Duran, headed by Simon Le Bon, were another British group to achieve mega status. A flurry of hits in the 80's and a broad following cemented them as one the biggest groups of the 80's. Classic cuts include, The Reflex, Wild Boys, Hungry Like the Wolf, Girls on Film.
U2 produced a similar flurry of hits during the 80's and today remain one of the biggest draw cards in rock. Classic albums: The Joshua Tree.
Def Leppard is a Brit' band who were simply huge in the 80's, especially in America with sales of Pyromania reaching 100,000 per week. Famous for their one armed drummer, Rick Allen, who lost his arm in a high speed car accident, the band went on to produce their Hysteria album which was also a massively successful.
Queen, arguably one of the super groups of the decade also produced numerous successful albums and singles. Driven by the unmatched singing prowess of Freddie Mercury, a slightly self-conscious and shy front man, who blew audiences away with his energetic performances and amazing vocal range, Queen had a unique sound amongst the glam pop that seemed to dominate the era. If you've never seen the concert, Queen: Live at Wembley, and you're a Queen fan, you need to purchase it. Mercury is at his best, and there simply is no one in rock today who comes close to the range and power of his voice. He was the Pavaroti of rock and was supported superbly by Brian May on guitar, Roger Taylor on Drums and Brian Deacon on bass.
Bon Jovi: big hair, solid songs, a solid sound. Another great band of the decade.
Van Halen: Eddie Van Halen was most likely the best guitarist of the decade, few come close to his technical ability and speed. Supported by his brother Alex on drums, Michael Anthony and his Jack Daniels bass, and wildly hyper active David Lee Roth as lead singer, numerous bands emulated them.
The Eurythmics: Annie Lennox has an amazing voice and the group produced some exceptional songs. A very rich pop sound, tightly produced songs equals a very slick product.
Pink Floyd: The group survived the departure of bassist and principal song writer Roger Waters and produced A Momentary Lapse of Reason, which was a departure from the political musings of The Final Cut. The Floyd had already established themselves as one of the worlds greatest bands and the post Waters era was a hard one for true fans of the band, but ultimately Pink Floyd remained one of the biggest concert acts of the decade. A mixture of incredible light shows, a huge stage and prerecorded video's,
Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:
by Leigh Goessl
The most memorable bands from the 80s represent the over the top characteristics the decade is known for. When people think
by Silva Payne
A friend of mine got married recently. On the reply portion of the wedding invitations, guests were asked to suggest their
Now, I am writing this at the top of my head, without going through my cassette tape collection, so I am probably forgetting
I was 11 when the 80's started and 21 when they ended. Most of the music I listened to then didn't even come out in the
Most of us remember our first day of high school. That transition from being the big fish in a little pond, which you were
View All Articles on:
Great bands of the eighties
Add your voice
Know something about Great bands of the eighties?
We want to hear your view.
Write now!
Cast your vote!
Click for your side.
Featured Partner
Environment Northeast (ENE) has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse ENE's ...more
hide