Best British band of the 80's...

[johnnydawg68]

...to qualify they had to have released their first album in 1980 or later. No 70's bands that did quality work in the 80's. No American/Irish/Australian bands.

I have three in mind that tower over everyone else but I'll hold my cards until people have a chance to weigh in.

Go...

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

The Smiths.

The Stone Roses.

 

[Scouse]

Were the La's around in the eighties?

The Jam

 

[johnnydawg68]

Were the La's around in the eighties?

Yes, they released their stuff in the 80's.

 

[Allezfan]

Has to be the Smiths.

 

[heatmeiser]

Spaceman 3
New Order

Hmmm, trickier than I first thought.

 

[Ezekiel]

jam were 70's, style council? - nah!

smiths for sure. roses and mondays. - manchester punches well above it's weight.

jesus and mary chain.

edit: new order qualify - just.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

most of the early 90's bands would have released in the late 80's.

James
Happy Mondays
Charlatans etc etc

& what about New Order ? formed in 80 so ripe for the honour as saw the whole decade through.

 

[Clint Planet]

The Smiths were the second best British band of any decade. Only the Fabs can eclipse them.

The Bunnymen blazed a trail in the eighties, too. I'm a massive Wah! fan but they weren't so much a band as a vehicle for the genius of Wylie. Simple Minds started of well but lost it big time after New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84), save for a couple of singles. Are the Pogues British? They did a good album, a stunning album and a good album. The Stone Roses' eponymous is beyond criticism, of course, but it seems like too little too late somehow for this thread. The Pale Fountains did two spiffing albums, as did the Teardrops Explodes. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions did a brilliant debut album and two pretty good follow ups.

There was some pretty silly metal stuff around, too, of course.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Debatable where the Pogues are from as most of the band are English, but with the front man being Irish and the name coming from an Irish phrase then they would be considered Irish.

 

[Clint Planet]

Damn, forgot New Order.

Really, it's between the Smiths, the Bunnymen and New Order, isn't it? They're the Holy Trinity when it comes to eighties UK bands.

 

[bluebab]

Amazulu - classic.

 

[Allezfan]

Debatable where the Pogues are from as most of the band are English, but with the front man being Irish and the name coming from an Irish phrase then they would be considered Irish.

Shane MacGowan? Born in kent, mate.

 

[heatmeiser]

Damn, forgot New Order.

Really, it's between the Smiths, the Bunnymen and New Order, isn't it? They're the Holy Trinity when it comes to eighties UK bands.

You're a monster for not saying Spaceman 3. A monster.

 

[Ezekiel]

bunnymen were 70's by this definition.

then jerico anyone?