was brilliant as always & made my Father’s Day,thanx.Now to push this plate your direction my friend for your consideration:
Psychic TV-United 94
Penal Colony-Reconciled
Stump-Buffalo
As always,all the best & keeping it dark.
M.
Deftones – To Have and To Hold
Johnny Cash – Thirteen
That last one might not fit, but it might.
Great show as always! Request, if possible. ‘Looking from a Hilltop – Section 25’
Could you please play either
Dr.Phibes and the Wax Equations or Danse Society’s version of “2000 Light Years From Home”(Rolling Stones). Thank You!!!!!!
XTC – Here Comes President Kill Again (1989) Apple Music + Qobuz
cEvin Key with Edward Ka-Spel – Night Flower (2021) Qobuz + Bandcamp
Mittageisen – Bestandigkeit der Erinnerung
Kudos for another top notch show! I loved hour one plus JAMC, Smiths, Love and Rockets, and the Bunnymen to close it out. And the double dose of Nitzer Ebb was much appreciated.
Thank you for playing my request for Liquid Liquid – always grateful when a request makes it into the mix.
Wishing everyone a good week!
The Liquid Liquid track was very fun. Seemed familiar to me, but then again not so much. I’ve got some exploring to do.
It was sampled in the old rap classic “White Lines”. I first heard it on this show and had the same thought of it sounding familiar but not…
Nice show! The Flaming Lips was a highlight. i sang along (in a tinny warble) to all saints day while driving on a road trip, to my family’s… well, not delight :) I also lectured them on how that 3-song suite from twitch was the estuary between ministry’s synth pop and industrial eras hah. Thanks for playing it in full!
Thank you for playing my request for WAYNE COUNTY, classic New York dirty punk rock, just like it should be!!!
How about something from Melt Banana (Kingdom Swine throwback)
Hopping on to the board late this week to say thanks for a great show. Appreciated the Nitzer Ebb songs in tribute Douglas McCarthy, sorry to hear about his sad passing. It seemed like there were some particularly strong offerings from the usual heavy hitters (Bauhaus, Cure, Siouxsie…). I was thrilled to hear Cranes and a stunning (unbeknownst to me) Mission of Burma song. The Love Interest was a mischievous surprise. Til next time. Love, Dave M (formerly David…one must try to distinguish oneself)