- 6 weeks ago
Grab your neon shades and leg warmers as we revisit the synth-soaked superstars who deserve another spin! Join us as we count down the most criminally underrated bands of the 1980s. Our list celebrates groups that dazzled the decade but may have slipped into obscurity or been underappreciated. From post-punk pioneers to new wave innovators, these acts crafted sounds that defined an era.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for bands that dazzled the 1980s
00:15but may have been underrated then or slipped into obscurity now. We're mainly focusing on
00:20bands whose output and reception peaked at the time.
00:30Number 20. Icon
00:43The glam metal movement sold a fantasy of big-haired party animals. True to their name, Icon understood
00:50the image, but also how to bring the heavy sound. Originally named Schoolboys, the Arizona
00:56outfit matured the catchy frills of glam with more traditional or extreme momentum for their
01:01acclaimed 1984 debut.
01:03They weren't entirely part of the oversaturated scene though, so subsequent albums incorporated
01:16arena rock elements to a mixed reception. Eventually, personal priorities like frontman Stephen Clifford's
01:22religious awakening prompted Icon to disband in 1990. Still, their cult following persists
01:29for the fiery musicianship that stood out in the golden age of glam metal.
01:33When I look up in the sky, the fire's burning in the night.
01:40Icon reunited as a live act in 2008 and are looking to get back in the studio.
01:46Number 19. Fine Young Cannibals
01:5780s fans can't get their fill of the Fine Young Cannibals cover of Suspicious Minds or the
02:03original classic, She Drives Me Crazy. Some may forget that these sophistapop pioneers were
02:10hardly a two-hit wonder. FYC's smartly-composed cross between contemporary pop and R&B won their
02:17eponymous 1985 album Excellent Reviews.
02:20Johnny, we're siren, don't you come on, go home.
02:281989's The Raw and The Cooked was an even bigger hit, with audiences praising the addition of
02:34Soul and New Wave. The chart-topping Grammy nominee and Brit Award winner was packed with hot
02:39singles, yet the lead one became the band's defining hit.
02:51FYC may have broken up over creative conflict just as they were picking up, but they're endlessly
02:56worth looking back on.
03:05Number 18. Boingo Boingo
03:07From my heart and from my hand, why don't people understand my intention?
03:12The 80s sure didn't forget about these LA New Waivers. Boingo Boingo was punk-influenced,
03:20prolific, and endlessly infectious, thanks to the charisma and eclectic songwriting of frontman
03:26Danny Elfman. Their live shows were the stuff of legend, and they contributed to many film and TV
03:32soundtracks, most notably the 1985 John Hughes comedy Weird Science.
03:45After the group broke up ten years later, Elfman developed his solo career as a score composer
03:50into one of the most celebrated in modern Hollywood. Many have said that this legacy has overshadowed
03:56that of his popular original project and its massive rotation of talented musicians.
04:09But there's no arguing against Oingo Boingo being as good for your soul as ever.
04:15Nothing bad ever happens to me Nothing bad ever happens to me
04:22Nothing bad ever happens to me
04:23Number 17. Hanoi Rocks
04:25The lights are wearing me down And it's hard getting through the day
04:33Where many hair metalheads obscured the genre's glam rock roots, Hanoi Rocks brought them to the forefront.
04:40The Helsinki Hellions had the funky glitz and clever songwriting that were all the rage in the 70s.
04:47But with punk overtones and a heavy metal heft, they broke every rule of mainstream and alternative trends at the time.
05:04Consequently, they had a mostly cult following, until tragedy made the headlines.
05:10In 1984, drummer Nicholas Razzle Dingley died in a car wreck involving an intoxicated Vince Neil of Motley Crue.
05:18This sadly became a prominent footnote in Hanoi Rock's legacy, following their initial breakup shortly thereafter.
05:25Nonetheless, between the classics and some legendary reunions, there's no leaving them out of the 80s glam mythos.
05:34Don't you ever leave me now Don't you ever leave me, baby
05:43Number 16. XTC
05:46We're only making plans, but I do
05:52Rising with the advent of New Way, the Swindon Ensemble first gained cult and critical recognition with three albums in the 70s.
06:01By the 80s, though, the underground sound that XTC helped develop dominated the mainstream.
06:07Dear God, hope you got the letter in
06:09I pray you can make it better down here
06:14Even then, their pop shift stood out on continued punk elements and progressive hooks.
06:19XTC won consistent acclaim and delivered many hits, culminating in the controversial Dear God in 1987.
06:26Dear God, sorry to disturb you, but I feel that I should be a lot unclear
06:33Along the way, a bad record deal with Virgin left the band in financial straits.
06:38Their labor strike in 92 proved ruinous for their popularity.
06:42But by the time they quietly disbanded in 2006, XTC were an 80s cult favorite that remains unlike any pop you've heard.
06:52I won't believe in heaven and hell, no saints, no sinners, no devil's will
06:58Number 15. Japan
07:00When the room is quiet, a daylight almost gone
07:08Although they released more studio albums in the 70s, the British group Japan was made for the 80s.
07:14That was when their synthwave style was most commercially successful, particularly with 1982's Ghosts.
07:21I could not be stopped when my chance came to became the ghost of my life.
07:29Japan still managed to find new and exciting ways to compose such music.
07:33But in 1982, internal conflicts collapsed Japan at the height of their status.
07:39It's just as well as they were facing accusations of capitalizing on the new romantic scene that they in fact influenced and rejected.
07:48But in my case I don't want no fun
07:52I do believe that that would only break my heart
07:57Perhaps too highbrow for pop appeal.
08:00The band did return to the UK Top 40 when they briefly reunited under the name Raintree Crow.
08:06Japan has since maintained its cult following as architects and a highlight of an infectious style.
08:19Number 14. The Time
08:21Though Morris Day is credited alongside Prince with developing Minneapolis' eclectic musical signature in the 80s,
08:38The Time is a force all their own.
08:40The thrilling fusion of funk, soul and rock was rivaled only by live shows exploding with elaborate musicianship and dance.
08:48The Time is considered the most critically and commercially successful act in Prince's creative community.
09:02This proved to be a double-edged sword.
09:05Day's creative input and legacy were overshadowed by his late friend,
09:09whose estate even tried to bar Day from using his own band's name in 2022.
09:15He's settled the legal dispute and continues to rock under the banner of Morris Day and The Time.
09:27Of course, the catalogue of their heyday is simply timeless.
09:31You wonder how to do it.
09:35It's just one simple rule.
09:37I'm just cool.
09:39Number 13. Big Country
09:42The whole world was into In a Big Country when the similarly named band blew up the charts in 1983.
09:56They were actually a local phenomenon, particularly in their native Scotland.
10:01Big Country's unique fusion of New Way, Alternative, and Celtic Folk yielded enchanting ballads that ran the gamut from heavy to heart-wrenching.
10:10I've never seen you look back just without a reason.
10:14Another promise falling through another season.
10:17Stewart Adamson's lyrical themes included heritage, class, conflicts, war, and more.
10:23The band's harder material in the 90s may not have drawn as much attention,
10:28but fans embraced their experimental and iconoclastic flair up to their breakup following Adamson's death in 2001.
10:37So look away, look away.
10:40Hide your eyes from the land where I let go.
10:45Formally reuniting in 2013, Big Country continues to provoke nostalgia for a time long before them,
10:53while remaining as relevant as ever.
10:56In a big country dream, stay with you
11:00Like a lover's voice, part the mountainside
11:05Number 12.
11:07Husker Du
11:08Well, could you be the one they talk about?
11:11Well, hiding inside, behind another door
11:15The 80s sound, admittedly, wasn't for everyone.
11:18It sure didn't appeal to Husker Du.
11:20Though, the power trio from St. Paul, Minnesota, didn't just favor the rebellious punk of the 70s.
11:26They were looking ahead with a melodic yet experimental twist on the budding hardcore scene.
11:32This style would come to be known as post-hardcore, and would have a key influence on the alternative rock explosion of the 90s.
11:49Alas, Husker Du missed out, having broke up in 88 due to tension and struggles with substance use disorder.
11:57The cult sensation's legacy can be found in their famous disciples and renowned solo work.
12:03But the music itself demands to be heard by punk and alternative bands.
12:18Number 11.
12:19Cocteau Twins
12:20If there was any question about the artistic value of 80s music's technical and stylistic trends, the Cocteau Twins put that to bed.
12:38The Scottish alt-rockers' haunting aesthetic was led by Elizabeth Fraser's ethereal vocals and Robin Guthrie's groundbreaking ambient engineering.
12:47This renowned artistry elevated contemporary gothic rock and established the niche genre's aptly named dream pop.
13:03And yet nobody could sound quite like the Cocteau Twins.
13:07Unfortunately, the band fell apart with Fraser and Guthrie's relationship in 1997.
13:11Things ended on such bitter terms that the former romantic couple refused to work together decades later.
13:26Although they've independently had great success in several areas of the music industry, Cocteau Twins remain an entrancing gem.
13:33Number 10.
13:34ABC
13:35Synth pop was big business back in the 1980s, with Britain's ABC existing in our minds as one of the genre's unsung heroes.
13:52The arrangements here sound bigger than many of ABC's other contemporaries, lending songs like Be Near Me an impressive amount of orchestral oomph.
14:03Elsewhere, lead vocalist Martin Fry possesses a strong voice, one capable of delivering big, strong hooks while also containing a proper amount of sensitivity.
14:21The 80s, like any other decade, were full of one-hit wonders.
14:26But we feel like ABC's track record speaks for itself.
14:30These guys were a cut above the rest.
14:33Shoot that poison I rode through my heart
14:36Shoot that poison I rode
14:39Number 9.
14:40A Flock of Seagulls
14:51It's quite unfair that this pioneering English act from the New Wave movement is known more for its assortment of hairstyles than the quality of its music.
14:59After all, the discography of A Flock of Seagulls is actually quite full of interesting tunes for those willing to do a little digging.
15:07Oh sure, I Ran So Far Away is a defining tune from the 1980s, but A Flock of Seagulls albums also retained deep cuts that showcased their musicality.
15:23Tunes like Space Age Love Song and The More You Live, The More You Love demonstrated the excellent synth and guitar interplay within the band's songwriting
15:32and helped further distance a flock of seagulls from more fashion-focused acts of the day.
15:47Number 8.
15:48The Fix
15:49It's not by accident that this list contains a startling amount of musical talent from the United Kingdom.
16:01There was something of a second British invasion during the 1980s, as legions of new wave, post-punk, and heavy metal acts emerged from that area to take over the rest of the world.
16:12The Fix weren't so easily pigeonholed into a genre, however, and this both helped and hurt them over the years.
16:19On one hand, they were a solid rock act, notching hit singles such as One Thing Leads to Another.
16:34On the other hand, there wasn't really a gimmick upon which to sell the fix overseas.
16:39The music speaks for itself, essentially, and we feel the band was actually a bit underrated.
16:46Do what they say, sell what they mean, One Thing Leads to Another.
16:52Number 7.
16:53OMD, a.k.a. Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark
16:58Now, here was a band whose choice of name definitely helped define their career.
17:09Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark are probably better known by the acronym OMD, but this defiantly unhip electronic music duo achieved quite a bit of success during their career.
17:20That said, we still feel that there's gold to be mined beyond the obvious OMD hits like If You Leave.
17:35Band members Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys knew how to make bass, synth, percussion, and voice sound big as hell.
17:44Boasting hooks large enough to snag a whale, the music of Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark definitely sounds of its time.
17:51But we don't think that's a bad thing whatsoever.
17:54In fact, that's exactly why we love them.
17:57Number 6.
18:03L.A. Guns
18:05The commercial landscape of 1980s heavy metal, like any musical movement, possessed a myriad of subgenres.
18:18Not all glam was made equal, to be sure, with L.A. Guns existing within that special little microcosm known as sleaze metal.
18:27Talk about love, talk about love.
18:33This was a rough-and-ready rock band who, alongside another group called Hollywood Rose, resulted in the formation of superstars Guns N' Roses.
18:42L.A. Guns did achieve chart success with the single The Ballad of Jane and put out a lot of music in the 90s.
18:55But we honestly prefer the less polished nature of their 1988 debut.
18:59That record contained rip-roaring jams like No Mercy, sex action, and one more reason.
19:05It was a perfect midway point between dirty looks and big hooks.
19:18Number 5.
19:20Savotage
19:27We know that the Trans-Siberian Orchestra are a big deal around the holidays.
19:31But there's also a connection to their metallic pedigree that reaches to the 1980s.
19:36We're referring to Savotage, a group founded by brothers Chris and John Oliva.
19:49The former's generational skills as a guitar talent were tragically cut short by a drunk driver in 1993.
19:56But Savotage's discography with him remains indispensable for metalheads who appreciate influences from classical music.
20:04The band continued along after both Chris Oliva's death as well as John Oliva's departure from lead vocals, with guitarist Al Petrelli eventually collaborating with John and composer Paul O'Neill on TSO.
20:25For our money though, LPs like Gutter Ballet and Hall of the Mountain King are worth their weight in gold.
20:32When the clouds are gone
20:34And I'm all alone
20:37Number 4.
20:40Ultravox
20:41It's my life
20:44And I'm driving home again
20:47New Wave never sounded so dramatic.
20:50Ultravox seemed to have studied hard during the How to Write a Great Chorus classes while in songwriting school.
20:57How else could one explain the epic grandeur of hits like The Voice, Him, or Dancing With Tears In My Eyes?
21:04Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
21:07The latter in particular highlights how mid-year's lead vocals take Ultravox to another level as he soars with stately insistent grandeur.
21:20Ultravox crafted 1980s pop as high arts, a melodically satisfying approach with impeccable hooks and note-perfection execution.
21:30The band may have experimented a bit during the 1970s, but it was the 80s where Ultravox's rise to musical prominence was assured.
21:38Number 3.
21:49The Chameleons
21:50Call it shoegaze or maybe post-punk, but there was definitely something special to the sound of The Chameleons UK.
22:05This English group's reverb-soaked journey into atmospheric rock had a bit of a malevolent streak.
22:10Specifically, albums such as Script of the Bridge would go on to influence heavier metal acts such as Francis Alsest,
22:18groups that would be inspired by The Chameleons' ability to mope and rock in equal measure.
22:24The Chameleons
22:32Songs such as Don't Fall and Up The Down Escalator meld brooding, resonant vocals with edgy guitar licks and this feeling of aggression bubbling just below the surface.
22:44It's brilliant stuff.
22:46Number 2.
22:50The Church
22:51Wish I knew what you were looking for
22:56Some bands just exude an effortless amount of cool.
23:00Australia's The Church are definitely one of those bands.
23:03It's difficult to pinpoint anything specific about their sound other than it feels dreamlike and resplendent.
23:10They create a gorgeous tapestry of melodies and atmosphere that weave their web in a manner that doesn't quite feel like goth, nor traditional rock.
23:19Instead, The Church takes listeners upon a journey with songs such as their definitive hits, Under the Milky Way.
23:31Truth be told, however, there's a lot to love about their discography, which has put out lots more material since their breakout decade.
23:40Okay, whichever era true fans prefer, The Church is just a great band.
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24:081. The Colts
24:18They were a band able to continually reinvent themselves while also never forgetting how to rock.
24:24The Colts started out in full goth mode under the moniker of Southern Death Colts
24:28before the mid-80s saw a shift into full arena rock Sturm und Drang.
24:33Truth be told, we love it all, including the work the Colt did during the 90s and beyond.
24:46That said, there was just something special about that holy trinity of albums between 1985 and 1989.
24:53Love, Electric, and Sonic Temple.
24:56The latter in particular saw anthems like Fire Woman send Colt into the stratosphere.
25:00Frontman Ian Astaberry howls like a man possessed while embodying a dichotomous personality stresses shamanism and hedonism in equal measure.
25:18And we're not worthy.
25:26What are your favorite 80s bands to continue spreading the word about?
25:30Jam with us in the comments.
25:37I really liked your song too.
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