Profiles Index

Psychedelic Furs - Profile of British Post-Punk Mainstays Psychedelic Furs
Despite the name that evokes late-'60s American rock, the Psychedelic Furs emerged as a thoroughly modern British post-punk band and laid a foundation during the '80s for all alternative music to follow. As one of the decade's most consistent artists, the group enjoyed far more impact on the music landscape than mainstream success within it. But that's one of the ultimate calling cards of a genuine post-punk legend.

Roots Rock - Profile of Back to Basics '80s Movement Roots Rock
A number of musicians and music lovers agreed that by the mid-'80s, some of rock and roll's roots in country, blues and R&B had been lost amidst the slick, modern sounds of new wave, pop metal and other pop styles that seemed too modern for their own good. Such traditionalists found a distinctive if small niche in roots rock, a genre that embraced the energetic, straightforward sounds of '50s and '60s early rock and injected some organic spirit into a music scene often ignorant of tradition.

Nick Lowe - Profile of British Pub Rocker & Early Punk/New Wave Icon Nick Lowe
Though foremost an eclectic, highly original singer-songwriter and roots rocker, Englishman Nick Lowe is probably better known as a driving force in the British punk scene of latter half of the '70s. Both as a pub rock trailblazer and producer du jour, Lowe exerted tremendous influence on the sounds of much punk and new wave. Nonetheless, his own music has always been consistent if not always fully heard or appreciated, and for that reason Lowe remains an important '80s music figure.

X - Profile of L.A. Punk Legends X
Few '80s artists had a more important and yet strongly muted impact on the later phenomenon of '90s alternative rock than original L.A. punk band X. Drawing from a broad palette of musical interests and tendencies, the group expanded the boundaries of punk rock through its independent, eclectic spirit, ultimately standing as one of rock's all-time great unsung bands.

Arena Rock - Profile of Mainstream '80s Genre Arena Rock
Without arena rock, '80s music would have been a far different creature, and despite common attitudes to the contrary, probably not for the better. Despite its commercial nature, the '80s blend of progressive rock, radio-friendly pop/rock with huge hooks, and hard rock became a deserved staple of the decade's musical menu.

Sheena Easton - Profile of '80s Pop Singer Sheena Easton
Scottish pop singer Sheena Easton emerged at the very beginning of the '80s and remained a major chart player throughout the decade as an adult contemporary pop balladeer and later a sexy dance-pop diva. Her versatility helped maintain a successful career through years of constant change, and Easton blazed a path for many of the female pop stars who ruled the charts during the '90s, after he audience had all but dried up.

Dokken - Profile of Hard-Rokken, Real Deal Glam Metal Band Dokken
Despite sometimes looking the part of full-tilt hair band during its mid-'80s peak, this L.A. group rarely sounded like it. Upon the thunderously powerful foundation of George Lynch's distinct guitars, Dokken found a niche as a melodic hard rock band that deserved inclusion in the category of heavy metal as well as melodic pop/rock.

Profile of Versatile Rock Superstar Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen is an artist who can't be easily tied to a single era, having released popular and critically acclaimed records for almost four decades now. What's more, his stamina-challenging, sold-out concerts have been almost as consistent. Even so, he was one of the most vibrant artists of the '80s and defined the period to some extent regardless of trends.

XTC - Profile of British Early Alternative Pop/Rock Specialists XTC
As one of the most consistent and prolific British alternative pop/rock bands of the '80s, XTC effectively represented and delivered for sophisticated music fans of many stripes. Inspired by punk rock but far more accomplished musically than that generally simplistic genre, XTC defied all detractors out to declare that '80s music was style over substance.

Billy Idol - Profile of Original Punker Turned Mainstream Rock Star Billy Idol
One of the most recognizable icons of '80s pop culture, former punk rocker Billy Idol made quite a mark on the decade's music. Along the way, he proved that adjustments to promote commercial success don't always prevent an artist from following his own rebellious path.

Soft Rock - Profile of the Mellow, Romantic Sounds of the '70s and Early '80s
The golden age of soft rock certainly came during the mid to late '70s, when the singer-songwriter movement and the propensity of country-rock and folk-rock blends combined to forge a gentle pop/rock sound popular among mainstream music fans. However, this trend also extended successfully into the first few years of the '80s, in a period just before the lighter side of rock became dominated by a more modern, smooth adult contemporary sound and the power ballads of arena rock and pop metal.

Talking Heads - Profile of New York Punk/New Wave Innovators Talking Heads
Despite a tailing-off period toward the latter part of the decade, New York City's Talking Heads were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed rock bands of the '80s. As part of the seminal '70s New York punk scene and then as one of the leading lights of new wave, the group scored pop hits even while taking the path less traveled according to David Byrne's singular plan.

Profile of Original Glam Metal Trailblazers Motley Crue
As one of pop metal's most prominent and trashiest prototypes, L.A.'s Motley Crue consistently lived up to a fearsome reputation for self-destructiveness and rock and roll excess. However, at the same time the band also somehow became one of the few truly reliable hard rock acts of the '80s, remaining active and successful throughout the decade.

Profile of Singer-Songwriter & '80s Soft Rock Standby Dan Fogelberg
The work of '70s and '80s mainstay Dan Fogelberg has always had a strong tendency to be overlooked and undervalued, perhaps because of the singer's often gentle, accessible sound. Still, Fogelberg was a major force as a singer-songwriter and quality soft rock artist during a turbulent, spotty decade for pop music.

Post-Punk - Profile of the Vital, Challenging '80s Music Genre of Post-Punk
In simplest terms, post-punk music is rock music of the late '70s and early '80s that put an innovative spin on the often simplistic punk rock that preceded it. However, artists of this movement generally lean far closer toward the avant garde than the mainstream pop favored in related genres like new wave and even much college rock.

Dire Straits - Profile of Roots Rockers & '80s Pop Stars Dire Straits
One of the most surprising success stories of the '80s, English masters of the eclectic Dire Straits transformed from folk-jazz classic rockers all the way to stars of the video age. And the band's leader, Mark Knopfler, managed to do so without ever compromising his unique vision.

Profile of Rocker & Singer-Songwriter Tom Petty
A shining beacon of classic rock and a singer-songwriter of the highest order, Tom Petty has been a major contributor to pop music for an impressively long time. In addition, the quality of his music during various eras has always remained high, stretching across genres as different as heartland rock, folk rock and plain old rock and roll.

Heartland Rock Profile
Heartland rock has exerted its influence on subsequent decades and certainly drew from previous rock and country styles, but it hit its peak during the '80s as a viable mainstream form.

Heart - Profile of '80s Pop Sister Act Heart
Consistently active for nearly two decades from the early '70s into the '90s, this American band led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson occupied a significant space in hard rock, classic rock and, during the '80s, pure pop music. The group has proven itself influential over the years, especially on a new generation of female rockers.

Synth Pop Profile
As a unique and distinct subgenre of new wave, synth pop was quite a force in mainstream and underground pop music during the first half of the '80s. It helped standardize the use of synthesizers across genres as well, among its several influences on pop music moving forward.

The Cure Profile
British alternative rockers the Cure, who emerged more than a decade before the term was in vogue, were one of the '80s most prolific underground bands. Led by frontman Robert Smith's stylish leadership, the group soldiered through many personnel changes to emerge at the end of the decade as a threat on the pop music charts as well as an influential alternative to the mainstream.

Pat Benatar Profile
Pat Benatar became one of the most identifiable icons of the '80s, but she also contributed some of the most memorable pop/rock music of the decade. Over the course of the early '80s, she shone as one of pop music's most consistent artists, and in subsequent years Benatar's reputation has only risen and broadened.

Night Ranger Profile
Though sometimes vilified for being too much of its time and a blatantly commercial rock band, '80s mainstay Night Ranger made quite a mark on the era's music with its special blend of hard rock and power ballads.

Profile of Rocker & Piano Man Billy Joel
While Billy Joel has never been a critic's darling, he has certainly succeeded in presenting himself in various ways during his two decades of work as a pop/rock superstar. Despite a lack of critical endorsements, Joel put together a string of hit albums and singles during the late '70s and throughout the '80s, making a definite mark as one of the latter decade's most important and most successful pop artists.

Profile of '80s Parody Metal Band Spinal Tap
Here's a look at the career (both real and imagined) of one of England's loudest parody metal bands. The music of Spinal Tap - the creation on celluloid and on record of Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer and Rob Reiner - was a hilarious send-up but also an endearing tribute to the excessive nature of early-'80s hard rock.