There are actually at least 3 bands called The Wake. - Chronologically, they are:

- 1. A Scottish post-punk band who formed in Glasgow in 1981 and disbanded in 1995. Their early albums were on the legendary Factory Records, where their dark post-punk style was quite fitting. Over the years their music changed to a more jangly indie pop sound reminiscent of bands on the almost as influential Sarah Records (who they indeed signed to 1988). For trivia fans, their initial bassist was Bobby Gillespie who left after the first album to play drums on The Jesus and Mary Chain's seminal debut album Psychocandy and who then found fame singing in his 'own' band Primal Scream.

- 2. An American goth band from Columbus, Ohio formed in 1992 whose most obvious influence to their uptempo gothic rock were The Sisters of Mercy. Their 2 albums and one ep (a remix album by Rosetta Stone) were released on Cleopatra Records.

- 3. A Finnish metal band who formed in 1998 in Karjaa. Their style is the melodic death metal style normally associated with Swedish metal bands. Their 2 albums have been released on Spinefarm Records.