What´s the best 80´s band still going or reunited?

tj-music.com

Over the last couple of years old guys like me (39yrs) got spoiled regarding 80´s bands reuniting and gigging again. Some of them have been going ever since they formed and I was able to see some really fantastic concerts. It is hard to say which one is THE BEST as taste is a personal thing. Depeche Mode for instance to me really isn´t an eighties act as they have really evolved and have been suvvesful to date. Same in a way with Erasure, but the original line up of Duran Duran or The Human League, Tears for fears and now OMD it is hard for me to decide which one is my favourite "live act".

I´d say I have to vote for Depeche Mode as # 1 - what is your vote? By the way, I kow I left many bands out but you can only put 10 bands into the poll.

Ryaller

The Cure!!!
The only band I listened to when I was 14 that I'm not embarrassed to say I still do.

And I have to say - seeing the Pixies in the flesh was a wet dream for me.

Good thread!

Big Tone

A-ha should have been included on this poll as I believe their music just keeps getting better. OK, so they got typecast as "teen idols" in the 80s with their "Take on me" single/video but aside from that they have produced some of the best music of the past 25 years. They recently won the Q Inspiration award and have been getting bows of adoration from Coldplay's Chris Martin and Keane. A-ha reunited in 1999 after a 6 year break, they've been going strong ever since.

DM for me too for pure consistency and credibility. They're still looked on as being an 80s band because thats when they had all their big big hits back then (the back catalogue says it all) but they've survived a few temporary splits since 1990's Violator album and are still a very impressive live act to this day.

Duran have never really stopped (save for the split in '85 from which Power Station and Arcadia were formed) but with different members before reuniting again a few years ago with the original line up, though they've lost Andy Taylor for good this time due to massive internal differences! Their volumous back catalogue, with a few exceptions, stands up well today

Human League packed the Savoy here in Cork still sounding good but no new material to speak of but a very envious back catalogue most of which has aged well.

Ruu_Old

If I had to choose it would be Tears for Fears but that is just by a nose.

the Shades

I'd have to say Depeche Mode since their recent Best of collection made me realise just how many great songs they've had, producing quality music for that length of time is an impressive move for any band.

DublinWriter

Although they just about squeaked the 80's and aren't still on the go, I'd love to see The Sundays and The Cocteau Twins record new stuff.

Most of the 80's Irish bands were hyped out of all proportion to their talents. Cactus World News? Ghost of an American Airman? Auto de Fe anyone? "Go on love...I'll give ye all three with a couple of apples for a Euro and put dem into a bag for ya, hows dat?".

Scritti Polliti are worth a mention, their (ok, his) latest CD was nominated for a Mercury.

Still, it's nice to see Jason Donovan has recently reunited.

mike65

Kraftwerk were barely ticking over for much of the 80s, I'd call them 70s myself.

Mike.

Crucifix

It's gotta be "Tears for fears" for me.

Cooee

Hmmmmm.....No U2?

Do you mean an archtypal 80s band? Or a band successful in the 80s? Being the same age as the OP it has to be Duran Duran for me!

tenandtracer

Has to be Depeche Mode and now you can get their entire back catalog (644 tunes) on iTunes for a mere €180!:cool:

hiscan

no a-ha i think they should be there instead of rick astley he was a solo artist and didnt write any of his own songs

tj-music.com

hiscan wrote:

no a-ha i think they should be there instead of rick astley he was a solo artist and didnt write any of his own songs

Thinking about it, you´re probably right. I saw them at the point in 2002 and their "Lifeline" album and tour was great. Didn´t like "Analogue" that much tho.

nanook

just looking through this one and have to say I was not a major fan of Duran Duran but my wife was and I surprised her with tickets to their concert in Dublin there last year.

Was a really good concert and I am semi coverted

silverangel

A-ha should definitely be there, they were and still are a great band. They still have a wide fan base all over the world. I agree with hiscan, Rick Astley shouldn't be there.

Anyways, Morten Harket is still as sexy as ever!:D

Big Tone

Smply Red should now be called Simply Mick because thats all thats left of the original line-up.

Likewise ABC are still on the go but with only the original frontman/songwriter left, thats Simply Martin Fry

Rick Ghastley got out of the music industry (in the 80s) when he should have stayed in...now its too late for him to crack the big time again.

Paul Young wore out his vocal chords from forcing his voice too hard and now, sad to say, can only mime his hits now, which looked pretty pathetic on the Daniel o Donnell show and Brian Kennedy's No.1's show earlier in 2006.

And if you dont like listening to any of the above then "Enjoy The Silence" heh heh

CombatCow

Depeche Mode, Definitely

CC

Mr. Presentable

The Cure
Depeche Mode
Huey Lewis and The News

hiscan

tj-music.com wrote:

Thinking about it, you´re probably right. I saw them at the point in 2002 and their "Lifeline" album and tour was great. Didn´t like "Analogue" that much tho.

was at that concert as well pure class

Cork

New Order
The Cure
Springsteen
A-Ha (Must agree Lifelines is pretty good)


Irish Bands
Dave Couse (A House) had a new cd recently which was excellant

Big Tone

hiscan wrote:

was at that concert as well pure class

Their Live CD, "How Can I Sleep With Your Voice In My Head" is pure magic and a brilliant album and goes to prove how they're one of the best live stadium bands on the road today. More info available at www.a-ha.com

Mags has his blog here: http://www.myspace.com/magnef

justfortherecor

Depeche Mode all the way.

'Devotional' remains the most visually stunning music concert ever captured on film and that was them truly at the peak of their musical powers (1993).

I really liked Ultra though and Playing the Angel was a good return to form.

I'd agree with the previous user who said Kraftwerk have their roots more in the 70s. They have really updated their sound well also, 2003's Tour de France soundtrack was futuristic once again. Aero-dynamik is the most played song on my computer anyways!

Dudess

Looking at the list, I think the OP means bands whom one would associate exclusively with the 80s - not just any band who was there at the time. I mean, I know the Pixies, The Cure and the Cocteaus (three of the best bands EVER) were around in the 80s but they're not what would spring to mind when you think of the 80s in terms of pop music, clothes, MTV vids etc. New Order and DM - ok, they're a bit more "eighties" because of their use of synths but generally, they don't really sit alongside the Durans or the OMDs of this worlds, since they're veering more in the "indie" direction (I know early Depeche is really poppy but they started to get less poppy once Vince Clarke left).

Decent 80s pop acts is the order of this thread, I think (and the emphasis is on decent, so no Men Without Hats or Kajagoogoo please!)

davyjose

The Cure - absolutely - I'm only in my twenties, so i was a child 20 years ago and my Aunt was a Cure-head so to me they are very much 80's. Yet they are easily my favourite band of all time and they are so musically diverse. I think it's easy to consider 80's pop quite throwaway but i think its actually one of the richest era's of music - when being experimental wasn't rewarded with obscurity. But I have to go with the Cure, not just as the best 80's band, but as the best ever.

Dudess wrote:

Decent 80s pop acts is the order of this thread, I think (and the emphasis is on decent, so no Men Without Hats or Kajagoogoo please!)

In which case why is Rick Astley on the Poll

Dudess

Or indeed Simply Red. Or Paul bleedin' Young? Whose idea was that??? :eek:

It BeeMee

Yeah A-Ha should be included in there.
Am I still right in saying Morten Harket beat Bill Withers' feat on "Lovely Day" for the longest note recorded? ....(Name that tune?)

Me, I've been a DM fan since they started. Their gig at the Point last year was excellent. Roll on 2015, which will prolly be the next time they come back....

Big Tone

I'm a DM fan since 1981 when they released New Life.

As for the A-ha song its "Summer Moved On" from the "Minor Earth Major Sky" album and its definitely longer than Bill Withers note-holding record on "Lovely Day".

deman

Where are Iron Maiden and AC/DC????

Some of you will argue that they formed in the 70s which would be true but if you look at the choice again -

Human League (1977)
Kraftwerk (1970!!)
Paul Young (performed professionally before 1980 with the Q-Tips)

Tomohawk

I always thought Rick Astley was a great dancer so he got my vote...:D He gave us the unique moves to "Never gonna give you up"!!!

Who dreamt up this poll 'cos they sure don't know much about 1980s music. Kraftwerk were all but finished releasing music by 1981. What about Prefab Sprout, Madness, Elvis Costello all missing from the poll?

deman

Tomohawk wrote:

What about Prefab Sprout, Madness, Elvis Costello all missing from the poll?

Because, again, if it's strictly 80s, Madness and Elvis Costello wouldn't qualify as they're 70s.

It BeeMee

Big Tone wrote:

As for the A-ha song its "Summer Moved On" from the "Minor Earth Major Sky" album and its definitely longer than Bill Withers note-holding record on "Lovely Day".

Yup that's the one : 20-point-something seconds.
I especially like the way you can hear him struggle a bit towards the end.....

admiralofthefleet

why isnt new order in the poll!, they were brilliant, although my favourite song of theirs is the 1995 remix of blue monday

exiot

Easily Red Hot Chili Peppers, their oldest stuff is mind blowing. Just pure funk

Big Tone

admiralgar wrote:

why isnt new order in the poll!, they were brilliant, although my favourite song of theirs is the 1995 remix of blue monday

1983 (Original 12") 1988 ( first Remix) and 1995, still sound great but my personal favourite is the 1983 original, it was only available on 12" like a real dance classic should be.

Another great band back in the day were Heaven 17 "Temptation" is regarded as one of the first ever real dance track along with Shannon "Let the music play" both played to death on MT USA.

The Smiths, though they never re-united, 20 plus years later their music is more influential than ever and still sounds remarkably fresh.

parliament

what? no mention of the Chameleons...

jupiterjack

bananarama

darkdubh

Kraftwerk,they invented the 80's.Most of the other bands on the poll are influenced by them.

Pike in the Thatch

Why no Whitesnake?

pounder770

Heaven 17..... formed by the guy/guys dumped to make way for the two girls in the Human League......
They tour together now...all friends again apparently!!

kelle

So long ago I can't remember which I voted for!