30 Greatest Rock Bands of the 1980s
The 1980s was a funny old decade for rock music. In came the new wave of British heavy metal, and pop-rock bands like Bon Jovi were thriving on the colour and glam of the era. Hard rock became grittier too, with AC/DC and Guns N' Roses leading the way, and of course we had thrash metal - a short music phase with a lasting impression.
For rock and metal, the 1980s was glorious, and here are the top 30 rock bands who peaked in that crazy decade.
30. Anthrax
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. They are highly regarded as one of the 'big four' thrash metal bands that dominated the 1980s.
29. W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. They emerged from the early 1980s Los Angeles heavy metal scene. The band's popularity peaked that decade, yet they continue to record and tour, making them one of the most enduring of the West Coast heavy metal bands.
28. Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister was an American heavy metal band originally from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and later based in Long Island, New York. Twisted Sister's best-known hits include "We're Not Gonna Take It" from the movie Gung Ho and "I Wanna Rock", which had music videos noted for their sense of slapstick humour.
27. Accept
Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, formed in 1976 by guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and former members Udo Dirkschneider and Peter Baltes. They are regarded as, only second to Scorpions, as Germany's most significant heavy rock band.
26. Saxon
Saxon are an English heavy metal band formed in 1977, in Barnsley. As one of the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal, they had eight UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums. They played a huge role in the new wave of British heavy metal.
25. Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks were a Finnish rock band formed in 1979. They were the first Finnish band to chart in the UK and they were also popular in Japan. The band broke up in June 1985 after drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley died in a car accident during their first US tour in December 1984. Many regard HR asa band that should have been much bigger.
24. Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo, and bassist and vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer are regarded as the third biggest thrash metal band, only behind Metallica and Megadeth.
23. Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson formed the band in 1983 shortly after Mustaine's dismissal from Metallica. They went on to achieve huge success, particularly with their albums Peace Sells and Rust In Peace.
22. Queensryche
Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band. It formed in 1980 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band The Mob. The band has released 15 studio albums, one EP, and several DVDs, and continues to tour and record. Their concept album, Operation: Mindcrime, is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal albums ever recorded.
21. Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum, and multi-platinum by the RIAA. They platyed a big role in the success of the '80s hair metal movement.
20. Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Black Sabbath are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. Sabbath enjoyed continued success in the '80, with Ronnie James Dio replacing Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals.
19. Kiss
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley. They are regarded as one of the leading live bands, putting on exceptional shows for their fans.
18. Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in West Bromwich, England in 1969. They have sold over 50 million copies of their albums, and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. They enjoyed much of their success in the 'golden 1980s', when heavy metal music thrived.
17. U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin, formed in 1976. The group consists of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. They enjoyed success, mainly through the 1980s and 1990s. They are one of the biggest bands in the world, enjoying 40 years of success.
16. Motley Crue
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil. Mötley Crüe has sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
15. Foreigner
Foreigner is a British–American rock band, originally formed in New York City & London in 1976 by veteran English musician and ex–Spooky Tooth member Mick Jones, and fellow Briton and ex–King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm.
14. Journey
Journey is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between 1978 and 1987 when Steve Perry was lead vocalist.
13. Scorpions
Scorpions are a German rock band formed in 1965 in Hanover by Rudolf Schenker. Since the band's inception, its musical style has ranged from hard rock to heavy metal. The band are the biggest selling group in Europe, outside the UK.
12. Queen
Some call them pop, and others pop-rock, but, one thing's for sure, Queen were a colossal success in the 1980s. Often regarded as one of the best live acts, Queen enjoyed huge popularity in this decade, selling out stadiums, and possessing the greatest frontman of them all.
11. Motorhead
Motörhead were an English rock band formed in June 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, who was the sole constant member, guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox. They enjoyed their peak years in the 1980s, and are still regarded as one of hard rock's most important bands.
10. Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford. The '80s was seen as the decade when Tyler and co reached their ultimate peak.
9. Rush
Rush was a Canadian rock band consisting of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart. Formed in 1968, the band went through several configurations until arriving at its longest and classic line-up. The album, Moving Pictures, shot the trio into the mainstream, and cemented them as one of the biggest ever prog rock bands.
8. Whitesnake
Whitesnake are a hard rock band formed in England in 1978 by David Coverdale, after his departure from his previous band Deep Purple. Their early material has been compared by critics to the blues rock of Deep Purple, but they slowly began moving toward a more commercially accessible rock style.
7. Van Halen
Van Halen is an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen is known for its energetic live shows and for the work of its acclaimed lead guitarist, Eddie Van Halen.The band traded the heavier rock for a more commercial sounding pop-rock tone in the '80s.
6. Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi became the biggest pop-rock band on the planet after the release of Slippery When Wet, and they they followed it up with another corker, New Jersey. The band went on to release a string of successful albums that would help cement their place at the top of the '80s rock world.
5. Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The band's discography has grown to thirty-nine albums, including sixteen studio albums, twelve live albums, four EPs, and seven compilations. They are widely regarded as the greatest heavy metal band of all time.
4. AC/DC
Not even the tragic loss of dynamic frontman Bon Scott was about to stop AC/DC from becoming the biggest hard rock band on the planet. The release of mega selling Back In Black shot the band to new heights, and set them on their way to godly status.
3. Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band that was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band dominated the '80s thrash metal scene with four hugely popular albums, before turning mainstream with a completely new sound through the '90s and beyond. They're still regarded as one of the most influential heavy metal bands.
2. Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band comprised vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. Their 1987 album Appetite For Destruction, is still the biggest selling debut album from any hard rock group.
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