Top 10 Alternative Bands of the 1980s

850,262

10,984 0

Published 2014-05-13

Find links below to buy the music Featured in this video!

This decade saw bands come out of the underground, add electronic elements to their sound and pave the way for the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 alternative bands of the 1980s.

New Order/ iTunes goo.gl/dN1Qqf Amazon goo.gl/BuFlTS
The Cure/ iTunes goo.gl/gpgbPx Amazon goo.gl/CHbfru
INXS/ iTunes goo.gl/jJ8Uoq Amazon goo.gl/8ms2TF
Simple Minds/ iTunes goo.gl/pwJQnd Amazon goo.gl/e2TGkx
Hüsker Dü/ iTunes goo.gl/EZlXZy Amazon goo.gl/bnPCUG
Pixies/ iTunes goo.gl/EJ9ljD Amazon goo.gl/dEqhfW
Cutting Crew/ iTunes goo.gl/sTFAkZ Amazon goo.gl/C198YS
Eurythmics/ iTunes goo.gl/HGjjm3 Amazon goo.gl/dbjznm
The Replacements/ iTunes goo.gl/zl0htt Amazon goo.gl/3puK3g
Talking Heads/ iTunes goo.gl/ysBIKD Amazon goo.gl/Hvcu6a
The Go-Go's/ iTunes goo.gl/RRDpxG Amazon goo.gl/9Thj1F
Depeche Mode/ iTunes goo.gl/MUTzs9 Amazon goo.gl/21K4GD
The Smiths/ iTunes goo.gl/F4zq2g Amazon goo.gl/lR8SuZ
R.E.M./ iTunes goo.gl/THm9PE Amazon goo.gl/Q7UDhS
Tears for Fears/ iTunes goo.gl/qQanIg Amazon goo.gl/IRYQYC

This is part of a series of videos spanning the decades of alternative rock music from the 1970s to the 2000s, and includes our lists of the Top 10 Alternative Bands of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s as well as the Top 10 Punk Bands and Top 10 Grunge Bands. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 alternative bands of the 1980s. Special thanks to our users akt, scsvlogs and ninjakittycat1423 for submitting the idea on our Suggest Page at WatchMojo.com/suggest!

If you want to suggest an idea for a WatchMojo video, check out our interactive Suggestion Tool at www.WatchMojo.com/suggest :)

Check us out at Twitter.com/WatchMojo and Facebook.com/WatchMojo

We have T-Shirts! Be sure to check out www.WatchMojo.com/store for more info.

All Comments (21)

@Yankenzi 4 years ago

for me its Depeche Mode, The Cure, R.E.M and The Smiths
@jeremybaumeister8983 5 years ago

Sioixie and the Banshees. Sisters Of Mercy. Psychedelic Furs. Jesus and Mary Chain
@madting8082 5 years ago

ALL I EVER WANTED ALL I EVER NEEDED IS HERE IN MY ARMS
@skofron 5 years ago

What! Echo and the Bunneymen didn't even score an honorable mention?
@anyak1446 7 years ago

Depeche Mode... My #1 band ever.... Even when I'm a grunge bands fan.
@Wilde-Blume 5 years ago

The 80's have spawned too many great bands to classify them into top 10 video!
@j.b.abraham4175 2 years ago

I love that Depeche Mode, The Smiths, New Order and The Cure were listed. I was just sad that Siouxsie and the Banshees weren't on the list. They're my favorite.
@larrymcgillicutty 4 years ago

Sonic Youth, XTC, Camper Van Beethoven, Violent Femmes, They Might Be Giants, Love and Rockets, Bauhaus, Ministry, and I haven't touched on the Punk bands.
@user7351 6 years ago

I grew up listening to Depeche Mode and The Cure. Thanks Dad!
@pinkertonisbetterthanblue9096 2 years ago

The Cure deserves #1 so much, amazing band in every way.
@herowinsor7403 5 years ago

I would have been so angry if The Cure wasn't in there. The Cure and Depeche Mode are the best bands ever!
@j0hnn13K 5 years ago

Talk Talk deserved to be in the list too, if only a honorable mention. But non the less, a good top 10
@jchdroid2 5 years ago

1:18 - Simple Minds 2:10 - Pixies 3:35 - Eurythmics 4:45 - New Order 5:58 - Talking Heads 7:06 - The Smiths 8:20 - Tears for Fears 9:25 - R.E.M. 10:45 - Depeche Mode 11:52 - INXS 11:58 - Husker Du 12:01 - Cutting Crew 12:11 - The Replacements 12:16 - The Go-Go's 12:25 - The Cure
@Phlinn96 9 years ago

Oh man, the fucking Pixies should be way higher. They are by far one of, if not the most influential alt rock band of all time. Nirvana, Radiohead, The Strokes, U2 have been hugely influenced by the pixies. Hell, Weezer's first two albums (the only ones that don't fucking suck) Sound like Pixies albums. They should be in the top 3 at least. Also, where the fuck is sonic youth and dinosaur jr?
@eliasstubbs8839 5 years ago

INXS is one of my favourite bands
@Sal.Manila 5 years ago

DEVO? The B-52’s? Adam and the Ants??
@crweaver987 6 years ago

Echo and the Bunnymen Psychedelic Furs Bauhaus Love and Rockets
@AlaskanGirlLRB 8 years ago

Ah yes. The Cure <3. They will always be number one in my heart. The Cure is love, The Cure is life.
@thescottishcrusader2781 5 years ago

1) Depeche Mode 2) The Smiths 3) The Cure 4) REM 5) U2 6) Talking Heads 7) Tears for fears 8) New Order/Joy division 9) Echo and the Bunnymen 10) Stone Roses Hon. mentions: Happy Mondays, Psychedelic Furs, Devo
@JimmyOlsson 4 years ago

Great list. Some more personal favourites: Dexys Midnight Runners, Franky Goes To Hollywood, B-52's, Soft Cell, Communards, Bronski Beat, Midnight Oil, Ultravox, Howard Jones, Human League and Men At Work. The 80's was a beast of a decade when it comes to music. Best decade to grow up! :)