Take Me Back To The '80s
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Take Me Back To The '80s

A look into the '80s music scene

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Take Me Back To The '80s
BeFunky

The '80s are commonly remembered for their emergence of new wave, dance, and the continuation of rock music! Digital recording, the use of synthesizers, and the electronic genre became increasingly more popular.

Here are some of my favorite bands from the '80s.


1. New Order

The English rock band New Order formed in the '80s following the suicide of Ian Curtis and the breakup of Joy Division. The remaining members of Joy Division and the addition of Gillian Gilbert formed New Order. New Order is famously remembered as one of the most influential and critically acclaimed bands of the 80's. New Order's use of post-punk electronic dance music attracted music lovers all over the world and people still listen to their music today.

The band released many successful albums in the 80's including Power, Corruption & Lies, Technique, and the singles compilation, Substance. The band's 1983 hit "Blue Monday" became the best-selling 12-inch single of all time!


You can still see New Order live as the band continues to perform without Peter Hook. Hook left New Order in 2007 and continues to perform New Order and Joy Division songs in his band, Peter Hook and the Light.


2. The Psychedelic Furs

The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in London in the late 70's. Their music found success in the early 80's after the release of their self-titled debut album.

The band was started by the Butler brothers, Richard on vocals and Tim on bass. After the release of their first album, The Psychedelic Furs immediately found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Australia.

The Psychedelic Furs gained success in the United States after the release of their sophomore album, Talk Talk Talk in 1981. Their single "Pretty In Pink" was the inspiration for John Hughes' 1986 film with the same title.

The band's success continued as they released seven more albums throughout the 80's and early 90's. The Psychedelic Furs took a long hiatus until their 2001 release of their greatest hits live.

During their hiatus, Richard and Tim Butler formed Love Spit Love. Love Spit Love released two albums in the 90's. In 2006, Richard Butler released his own solo album titled Richard Butler.


The Psychedelic Furs are still listened to today and they continue to perform live around the world! The band's music is still popular in the film industry and was featured on the Netflix Original, Stranger Things, and the Oscar-nominated film, Call Me By Your Name.


3. The Cure

The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. Robert Smith, lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band is the only constant member.

Smith's look and music style was a trend of the 80's gothic rock. The band is also considered to be apart of the new wave and post-punk movements of the 80's. The Cure released their first studio album, Three Imaginary Boys in 1979.

The Cure's sophomore album, Seventeen Seconds was released in 1980 and it reached number 20 on the UK charts. The single, "A Forest" reached number one on the UK charts.

The Cure went released six more albums throughout the 80's including, Disintegration. Disintegration is the band's 8th studio album, which was critically acclaimed and their highest charting album.


Three singles off the album, "Lullaby," "Lovesong," and "Pictures of You" reached the top 30 in the UK and Germany. The album also reached number three in the UK charts. In the US, the album reached number 12 and the single "Fascination Street" reached number one on the American Modern Rock chart.

The Cure released two albums in the 90's and three in the 2000's. The band's last release was in 2008 with 4:13 Dream. Smith announced that The Cure would release a new album in 2019 in honor of the 40th anniversary of the release of their debut album!


4. The Smiths

The Smiths were an English rock band from Manchester that formed in 1982. The band consisted of lead singer Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce.

The Smiths are known to be one of the most important bands to come from the British independent music scene of the 80's. NME's 2002 poll voted The Smiths to be the "most influential artist ever."

Johnny Marr chose the band's name as he says it was, "the most ordinary name and I thought it was time that the ordinary folk of the world showed their faces." From that moment on Morrissey and Marr partnered in songwriting and released their self-titled debut album in 1984.


The Smiths reached number two on the UK Charts and after the release of this album, the band released an album full of B-sides known as Hatful of Hollow. In 1985, The Smiths released their more politically influenced album, Meat Is Murder, which reached number one on the UK charts.

The Queen Is Dead was released in 1986 shortly after the release of their single, "Bigmouth Strikes Again," and their lengthy US and UK tours. Despite the bands continued success, tension emerged and Marr took a break from the band in 1997.


After reading an NME article titled, "Smiths to Split," Marr left the band as he believed the article was planted by Morrissey. The article stated that Morrissey and Marr's relationship was on the breaking point as Morrissey disliked Marr's work with other artists.


By the time the band split, their fourth studio album, Strangeways, Here We Come had been released. After The Smiths' split, Morrissey began working on his solo career. In 1989, Marr returned to music and began working with Bernard Sumner of New Order and Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys forming Electronic.


Marr later focused on his solo career and helped many artists such as Oasis and Modest Mouse record their albums. The Smiths remain an influential band to many artists and Marr and Morrissey continue to make music and tour as solo artists.


5. Tears For Fears

Tears For Fears is an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. The band was apart of the Second British Invasion of the US.

Tears For Fears' debut album, The Hurting, released in 1983 reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. Their sophomore album, Songs from the Big Chair reached number one on the US Billboard 200.

Their two singles, "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" were both Billboard Hot 100 number ones. The band also won the 1996 Brit Award for Best British Single.


In 1991, Smith and Orzabal parted ways after the release of their third album. Smith pursued a solo career and Orzabal continued making music under the name Tears For Fears. Orzabal released three albums in the time it took Smith and Orzabal to reunite.

The duo reformed in 2000 and released Everybody Loves a Happy Ending in 2004. The band continues to tour and inspire new artists everywhere.


6. A Flock of Seagulls

A Flock of Seagulls are an English new wave and synthpop band formed in Liverpool in 1980. The band was started by the Score brothers, Mike and Ali. Mike and Ali were joined by Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds.

A Flock of Seagulls was widely known for their four international hit singles, "I Ran (So Far Away)," "Space Age Love Song," "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)," and "The More You Live, the More You Love."

The band released their self-titled debut album in 1982. The single "I Ran (So Far Away) " reached the Top 10 in both the US and New Zealand. "Space Age Love Song" scored a lot of radio play and the album reached the number 10 spot on the US charts.

A Flock of Seagulls released four more albums through 1995. Singer, Mike Score released his own album in 2014 named Zeebratta.


7. Talking Heads

The Talking Heads were an American rock band from New York City that formed in 1975. The Talking Heads are considered to be one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the 80's as they introduced new wave music mixed with punk, rock, and funk.

The Talking Heads released their debut album, Talking Heads: 77 in 1977. The band received positive reviews and began collaborating with producer Brian Eno. Together, Eno and The Talking Heads made a trio of experimental and critically acclaimed releases, More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light.


The band received commercial success after their fifth studio album, Speaking in Tongues, which has the single, "Burning Down the House." "Burning Down the House" became an American top 10 hit, the band's first and only. The Talking Heads released three more albums including their best-selling LP, Little Creatures before breaking up in 1991.

In 2002, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Post-breakup, lead singer, David Byrne continued his solo career. Byrne now has 11 studio albums. The rest of The Talking Heads made one more album under the name, The Heads.


Bass player, Tina Weymouth and drummer, Chris Frantz continued to make music on their side project, Tom Tom Club. Even though The Talking Heads reuniting is more than slim, the band's music continues to inspire many new artists including The 1975 and Radiohead, who took their name from the band's song "Radio Head."


8. U2

U2 are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1976. U2 consists of lead singer, Bono, guitarist, the Edge, bassist, Adam Clayton, and drummer, Larry Mullen Jr.

U2 released their debut album, Boy in 1980. Boy received positive reviews and reached number 52 on the UK charts and 63 in the US. It was not until the band's third album, War that they reached number one on the UK charts. The album gave U2 the reputation for releasing socially and politically influenced music.

The band is well known for their live performances and reached international commercial success with their fifth album, Joshua Tree. Joshua Tree was released in 1987 and it consisted of two US number one singles, "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

In the 90's, the band experimented with their sound as they were heavily incorporating alternative rock, electronic dance music, and industrial music in their albums.


U2 released All That You Can't Leave Behind in 2000 and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb in 2004, where they established a mainstream sound. Their thirteenth album, Songs of Innocence was released at no cost through iTunes.

U2 is one the world's best-selling music artists in history as they have sold more than 170 million records worldwide. U2 has won 22 Grammys making them the band with the most Grammys under their belt. U2 was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005!


9. The Ramones

The Ramones were an American punk rock band from New York that formed in 1974. The Ramones are known to be one of the first bands to define punk rock. Each member of The Ramones adopted the surname, Ramone, even though none of the members were related.

The Ramones received limited commercial success, but remain a great inspiration to many bands. In 2002, the original four members of the band, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone, and Tommy Ramone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Marky Ramone, Tommy's replacement on the drums was also inducted.

From 1974 to 1996, The Ramones performed 2,263 concerts, touring nonstop for 22 years. In their final year, the band finished a tour with the Lollapalooza music festival and disbanded after a farewell concert.

The Ramones' self-titled debut album was praised by rock music critics but failed to reach commercial success. The longest song on the record barely reached two minutes and thirty seconds.The band released 13 more studio albums through 1995. The Ramones remain a huge influence for bands of all different genres.

During a tour in the UK, Johnny Ramone and Paul Simonon of The Clash met for the first time. Johnny asked him, "What do you do? Are you in a band?" Paul said, "Well, we just rehearse. We call ourselves the Clash but we're not good enough." Johnny said, "Wait till you see us—we stink, we're lousy, we can't play. Just get out there and do it."


Gene Simmons of Kiss spoke on The Ramones, "We think of the Ramones as a classic, iconic band. They have one gold record to their name. They never played arenas; couldn't sell them out. It was a failed band. It doesn't mean they weren't great. It means the masses didn't care."

By 2014, all the original members of The Ramones had passed away. Their legacy is forever influential as the group was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.


10. Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys are an English synthpop duo from London that formed in 1981. Pet Shop Boys consists of lead vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe.

The duo has sold over 50 million records worldwide making them the most successful UK duo in history. The Pet Shop Boys have won three Brit Awards and have been nominated for six Grammys.

The duo has 42 Top 30 singles and 22 of these singles were on the Top 10 UK Singles Chart. The band also has four UK number ones: "West End Girls," "It's a Sin," "Always on My Mind," and "Heart." "West End Girls" reached number one the US Billboard Hot 100 Charts.


Pet Shop Boys released three albums in the '80's and have released 10 more albums through 2016. Their debut album, Please did very well having four successful singles including the infamous song, "West End Girls."

The duo's success continues as they are an inspiration to synthpop and dance-pop artists. The band continues to perform and make music that is constantly evolving. In 2009, Pet Shop Boys received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2017, the duo received the NME Godlike Genius Award!


Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some great albums to listen to.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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