Greatest Rock Bands of the '80s

Queen were exceptional musicians in their own right. Together they were a kind of magic bringing out the best in each other. Freddie Mercury's 4 octave vocal range and masterful command of huge audiences was spectacular. Queen crossed every musical boundary. Every single band member had number one hits. No other band in history has done that. They deserve the number one spot.

Most definitely Queen was the best band of all time and if anyone wants to fight me for it, then bring it on!

No Question that they are #1!

In the early 70's on 8-track I'd listen to "Sheer Heart Attack,",and I loved how unique this band!

Best. Band ever. Their music was and still is the best. Growing up 80s. And listening to axel rose. And slash. On guitar. I will never forget. They are the better band

Best band of the 80s! One of the best frontman to ever touch a microphone

Queen is overall a better band, but they were actually more pop in the 80's. Guns N' Roses were a LOT better in the 80's. I'm sorry.

I love Guns 'N' Roses. I came on here to see if they were one, sure enough they were.

R you kidding? Move it up! These people are the root of hard rock! No other music has the kind of power that acdc has, from their crazy riffs, to screaming solos. Long live bon scott!

This is simply the best band ever! Check sales. Three or more generations of rock fans. They still sell out every venue around the world. I miss Bon!

Talk about Showmanship Talent and Determination, These guys Are one of the main ingredients that make Rock and Roll taste so good!

Are you kidding me AC/DC should be the the first on this list there the best band ever queen is number 1 right now they should be moved too number 10 AC/DC FOREVER!

No doubt this band is the best of the 80s. Livin On A Prayer is like the biggest hit of the 80s! By the way Livin On a Prayer topped more charts than Sweet Child O Mine. Guns n Roses only has one number one! Bon Jovi has four! How is Bon Jovi not number one! I went to vacation in a different country and even heard You Give Love a Bad Name, Bad Medicine, Always (90s), and Blaze Of Glory(90s). Shot through the heart! And you're to blame, You give love a Bad Name!

Best songs ever

queen

I personally don't think Jovi belongs on this list

It's amazing how little credit this band get's sometimes. This is the band that changed the way a guitar is played. It virtually created the category hairbands, but there not considered a hairband because they are a 70's band. It basically saved heavy metal. This is the band that made it okay for radio stations to play heavy metal hard rock. The critics couldn't say that hard rock was Un talented musicians that just made a lot of noise, due to the virtuoso musicians the band had in it.

Top rock band of the 80s (David Lee Roth version)

The 50s had Chuck Berry, the 60s had Jimi Hendrix, the 70s had Jimmy Page, and the 80s had Eddie Van Halen. Eddie re-defined the way guitar is played and he will forever be a guitar god. David Lee Roth is one of the most iconic frontmen of all time and he had such swagger in his voice. Alex and Michael made an awesome rhythm section.

Ok come on... Guns n roses?!?! Most overrated band of all time. Van Halen was the cream of the crop! Those riffs Eddie made were amazing. Everything about this band deserves it to be number one! Who the hell is Joy Division or X Japan?! Nothing!

Brought much excitement to rock in the eighties. Distinct sound. Love the music, videos, the whole package.

Best band ever!

Greatest, most fun

Motley Crue was the best Rock band came out in the 1980s.

They hit their stride in the 80s. Definitely Top 3. Several bands listed above didn't really hit their strides until the end of the decade and into the 90s. This is an 80s list. Def Leppard should be higher up.

Should be higher on the list for sure
They have a lot of great songs

2 top selling albums in the 80s come on, there number 1, in my book, joe Elliot scream in woman

They deserve to be number 1. Def Leppard,throughout the 80s, changed the &%#@ing game, man.

Journey was the best, Steven Perry had the best vocals, he did it effortlessly.. Queen was not near the top in my book. Queen was rated #1 because of its Satanic affiliation.

Great band

Queen again geez were gonna kill that band journeys better

You must be kidding me. #14? Journey should in the top 5 at least!

They've been around longer than Queen. Reconsider your choice. - dwf4258

Metallica should definitely be top 5 for sure... I like the other picks though.

Only two or three bands should rank higher

Anal warts are tasty

Metallica 80’s era was the best. - Userguy44

He is cool should be in the top 5 he is a badass

Greatest rocker ever! For almost 50 years now. By far should be #1.

Why is he on here if he's not a band?

Best singer/song writer of the time. We love OZZY!

The scorpions released a string of fantastic albums from the 1970's but from 1979 to 1984 they released 4 masterpiece albums, Lovedrive, Animal Magnetism, Blackout and the commercial masterpiece Love at first sting. Over their career they released masterpieces such as; In Trance We'll burn the sky; Another Piece of Meat; Rock you like a Hurricane; The Zoo; Blackout; Dynamite; Wind of Change; Send me an Angel; Catch Your Train; Dynamite; Always Somewhere; and the beautiful ballad Still Loving You

They ran with the best and beat many of them. Beautiful guitars and drums and beautiful vocals. Just beautiful

Rock You Like a Hurricane, Still Lovin' You, The Zoo Lovedrive, Loving You Sunday Morning, Send Me an Angel. I think I made my point.

Are you kidding me? The Scorpions should be top 5, not way down here. What in the world is X Japan? Why are they ahead of anybody on this list?

So, who put this list together? My list of the best of is COMPLETELY different... The 80's was more "metal" than this one indicates.

Not the best band of the 80's and maybe slightly too high, however they are an amazing band and I'm glad they have a place in the top 10, Bruce is an amazing singer who can even compare to Freddie Mercury, Adrian, Dave and even Janis are have amazing riffs and solos that are both heavy and melodlodic, Nicko the drummer plays it all with a single bass drum, as a drummer I know that this is very hard and finally Steve has three talents, first his "galloping" style of bass playing gives such energy and heavy melody and rhythm, also his song writing skills can be marched by only a few song writers and he's also a pretty good footballer ;) in summery a great band that has a song for every occasion, my favorite, thank you

Deserves Top 10, should be number 1. Their music tells many stories. They spark imagination and inspire the listener to learn of history and what has happened in this world. Greatest band of the 80 hands down!

Promoting satanism in the rocking way! - isoldmysoulforrocknroll

Great band. - Userguy44

Without Lou Gramm vocals, Foreigner would have been just another rock band screaming over loud guitar riffs.

Lou Gramm: No one could sing better. Beautiful voice.

A great band even today. I Want To Know What Love Is. His voice, the words, and the music make this one of my all time favorites.

Everyone loved Joshua Tree and that was released in 87

Why are they not #1?

Definitely #1

In my opinion U2 are number 1

Another great underrated band. Mark Knopfler was a great guitarist. - Userguy44

So underrated every time.. top 5 for sure.

Best solo guitar of the 80's virtuoso!

One of the few on this list who don't sing about sex, drugs and partying. - BrianScott01

TOP 8 THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE!

Who? - Userguy44

One of the best live bands I saw in the 80s.

Great band and Mike Reno can still sing. He sounds great.

the best

101/0 man

Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me.

These guys are awesome!

great band

Top 3 band of all time, period. Page is 1 of the greatest guitar players to live, Plant had extreme range and swagger and Bonham is up there with the drum gods!

These guys aren't 80s

You should know more about them. Their last album was released in 80s. - zxm

Best rock band ever!

How is this so far down

Pink Floyd deserves much better than #22. - Userguy44

Simply the best lead solos of all time

Possition 23...? Whaat? They the best all times!

As good as Queen, if not better.

X Japan had some of the best music I never heard.

I love x Japan!

Kiss is better than most of the bands ranked ahead of them. Multiple hits, shows, movies etc.

The only band in history that had an "Army". People paid money to join the Kiss Army. They had their own cartoon on national television! Should be number one!

Kiss was a solid group in the 80's. They should be rank ahead of at least 3 bands above them on this list.

Kiss was not that bad in the 80s to be no 28.

Still going strong. A really talented group. Ironically their most famous hit is not one of my favourites but these guys should not be underestimated!

The lead vocals looks like a girl and all they're known for is the Final Countdown really. I mean sure, they have more than one hit bit one people think of the band Europe, they think of the Final Countdown

Europe had some of the best rock music of the 80's! They had so many good and catchy songs, from Superstitious to Cherokee to The Final Countdown, and so much in between! They are right behind Bon Jovi for me, and I mean RIGHT BEHIND!

They have 3 songs that anyone can tolerate what is the final countdown anyway they should not be on this list never mind being listed at 19.

The Police should be in the top 10. Really good band. - Userguy44

The Police are one of the greatest rock bands of all time. They should at least be in the top 15.

The police is a great band with great classic melodies, intelligent lyrics filled with feeling and a unique sound. Brillliant singer/songwriter (sting), one of the best drummers of all time (stewart copeland), and great guitar riffs by andy summers.The best 80's band, really Should be much higher on the list

Along with The Cars, The Police are arguably the best 1980's band.

My moms favourite band. - Userguy44

They have been my favorite band since 1981!

MTV helped blow this band up in the early 80's

NO ONE BAND COULD TOUCH THESE GUYS IN THE 80S!.. THEY RULED!. Only other band I could think of was just as big was [ VAN HALEN[!. AT THAT TIME ANYWAY. DURAN SOLD OVER 110 MILLION ALBUMS WORLD WIDE!. Speaking for myself, THE REFLEX Is still my favorite on stage video of all time!. LOVE THE SONG!. THESE GUYS ARE AT 48?. SHOULD BE TOP 5 FOR SURE!. Plus they are still making new music every few years!. [ DURAN DURAN REMAINS! ]

These girls are a great group

The late 70's and early 80's Whitesnake was awesome.

Very underrated band. - Userguy44

Whitesnake is the band that got me into the awesome world of hard rock and glam metal. It is definitely supposed to be in the top 3.

Greatest band,greatest voice

They should be in the top ten with all of their hits!

Highly under rated band. For the 80's. Dokken should be a top ten

Powerful genre-defining garage punk. Ian Curtis.. tragic genius.. As tragically great as Kurt Cobain..

Doesn't get any better than this!

Love them!

The Smiths, The Cure and U2 should be top 3. Morrissey and Marr best combo ever. So many GREAT songs in a short time. Nothing compares to The Smiths.

Morrissey & Marr... TOGETHER, I rest my case... But they are not rockers

Such a huge inspiration to many other bands after them

best ever!

Don't forget this great band

Poison is the top band and the hottest guy in the world and they are so nice and sweet that why I love them so much and there song really move me and make me think about my life as well. there is no better band as poison cause they rock.

Poison was good but a band should be voted on by quality of music, not by the way they look.

One of my favorite bands

Should be so much farther up this list, come on

First off, they should be much higher on the list. Secondly, anybody who has heard the three albums Gary was on post Hi Infidelity would know he was getting pretty soft himself. Even on that album, Take it on the Run and In Your Letter, which are both great songs, are not exactly Kashmir.

Fantastic band, Hi Infidelity is one of the best albums in the early eighties.

Great band from the Midwest. Richrath was under rated as a guitarist / writer.

Should be WAY higher up the list. Immense showmanship and guitar playing.

Greatest band ever

How are these guys so far down the list? They were great! There is no way these guys shouldn't be in the top 10!

Best band of all time

They weren't quite as "hair" as the rest, and their musical talent was unsurpassed.

Peaked early and faded away

Awesome band the bestie my opinion

Took a page out of KISS beauty book on showmanship, One great song

It is nuts that some cuckoo clocks say Depeche are not a rock band...that is insane...that they are 37 is what is wrong.

Depeche Mode on a ROCK list? Don't get me wrong, I like Depeche Mode, but they're completely wrong here. Even the little text blurp calls them an "electronic and synth-pop band".

Not rock - Disturbedpotato

NUMBER ONE. definitely. WITHOUT A DOUBT (other than bon jovi)

45th for a rock band that was constantly touring, making records, outsold concerts every year and sold millions of records during the 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000's and 2010's, come on! It's not fair! And with NO WITH NO HELP FROM THE MEDIA! Let alone the musicianship in their music, this band should and must be within the top 5!

Terrific band. Geddy Lee is the BEST high-pitch rock voice. Terrific high wattage power musical scales and riffs.

Best canadian band ever

Correction Best Band Ever!, Note: The musicianship and timeless classic works produced from these three are far and away beyond those of their contemporaries.

Majestic musicianship

Mediocre talent...inept lyrics
over rated group that has NO place on this list
Kurt Cobain did the world a favour when he blew his brains out

I know they are a 90s band but they formed in the 80s

They are my favorite band! I really like their song "Come as you are" and this is coming from a kid!

Early 90's. the death of hard rock music. AKA grunge music and a lot of the bands such as Poison, Motley Crue and Twisted Sisters have said so themselves.

Among the best!

Should be much higher on the list. Way too many great songs to be this far down!

Styx had so many good songs and it is honestly ridiculous that they're so far down the list

seriously?

Grossly underrated on this list

They are the best.

Amazing band! So glad they're in the top ten! They have great music and the songs make you wanna sing...my favorite of theirs is "I REMEMBER YOU"great song...

I still love their music to this day! Their music will live on forever!

Another hair band that didn't create the fan base of a Poison and Crue

Their debut album was great but the rest were average at best.

My favourite band love playing their riffs on guitar. They should be on top Michael Hutchence is the greatest singer ever.

Have not been the same since death of lead singer a nice run for a few years

If you have never listen to their album before go now for the KICK!

If not for ACDC they were the best ever Aussie Rock band of all time. Classic after classic! should be way higher on this list!