The Modern Lovers were a pioneering American rock band formed in 1970 in Natick, Massachusetts by Jonathan Richman. Featuring future members of the Cars and Talking Heads, their sound blended raw rock with influences from bands like the Velvet Underground and the Stooges, helping to lay the groundwork for punk and alternative music. Known for sharp, candid songs about youth, romance, and life in Massachusetts, their self-titled debut became a cult classic. Although the original lineup was brief, Richman later revived the Modern Lovers name for several different bands showcasing a more gentle, folk-influenced style, releasing a number of albums under "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers" throughout the late seventies and eighties.