blue collar and white working class themes in particular, lost influence with younger audiences, heartland's artists turned to more personal works. Subsequently, however, American bands the Killers and the War on Drugs and English act Sam Fender firmly integrated the heartland rock genre into their respective musical styles. 1980s revival The term "roots rock" was coined during the mid-'80s. A number of key bands were defined as cow punk, punk rockers who played country music, including Jason & The Scorchers from Tennessee, Dash Rip Rock from Louisiana, and Drivin N Cryin from Georgia, but the centre of the cow punk movement became Los Angeles, thanks to bands including the Long Ryders, Tex & the Horseheads, the Rave-Ups, Lone Justice, and Rank and File. Also part of this trend and enjoying some mainstream success were Gun Club, Chris Isaak, Violent Femmes, BoDeans, and Los Lobos. In addition the alternative country movement, producing such figures as Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and Uncle Tupelo, can be seen as part of the roots rock tendency. The movement began to decline in popularity again in the 1990s but produced some bands like Son Volt, Wilco, and The Bottle Rockets. After disbanding Dire Straits in 1995, lead singer Mark Knopfler has largely returned to a roots-rock sound across his nine albums. See also List of roots rock bands and musicians References External links American rock music genres American styles of music Crossover (music) Retro-style music