Comments on: Dan the List Guy: Bands That Saved the 80s

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:33:01 +0000

Run-DMC
THe Cure
THe Hooters

By: Gordo

Gordo — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 13:46:07 +0000

Zamfir, Boxcar Willie

By: Obi

Obi — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 23:53:06 +0000

Guns & Roses
Metallica

By: Gordo

Gordo — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:44:06 +0000

Oh, and by the way, as far as all of these lists go, if that’s the best of it, well…… you know the rest. With the exception of a hand full of artists and bands, again, some of which I don’t even consider 80’s “style” musicians, or 80’s musicians at all (Springsteen? for one), to me it’s a bunch of unlistenable music. My point, again, talking about the “style” of music that came out of the 80’s, for me it stunk! To say it had no feeling would be kind. It had the feeling of being in the back seat of a car on a long ride about to become sick. You couldn’t wait for it to be over!

By: Gordo

Gordo — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:49:40 +0000

Ok… Greg, I didn’t “write off” U2 and their place in rock history. I just said, “to some extent” they drew on elements of the blues. I don’t think they would even been insulted by that. I actually expected some guff about the Police on that statement. If Bono’s out there reading this crap, please write in and tell us how disapointing it was to have to perform “When Love Comes to Town” with B.B. King.

By: Teek

Teek — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:06:49 +0000

Guys - there’s always great rock and roll to be found… sometimes you may have to dig a little bit. Any decade that includes landmark records by those mentioned above plus Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Jason & The Scorchers, Beat Farmers, The Blasters, John Hiatt, The Gear Daddies, Peter Case, Chris Whitley, Squeeze, Richard & Linda Thompson, Bruce Springsteen, dB’s, Dream Syndicate, Gang of Four, English Beat, Rank and File, Mission of Burma, The Cure, Talking Heads, Joe “King” Carrasco, Joe Ely, Joan Jett, Aztec Camera, Violent Femmes, Meat Puppets, Del Lords, Del Fuegos, Dumptruck, Tom Waits, Run DMC, The Minutemen, The Mekons, The Pogues, Billy Bragg, Bodeans, Smithereens, Crowded House, Camper van Beethoven, Sonic Youth, Living Colour, De La Soul, Lone Justice can’t be all bad.

You guys just should have got out more.

By: Greg I.

Greg I. — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:58:42 +0000

Gordo, you can’t write off U2 by alluding to them being little more than a basic post-blues outfit. We’re talking about one of the great all-time bands — in the same rare air as the Beatles, Stones, Springsteen, Dylan, Marley, etc. AND THEY WERE AN ’80s BAND!

Much of ’80s pop was God-awful. But the alt and underground scenes produced some of rock history’s finest artists. Listening to college radio in the ’80s was awesome — like you were in on some brilliant little secret. Good times.

-G

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:00:48 +0000

Dire Straits may have actually released their first record at the end of the 70s but I always considered them an 80s band. They are another one who attempted to save the 80s.

By: Gordo

Gordo — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:13:00 +0000

Well, sorry Obi but I have to agree with Dan. I’m a huge fan of music but the 80’s left me floundering. Sure, there was some good music that came out of the 80’s. Yeah, I’ll admit I like some stuff by Prince, the Beasties and,one that wasn’t mentioned, INXS, but for the most part the feeling I got was, too pop; no substance.
As far as I’m concerned bands like Los Lobos, Stevie Ray, may have had their start in the 80’s, but are clearly influenced by blues based rock. You could say the same, to some extent, about U2, the Pretenders and the Police as well. And as far as Midnight Oil goes, their exactly what I’m talking about; Awlful!

By: Logo

Logo — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:45:28 +0000

Minnesota was the hub of great rock ‘n’ roll bands in the 1980s. Don’t sell out everybody else just yet, though. Athens, GA was hot — REM and B-52s. I’m sure others could come up with other music centers fairly easily. (And don’t discount Great Britain’s numerous contributions.)

I’d add Elvis Costello and many others from the post-punk movement to the unfulfilling list(s).

In fact, the 80s stuff isn’t as bad as everyone keeps saying it is. Yes, the constantly re-played pop radio hits were/are annoying, but musicians were creating some beautiful things in the 1980s. The 70s created prog rock and disco…are they just as viable today than, say, 80s creation hip-hop? Just don’t sell out the decade because of 99 Luftballoons.