Most influential band

[digitaltopia]

What was everyone’s most influential band in the 80’s? I guess this excludes those that weren’t alive during / were too young to remember the 80’s. I’m pretty sure we all already know Jerry’s. Not that he’d actually show up to the forums and post anyhow. That silly bag of cotton candy..

[rob]

For me it was The Police. No question.

[digitaltopia]

For me I’d have to say it was either Journey, because in their day they were the king of rock ballads and big catchy songs, or Van Halen, because in addition to their music they always looked like they were just goofing off on stage… like they were just goofing off and having a good time and you got to be a part of it.

[Octavious]

For me it was Van Halen.

[Version3]

Van Halen is going to be a choice of a lot of people, and for very good reason; they may be the most musical real rock-n-roll band of all time. There have been so many great bands in rock, through all of it’s changes (the big hair days, the everyone wants to be a rock ballad band, the everyone wants to be Pearl Jam days, garage, grunge… ) Van Halen not only maintained their signature sound through both of it’s life cycles (as distinctive from each other as they were) both they prove to remain melodic, though provoking, textured and still rock. They are definitely in my top 3 influences.

I don’t think I have any 1 though. For my young life, I’d have to say honestly Howard Jones played a big roll, mostly due to (at the time) spill over exposure from Jerry. But it depends on what you are talking about for influence. My exposure to the art in general was limited to the radio, but I always liked certain sounds. My everyday influence for most of the 80s came from so many sources; The Cars, Huey Lewis and the News, ZZ top, and Weird Al to name a few. I’d say Al actually affected me a lot. Parody always resonated with me, and the music often took a back seat to the message (in this case comedy), but was never really irrelevant, because the music is where he made his connection with the audience, based on familiarity.

Anyway, it wasn’t until the late 80s when I think a band came along that really made use of the sound that most intrigued me, the best practice in a mainstream band of realizing new potential from a track in the form of remix, and a sound that made them both a mark of the times, and different from everyone else. It was Information Society. Barely 80s, I’d say they were my single biggest influence then.

[El Rustirino]

rob wrote:

For me it was The Police. No question.

Aww yeah.

[Frank]

Toss up between Van Halen and Queen.

Could be worse: My roommate thinks Rush is the greatest band ever.

[digitaltopia]

I’ve never really been a fan of Alex Lifeson.

[Bing]

Van Halen (and you all rock for mentioning it too)
Queen

and I am I hate to admit it but the Bee Gee’s

so I’m gay…..big loss to woman kind

[digitaltopia]

Don’t tell your wife.

[Octavious]

Neil Peart wasn’t that bad as a drummer.

[rob]

I can’t stand Rush. I think I did my impersonation of him on the show, if not, ask me sometime.

[digitaltopia]

Hey Rob, could you do your impersonation of Rush?

[rob]

Hodgie bah, wahdooha hodgie bah, when ya bodgie kah badoobie raga bah…

Fuckin’ hate that dude.

[digitaltopia]

lol

[Author]

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