When did 'indie' become a genre

[DynamiteKid]

When did 'indie become a genre?'

I'd say many years before ten years ago, when I first remember people asking 'when did indie become a genre?'

[Viz]

1987/8 with all that thrashing doves, smashing pumpkins, dinosaur junior, stone roses malaki

[cruxiform]

I can remember looking at Indie charts from the early 80's in Sounds. As said before it was for the best selling records on independent labels such as Rough Trade, Factory, Cherry Red, Stiff etc. but it was nothing like what it is used to describe these days. Bands such as Dead Kennedys, The Smiths, Joy Division, Specials all featured in those charts.

[Pendragon]

I seem to recall 'Indie' becoming a genre around the late 70's with the advent of labels like Rough Trade, Stiff, 2 Tone, 4AD, etc.

[reverend]

I certainly remember people in the late 80s describing themselves as indie fans. Usually it meant they liked stuff like The Smiths, Wedding Present, Sundays etc.

[Gagaryn]

I certainly remember people in the late 80s describing themselves as indie fans. Usually it meant they liked stuff like The Smiths, Wedding Present, Sundays etc.

Yip! And The Pastels, House of Love, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream and the Brilliant Corners. It was all rather twee back then, guys in anoraks and girls with slides in their hair. And anoraks.