In the 80s, the music industry was dominated by a few major record labels, making it easy for bands to get signed. The sound that dominated popular bands in the 80s was a mix of pop, rock and new wave. Bands whose music was part of the 80s sound were also able to get signed easily.
Nirvana (from Seattle, Washington) were one of these bands, and though they were formed in the late 80s, their sound inspired many other great bands in the 80s to begin playing music. Their sound was mainly influenced by punk rock, but they also incorporated elements from pop and grunge into their music at times. They are known for being one of the most influential bands in American history, like The Beatles and AC/DC.
Some of the most popular bands in the 80s include:
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi were formed in 1983 and are still popular today. They have sold over 120 million records worldwide. They dominated the music scene in the 80s with their hard rock sound. Bon Jovi was one of the first bands to use multi-layered guitar in their songs, which is a technique that many 80s bands used. They also helped define the style of music known as hair metal and have been referred to as the Beatles of hard rock.
Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses is an American rock band that was formed in 1985. Though they are often considered to be one of the best hard rock bands ever, they have also been called one of the most influential bands in history. They received a lot of attention during their first two albums, which were released in 1987 and 1988 respectively. Their debut album, “Appetite for Destruction”, is considered their best album, reaching number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over 30 million copies worldwide. This album also included some popular songs, such as “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “Paradise City,” and “Welcome to the Jungle.”
The Cure
The Cure was formed in 1978, and though they are considered to be one of the best rock bands of all time, their popularity peaked after the release of their most successful album “Disintegration” in 1989. This album is still considered to be one of the greatest albums ever recorded by a band from England. Their sound can be described as gothic rock, though the band eschews people trying to put definitive labels on them and staunchly denies being a “gothic rock band.”
Duran Duran
Duran Duran was formed in Birmingham, England, during the late 70’s (1978, specifically). Though they had several hits during the 80’s and early 90’s, they are best known for their album “Rio,” which was their second album that came out in 1982. They were able to become very popular in America thanks to media outlets including MTV, who put them as part of the Second British Invasion. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide and have been described as a monumental force during the New Romantic scene.
