U2's Bono was one of the few real rock heroes of the 1980s, leading the Irish band to international recognition with a charged, political approach to music. The band's early efforts brought a stadium-size presence to alt-rock, with Bono's expressive …

This Athens band's initial mix of Velvet Underground strum, Byrds-like Rickenbacker jangle, and charismatically oblique singing, became the sound of the 1980s as legions of bands followed suit. But even as imitators codified R.E.M.'s approach into th…

Formed in 1982, The Pogues married the raw energy and political anger of punk with the structures and instrumentation of Irish folk. The scope of their brash approach belied the acoustic nature of their arrangements. Singer/songwriter Shane McGowan, …

Scotland's Simple Minds rose from the ashes of the punk group Johnny & the Self Abusers to experiment with art rock and electro-dance rhythms. Eventually their post-Roxy Music sound grew more anthemic and by the mid-'80s they achieved worldwide succe…

Led by depressive pop prince Robert Smith, the Cure have taken their legions of fans on a journey from post-punk to gothic to new wave to art rock, stopping only for refills of hairspray along the way. An amazing band both live and in the studio, the…

Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith's debut album as Tears For Fears appeared smack dab in the middle of the '80s UK synth-pop invasion, but it was no mere pop trifle. THE HURTING is full of sophisticated production and accomplished songwriting, using the …