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My 15 Favorite 80s Bands
This is a list of my favorite bands/singers that were prominent, became prominent, or stayed prominent in the 1980s. My favorite albums are in parenthesis.
15. Van Halen
(1984)
During the early-80s Van Halen featured Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony.
14. Bon Jovi
(Slippery When Wet, 1986)
Named after the lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, the group also includes David Bryan, Tico Torres, Phil X, and Alec John Such, who was replaced by Hugh McDonald in 1994.
13. AC/DC
(Back In Black, 1980)
Malcolm Young, Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams, Brian Johnson, and Phil Wright were the member of AC/DC during the 1980s.
12. Guns 'N Roses
(Appetite For Destruction, 1987)
During the early-80s Van Halen featured Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony.
11. "Weird Al" Yankovic
(Polka Party!, 1986)
Albert Yankovic started his parody career in 1976, on the Dr. Demento radio show, where one of Al's first parody songs played on his popular show live on the air. Before he became famous, Al studied and received a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture.
10.Wham!
(The Final, 1986)
Wham! featured George Michael and Anthony Ridgeley, who originally started a band in secondary school called the "Executive."
9. Prince
(Purple Rain, 1984)
Prince Rogers Nelson signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1979, at the age of 17. His first album "For You" (1978) hit Platinum the following year and set him up for his successful future. His highest ranked songs of the 80s are "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy" (1984)
8. Queen
(Jazz, 1978)
Queen was formed in London in 1970, by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon. Before Freddie, Brian, Taylor, and Tim Staffell, who left early, formed "Smile" which later was renamed "Queen."
7. Journey
(Escape, 1981)
Australian duo Graham Russel and Russel Hitchcock started Air Supply after meeting at an Australian production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1975.
6. Madonna
(Madonna, 1983)
Madonna, born Madonna Louise Ciccone, moved to New York City in 1978, and, through extreme networking, later released her first album "Madonna" in 1983 with Sire Records.
5. Billy Joel
(The Stranger, 1977)
Billy Joel wrote the song "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) after his disgust with working-class and lower middle-class New Yorkers working long hours to afford the status symbol of having "made it." He says Anthony isn't a person so much as "every Irish, Polish, and Italian kid trying to make a living in the U.S." (Wikipedia)
4. Lionel Richie
(Can't Slow Down, 1983)
Before he went solo, Lionel Richie was a member of the Commodores, he wrote and performed "Three Times a Lady" and also later co-wrote "We Are The World" with Michael Jackson.
3. Air Supply
(Now and Forever, 1979)
Australian duo Graham Russel and Russel Hitchcock started Air Supply after meeting at an Australian production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1975.
2. Christopher Cross
(Christopher Cross, 1979)
King of the "yacht rock" genre, Christopher Cross released two songs that were at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100, "Sailing" (1980) and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (1981), my personal favorite.
1. Hall & Oates
(Abandoned Luncheonette, 1973)
Daryl Hall and John Oates released their first album "Whole Oates" on November 12, 1972. Hall & Oates have sold an estimated 40 Million Records, making them the best selling music duo of all time. (Rolling Stones, Wikipedia)
Tell me your favorite 80s bands or singers!
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