What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the 1980s? High top sneakers, colorful sportswear, and neon lights, or maybe even the Rubik’s cube? All fitting memories. But for many, especially for 80s music fans, it’s the splash of weird and wonderful sounds that stayed on the music charts throughout the decade.
From italo-disco and early synth-pop, to post-punk and new-wave; a great number of bands and music acts made the era so unique and unforgettable. Of course, many of these groups lived out their classic-era in the 80s, achieving remarkable success with their timeless tracks – which we still enjoy today.
But if we go a little bit deeper along the timeline, there are some great forgotten bands and artists which vanished into obscurity in the 90s, yet they were pivotal in deciding the direction of the 80s music scene. That’s why today’s article outlines some of the underrated and oft-forgotten ’80s Bands You Need to Rediscover Now.
What Defines an 80s Band?
What Defines an 80s Band?
As we move further into 2020, the 80s sound has been making a welcome comeback. Whether it be through classic throwbacks, or contemporary cover versions, the music of the era is still having an impact in the present day.
But naturally, the term ‘80s Band’ is used loosely online to describe any group that evokes a classic 80s aesthetic – so which bands deserve the right to be defined as an 80s Band?
The answer is simple; to really define what qualifies as an 80s Band, we must look at the bands that emerged during the decade, and the sonic influences they have on the music we absorb today.
From Hollywood Heavyweights to Indie Underdogs
From Hollywood Heavyweights to Indie Underdogs
The 1980s music scene was incredibly varied and expansive. From controversial punk legends and mainstream rockers, to leftfield indie dwellers and synth-loving visionaries; the decade managed to encompass a multitude of genres and subcultures.
Naturally, many of the bigger acts achieved commercial success and hit number one on the charts. But today, let’s focus on some of the deeper cuts of the 80s, by looking at both the household names, and the underrated innovators that slid away into obscurity.
Top 10 Forgotten 80s Bands You Need to Rediscover Now
Top 10 Forgotten 80s Bands You Need to Rediscover Now
- Aztec Camera
- Bow Wow Wow
- Chameleons
- Everything But The Girl
- The Housemartins
- Mighty Lemon Drops
- Big Country
- Toyah
- Book of Love
- Nu Shooz
Aztec Camera
Aztec Camera
Glasgow-born singer/songwriter Roddy Frame was the spectacled leader of Aztec Camera, and the brains behind many of their stand-out 80s tracks.
Formed in 1980, Aztec Camera experienced a wide array of highs, and highs, during their time in the spotlight. Their debut album High Land, Hard Rain was met with critical acclaim, peaking at number 10 in the UK album charts, with their single Oblivious becoming an instant classic. Tracks like Walk Out To Winter, We Could Send Letters and The Boy Wonders are still deemed as some of the greatest songs of the Indie music era.
As they moved into the 90s, Aztec Camera’s sound began to evolve into a more traditional British folk-rock. Although their singer Roddy Frame continued to make music, Aztec Camera dropped off the face of the Indie rock scene in the early 90s, leaving behind an eternal legacy of enlightened 80s guitar-based classics.
Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow
Bow Wow Wow were one of the most visually unsettling bands to come out of the pop-punk era of the 80s.
Formed in 1980, Bow Wow Wow were the musical brainchild of music producer Malcolm McLaren, and were initially adored for their exotic, offbeat tribal sound. The band achieved immediate success in 1981, when their single Go Wild In The Country charted at number 7 in the UK Singles Charts.
Bow Wow Wow’s most iconic track C30 C60 C90 Go! was released in January 1981, and was backed with a saucy music video directed by Terence Donovan, who also directed several videos for Duran Duran.
The band reached the peak of their success in 1982, when their single I Want Candy hit number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. Though their popularity eventually shifted towards the end of the decade, Bow Wow Wow gave us some of the signature sounds of 80s pop music.
Chameleons
Chameleons
The Chameleons hailed from Manchester, England, and were one of the few bands of their era to bridge the gap between Post-Punk and New-Wave. They forged a sound that was eerily melodic, yet guitar-driven and gritty.
Formed in the early 80s, The Chameleons embraced their dark visions and rich lyrical topics right from the beginning. Their albums Script Of The Bridge and What Does Anything Mean? Basically are considered classic Post-Punk records, renowned for their unique atmospheres and scything guitar riffs. In particular, songs such as Up The Down Escalator, Swamp Thing, Second Skin and Tears are often cited as some of the most unique New-Wave tracks of the era.
Despite gaining a cult-like fanbase, The Chameleons never managed to mimic the success of their contemporaries, and called it quits in 1987.
Everything But The Girl
Everything But The Girl
Everything But The Girl enjoyed moderate commercial success through the early 80s, but the duo’s electronic-inflected take on soft-pop eventually hit stratospheric heights in the mid-90s through their collaborations with dance-music trinity Massive Attack and Soul II Soul.
The band was formed in 1982 by singer/songwriter Tracey Thron and her then-partner Ben Watt. Their debut album Eden was critically acclaimed for its lush soundscapes and thick synthetic textures, and singles such as Each And Every One, Native Land and the unmistakable Driving sounded like nothing else out at the time.
In 1985, the band earned their first Top Ten hit with the weepy ballad Missing, which resonated with many – and was eventually remixed in the mid-90s by on a certain Todd Terry. Missing propelled EBTG onto a commercial level, although relentless changes of direction throughout the 90s saw EBTG eventually lose their footing in the music scene.
The Housemartins
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were one of the most famously iffy bands to come out of the Indie scene of the mid-80s.
Formed in 1983, the band pulled off a tricky trick – combining jangly guitars and the whimsical tones of the Smith’s, without ever having to sound too-happy or too-sad. The band’s debut album London 0 Hull 4 gained public and critical favor, paired with a series of captivating live performances.
Songs such as Me and The Farmer, Happy Hour and Caravan Of Love all achieved commercial success, as well as their cover version of Isley Brother’s track Harvest For The World, which also reached number one in December 1986.
The band endured a series of break-ups and reformations throughout their career, and eventually dissolved in 1988 after their studio album The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death.
Mighty Lemon Drops
Mighty Lemon Drops
Essex-based rockers Mighty Lemon Drops are remembered fondly, as one of the shallowest bands to grace the late 80s scrappy-indie scene.
Formed in 1985, the Lemon Drops quickly found their footing in the music industry, thanks to their stellar live shows and their adventurous sound, derived from both Psych-Rock and social realist lyrics. Despite never scaling the heights of their contemporaries, the Lemon Drops forged a deeply intricate sound and their second album World Without End is considered a classic of the era.
The Lemon Drops earned the respect of long-term fans for their career defining records and killer singles, such as Created By Clive, Out Of Hand and Inside Out. Although the band began to drift away in the early 90s, due to differences in creative direction, Mighty Lemon Drops are still remembered fondly as the overlooked Indie-pop innovators of the era.
Big Country
Big Country
It’s impossible to think of Scottish Rock without pegging Big Country as one of the first bands to come to mind.
Big Country’s signature sound fused folk-rock with elements of post-punk and soft-rock, plus a heavenly dose of rousing bagpipe solos. On top of heavy-hitting Live performances, the band earned numerous accolades for their collection of studio albums, of which 1982’s The Crossing is often heralded as their finest work.
