[seldom_seen]

Here's my picks:

#1

New Order



#2

Aztec Camera



# 3

Prefab Sprout




# 4

Echo and the Bunnymen

[Micki]

Always hard to pick just one or a couple.
But OK. Always fun to go down memory lane, so here is a shot;

Depeche Mode


Simple Minds


The Cure


Madness



EDITED:
Nearly forgot Classic Nouveaux.
I was always surprised they didn't make it big cause I thougth their music was great.

[basil_hayden]

The Replacements



Husker Du



Big Black

[vision-master]

80's?
Not too many.........

The era of music video's on them ol crappy VHS tapes.

van halen

[metalflake]

Beach boys

[catbox]

I was 12 in 1980 and also had just found punk rawk....so my choices fall into bands that most kids in my Jr. High and High School were not listening to....(Minus the Clash my ultimate favorite...Combat Rock was an 80's record but I won't include the Clash...maybe because they are timeless!!!):

1-Black Flag
2-Dead Kennedys
3-DOA
4-Subhumans
5-Big Boys
6-Steel Pulse
7-Husker Du
8-Minutemen

and now for 2 mainstreamers

9-Red Hot Chili Peppers
10-U2

[PenultimateManStanding]

Here's the two that impressed me the most:

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World

I Can't stand this indecision
Married with a lack of vision
Everybody wants to rule the world.

I don't know, it was a long time ago, but those lyrics seem strangely prescient.

Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over

Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof

These artists operate on intuition and feelings.

[cbxer55]

I know these are not 80's bands, but the songs are from the 80's

Supertramp
It's Raining Again

Fleetwood Mac
Hold Me

This is a 80's band, Duran Duran.
Hungry Like The Wolf!

[blukatzen]

There was a local band that made it semi-big in the 80's, their name is "Off Broadway-USA" more commonly known as "Off Broadway". I loved their stuff and they're still playing once in awhile at local venues. (suburban 4th of July rib-fests and the like.)

http://www.myspace.com/offbroadwayusa

I loved 80's music, it's the era of my becomming an adult, graduating college, first job, marriage, etc...
Lot's of memories there.

Blu

[blukatzen]

Since I was talking about "local" bands...I should probably mention Cheap Trick (although they did start in the late 70's I think..but they gained more prominance in the 80's.)...

If ya'll don't know, I hail from Chicago, IL..

Blu

[PenultimateManStanding]

Isn't it funny how we get attached to our artists. It's a very basic human thing which I think is grand. I wonder what role they will play in the grim future. btw, here's one that caused quite a sensation two decades earlier when FM radio hit it's stride.

The Titanic Sails At Dawn

[cbxer55]

1986, The Moody Blues.
Another old band that got a hit in the 80's.

Your Wildest Dreams

[blukatzen]

How about this little ditty from the "Specials"...it's the perfect song for our times now...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fsSG-Ctf9bw&feature=related

Blu

[cbxer55]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('blukatzen', 'H')ow about this little ditty from the "Specials"...it's the perfect song for our times now...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fsSG-Ctf9bw&feature=related

Blu

[Eli]

What about The Smiths?

Agree about Husker DU and Big Black too. The Talking Heads were great.



The Pixies were mid to late 80s great band.

Galaxy 500 were also good but more obscure.

[cualcrees]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cbxer55', '1')986, The Moody Blues.
Another old band that got a hit in the 80's.

Your Wildest Dreams