Rock Bands of the 80s

  ACϟDC 

Founded 1973

Sydney, Australia 

ACϟDC has become one of the most influential Rock & Roll bands of all time. The band was founded by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, who recruited bassist Larry Van Kriedt, vocalist Dave Evans, and drummer Colin Burgess. The group's sound was heavily influenced by Angus Young's energetic, blues-inspired playing style and their distinctive brand of powerful hard rock.

In the early days, ACϟDC underwent several lineup changes before settling on their classic five-man lineup: Angus Young (lead guitar), Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Bon Scott (vocals), Phil Rudd (drums) and Cliff Williams (bass). With this lineup, the band recorded their breakthrough album, Highway to Hell in 1979. The album was a massive success! 

Following Bon Scott's tragic death, ACϟDC recruited new vocalist Brian Johnson and released their classic album Back In Black in 1980. It was a huge success and solidified ACϟDC's legacy!

  Aerosmith

Founded 1970

Boston, U.S.A.

Aerosmith has become one of the most successful bands in music history—selling over 150 million records worldwide. The band is known for their unique sound blending blues-based hard rock with elements of pop and heavy metal, as well as their classic rock hits like "Dream On," "Walk This Way," and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." Aerosmith is also renowned for their electrifying live performances, which have earned them the title of ‘America’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band.’

 Throughout their decades-long career, Aerosmith has been recognized with several awards and honors, including four Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Today, Aerosmith’s influence continues to loom large in the world of rock music. 

  Black Sabbath

Founded 1968

Birmingham, England

Black Sabbath was formed by Tony Iommi (guitarist), Geezer Butler (bassist), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals) and Bill Ward (drummer.) The band's dark and powerful sound grew out of the blues-rock tradition. They first gained international recognition for their self-titled debut album in 1970. They went on to release a series of critically acclaimed albums such as Master of Reality (1971) and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath(1973) that helped define the sound and style of heavy metal. 

Though Ozzy Osbourne left the band in 1979, Black Sabbath continued to release several albums with different vocalists throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including Ronnie James Dio and Ian Gillan from Deep Purple. In 2013, Ozzy Osbourne rejoined his original bandmates for their final studio album 13 (2013). The group has since been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and is widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of heavy metal. With a catalog full of iconic and groundbreaking songs, Black Sabbath remains one of the most beloved rock acts to this day. 

Bon Jovi’s self-titled debut album in 1984 released their first single “Runaway” that reached #39 on Billboard’s Hot 100.  But their third album Slippery When Wet was their breakthrough!  The album sold over 20 million copies and had three Top 10 singles. 

 “You Give Love a Bad Name” and

 “Livin’ on a Prayer” reached #1.  Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were the duo image of the band in the mid 80’s, and that dynamic of the lead singer and lead guitarist that had worked for so many other bands, was definitely a successful combination for Bon Jovi.

In the mid 80’s, Hair Metal bands ruled the radio airwaves.  The mid - 80’s was definitely the “Golden Era” of Hair Metal,and a band from Wayne, Pennsylvania became a huge part of that Hair Metal scene.  Formed in 1982, Cinderella was at the top of that wave of Aqua Net hairspray and hardcore guitar riffs!  Cinderella’s break-through album came in June of 1986 with their debut album, Night Songs.  Cinderella detonated on the rock scene like no other Hair Metal band!  Their first single, “Shake Me,”sounded raw as hell with the unmistakable sound of Tom Keifer on lead vocals!

Def Leppard started their band in 1977 in Sheffield, England. 

High ‘n’ Dry is arguably one of the most underrated albums of the 80’s.  The album was produced by Mutt Lange, (who previously worked on AC/DC albums,) added a noticeable harder rock flare to the record.  The LP featured Pete Willis on guitar, who was fired during the recording of Pyromania due to excessive drinking that was interfering with his work.  When Pyromania was released in January 1983, 

Def Leppard was a rising favorite band among teens everywhere.  The album reached #2 on the Billboard 200.

  Ronnie James Dio was a heavy metal music legend who rose to fame in the 1970s. He began his career as the lead singer for the band Elf, before joining Black Sabbath and eventually forming his own solo act, Dio.

 Throughout his decades-long career, Dio wrote some of heavy metal's most influential songs and cemented himself as

 an icon in the genre. 

Ronnie James Dio was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on July 10, 1942. He developed an early love for music, and by the time he was 8 years old, he had already formed his first band. His early musical favorites included Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.† After moving to California in the late 1960s, Dio joined the band Elf and quickly became their lead singer. With Elf, they released two albums, which featured some of Ronnie's earliest work as a songwriter. 

Dio joined Rainbow and was their frontman from 1975 until he joined

 Black Sabbath in 1979.

Black Sabbath asked Ronnie to become their new lead singer after Ozzy Osbourne had left the band. This marked a major turning point in Dio's career and resulted in three studio albums with the legendary heavy metal group over the course of five years. During his tenure with Black Sabbath, Ronnie wrote some of their most iconic songs such as "Heaven & Hell", "The Mob Rules",

 and "Rainbow in the Dark.”

In 1982, Dio decided to pursue a solo career and released his debut album Holy Diver. The record was an instant success and showed Dio's ability to write catchy metal anthems. He followed up this success with seven more studio albums before his passing in 2010 due to stomach cancer. 

He will always be remembered for his unique voice and powerful lyrics, and as one of the most iconic voices in heavy metal history and is still fondly referred to by fans as “The Elf.”

R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio (1942 - 2010)

 - a true metal icon

† July 9, 2022 Joe Tayson interview- faroutmagazine.co.uk

Guns ‘N Roses was one of the greatest rock bands of the 80’s with their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, released in 1987.  GNR emerged from the L.A. club scene when they signed with Geffen Records in 1986 and released their EP, Live ?!*@Like a Suicide. 

 Axl Rose and Slash became dual icons of 80’s rock music, they had a chemistry and stage persona that was the epitome of Rock ‘N Roll.  Even though the band released five other studio albums, nothing came close to the success of Appetite for Destruction, that became the best-selling rock debut album of all time.

Since 1975 Iron Maiden has created the music that has become the epitome of heavy metal, making them the best heavy metal band of all time!...or at least the top 3 metal bands!

Lead singer Bruce Dickinson has undoubtedly some of the best metal pipes, and was a great replacement after Iron Maiden’s frontman,

 Paul Di Anno (singer from 1977 to 1981,) was fired.)

Iron Maiden bandmates, past and present are true masters of their metal craft, totally committed to the band’s success and growth, especially in the beginning.  When most folks celebrated Christmas and New Year’s Eve, these lads were forming bands and recording demos.

Judas Priest is straight out of the pit of the heavy metal birthplace, Birmingham/Black Country. Since 1969, this band has reinvented heavy metal with their raw metal sound and lead singer Rob Halford’s unmistakable voice that shreds like K.K. Downing’s flying v guitar, this band f’in’ rocks!!! Judas Priest’s last album, Firepower was released in 2018 and they are still touring in 2022. Judas Priest will be inspiring artists for generations to come. If you ever introduce rock’n’roll/heavy metal to a newbie, listening to Judas Priest albums is a must!! 

Megadeth was formed by bass player David Ellefson and vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine (the original guitarist for Metallica) in Los Angeles back in 1983. Dave Mustaine is the only original band member, after Ellefson was fired in 2021. Megadeth is part of the “Big Four” of American metal bands, the other bands include Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer. Whether you classify Megadeth as a thrash metal or heavy metal band, one thing is for sure, Megadeth f’ing rocks!! Their up-coming 16th studio album, The Sick, the Dying…and the Dead! is set to released later in 2022, and metalheads worldwide can’t wait!

Metallica released their debut album Kill ‘Em All in 1983 and since then, has emerged to become the biggest heavy metal band of all time! Metallica is synonymous with the term heavy metal, but this has not come without criticism, that Metallica sold out after their 1991 “black” album. Instead of the hardcore thrash metal sound from the previous albums, the black album was more palatable to the Pop Culture who started listening to grunge. Metallica is still the leader of “The Big Four” of heavy metal, the American 2nd wave of heavy metal after the Brits (1977-1982.) 

Mötley Crüe is in your face, kick your ass, having a killer-time, 80’s rock band!  What else can you say about these hardcore rock n’ rollers that got into brawls on the Sunset Strip and partied like no other rock band during the high point of the glam rock/hard rock era of the 1980’s!  Hell yeah they wore makeup but they looked like they wanted to cut you too, especially guitarist Mick Mars, I meant wtf!  Yet, Motley Crue are the coolest rock stars you will ever meet, I know, I shook Vince Neil’s hand before a concert in Dallas!

Motörhead is a pioneer in heavy metal music as part of the New Wave of British heavy metal, the pinnacle era of British metal from 1975 to 1986.  Motörhead was a trio formed in London in 1975.  The most popular band lineup in the early to mid-80’s, consisted of guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke, drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor and legendary lead singer/bassist Lemmy Kilmister.  Lemmy and Phil Taylor passed away in 2015 and Eddie Clarke in 2018.  Motörhead heavy metal lives forever on our station!  Listen to “Just ‘Cos You Got the Power” and crank it up really loud!

Ozzy Osbourne, often referred to as the Godfather of Heavy Metal, has had a long and storied career that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. From his days as frontman for Black Sabbath to his solo work in the 1980s and beyond, Ozzy has become one of the most influential voices in rock music history. What is truly remarkable about Ozzy's longevity is not only his ability to remain relevant over decades of change but also his willingness to continually experiment with new sounds and styles. This adaptability has kept him at the forefront of studio albums, tours, and festivals throughout the years - something very few artists have achieved. Whether you're a fan from day one or just discovering Ozzy now, there's no denying his 

impact on the music world. 

Ozzy Osbourne's impressive career has spanned generations and genres, making him an icon in the rock world for over 40 years. From his groundbreaking early work with Black Sabbath to his most recent studio album, Ozzy continues to show just how far he can go as an artist and performer. He has maintained a presence in both the mainstream and underground scenes, proving again and again why he will remain one of the most influential figures in modern music for many years to come. When you think about it like that, it really isn't too surprising that Ozzy Osbourne has been able to stay relevant over the years. His fiery passion for rock and roll, coupled with his unique blend of metal, and punk-influenced sounds make him a timeless force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Long live The Prince of Darkness! 

The best lyrics from 80’s rock songs were about partying, getting laid and occasionally rock music lyrics sang about worshipping the devil, but RUSH is rock-n-roll poetry, it’s philosophical and depending on the listener’s perspective, spiritual. Pair that lyrical quality with the three best instrumentalists from Canada and you have the band, Rush. Their eighth album, Moving Pictures from 1981 is one of the top ten best rock albums of the 80s. Their single, “Tom Sawyer” voted #1 best rock song of the 80’s. One of rock & roll’s best drummers, Neil Peart passed away on January 7, 2020. We honor him by always playing “YYZ” right before “Limelight.” 

Germany has always produced the best hard rock and heavy metal bands, but the ultimate Deutschland raw sound belongs to the Scorpions. The band started in 1965, making them the third oldest continuing rock band, after The Rolling Stones (1962) and 

The Who (1964.) 

“Rock You Like a Hurricane” had become their commercial signature song, but their previous album released in 1982 titled Blackout, was one of the best rock albums of the 80’s. As of 2022, the Scorpions are still making new music with their 19th studio album Rock Believer.  

Twisted Sister was originally formed in New Jersey in 1972 by original guitarist Jay Jay French. Soon the band moved their gear to Long Island, New York and took the rock-n-roll world by force!  Besides Twisted Sister’s awesome music and their glam metal stage presence, band frontman Dee Snider made headline news in 1985, when Dee testified in front of Congress against Tipper Gore and the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center.) Dee Snider shocked everyone, when he stood up to the Washington D.C. elite and won the world over with his articulate and confidant testimony that not only defended rock and roll, but he also defended the music industry and all artists alike.  

Formed in Pasadena, California in the early 1970s, Van Halen is one of the most iconic rock bands from the 1980s. With their unique blend of hard rock, glam and pop, they quickly rose to fame for their high energy live shows and chart-topping albums such as 1984, 5150 and OU812. Led by legendary brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen on guitar and drums respectively, Michael Anthony on bass, and David Lee Roth and Sammy "The Red Rocker" Hagar at the helm singing lead vocals, they created some of the greatest songs in rock music history like "Jump", "Panama" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love". 

After Hagar's departure in 1996 things went downhill but they managed to revive the band with Sammy Hagar for a little while before eventually disbanding in 2020, after the death of guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Their influence is still felt today and Van Halen will go down in history as one of the pioneers of 80s rock and the legacy left by the band still lives on!

Eddie’s unparalleled guitar riffs and melodies have influenced generations of bands and musicians. No matter what your taste in music is, it would be hard to deny that Van Halen was an influential force in shaping the sound of rock music during its heyday in the 1980s. To this day, Van Halen remains the quintessential example of 80s rock. 

You can still hear all the hits and deep cuts from all the Van Halen albums in the 80s. 

1980 – Women and Children First

1981 – Fair Warning

1982 – Diver Down

1984 – 1984

1986 – 5150

1988 – OU812

Tune into 80sRockRadio.net 

Whitesnake is an English hard rock and heavy metal band formed in 1978 by frontman David Coverdale. The band had several lineup changes throughout its history, but the most successful version was their lineup during the 1980s, featuring Coverdale, guitarist John Sykes, bassist Neil Murray, keyboardist Don Airey and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. This lineup brought Whitesnake international fame with songs like "Here I Go Again" (1987) and "Is This Love" (1988), both of which were major hits on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. After a hiatus from 1990 to 1994, the band returned with Slide It In (1994). They went on to release two more albums: Restless Heart (1997) and Good to Be Bad (2008). Whitesnake's music is a blend of hard rock and blues, with influences from the British Invasion era, particularly bands like The Rolling Stones. Throughout their career, they have sold over 30 million albums worldwide and continue to tour extensively around the world.

Today, Whitesnake remains an iconic name in 80s rock, having cemented their place as one of the most influential bands of its genre. Lead singer and founder, David Coverdale, is credited with bringing the band to incredible heights of commercial success. With a career spanning over four decades, Whitesnake continues to be one of the most beloved rock bands in history.

“ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas” 

ZZ Top is an iconic rock band hailing from Houston, Texas, playing a signature blend of classic Southern rock music since the early 1970s. The trio is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill (who passed away in 2021,) and drummer Frank Beard, who have blended elements of blues, boogie-woogie, R&B and country with their distinct sound. With numerous hit singles such as “La Grange,” “Legs,” “Tush” and “Sharp Dressed Man” that linger in popular culture to this day, ZZ Top has cemented its place in history as one of the all-time greats of southern rock music. 

ZZ Top has always been true to their Texas roots and continues to be an inspiration for many budding musicians from across the region. Their success has helped establish Texas as a leader in the national music scene and showcased a unique sound that will always remain timeless. ZZ Top's influence continues to spread throughout the world of Southern rock music even today, leaving them with a legacy that will endure far into the future.