Who Was The Biggest Band Of The 80's?

[Sean]

So you guys, Depeche Mode or U2, who was the biggest? Someone asked me this question and immediately I said Depeche Mode but when I think it over, I'm not sure. What do you guys think?

Other runner ups for this would be:

INXS - (They may have secured the position if Michael didn't pass away)

Duran Duran - (I really can't get into their new album though)

The Cure - (Although just an underground favourite throughout their careers, everyone seems to know them)

The Smiths/Morrissey - (If you combine their popularity, they'd be right up there. Separate them and they probably couldn't compete with the others)

The Pet Shop Boys - (These guys keep cranking out great cd's. Pretty consistent throughout their careers, 80's, 90's, and 2000's)

What are your thoughts?

[MartiniHoudini]

If by biggest you mean most influential, then it's Depeche Mode. And one of the few bands of that era that is still around.

[Frau_Blucher]

It's gotta be U2 by a long shot in terms of sheer ginormous, monstrous, horrifyingly bloated size. I think the Cure were even more popular and influential than Depeche Mode. If you want influence, the Smiths fed an onslaught of guitar/brit-pop for years after, maybe not quite as visible to us in the US as the UK. Then if you want to talk about outside of new wave too, New Order were THE giants of club/dance/house/synth influencers.

[ghosty]

U2...it's no contest. I mean, we're talking BIG, right? I think U2 easily led the pack.

That said, of the remaining NW bands still around, U2 dominate. Nobody else comes close in terms of record sales, tix and hit singles.

(I don't know why really, I thought the last two records were cop-outs...just my humble opinion. I would've preferred them to keep doing something different rather than regurgitate their established sound. I guess they're doing it for the 3rd generation of kids who missed out on the other stuff?)

[middlesexnj]

SPRINGSTEEN!!! WOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo. DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuUUUUUUUUUDES!! Toss me another bud, bro.

[randy]

What???? Total Coelo is not an option??????????[:o)]

[Frau_Blucher]

[quote][i]Originally posted by middlesexnj[/i]
<br>SPRINGSTEEN!!! WOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo. DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuUUUUUUUUUDES!! Toss me another bud, bro.
[/quote]
Sadly...you're prolly right!

AND BE CAREFUL HOW YOU DRIVE THAT TRANS-AM!

[i_like_lectric_motors]

Biggest band of the 80's had to be Boo Yaa Tribe (although Carnie alone was almost enough to tip the scales in Wilson Phillips' favor).

[BigBri]

You know, those New Kids on the Block did pretty darn well for themselves.

U2 immediately came to mind before even opening this thread. They ballooned to gigantic international popular proportions by 1986 and have been riding the crest since (and good for them!).

REM also comes to mind, but I don't know much about their appeal outside of the US. They peaked a little later than U2, too.

[enzfan]

The Fat Boys[:D]

[middlesexnj]

[quote][i]Originally posted by enzfan[/i]
<br>The Fat Boys[:D]
[/quote]I remember when one of them died. Someone asked me what he died of. HELLOOOOOOOOOO???!!!! They could have collectively been 300 pounds lighter and still have been worthy of this band name.

[Grunch]

THE BIGGEST, best band, and most influential of the 80s and on, for me, is a tie with these three groups:

Stinky & The Spuds
Inflatable Boy Clams
Algebra Suicide

The Track 'Snoteleks' is a dance floor classic

[guyinsf]

If you wanna talk about sheer mainstream success with album and singles sales and mass hysteria among millions of young girls, then Duran Duran was the biggest new wave band of the 80's. However, comparing greatness and influences between U2 and Depeche Mode, I would have to say Depeche Mode ruled the 80's. U2 actually did not achieve mainsteam status til Joshua tree in 1987 and during the first 7 years of the decade, Depeche was already much bigger than U2 in terms of style, music, influence and exposure. However, if you count all the years leading to now, U2 might have an edge over depeche mode in terms of who's a bigger band, although personally, I can get into DM's music much more.

[IWantMyMTV]

Some people seem to forget Culture Club was a world wide smash, Japan, Australia, UK, US & beyond.

Duran Durans biggest rival at the time.

However, it was only for about four years.

DM & U2 didn't really hit MASS appeal until the late 80's.

[jumpshift]

Public Enemy, NWA, Heavy D & the Boyz, Eric B & Rakim, EPMD, Def Jef, stop the violence movement, rodney o & joe cooley, and De La Soul. Does it get any bigger than those? Oh and don't forget bobby jimmy and the critters. Look at all those roaches. [;)]