Articles Index

Jim Capaldi Solo Artist Profile

Though best known as a founding member of legendary '60s rock band Traffic, drummer and multi-instrumentalist Jim Capaldi also engineered a remarkably consistent if criminally underrated solo career throughout the '70s and '80s. As a lead vocalist, Capaldi never got the chance to shine as a member of Traffic, but his soulful style and hard-hitting lyrics worked well across a variety of genres. Here's a look at one of the most neglected but worthy solo rock artists of the '80s.

Steve Winwood Solo Artist Profile

In addition to his many years as a classic rock stalwart and innovator as frontman and key creative cog in the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and supergroup Blind Faith, Steve Winwood has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career as an exploratory pop solo artist. His biggest solo hits came during the '80s, when his keyboard-based compositions and world music curiosity helped propel several LPs and singles into the public music consciousness.

Profile of '80s Rap-Rock Pioneers Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys grew out of the early New York City hardcore punk and thrash scenes, initially performing and recording as a relatively straightforward hardcore trio. However, the group's active sense of humor and boundless energy eventually led to experimentation and an evolution into a rock music-inspired yet genuine rap/hip-hop outfit. On the strength of a smash hit major label debut in 1986, The Beastie Boys quickly became household names in not only the burgeoning genre of hip-hop but also pop music in general.

Stray Cats Artist Profile

Although the spread of new wave during the early '80s marginally included the music and throwback image of Long Island's Stray Cats, the group was committed to its celebration of early rock and roll styles and rockabilly. Here's a look at the group's successful and daring career.

Bonnie Tyler Artist Profile

Having emerged during the late '70s as a country-leaning pop/rock singer of some regard, Welsh chanteuse Bonnie Tyler entered the '80s with a desire to make her mark as a singer of theatrical rock music. Her signature raspy voice fit well with Jim Steinman, her collaborator of choice, who provided his composition, "Total Eclipse of the Heart," which would ultimately become Tyler's trademark song. Here's a look at Tyler's lengthy career in rock music, which has generated more than a dozen studio albums and numerous successful singles, especially in Europe.

Twisted Sister Artist Profile

Following several years of toil in New York City clubs trying to make its way as a straightforward, edgy hard rock band, Twisted Sister eventually found stardom after adapting its style and image to fit perfectly into the burgeoning pop metal movement of the early '80s. The band's wild success was relatively short-lived, but in terms of tough, gritty metal bands of the era, Twisted Sister churned out more than its share of rocking anthems and power ballads. Here's a look at the group's rise to pop music royalty.

The Alarm Artist Profile

Typically viewed as a bit of an afterthought on the British early alternative rock scene - especially when U2 became critically beloved superstars - Welsh band The Alarm nevertheless deserves credit for putting together a working-class '80s career filled with passionate songs and performances. Here's a look at this quartet's peak years, which saw the group move from a punk-inspired anthemic rock band to a solid if not always critically respected cult favorite.

Profile of Eclectic Female Singer-Songwriter Rickie Lee Jones

Eclectic female singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones emerged during the late '70s as a shining light for the future of acoustic rock based in varying degrees on rock, pop, folk and R&B styles. Over nearly four decades as a highly independent, self-sufficient, she has released a number of albums that reveal her unique perspectives and stylistic choices as a songwriter and performer. Here's a look at her lengthy career, which certainly thrived during the '80s but has a wide impact on pop/rock music well beyond any single era.

Profile of The Who Bandleader & Solo Artist Pete Townshend

While a member of The Who throughout the '70s and after that band went on hiatus in the early '80s, group leader, guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townshend managed a successful career as an eclectic singer-songwriter. His unique abilities as a lyricist and lead singer had always been apparent in The Who, but Townshend became an important solo artist in his own right. Here's a look at the solid solo career of one of rock music's most enduring legends.

Profile of '80s Solo Artist & Eagles Member Don Henley

While a member of superstar classic rock band The Eagles during its astounding '70s run, Don Henley rather quickly became one of the group's primary songwriters and lead singers. Then, as an '80s solo artist, he clearly outdistanced closest ex-bandmate competitor Glenn Frey to establish a highly successful pop singles career. With three smash LPs spread across the entire decade, Henley generally left behind his country-rock and classic rock past for a sophisticated modern pop approach.

Profile of '80s Mainstream Rock Band Quarterflash

Portland, Oregon-based pop/rock band Quarterflash achieved significant nationwide success within a year after forming, primarily on the strength of classic '80s pop single "Harden My Heart." Nevertheless, the group was quite distinct from many of its contemporaries, largely because of saxophone-playing frontwoman Rindy Ross. Though mildly affiliated with the early-'80s new wave movement, Quarterflash was a rather classic mainstream pop/rock act. Here's a look at the group's career.

Profile of British Pop Singer Kim Wilde

English pop singer Kim Wilde may sometimes mistakenly be labeled in the U.S. as something of a one-hit wonder, but she actually maintained a vibrant, consistently active solo career in her native U.K. throughout the decade and well into the '90s. Blessed with photogenic qualities well-suited for the MTV age and a pleasant, spirited vocal style, Wilde ably filled the niche for listeners looking for an alternative to Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. Here's a look at Wilde's reputable but still underrated solo career.

Profile of Australian College Rock Band The Church

Pop/rock music from Australia has often had a tendency to introduce groundbreaking, consistently interesting bands to the rest of the world. The Church certainly qualifies as one of these, having released five strong albums throughout the '80s along with numerous singles and EPs as singular as any group active during the era. Shaping several genres from new wave to college rock and guiding the further development of alternative rock as a major force, The Church presented haunting and mesmerizing guitar pop that only just began its arc during the '80s.

Profile of Superstar '80s Pop Singer Whitney Houston

Here's a look at the career of one of pop music's most enduring talents, who burst onto the music scene during the mid '80s with hit single after hit single and became one of the most successful female pop singers in rock history.

Profile of Country-Pop and Soft Rock Singer Kenny Rogers

Though perhaps his peak as a solo artist came during a tremendously successful stretch during the late '70s, veteran country-rock artist Kenny Rogers was a huge force on the early '80s pop music landscape. No one courted crossover success - or claimed it - as effortlessly or completely as Rogers during the latter decade's first half. Regardless of a varying respect level among music connoisseurs, Rogers makes it impossible to deny his significance as a mainstream pop artist for the ages. Here's a look at his long and storied music career.

Late-'80s Folk Singer-Songwriter Revival Profile

Before the modest late-'80s revival of folk-influenced singer-songwriters became a factor on the pop music landscape, that introspective, personal and relatively quiet style had been a bit dormant. Overshadowed previously by flashier prevailing genres like new wave, arena rock and hair metal, folk-inspired artists leapt into fashion to a surprising degree. Here's a look at some of the context and groundbreaking artists that contributed to this genre's brief rise.

Profile of Hard Rock Guitarist & Solo Artist Ted Nugent

Longtime hard rock guitarist Ted Nugent burst out of the Midwest during the late '60s, serving as lead guitarist for psychedelic rock band The Amboy Dukes. He followed that immediate impact with a consistent, lengthy solo career that has showcased his aggressive lead guitar style and his penchant for arena rock hooks. Though known perhaps more for his outspoken, often extreme political views on certain hot-button issues than his music, Nugent remains an influential and potent guitar hero on the wide rock music landscape.

Profile of Switzerland's Premier '80s Heavy Metal Band Krokus

'80s Swiss heavy metal outfit Krokus was one of the most prolific hard rock artists of the era, releasing seven studio albums during the decade that enjoyed consistently moderate to strong success in the U.S. and even for a time in the U.K. Never exactly a critical favorite, Krokus nevertheless stayed true to an aggressive, heavy and bombastic sound and steered clear of the various '80s hard rock fads, including almost all vestiges of hair metal, pop metal and glam metal. Here's a look at this underrated metal band and its impressively long and active career.

Profile of Singer-Songwriter and Stylish Pop/Rock Artist Bryan Ferry

As frontman of innovative '70s British rock band Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry immediately created quite a stir in glam rock circles for both his stylized look and his band's unique niche. Perhaps inevitably, Ferry's solo career forced the band into a bit of a background role, as the artist's strong personality and independence seemed to put him at odds with the band concept. Even so, Roxy Music released records into the early '80s before Ferry chose his solo career exclusively for the long term. Here's a look at Ferry's lengthy career, particularly his '80s activities.

Profile of Mainstream Arena Rock Artist Billy Squier

Guitarist and singer-songwriter Billy Squier was a staple of '80s mainstream rock who commanded his share of respect from hard rock and arena rock purists as often as he attracted pop music buyers in impressive numbers. One of the most recognizably quintessential rock artists of the '80s, Squier produced some solid compositions that always stayed true to his love for power guitar riffs. Here's a look at the peak years of this underrated artist's career.

Profile of English Synth Pop Singer-Songwriter Howard Jones

Technologically savvy keyboard master Howard Jones burst onto the the U.K. and U.S. pop music scenes during the early '80s, blending in with but also redefining the new wave and synth pop of the period. His song narratives managed to take on serious themes while maintaining a breezy pop and occasionally even throwback vibe. Equally adept as a synth innovator and songwriter, Jones scored a series of pop hits on both sides of the Atlantic before becoming essentially a well-regarded retro figure during the '90s.

Profile of Smooth Soul/R&B Genre Quiet Storm

Although born technically during the mid-'70s, the smooth, pop-inflected R&B style known as Quiet Storm (after a Smokey Robinson recording of that period) actually experienced much of its popularity during the early '80s. In fact, African-American soul music tended toward this romantic, slow-tempo direction well into the middle of the decade, and ultimately the genre became one of urban contemporary pop music's most reliably loved niches.

Profile of English Hard Rock/Pop Metal Band Whitesnake

Though David Coverdale had been a working lead vocalist in blues rock and hard rock outfits for more than a decade, his band Whitesnake found widespread success only after adopting a flashy pop metal sound and image during the late '80s. Nevertheless, as a solo artist and then as Whitesnake bandleader, Coverdale was a consistent '80s force in hard rock. Despite frequent comparisons (some derogatory) to Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, Coverdale and Whitesnake earned a solid place in '80s mainstream rock.

Profile of American College Rock/New Wave Band The Call

Other anthemic college rock bands gained far more attention during the '80s than The Call, but that group matched or exceeded almost all its contemporaries in terms of consistency, prolific output, and passionately engaging, righteous political anger. Led by late frontman and bassist Michael Been, The Call found a niche in the early days of new wave but never quite broke through to the big time in pop/rock circles. The band's obscurity, however, is far from indicative of its importance. Here's a look at The Call's productive and impressive 20-year career.

Profile of English New Wave Pop/Rock Band The Fixx

English rock band The Fixx served as a new wave and pop/rock fixture for the entire decade of the '80s, releasing five LPs of original material and posting several hit singles, mostly in North America. The group maximized its accessibility but also retained a keen edge in the early alternative and modern rock era. Frontman Cy Curnin excelled as lyricist, keyboardist and lead vocalist for the band, helping to craft tuneful pop songs that employed both guitar and keyboards to full effect. This versatility helped set The Fixx apart from similar contemporaries.