‘80s Rock and Roll Bands
Queen In the '80s, the AIDS crisis was exploding around the globe. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, became the face of the growing LGBT+ movement. The band played record-breaking outdoor concerts, including the legendary Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium. Years active: 1970–1991 (with Freddie Mercury) Biggest hits: Radio Ga Ga, live performance at Live Aid from Wembley Stadium
Bon Jovi Bon Jovi rocketed onto the scene. The band's first big gig was opening for ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden in 1983—less than a year after the band started. Years active: 1983–present Biggest hits: Runaway, Livin' on a Prayer
Foreigner Foreigner's music has an enduring popularity, with the band's biggest hits from the '80s continuing to top the streaming charts. These Rock & Roll Hall of Famers charted multiple Top 10s and were virtually inescapable in the '80s. Years active: 1976–present Biggest hits: Waiting for a Girl Like You, I Want to Know What Love Is
Journey Although Journey formed and had hits in the '70s, it was in the '80s when the band really hit the height of their success and fame. The band is best known for its power ballads that stand the test of time. Years active: 1973–1987 Biggest hits: Don't Stop Believin’, Faithfully
U2 U2 exploded in the '80s with awards and accolades that would pave the way for the band to become a household name in the '90s and beyond. While the band has had top ten hits in every decade of its existence, it had 5 in the '80s to cement its place in rock and roll history. Years active: 1976–present Biggest hits: Pride (In the Name of Love), Sunday Bloody Sunday
REO Speedwagon While REO Speedwagon was already pretty well known by the time the '80s rolled around, the decade marked a switch from a harder sound to lighter, more pop-friendly music. The lighter sound gained REO Speedwagon a new generation of fans. Years active: 1967–2024 Biggest hits: I Can't Fight This Feeling, Roll with the Changes
The Police The popularity of The Police in the '80s had US rock and roll magazine Rolling Stone talking about a second British invasion. In the '80s, new wave was all the rage, and The Police managed to bridge the gap between traditional rock and roll and new wave. Years active: 1977–1984 Biggest hits: Every Breath You Take, Don't Stand So Close to Me
ZZ Top The members of ZZ Top might've been unlikely pop stars in the '80s, with their long, white beards, but their retooled modern sound was a hit with the MTV crowd. Their decision to add synthesizers and drum machines to their sound helped them attract this new young audience that would follow them for decades to come. Years active: 1969–present Biggest hits: Legs, Sharp-Dressed Man
Aerosmith Aerosmith's popularity in the '80s hinged on a trilogy of music videos featuring Alicia Silverstone and lead singer Steven Tyler's daughter Liv Tyler. While these flamboyant rock stars were already famous when the '80s rolled around, these videos introduced them to a new generation of teenagers who were ready to rock. Years active: 1970–present Biggest hits: Cryin’, Amazing, Crazy
Dire Straits Dire Straits name-dropped MTV when MTV was just taking off. They also managed to really understand what a music video needed to be, producing some of the most popular and enduring videos of the decade. Years active: 1977–1988 Biggest hits: Money for Nothing, Walk of Life
Cheap Trick Although the band struggled in the early part of the decade, Cheap Trick ultimately became one of the most recognizable power pop bands of all time—probably because their record label recommended they sit down with a professional songwriter and polish up their tunes. The result was their first #1. Years active: 1973–present Biggest hits: I Want You to Want Me, The Flame
The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones have arguably been one of the world's biggest rock bands for as long as rock music has been a thing, and the '80s are no exception. The Stones had more than a dozen Billboard Top 10 hits during the decade. Years active: 1962–present Biggest hits: Emotional Rescue, Start Me Up
‘80s Hard Rock Bands
Guns N' Roses When Guns N' Roses hit the scene in the mid-'80s, they brought a punk attitude and metal sound to mainstream hard rock and changed the genre forever. The band was just as well known for their over-the-top rockstar lifestyle that frequently landed lead singer Axl Rose in jail. Years active: 1985–present Biggest hits: Paradise City, Sweet Child O' Mine
AC/DC Australian rockers AC/DC blasted onto the world rock scene in the '70s and haven't stopped rocking people's faces off since, selling over 200 million records. They're also considered a huge influence on the second wave of metal music in Europe. Years active: 1973–present Biggest hits: Back in Black, You Shook Me All Night Long
Van Halen Van Halen's debut album was widely considered to be one of the greatest hard rock debut albums of all time, and the band continued to change the shape and sound of hard rock for decades to come. Van Halen is widely credited with reinvigorating hard rock and returning it to a central place in American music culture. Years active: 1973-2020 Biggest hits: Jump, Hot for Teacher
Whitesnake The story of Whitesnake is the story of David Coverdale, an English musician who left Deep Purple in the '70s to branch out on his own. His solo project would become Whitesnake and help define the hard rock sound of the '80s. Years active: 1978–1990 Biggest hits: Here I Go Again, Is This Love
Def Leppard In the '80s, Def Leppard brought British heavy metal to the hard rock scene and became one of the most commercially successful bands of all time. Their best selling record of the '80s, Hysteria, sold a whopping 25 million copies worldwide. Years active: 1976–present Biggest hits: Pour Some Sugar on Me, Rock of Ages
Scorpions Although German hard rock band Scorpions had been around for a while when the '80s hit, this was the decade when the band produced some of their biggest hits and really made a name for themselves as titans of hard rock. Their music speaks to the realities of living in a divided Germany after World War II, followed by the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification. Years active: 1965–present Biggest hits: Rock You Like a Hurricane, Winds of Change
Heart Heart had already risen and fallen in the '70s, but the '80s gave this women-led hard rock band a second chance at fame and made them legendary. A simple shift of style to soften some of the edges and embrace a poppier sound gave this female-led band the greatest hits of their career. Years active: 1973–1988 Biggest hits: These Dreams, Alone
Survivor Thanks to the commercial success of the movie Rocky, Survivor became one of the most successful bands of the '80s and pioneered the sound that would become arena rock. After all, it's unlikely you've been to a sporting event anytime since the '80s and not heard Eye of the Tiger. Years active: 1978–1988 Biggest hits: Eye of the Tiger, The Search Is Over
Europe This Swedish rock band's first two albums made a small splash on the continent the band was named after. But Europe really exploded onto the global scene with album #3 and a song that continues to be played every time something, somewhere, is almost ending. Years active: 1979–1992 Biggest hits: The Final Countdown, Carrie
Kiss There's no question that Kiss changed the face and sound of hard rock music forever—and in the '80s, the bandmates revealed their real faces for the first time. The band also opened the music world's eyes to the possibilities of merch. Years active: 1973–2023 Biggest hits: War Machine, Lick It Up
Loverboy This Canadian band produced some of the party and arena anthems of the '80s, songs you probably still rock out to today. Loverboy songs are the essence of party rock—relatively inoffensive odes to having a good time. Years active: 1979–1988 Biggest hits: Working for the Weekend, Turn Me Loose
‘80s Heavy Metal Bands
Metallica You can't talk about heavy metal music without talking about Metallica, who burst on the scene in 1981 and never left. Metallica was heavily influenced by bands from the new wave of British heavy metal, including Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Motörhead. Years active: 1981–present Biggest hits: For Whom the Bell Tolls, Master of Puppets
Judas Priest It could be argued that Judas Priest invented heavy metal, and they'd certainly been around for a while when the '80s came around, but that didn't stop them from dropping some huge hits and influencing the style of metal musicians to come. The band also showed a quick mastery of the new medium of the music video, which helped introduce them to a new generation of fans. Years active: 1969–present Biggest hits: Breaking the Law, Living After Midnight
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden pioneered what's been called the new wave of British heavy metal. In the '80s, the band hit mainstream success with The Number of the Beast, one of the best-selling heavy metal albums of all time. Both the album and the band are cited as an influence by almost every metal musician to come after. Years active: 1975–present Biggest hits: The Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills
Dio Ronnie James Dio left Black Sabbath in 1982 to form Dio and produce some of the most popular metal songs of all time. Dio's theatrical vocals and operatic style would inspire metal vocalists for decades to follow. Years active: 1982–2010 Biggest hits: Rainbow in the Dark, Holy Diver
Quiet Riot Quiet Riot was perhaps the first metal band to top the pop charts, opening up the genre to legions of new fans. The band also instinctively embraced MTV and music videos, endearing them to younger metalheads. Years active: 1973–1989 Biggest hits: Cum on Feel the Noise, Bang Your Head (Metal Health)
Black Sabbath Many people credit Black Sabbath with creating the heavy metal genre and sound, and they took it into overdrive in the '80s. With Ozzy Osbourne back as the lead singer, the band continued to rock (and also shock people with their over-the-top stage antics). Years active: 1968–2006 Biggest hits: Heaven and Hell, Children of the Sea
Sepultura Sepultura are considered pioneers of the global metal scene. The band broke in the mid-80s and didn't let up for 40 years. The heavy bass grooves of Sepultura's sound introduced a more bluesy sound to traditional heavy metal. Years active: 1984–2024 Biggest hits: Troops of Doom, Inner Self
Manowar Born at the dawn of the decade, Manowar brought lyrics based on fantasy and mythology to the heavy metal realm. Their elaborate stage shows and lyrical storylines paved the way for fantastical metal bands to come. Years active: 1980–present Biggest hits: Heart of Steel, Kings of Metal
Diamond Head Diamond Head started in the '70s and became one of the most influential British metal bands, despite not getting a lot of airplay in the US due to their desire to remain independent of the major record labels. For many American artists, they're the band another musician raved to them about. Years active: 1976–1985 Biggest hits: Am I Evil?, Sucking My Love
Accept A heavy metal band from what was then West Germany, Accept paved the way for a lot of thrash and speed metal bands coming up in the late '80s and early '90s. While the band name might not be very well-known, its sound definitely is. Years active: 1976–1989 Biggest hits: Balls to the Wall, Fight It Back
Savatage Savatage represented a transition from heavy metal to progressive metal, using metal guitars in front of epic backdrops of sound. Ultimately, members of the band went on to launch the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, everyone's favorite holiday tradition. Years active: 1979–2002 Biggest hits: Hall of the Mountain King, Gutter Ballet
‘80s Thrash/Speed Metal Bands
Motörhead Motörhead developed a reputation for bringing diverse listeners together under one umbrella, and that umbrella was heavy and loud. The band not only paved the way for metal musicians to come, but also created crossover opportunities among its diverse listeners. Years active: 1975–2015 Biggest hits: Ace of Spades, Built for Speed
Megadeth David Mustaine left Metallica in the early '80s to form Megadeth and never looked back, putting out the fastest and heaviest music he could. Mustaine actually draws inspiration from diverse genres such as punk and jazz, which adds musical depth to the band's songs. Years active: 1983–2002 Biggest hits: Peace Sells, Set the World Afire
Venom This British metal band is credited with the creation of black metal and contributed a lot to the evolution of global thrash and speed metal. Even though they were contemporaries, these musicians were also influences and inspirations for many of the bands on this list. Years active: 1978–1992 Biggest hits: Don't Burn the Witch, Raise the Dead
Slayer Slayer's third album, Reign in Blood, which came out in 1986, might be one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time. The band's signature fast tempo and aggressive vocals have infiltrated the style of many metal bands to follow. Years active: 1981–2019 Biggest hits: Raining Blood, Angel of Death
Anthrax Anthrax was yet another band that helped launch the thrash metal genre in American metal in the 1980s, as well as many subgenres that branched out later. Anthrax's collaboration with Public Enemy is also credited as bringing rap and metal together, opening the door to rap-metal and nu-metal in the '90s. Years active: 1981–present Biggest hits: Caught in a Mosh, Madhouse
Exodus Exodus broke out in the mid-80s alongside some of the biggest names in thrash metal and is still considered one of the greatest thrash metal bands of all time. While the band didn't break a lot of records or have songs at the top of the charts, they're continually cited as a foundational influence on the genre. Years active: 1979–1993 Biggest hits: Bonded by Blood, The Last Act of Defiance
Testament This Bay Area band is considered one of the most influential pioneers of thrash metal music in the US, breaking out in the '80s. Testament is known for their particularly complex music and nuanced lyrics. Years active: 1983–present Biggest hits: The New Order, Over the Wall
Death Angel Death Angel is a Filipino-American thrash metal band that burst onto the Bay Area metal scene in the '80s. Even without significant mainstream success, its members are widely considered pioneers of thrash metal. Years active: 1982–1991 Biggest hits: The Ultra-Violence, Thrashers
Kreator German thrash metal band Kreator rose to popularity in the late '80s, just as traditional thrash metal was starting to give way to the grunge sound. Kreator was particularly influential in the growing thrash metal scene and is credited with helping pioneer death metal and black metal. Years active: 1982–present Biggest hits: Pleasure to Kill, Riot of Violence
Anvil These Toronto metalheads are perhaps best known for their many comparisons to Spinal Tap, but they're also considered really influential among metal aficionados. Many of Anvil's song titles include some sort of pun or double meaning related to the band's name. Years active: 1978–present Biggest hits: Metal on Metal, School Love
‘80s Glam Metal Bands
Twisted Sister Twisted Sister might've created the concept of glam metal in the '70s. They certainly brought it into the '80s, complete with lots of makeup, glitter, and sparkle. Their bombastic videos encouraged rebellious teenagers to let loose. Years active: 1972–1988 Biggest hits: We're Not Gonna Take It, I Wanna Rock
Mötley Crüe With their hedonistic lifestyles and androgynous looks, it's no wonder the boys of Mötley Crüe became the kings of glam rock in the '80s. The band frequently showcased their glamorous rock-and-roll lifestyle in videos on MTV. Years active: 1981–2002 Biggest hits: Dr. Feelgood, Home Sweet Home
Poison Poison started playing gigs in dive bars and ended up being one of the most influential glam metal bands of all time, with huge hits in the '80s. Their music is all about partying with lyrics that can get more than a little naughty. Years active: 1983–present Biggest hits: Talk Dirty to Me, Unskinny Bop
Dokken Hailing from Los Angeles, Dokken is considered one of the pioneering glam metal bands of the '80s and helped define the look and feel of the genre. Dokken's soaring, theatrical guitar solos pushed the lead guitar to centerstage. Years active: 1976–1989 Biggest hits: Dream Warriors, Alone Again
‘80s Pop/Soft Rock Bands
The Bangles You practically couldn't go anywhere in the '80s without hearing the melodic pop hits of this great girl group. The band was vaulted to success, in part, by its popular videos on the new cable network MTV. Years active: 1981–1989 Biggest hits: Walk Like an Egyptian, Eternal Flame
The Go-Go's This all-female pop rock band emerged from the Los Angeles punk scene and took over the airwaves in the '80s and broke barriers with their monster hits. At a time when most girl groups relied on professional songwriters, the members of the Go-Go's wrote and composed all of their music themselves. Years active: 1978–1985 Biggest hits: Our Lips Are Sealed, We Got the Beat
Chicago If you like your rock soft and smooth with a tinge of jazz flavoring, you'll understand why Chicago (the band, not the city) became so popular in the '80s. Described as "a rock band with a horn section," Chicago opened the door to more non-traditional instruments in a rock band's lineup. Years active: 1967–present Biggest hits: Hard to Say I'm Sorry, Hard Habit to Break
Boston This arena rock band from Boston, Massachusetts (where else?) blasted onto the scene to become one of the most popular bands of all time. Boston is largely credited with helping create the hard-rocking bubblegum music that would come to be known as power pop. Years active: 1975–2017 Biggest hits: Amanda, We're Ready
America America is a band that, ironically, started in London, England in 1970. While their most iconic hits came in the '70s, they were still coming in strong through the '80s. The band's lasting legacy continues to influence folk-rock groups into the 21st century. Years active: 1970–present Biggest hits: You Can Do Magic, The Border
Fleetwood Mac While Fleetwood Mac is primarily considered a '70s band, they experienced a resurgence in popularity in the '80s following the release of their greatest hits and live albums. The '80s would mark the first of several decades when a new generation would rediscover the music of Fleetwood Mac. Years active: 1967–1995 Biggest hits: Gypsy, Little Lies
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Not only did these Indiana musicians produce some of the greatest and most memorable songs of the decade, they also pioneered heartland rock. The band is known for its authenticity and lyrics that resonate with working-class Americans. Years active: 1976–2017 Biggest hits: Don't Come Around Here No More, I Won't Back Down
‘80s Progressive/Psychedelic Rock Bands
Rush These pioneers of progressive rock had been around long before the '80s, but you might argue that the '80s were when the world became ready for progressive rock. Though typically considered musicians' musicians, Rush actually managed to gain a little mainstream popularity in the '80s, before slinking back into obscurity. Years active: 1968–2015 Biggest hits: Tom Sawyer, Jacob's Ladder
Yes Universally acknowledged as prog rock pioneers, Yes is known for its epic masterpieces that take an entire side of vinyl—although the band's biggest hits in the '80s were a lot shorter than that. Years active: 1961–1981; 1983–2004 Biggest hits: Love Will Find a Way, Owner of a Lonely Heart
Marillion This British prog rock band emerged out of the British post-punk scene to kind of form a bridge between the punk scene and classic prog rock. Their fusion of styles and genre-bending sound would go on to inspire later experimental bands, including Radiohead. Years active: 1979–present Biggest hits: Kayleigh, Lavender
Asia Asia is a British prog rock supergroup, destined to become one of the most commercially successful bands of the '80s, which is exactly what they did. Although they didn't necessarily achieve critical acclaim, they achieved a level of commercial success that's rare for a prog rock band. Years active: 1981–1986 Biggest hits: Heat of the Moment, Only Time Will Tell
Krokus Swiss prog rockers Krokus surprised the world with how hard a band named after flowers could rock, pumping out a number of chart-toppers and sealing their spot as rock royalty. And if you've ever seen the movie Rocky Horror Picture Show, you're likely familiar with one of the band's biggest hits. Years active: 1975–present Biggest hits: Screaming in the Night, Ballroom Blitz
‘80s Alternative Rock Bands
R.E.M. While most people think of R.E.M. as more of a '90s band, they started in the '80s and did a lot to pioneer alternative rock within the college music scene in Athens, Georgia. By the end of the '80s, they'd established a network of bars and venues throughout the southeast dedicated to the burgeoning alternative music scene. Years active: 1980–2011 Biggest hits: It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love
Siouxsie and the Banshees Siouxsie and the Banshees emerged out of the London punk scene and made a name for themselves before pioneering the alt rock sound in the '80s and '90s. These genre-bending musicians are also credited with helping to invent goth music. Years active: 1976–1996 Biggest hits: Dazzle, Cities in Dust
The Smiths While The Smiths weren't active for very long, they managed to produce some hits and change the sound and tone of post-punk music, setting the stage for the alt rock sound that would emerge. They're also considered pioneers of indie rock, inspiring generations of bands to come. Years active: 1982–1987 Biggest hits: Hand in Glove, There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
Primal Scream Founded in Glasgow, Scotland during its decline in the '80s, Primal Scream brought punk politics to a grungier, alternative vibe. The band's biggest contribution to the scene was their ability to fuse so many diverse styles together into one cohesive sound. Years active: 1982–present Biggest hits: Gentle Tuesday, Velocity Girl
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Chili Peppers found their biggest fame in the '90s, but they also had some pretty big hits in the '80s and solidified their brand of California-tinged alternative rock. You might say their music and lyrics were a little wackier in the '80s. When they became a little more polished in the '90s, they found commercial success. Years active: 1982–present Biggest hits: Higher Ground, Knock Me Down
Sonic Youth Apart from the overall alternative sound, Sonic Youth really helped get noise rock off the ground. The band became known for combining pretty and ugly in really sonically interesting ways, such as a soaring, dreamy vocal over grinding guitars. Years active: 1981–2011 Biggest hits: Teenage Riot, Cotton Crown
Dinosaur Jr. Dinosaur Jr. is a Boston band that re-centered the lead guitar in rock music, a sound that greatly influenced alternative music in the next decade. They were essentially indie rock before indie rock existed. Years active: 1984–1997 Biggest hits: Feel the Pain, Little Fury Things
‘80s Punk Rock/Hardcore/Folk Punk Bands
Bad Brains Legendary D.C. hardcore band Bad Brains produced some of the most recognizable punk songs of the era. Their presence in the punk scene as a Black punk band reinforced the inclusive nature of the punk scene. Years active: 1976–1995 Biggest hits: Banned in DC, We Will Not
Hüsker Dü Hüsker Dü broke out as real working-class punk music at a time when there wasn't much around. By the end of the '80s, the band had transitioned to alternative rock, but still held fast to their working-class roots and never "sold out" for a more polished sound that could have brought them greater commercial success. Years active: 1979–1988 Biggest hits: Pink Turns to Blue, Hate Paper Doll
The Replacements After two punk rock albums, The Replacements spent the better part of the '80s pioneering alternative rock (no big deal). The look and feel of what would become the alternative rock scene in the '90s was defined by The Replacements in the late '80s. Years active: 1978–1991 Biggest hits: Bastards of Young, Hold My Life
Black Flag Black Flag might just be the most influential American hardcore band, both prolific and short-lived, although members went on to other projects. There's likely not an American punk rocker alive who hasn't listened to Black Flag, making them an essential American group. Years active: 1976–1986 Biggest hits: Six Pack, I Don't Care
The Mekons The Mekons are one of the most prolific and long-standing British punk bands out there, with plenty of hits in the '80s. While The Mekons aren't as well-known as many of the bands they've influenced, they've developed a rabid cult following that's carried them through to the present day. Years active: 1976–present Biggest hits: Memphis, Egypt, Ghosts of American Astronauts
Dead Kennedys The Dead Kennedys practically defined the sound of American punk through their first few releases. They burst on the scene and split pretty quickly after that (not even finishing out the decade), but they left a crater in their wake that permanently changed the landscape of American punk. Years active: 1978–1986 Biggest hits: Holiday in Cambodia, California Über Alles
D.O.A. Hailing from Vancouver, this Canadian band is often considered among the founders of hardcore punk. While they didn't have a lot of commercial success, they're known for their political activism and commitment to social justice. Years active: 1978–1990 Biggest hits: Smash the State, The Enemy
The Ramones You can't talk about American punk music without talking about The Ramones, one of the most influential punk groups of all time. What they didn't achieve in terms of commercial success, they made up for in cultural impact. Years active: 1974–1996 Biggest hits: The KKK Took My Baby Away, Daytime Dilemma
The Clash The Clash became one of the most iconic political protest bands of the '80s, sparking controversy with their unorthodox approach to the music business. But their music, a chaotic fusion of everything from reggae to funk to jazz, inspired generations to come. Years active: 1976–1986 Biggest hits: Rock the Casbah, Should I Stay or Should I Go
Misfits Although the Misfits were only active in the first few years of the decade, the band had an immense influence on the hardcore punk scene. The band is frequently credited as the inventor of horror punk because of their use of horror movie themes in lyrics. Years active: 1977–1983 Biggest hits: Skulls, Hollywood Babylon
Operation Ivy While Op Ivy wasn't around for long, the band had a really outsized influence on the punk scene, with musicians citing their inspiration decades later. This is the '80s punk band your punk friend tells you about. Years active: 1987–1989 Biggest hits: Take Warning, Unity
Minor Threat Another short-lived punk band, Minor Threat also managed to build a reputation that carried them far further than the 3 years they were active. Minor Threat is also credited with pioneering the "Straight Edge" movement. Years active: 1980–1983 Biggest hits: Straight Edge, Betray
The Pogues These pioneers of folk punk burst onto the scene in the '80s with some of the most recognizable hits of all time. The band's unique blend of punk music played on traditional Celtic instruments is their enduring contribution to the genre. Years active: 1982–1996 Biggest hits: Fairytale of New York, A Pair of Brown Eyes
Violent Femmes This pioneering folk punk band came out of nowhere (actually, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin) with an album full of some of the most iconic songs that land in every generation. The Violent Femmes might just be every teenager's favorite band at some point. Years active: 1981–2009 Biggest hits: Blister in the Sun, Add It Up
‘80s Post-Punk/Gothic Rock/Shoegaze Bands
Bauhaus Bauhaus teetered on the edge between goth and glam, creating their own brooding, glittering sound. If you're interested in how the shoegaze genre got its start, Bauhaus is a great band for you to check out. Years active: 1978–1983 Biggest hits: Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie cover), Telegram Sam
The Cure Pioneers of the goth scene, The Cure had their biggest mainstream hits in the '90s, but developed a loyal core following in the '80s. The band's interesting blend of emotional depth with earwormy pop hooks provided inspiration for artists in many subgenres to develop out of the post-punk scene. Years active: 1976–present Biggest hits: Just Like Heaven, The Funeral Party
Love and Rockets After Bauhaus, 3 of the former members formed Love and Rockets to pick up where they left off. While the band achieved more critical than commercial success, it is continually cited for its profound influence on the post-punk and alternative rock genres. Years active: 1985–1999 Biggest hits: So Alive, No New Tale to Tell
Cocteau Twins The Cocteau Twins was formed by teenage runaways in rural Scotland. Within months, their music would be heard all over the world. Their signature, layered sounds create a sonic environment around you and inspired similar soundscapes in shoegaze. Years active: 1979–1997 Biggest hits: Wax and Wane, Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops
My Bloody Valentine If you like your early post-punk with a bit of an Irish lilt, My Bloody Valentine might be your cup of tea. They're also considered pioneers of the shoegaze genre. Years active: 1983–1997 Biggest hits: Slow, You Made Me Realize
Killing Joke The band emerged from the post-punk with a style closer to industrial that would inspire artists for generations to come, including Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana. While they didn't have a lot of commercial success, it's likely that your favorite musicians have heard them—and might even cite them as an influence. Years active: 1978–1996 Biggest hits: Requiem, Eighties
‘80s New Wave Rock Bands
Tears for Fears This band seemed destined to be legendary from the very start, releasing an iconic single off their debut album that still resonates with listeners today. Their introspective, thought-provoking lyrics have also proven to stand the test of time. Years active: 1981–present Biggest hits: Mad World, Everybody Wants to Rule the World
New Order You wouldn't think a rock band would set the dance floor on fire, but New Order did exactly that in the '80s with their blend of post-punk rock and synth-pop that was also iconically new wave. As much as their music was all over the map, they've also been an inspiration for countless musicians across nearly every genre. Years active: 1980–1993 Biggest hits: Blue Monday, Ceremony
The Psychedelic Furs The Psychedelic Furs are perhaps best known for their song that was featured in the John Hughes film of the same name. The band is perhaps the perfect '80s band, given their even blend of punk, new wave, rock, and pop to create that iconic '80s sound. Years active: 1977–1992 Biggest hits: Pretty in Pink, Love My Way
Duran Duran In the mid-'80s, this British pop-rock band was causing mobs of fans on par with The Beatles at their peak. They cornered the American market through MTV, and their successful music videos helped usher in the second British music invasion. Years active: 1978–present Biggest hits: Hungry Like the Wolf, Rio
A Flock of Seagulls This band is likely more well-known for their hair than for their music, but they had a substantial impact on new wave music in the '80s. While they weren't super-successful commercially, their synth-pop sound became emblematic of the '80s. Years active: 1979–1986; 1988–present Biggest hits: I Ran (So Far Away), Space Age Love Song
A-ha This Norwegian synth-pop band came out swinging with huge global hits on their debut album, leaving a deep impact on the new wave scene. While perceived as a one-hit wonder in the U.S., they actually had numerous hits in Europe and elsewhere. Years active: 1982–1994 Biggest hits: Take on Me, The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
Echo & the Bunnymen Even though they didn't achieve quite as much commercial success as other new wave bands, many musicians count Echo & the Bunnymen among the best bands ever. Their textured, layered sound influenced countless musicians to come. Years active: 1978–1993 Biggest hits: Lips Like Sugar, The Killing Moon
Devo Despite having once been paid to stop playing, Devo produced some of the most iconic and well-known songs of the '80s. Their weird and compelling music videos, on heavy rotation on MTV, helped skyrocket these Ohio rockers to fame. Years active: 1973–1991 Biggest hits: Whip It, Girl U Want
The Cars The Cars merged guitar-centered American rock-and-roll with synth-driven new wave to create some of the biggest bangers of the '80s. Their signature blend of pop sensibilities and melodic lyrics over a driving bass line would influence generations of alternative rock musicians. Years active: 1976–1988 Biggest hits: Shake It Up, Just What I Needed
Simple Minds Another band that broke into the big time in the '80s thanks to having a song of theirs featured on the soundtrack to a John Hughes movie—this one, Breakfast Club. Simple Minds' music influenced some of the biggest names in electronic rock in the '90s and beyond. Years active: 1977–present Biggest hits: Don't You (Forget About Me), Alive and Kicking
Depeche Mode Depeche Mode's signature sound took new wave synth rock into full-blown electronic rock territory with some huge hits in the '80s. The band had a crucial impact on normalizing the use of synthesizers and other electronic elements in mainstream rock music. Years active: 1980–present Biggest hits: Just Can't Get Enough, Personal Jesus
'80s Rock History
The '80s saw the further diversification of rock and roll. The '80s continued a trend that had begun in the '70s—rock and roll kept splintering off into different groups, or subgenres. The subgenres differ in terms of their tone, style, and lyrical content—although in practice, a lot of bands could fit comfortably in several different subgenres. For example, post-punk developed out of punk music and features a more polished, layered sound. Gothic rock, in turn, developed out of post-punk and features songs with gothic or macabre content. As artists began listening to and experimenting with different styles of music, various subgenres emerged. Pioneering bands were often just experimentalists who happened to do something people liked that no one had ever done before.
Rock bands became more focused on their visual presentation. MTV, primarily, gave bands a new way to market their sound and reach more listeners more quickly. It also gave them an additional creative outlet, with many iconic videos catapulting otherwise mediocre artists to widespread fame. Band members themselves also became more focused on their personal image. Being a rockstar became as much about lifestyle as it was music. Shows became more dramatic as well. Rock shows moved to large arenas and needed over-the-top stage shows to keep everyone in the nosebleed seats entertained.
The idea of rock bands as brands took off in the '80s. The launch of MTV, which arguably changed the rock music landscape more than any other development, presented an opportunity for bands to sell not just their music but themselves. On the heels of videos and the usual concert merch, the idea of the band as a brand was born, with bands slapping their logo on anything that people might buy. Many bands, such as Kiss, were extraordinarily successful at commodifying themselves. Others are known more for their marketing gimmicks or outrageous lifestyles than for their songs.
The '80s introduced technology to mainstream rock music. Before the '80s, rock and roll had been all about organically produced sounds—the vibrations created by guitars and drums connected to amplifiers. Post-punk, new wave, and related genres embraced synthesizers, drum machines, and sampling. Bands in the '80s were able to integrate these elements into their music gradually, while still keeping the instruments people were familiar with. This technology, in turn, allowed musicians to further experiment with layering sound. Musicians also used technology to make their music much louder and much clearer than ever before—a trend that would continue through the following decades. Technology also gave listeners new, portable ways to listen to music. Having music with you all the time meant you needed more of it. It also meant that you felt closer to the bands you listened to.
Comments
0 comment