Influential rock bands of the 80s: The Bangles, The Go-Gos, The Bee Gees, U2, Heart
Music Group 80s
Rock bands like Blondie, Kiss, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Def Leppard had huge hits in the 1980s. Pop artists such as Cher, Tina Turner and Diana Ross updated their looks and music to stay current.
New wave artists influenced by disco, pop and punk incorporated funk, reggae and more into their sound. Hair metal bands were synonymous with hard partying, groupies and drugs.
The Bangles
During their heyday in the 1980s, The Bangles made an imprint on music that lasted long after their breakup. Their sound and style has influenced many other bands, including The Go-Go’s and L7. The Bangles also provided backing vocals on the Hoodoo Gurus’ album Blow Your Cool in 1987.
The Bangles, in their original incarnation as the Bangs (they changed their name to avoid legal complications), played the LA club circuit with groups like X and the Germs. Yet they never fit into the punk scene; they preferred jangly guitars and plaintive harmonies.
The soaring “Walk Like an Egyptian,” with its sequenced harmonies–a lower set holds a note, while the higher set soars above it–is one of their best examples. Even today, The Bangles are among the most influential all-female bands of the ’80s.
The Go-Gos
When all-female bands hit the scene in ’79, there was usually a seedy cigar-chompin’ producer hovering over them, pulling strings and plotting their moves. The Go-Gos proved naysayers wrong by creating a bright, energetic, and resonant debut album that pushed boundaries for female rockers.
Their earliest songs — like this classic from Beauty and the Beat — were raw and rocky, with the band’s vibrant rhythm section of Gina Schock and Kathy Valentine providing an urgent backdrop for Carlisle’s vocal harmonies and catchy hooks. The result was a genre-fusing mix of surf music and sexy pop.
The Go-Gos’ peak came with this spirited, guitar-driven new wave classic that perfectly bridged their raw early sound with their polished later work. Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin’s unique riffing nodded to surf music, a major influence on punk, while also resonating with the sexy, girl-power lyrics that framed songs about partying, love, and empowerment.
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees were a musical force to be reckoned with in the 80s. Their hits were loud, carnal, and animated, and perfectly fit for a full-throttle stadium atmosphere.
Their songs were infused with gothic and post-punk overtones, but despite these darker elements their music was spirited and youthful. This group was truly fearless and stayed true to their identity throughout their entire career.
Their 1984 album Rattlesnakes was a smash hit and showcased the groups skill in crafting jangly, energetic rock tunes. They were also able to incorporate more mature themes such as adulthood and love into their songs. This is the reason they are considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
U2
U2 was one of the biggest bands of the eighties. They blended youth culture with a sophisticated, complex sound. Their songs were laced with endearing pathos and scintillating riffs. They also infused their music with political activism.
After the release of 1983’s galvanizing War, U2 forged ahead with a series of hit albums and a worldwide tour. This culminated in a show-stealing performance at Live Aid.
With the 1987 album The Joshua Tree, U2 catapulted over its post-punk peers to become the world’s biggest rock band. The group kept the momentum going with 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind and 2017’s reflective Songs of Experience. U2 continues to set lofty goals for themselves, most recently with a 36-show residency in the Sphere at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.
Heart
Heart was one of the biggest music groups 80s, a juggernaut of rock that straddled genres with the ease of a lion. The Wilson sisters sang with ferocity and grace, and Nancy’s piercing guitar work was a perfect complement to Ann’s sinewy howl.
Heart’s debut Dreamboat Annie established them as mainstream hitmakers. Bordering rock and heavy metal with folk songcraft, the album’s platinum breakthrough spawned such hits as Magic Man and Crazy on You.
The band went on to make a string of multiplatinum albums such as Magazine, Dog & Butterfly, and the double live set Greatest Hits/Live. However, tensions arose over the lifestyle of lead singer Roger Fisher. He was fired in 1979, with Howard Leese and Mark Andes replacing him on the 1982 release Private Audition and the subsequent record, Passionworks.