Bronski Beat

One of the first openly gay groups in pop, the UK synth-pop trio Bronski Beat made a powerful statement with their 1984 debut single, “Smalltown Boy.” • Bronski Beat founders Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville, and Larry Steinbachek met in 1983 at the taping of the documentary Framed Youth: Revenge of the Teenage Perverts.

Bronski and Somerville hail from Glasgow, while Steinbachek is from London.

• Their 1984 debut single, “Smalltown Boy,” proved their biggest hit, reaching No.