Odd topic - Best bands of the 80's (1 Viewer)

[TheIronSheik]

A misleading title to this thread, but with limited space, I went with it.

But here's the details:

I was at the doctor's the other day having a procedure done on my back. The doctor and I had been having some conversations over the past several visits about which bands we liked when we were younger. I believe he's about 5 years younger than me (mid to late 30's). Any way, the conversation started with him talking about Guns N' Roses and how great they were back in the day. I agreed and he said, "Man, the 80's had some awesome bands. It was a great decade. Who else would you say would be in that category?" Now, based off of our talks, I named Poison, Def Leppard and Motley Crue. But he shot those down and started naming bands like U2, Duran Duran, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and Michael Jackson.

Now, here's the thing. He's not wrong with that list. Except maybe Duran Duran, but whatever. But I'm not sure GNR belongs on that list if those are the other nominees. He's essentially saying that GNR was the best hard rock band of the 80's. Is that a widely believed assumption? I'm not saying I'm right. Hell, I could be wrong, but are they really the best hard rock/metal band of the 80's? I would not have said that if asked.

On a side note, I see Slash and Axl Rose have made up and are planning on putting out a new GNR album next year. I look forward to that.

 

[James Daulton]

I love love love The Smithereens.

 

[dutch]

AC/DC lit up the early 80's with Back in Black.

Van Halen/Van Hagar romped through the whole decade.

Bruuuce is a definite as he screamed is way to super stardom with Born in the USA

Jackson started the 80's with Thriller and continued with Bad.

I think of GnR as a late 80's early 90's rather than straight up 80's. You could add Motley Crue to the list.

 

[dutch]

Forgot to agree with the inclusion of U2. They were the 80's.

 

[Deepster]

Most underrated band of the 80's is INXS.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

The Replacements, the Smiths, the Cure.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

The The

 

[Cjw_55106]

No particular order:

Journey

Metallica

Bon Jovi

Queen

 

[joey]

You said "band" and not "hard rock band" or "heavy metal band", so you'd better expect the answers to be WILDLY varying.

I came in here to say The Smiths but I'm a few posts late.

 

[-jb-]

Kajagoogoo

 

[Parrothead]

Iron Maiden was solid in the 80's

Genesis had some great music in the early 80's (Duke) though they spanned many decades

Police

Styx

Journey

Foreigner

AC/DC

38 Special

Def Leppard

 

[Parrothead]

Loverboy

Dire Straits

WHAM!

Culture Club

 

[El Floppo]

The Replacements, the Smiths, the Cure.

the Pixies

Sonic Youth

Husker Du

the Jam

the Fall

the Clash

eta:

Talking Heads

Joy Division

New Order

 

[Ghost Rider]

Are you talking bands that came out in the 80s or just bands that were great in the 80s? Because bands like Rush, Van Halen, The Police, etc. were great in the 80s, but pre-date the 80s as recording artists.

 

[JZilla]

Iron Maiden was solid in the 80's

Seven deadly sins, seven ways to win, seven great albums in the decade

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Are you talking bands that came out in the 80s or just bands that were great in the 80s? Because bands like Rush, Van Halen, The Police, etc. were great in the 80s, but pre-date the 80s as recording artists.

YES

 

[Parrothead]

Huey Lewis and the News

 

[TheIronSheik]

I feel like no one read the question.

Now, here's the thing. He's not wrong with that list. Except maybe Duran Duran, but whatever. But I'm not sure GNR belongs on that list if those are the other nominees. He's essentially saying that GNR was the best hard rock band of the 80's. Is that a widely believed assumption? I'm not saying I'm right. Hell, I could be wrong, but are they really the best hard rock/metal band of the 80's? I would not have said that if asked.

The question is would you include GNR in the greatest bands of the 80's category.

 

[Copeman]

On a side note, I see Slash and Axl Rose have made up and are planning on putting out a new GNR album next year. I look forward to that.

What's this now?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

The Replacements, the Smiths, the Cure.

the Pixies

Sonic Youth

Husker Du

the Jam

the Fall

the Clash

eta:

Talking Heads

Joy Division

New Order

An error occurredYou have reached your quota of positive votes for the day

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I feel like no one read the question.

Now, here's the thing. He's not wrong with that list. Except maybe Duran Duran, but whatever. But I'm not sure GNR belongs on that list if those are the other nominees. He's essentially saying that GNR was the best hard rock band of the 80's. Is that a widely believed assumption? I'm not saying I'm right. Hell, I could be wrong, but are they really the best hard rock/metal band of the 80's? I would not have said that if asked.

The question is would you include GNR in the greatest bands of the 80's category.

No. #### no.

 

[Doug B]

The question is would you include GNR in the greatest bands of the 80's category.

Absolutely. Appetite for Destruction and G'n'R Lies were an essential part of the soundtrack of 1988-89 IMHO. A lot of people forget that Appetite was released in late 1987 -- it's just that it was still spawning singles/videos 18 months later.

...

The doc is not wrong about Duran Duran as a top band of the 80s, especially as instrumentalists. They had the chops in spades. More than just slick clothes and haircuts.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

The answer to the original question is yes. Guns N Roses had, at the very least, one of the best rock albums of the 80s. They released as much stuff (and more of their best stuff) in the 80s than in the 90s. And they're the quintessential LA hair rock band. Pretty much the last band of the genre to matter.

Of course they're one of the best rock bands of the 80s.

 

[Doug B]

No. #### no.

Even if you don't like the material, Slash alone justifies the band's place in 80s rock. YMMV.

 

[Cjw_55106]

I feel like no one read the question.

Now, here's the thing. He's not wrong with that list. Except maybe Duran Duran, but whatever. But I'm not sure GNR belongs on that list if those are the other nominees. He's essentially saying that GNR was the best hard rock band of the 80's. Is that a widely believed assumption? I'm not saying I'm right. Hell, I could be wrong, but are they really the best hard rock/metal band of the 80's? I would not have said that if asked.

The question is would you include GNR in the greatest bands of the 80's category.

Placement is debateable of course, but yes, they are easily in the mix.

 

[Bull Dozier]

On a side note, I see Slash and Axl Rose have made up and are planning on putting out a new GNR album next year. I look forward to that.

What's this now?

An impossible dream, considering how long Chinese Democracy took to make. I saw GnR twice on supposed Chinese Democracy tours that they did before the album even came out (there were probably more).

 

[jon_mx]

I feel like no one read the question.

Now, here's the thing. He's not wrong with that list. Except maybe Duran Duran, but whatever. But I'm not sure GNR belongs on that list if those are the other nominees. He's essentially saying that GNR was the best hard rock band of the 80's. Is that a widely believed assumption? I'm not saying I'm right. Hell, I could be wrong, but are they really the best hard rock/metal band of the 80's? I would not have said that if asked.

The question is would you include GNR in the greatest bands of the 80's category.

AC/DC

 

[TheIronSheik]

I feel like no one read the question.

Now, here's the thing. He's not wrong with that list. Except maybe Duran Duran, but whatever. But I'm not sure GNR belongs on that list if those are the other nominees. He's essentially saying that GNR was the best hard rock band of the 80's. Is that a widely believed assumption? I'm not saying I'm right. Hell, I could be wrong, but are they really the best hard rock/metal band of the 80's? I would not have said that if asked.

The question is would you include GNR in the greatest bands of the 80's category.

No. #### no.

This was my thought, as well.

 

[Jaysus]

I don't think I would... however, I would certainly have Appetite for Destruction right near the top of my best 80's albums list.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I feel like no one read the question.

Now, here's the thing. He's not wrong with that list. Except maybe Duran Duran, but whatever. But I'm not sure GNR belongs on that list if those are the other nominees. He's essentially saying that GNR was the best hard rock band of the 80's. Is that a widely believed assumption? I'm not saying I'm right. Hell, I could be wrong, but are they really the best hard rock/metal band of the 80's? I would not have said that if asked.

The question is would you include GNR in the greatest bands of the 80's category.

No.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Madonna and Michael Jackson aren't bands.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Pedantics 101!

 

[TheIronSheik]

My thoughts are you can't have a large number of "greatest bands" in your list. I think a number closer to 10, rather than 100. So if we break it down to the top 10 bands of the 80's, you might only have one spot for hard rock. Maybe 2. So is GNR in the top 2 greatest metal bands of the 80's? And since this is an opinion, your answer is correct no matter what. That's what you believe. But would the overall consensus come to that conclusion?

(I had this post typed out to a much longer and thorough explanation, then I hit a button that sent me back a page and I lost the entire post. So this is the Cliff's Notes of it.)

 

[E-Z Glider]

80's is the worst decade of music ever, but yes, Id absolutely include GnR as one of the best of the worst. Gun to my head, Id probably go with these as the 3 best of the decade...

U2

REM

Guns n Roses

 

[Uruk-Hai]

My thoughts are you can't have a large number of "greatest bands" in your list. I think a number closer to 10, rather than 100. So if we break it down to the top 10 bands of the 80's, you might only have one spot for hard rock. Maybe 2. So is GNR in the top 2 greatest metal bands of the 80's? And since this is an opinion, your answer is correct no matter what. That's what you believe. But would the overall consensus come to that conclusion?

(I had this post typed out to a much longer and thorough explanation, then I hit a button that sent me back a page and I lost the entire post. So this is the Cliff's Notes of it.)

'Splain "hard rock", Lucy, and why it would only have one spot

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

No. #### no.

Even if you don't like the material, Slash alone justifies the band's place in 80s rock. YMMV.

Talent does not = "greatness". Look at Yngwie Malmsteen. A lot of people would consider him one of the greatest rock guitarists ever but the music he created was pretty bad. Same with Slash. GnR was lame.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Replacements are the greatest band ever, let alone the 80s, so you guys can go ahead and argue about who comes in 2nd.

 

[TheIronSheik]

My thoughts are you can't have a large number of "greatest bands" in your list. I think a number closer to 10, rather than 100. So if we break it down to the top 10 bands of the 80's, you might only have one spot for hard rock. Maybe 2. So is GNR in the top 2 greatest metal bands of the 80's? And since this is an opinion, your answer is correct no matter what. That's what you believe. But would the overall consensus come to that conclusion?

(I had this post typed out to a much longer and thorough explanation, then I hit a button that sent me back a page and I lost the entire post. So this is the Cliff's Notes of it.)

'Splain "hard rock", Lucy, and why it would only have one spot

Excuse me if I'm not using the correct labels, but my thought was that with 10 spots, and with groups like U2, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson and such, each genre would have a limited amount of spots in that top 10.

 

[fdas2]

Menudo, you bunch of racists.

 

[snellman]

80's is the worst decade of music ever, but yes, Id absolutely include GnR as one of the best of the worst. Gun to my head, Id probably go with these as the 3 best of the decade...

U2

REM

Guns n Roses

Maybe it is because I grew up in the 80s, but that decade was one of the best as far as music IMO.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Menudo, you bunch of racists.

I deducted three points for not having a consistant group. The drop off from Jose to Benito was too much to overcome IMO.

 

[Limp Ditka]

This is probably the oddest topic of all time. I mean who ever thought of comparing bands over the span of a decade?

 

[Quint]

while not the most "popular" in terms of AOR 80s rock/hardrock/metal bands, i'd throw in:

The Cult

Jane's Addiction

 

[Cjw_55106]

80's is the worst decade of music ever, but yes, Id absolutely include GnR as one of the best of the worst. Gun to my head, Id probably go with these as the 3 best of the decade...

U2

REM

Guns n Roses

Maybe it is because I grew up in the 80s, but that decade was one of the best as far as music IMO.

I grew up in the 80s as well. Of course you can cherry pick here and there, but for the most part, I thought the 80s sucked....until the 90s showed up.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

My thoughts are you can't have a large number of "greatest bands" in your list. I think a number closer to 10, rather than 100. So if we break it down to the top 10 bands of the 80's, you might only have one spot for hard rock. Maybe 2. So is GNR in the top 2 greatest metal bands of the 80's? And since this is an opinion, your answer is correct no matter what. That's what you believe. But would the overall consensus come to that conclusion?

(I had this post typed out to a much longer and thorough explanation, then I hit a button that sent me back a page and I lost the entire post. So this is the Cliff's Notes of it.)

'Splain "hard rock", Lucy, and why it would only have one spot

Excuse me if I'm not using the correct labels, but my thought was that with 10 spots, and with groups like U2, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson and such, each genre would have a limited amount of spots in that top 10.

Genre trap.....gotcha....carry on, then.

 

[dickey moe]

Surprised by only one REM mention so far.

And what about the The Police?

 

[Cjw_55106]

Surprised by only one REM mention so far.

And what about the The Police?

#### the Police.

 

[Quint]

80's is the worst decade of music ever, but yes, Id absolutely include GnR as one of the best of the worst. Gun to my head, Id probably go with these as the 3 best of the decade...

U2

REM

Guns n Roses

Maybe it is because I grew up in the 80s, but that decade was one of the best as far as music IMO.

I grew up in the 80s as well. Of course you can cherry pick here and there, but for the most part, I thought the 80s sucked....until the 90s showed up.

you might think the 80s sucked, but it was the most diverse decade for music.

 

[dickey moe]

Surprised by only one REM mention so far.

And what about the The Police?

#### the Police.

No no they didn't write that one.

 

[snellman]

80's is the worst decade of music ever, but yes, Id absolutely include GnR as one of the best of the worst. Gun to my head, Id probably go with these as the 3 best of the decade...

U2

REM

Guns n Roses

Maybe it is because I grew up in the 80s, but that decade was one of the best as far as music IMO.

I grew up in the 80s as well. Of course you can cherry pick here and there, but for the most part, I thought the 80s sucked....until the 90s showed up.

lol, I thought the music started to decline in the 90s, Seemed like everything became hip hop for awhile.

 

[TheIronSheik]

This is probably the oddest topic of all time. I mean who ever thought of comparing bands over the span of a decade?

It was more odd in the sense that as a guy was shoving heating rods in my back, we were debating bands greatness.