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SALT LAKE CITY -- Before Lady Gaga there was Madonna. Before One Republic there was Bon Jovi. Many of today's most popular music acts are products of growing up in the 1980s.
While many great bands were started in the 1980s, several of them did not make it out of the decade The music of the 1980s was dominated by hard rock hair bands and electro-pop groups exemplifying a decade of excess.
To be a Top-5 band from the 1980s, it had to be formed in the decade, experience longevity, unquestionable success, and define the music of that decade.
My apologies to U2 and its fans, but it was formed in the 70s. Starting with No. 5, here are the Top 5 bands of the 1980s.
No. 5 R.E.M. : Members of the top alternative rock band to come out of the 80s, R.E.M. achieved success as a group as well as individually. With 15 studio albums and 64 singles to its credit, R.E.M. boasts over 80 million albums sold worldwide. Its 2011 release, "Collapse into Now" peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 U.S. Charts, demonstrating its continued influence and popularity. R.E.M. is more than a rock band, it is an active political and social voice. Whether changing the political climate or writing memorable music, R.E.M. occupies a well-deserved slot of top bands to come from the 1980s.
No. 4 Pet Shop Boys: The Pet Shop Boys is "the most successful duo in UK music history," according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Considering it has sold over 100 million albums worldwide that is a hard praise to disagree with. Perhaps an unlikely selection to some, with 55 singles, 42 of which landed in the UK Top 30, and 22 singles in the Top 10, the Pet Shop Boys is easily the top duo in the list. With hits like, "West End Girls," "Opportunities (Let's Make Lot's of Money)," and "It's a Sin," the Pet Shop Boys techno-pop melodies permeated into the fans' subconscious well beyond the 1980s.
No. 3Depeche Mode: Q magazine calls Depeche Mode, "The most popular electronic band the world has ever known." Others simply say Depeche Mode is the most successful electronic band in music history.
With dozens of singles and music videos, Depeche Mode is both popular and successful, even today. Six of Depeche Mode's 12 studio albums were released in the 1980s. Totaling over 100 million unit sales worldwide, Depeche Mode continues to be relevant today with its latest studio release, "Sounds of the Universe," receiving a Grammy nomination in 2009 for "Best Alternative Album." Depeche Mode has earned a well-respected place in the Top 5.
No. 2 Metallica: Few bands can say that they have influenced as many of today's current rock bands, sold as many records, or stayed as relevant as can Metallica. As a pioneer in the metal genre, Metallica, to date, has released nine studio albums, three live albums, 24 music videos, and 45 singles. Metallica has earned nine Grammy awards, and has successfully released five consecutive albums to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. While Metallica started in the 1980s its story is much bigger than just one decade. Millions of fans worldwide continue to support this influential and Top 5 band from the 1980s.
No. 1 Bon Jovi: According to the Billboard charts, Bon Jovi boasts two different tours in the Top 20 highest grossing tours of all time as well as four of its 11 studio albums released in the 1980s. Bon Jovi is Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame material (in spite of its 2010 unfulfilled nomination).
Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" was the top selling album of 1987. Bon Jovi has sold over 130 million records worldwide as reported by the band's official website. While not the hardest rock band in the world, Bon Jovi is one of the hardest working. Continuing to tour and sell out arena's, Bon Jovi is an irrefutable rock icon from the 1980s and well into the 2010s.
Defining what is means to be a hard rock hair band while still staying main stream, Bon Jovi's hit songs "Livin' on a Prayer," and "You Give Love a Bad Name," are still being performed at karaoke clubs by fans from all around the world.
Nick Galieti is author of the book "Tree of Sacrament" (www.treeofsacrament.com), and sound engineer with Independent Music Studios (www.independentmusicstudios.com).
