Greatest Rock Bands of the '80s

Queen, Just Amazing. They wrote classic and virtuoso hits from early 1970s - the 1980s and early 1990s which included different styles of music though always in the essence of Rock. However they wrote so many classic hits, their early albums are some of the greatest of all time including Queen, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night at the Opera but Queen II to me is the most musically brilliant albums of the past 40 years.

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.

Queen was an influential and very talented band that knew how to appeal to popular tastes of many listeners. The theatrics of Freddie Mercury and the melding of the instruments from the band members always left listeners yearning to hear more of what these guys were doing musically.

Major 70's bands, such as Queen, Journey, Duran Duran, definitely Leppard, AC/DC, Van Halen, Aerosmith, U2, Black Sabbath, Twisted Sister, KISS, Dokken, Quiet Riot, Foreigner, Pink Floyd, Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Police and plenty more are holding up spots for the REAL 80's bands

Axl Rose and Slash, I'll say Axl Rose a The front man for the Job without a doubt and his other half Slash fantastic musician singer and was born to keep the founding fathers of guitar on their ears the man can play and the other can sing. I think all the Aqua Net Wearing Bra throwing girl groupies of the day can agree they were some sexy talented fuuxas

The original band were something special! Had not been seen before an unfortunately for music probably not again. Iv never heard anyone like axl back in his day (86-93) and slash!?!?!? Man or beast I don't know but he rocks and that's all that matters!

Guns and Roses debuted in 1987 to 1990 and never had a number one selling album.But Appetite for Destruction did come in number 2 and we have to give it credit for going up against the best selling album of the 80s hysteria which was number one that year Axel you did a good job.

Guns and roses should be #1. They were so damn sexy and talented. I saw them live in Memphis TN. In the 90's and Axl's voice was mesmerizing and Slash's guitar playing was absolutely amazing. What I would not give to meet Axl Rose in person.

The year 2000 brought two things: The album "Crush" and me. Crush brought with it songs like Two Story Town, I've Got the Girl, and one of Bon Jovi's greatest hits: It's My Life. So, yes, I wasn't around for Slippery When Wet, New Jersey, Keep the Faith, These Days (or Crossroads), in fact, the first album that I got really into was This House Is Not For Sale, but once I went to the concert in Dallas, I haven't stopped listening since, and I actually ordered Keep the Faith about three days ago. (I love that song, Bed of Roses). My point is, the man, and the band alike are timeless legends, whereas, AC/DC is only known for Highway to Hell.

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!

Most amazing classic 80's rock band EVER! Bon Jovi truly embraced the spirit of classic rock and the elements incorporated are priceless. Listening to him now. Literally. Love his song Livin' On A Prayer, Wanted Dead Or Alive, Blaze Of Glory and You Give Love A Bad Name. Bon Jovi forever!

Bon Jovi has been my favourite band since I was a little kid, and I don't think that will ever change! They had some great rock, I really wish I was alive then when they were big! How could anyone not love these guys? If somehow you DON'T love them, then You Give Love A Bad Name!

This is the best all round rock n roll band of all time. Best Live Show, best catalogue of songs (Rosie, Highway, Thunderstruck, For Those about to Rock etc. etc.), Back in Black best rock record of all time (statistics based on album sales, not some arsehole journalist), need I go on.

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!

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!

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!

Eddie is the guitar god. Diamond Dave is confidently eccentric, and Alex is freaky good. Queen (or more appropriately, bohemian rhapsody lovers, which wasn't even written in the 80s) lovers go away and don't come back. Nobody likes you anyway. Guns and roses? More like severely and overrated. AC DC is ok, if you like listening to the same song over and over again. No need shoo away Bon jovi lovers, they left their sanity in the 70s. Def leppard is actually my second favorite band, nothing bad to say other than Van Halen is better. Motley crue has like, 3 good songs, so probably just people who have no idea what they are talking about. All of this and I still haven't gotten to why Van Halen is the best. Just take my word for it and vote Van Halen.

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.

I honestly cannot believe that Van Halen is 7th! I get the whole "they ruled the 70's" argument but if it wasn't for Van Halen bands like Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Def Leoppard, and Bon Jovi would not have existed! Van Halen revolutionized heavy metal in the 70's, we all know that! But in the 80's the album 1984 with (Roth)all the way to 5150 and OU812(Van Hagar) displayed the ability to make rock fused with heavy metal and pop sounds rhythms. Songs like Hysteria would not have existed!

With Eddie's raw talent for shredding the guitar, and David's stage antics, they made for an amazing live show. Hagar helped with strong vocals in the late 80's, but true Van Halen fans flock to the sound of Roth. They were the god fathers of party boys, extreme outfits and just being boys. Long Live Van Halen.

Definitely Leppard is the best band ever! They have have been making great music since 1977 and have continued throughout every decade. They are one of only a few bands to have TWO major selling albums, Pyromania and Hysteria. They make great music that will live on forever. They continue to tour the world to sold out arenas. Their new album is selling like hot cakes, definitely Leppard style!

The definitive band of the 80s. Their sound ruled the decade and every other rock band copied their sound. Two words: Pyromania & Hysteria

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.

By far the best 80s rock band. I've listened to it since I was 7 and I was born in 2000. Their Hysteria album could be the greatest album of all time with 6 hits on it. My favorite band ever and it needs to be at least top 3. the newer generation doesn't know what music is.

They should have been #1. They are the best 80's band ever. Sad to see them go. But enjoyed it while they are still together. Thank God for you tube so we can hear these songs forever.

I agree they should have been number one! Guns N' Roses didn't gain popularly until the late 80s, come on people! Motley and also Van Halen were king of the 80s! Period

Hands down best band of the 80s...Inspiration for a lot new bands with many hits being played on MTV and a number 1 album...Long live Motley Crue

Favorite band of all time! #1. don't know when they'll get into The Rock and Roll hall of fame. Should already be in.

Most of their works are overshadowed by Don't Stop Believin', Faithfully, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Wheel In the Sky, Who's Crying Now and Open Arms, but Journey is seriously underrated.

Freddie Mercury couldn't hold a candle to Steve Perry's voice or his range. Journey should absolutely be #1 on this list. Steve Perry MADE Journey!

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.

Countless classics that rocked hard and ballads that would soar...They had it all! Amazing Vocals,sizzling guitar leads, strong talented rhythm section..No wonder they are still such a hit with Baby bombers, millennials and all in between!

Every Album they make goes #1. Proved in the 80's that they can play fast AND technically difficult songs at the same time. Proved in the 90's that they don't even have to try hard to put out quality music. Proved in the 00's that they can withstand they drama and B.S. that destroys other bands. And finally with "Hardwired... to self Destruct" they proved that they can still be in there 50's and shred your face off.

Metallica by far was the best and most technical band from the 80s. There music was wrote better and very detailed compared to anyone. Them being 9th is about napster not the music period. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves

Went multi platinum when barely played, if at all, on the radio! Didn't just fill football stadiums, they played on airports runways and tarmacs to crowds of 100's of thousands of fans!

Metallica... 9?! below Van Halen and Def Leppard with their fake American accents!?

Maiden has stayed true to their winning formula for 30+ years, and have maintained their star power and popularity throughout. They outlasted Priest and Scorpions, blew away definitely during the NWOBHM years, never sold out to the record companies like Metallica. Their rabid fan base without the benefit of consistent radio play is a testament to quality of their product.

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!

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

I understand that their greatest success was in the 70's but they were the pave stone and one of the very first hard rock bands! their music was so ahead of its time and Steven Tyler range is one of the most amazing things in rock history. No matter what those boy stuck through through creating great music! If it weren't for these guys G'N'R would not be the band they are! also AC-DC are completely overrated there songs sound the same and to be honest there is no originality. Every album of Aerosmiths' was new exciting yet still had that something (probably amazing solos from Perry and Tom) that made them have their sound! come on people!

AC DC Guns and Roses should be the top three in any order. Aerosmith was the greatest turn around band of all time. No one will ever match the transformation they accomplished being they released their first record in 1974. They still rock like no other. Best live concert band of all time. 32 tractor trailers just to set there show up. Tyler still can sing unlike any other band on this list. Aerosmith can be either number 1 2 or 3. Their record Rocks influenced Guns and Roses according to Slash.

Dream On was on Aerosmiths first album and was later re released as a single. They were abandoned by their record label so they could promote Bruce Springsteens Born to Run. They promoted themselves by massive touring and winning their fans over. by the way how is the boss not in top 5. Wasn't Born in the USA the best selling record in the 80's.

Steven Tyler still has the voice that is unmatched by anyone for a rock band. Just wish he would have not gone country although Love is Your Name is a great song. Just rock Steven

I only heard Rock You Like a Hurricane, Wind of Change and The Zoo (which I basically forgot,) but for not knowing English, the Scorpions did at LEAST as good as the rest of these guys.

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

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?

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.

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

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

Best solo guitar of the 80's virtuoso!

In my opinion, they should be number 1.

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.

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

Lou Gramm could sing the phone book and make it work. Phrasing, vocal riffs amazing. Potential opera tenor!

One of the most underrated rock bands of our time. DEFINITELY belong in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

I can't believe they aren't number one considering Rolling Stone magazine called the band of the 80's.

Really journey above U2? U2 should be top 5 no doubt, the Joshua tree was the best album of the 80's.

This band has got to be the number 1! The Joshua Tree is a classic album.

Everyone loved Joshua Tree and that was released in 87

I only know Roxanne and Every Breath You Take, and both of those are pretty good (even though Sting thinks one of them is too generic.)

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

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

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

These guys are awesome!

Love their songs

the best

101/0 man

Pink Floyd rules the universe. That is all.

Pink Floyd deserves much better than #22.

Simply the best lead solos of all time

Simply the greatest band ever

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

As good as Queen, if not better.

I love x Japan!

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!

Listened since young

Best rock band ever!

These guys aren't 80s

Elvis was "the King of Rock and Roll" during his time (though if you ask me, a lot of his songs were more the blues or love songs, not Rock and Roll). Twenty or thirty years later we had all these eighties rock bands, like Europe, Asia (no lie), Journey, Bon Jovi, Survivor and a lot more. (Some of these bands were actually just seventies rock bands that continued into the eighties, like the Beatles continued into the seventies.) But if you know Survivor, you know they've had songs in Rocky III, Rocky IV, the Karate Kid, and Paul Blart Mall Cop. I probably would be voting for Bon Jovi or something and calling Survivor Chumps. But Sylvester Stallone came along with the need for a theme song and he kind of got two: Eye of the Tiger and Burning Heart. That made Survivor more successful, because they didn't do enough touring. Anyways, if it weren't for Stallone, the Moment of Truth would never be in the Karate Kid, and I Can't Hold Back wouldn't be in Paul Blart Mall Cop. Those two songs ...more

First of all, these guys never looked like girls like Bon Jovi or Europe, (okay, a couple of times Frankie Sullivan had rather long hair but the majority of the members had fairly normal hairdos for their time), second of all, unlike Queen, when Survivor became popular, it was the 80s. (If you search 70s Rock bands, Queen is one of the results). Also, if you search "Another One Bites The Dust" on YouTube, in the spot where they've got all the related songs, Eye of the Tiger is there. Finally the lead vocalist for Queen is (or was) a homosexual. Neither Jimi Jamison nor Dave Bickler is that way. Thus, making Survivor a more appropriate band. (Not to mention that they didn't paint their faces like Kiss did (or stick out their tongues like Kiss did. I think Kiss had an influence on Miley Cyrus)

I don't think that 1: Queen should be #1 because Freddy Mercury was either gay or bisexual, #2 the guy complaining about Journey should be so upset. They got bumped to the top 10, #3 a 70's rock band should hog the spot for best 80's rock band, or #4 the band that sang "Eye of the Tiger", "Burning Heart", "I Can't Hold Back" or the "Moment of Truth" which are all used in movies, should be in 86th place. Stallone's intellect is much more than the character of Rocky Balboa. Sure, he originally wanted Another One Bites the Dust" from Queen, but he didn't get that, so I guess he went on a search for the best guys to do it- If he wanted Bon Jovi to do a motivational song for him, then we'd probably be hearing "Wanted Dead or Alive" as "Eye of the Tiger", "The Boys Are Back In Town" as "Burning Heart", "Livin' On a Prayer" as "I Can't Hold Back" and "You Give Love a Bad Name" as "The Moment of Truth". But none of that happened, so Stallone must've been more impressed by Survivor than ...more

21? You're kidding. Well, it's better than what they were before. Let's see, they've had their music in all those movies and for a couple of seconds Eye of the Tiger was played on big hero 6. Mike Huckabee played eye of the tiger for when Kim Davis was freed from jail. Eye of the Tiger was played at a Hillary Clinton rally. Eye of the Tiger is one of the most motivational songs (Neck and Neck with Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust"). Survivor has plenty of love songs, too. Survivor is probably one of, if not THE most underrated 80's rock band with GREAT songs like "Whole Town's Talking' "; "Heart's a Lonely Hunter"; "Santa Ana Winds"; "I'm Not That Man Anymore"; "Popular Girl"; "Backstreet Love Affair"; "I Can't Let You Go" and "Hungry Years" Survivor should at least be in top 10 or 15

I don't listen to a lot of Duran Duran songs, but the ones I DO listen to (Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, the Wild Boys and Girls on Film) are pretty good.

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

They have been my favorite band since 1981!

My moms favourite band.

These girls are a great group