Emergening in the 1980’s we see a number of single names rather than bands contributing to rock. One of the big names of the 1980’s is Bruce Springsteen. Although Springsteen achieved some success in the 1970’s with his 1975 album Born To Run, he became a pop-culture icon in the 1980’s with his 1984 smash hit album Born in the U.S.A. which featured hits such as "Born in the U.S.A." and "Glory Days." A tribute to Springsteen’s presence in the 1980’s was his 1986 release Live 1975-85 which gained him greater acclaim. Springsteen is still regarded as one of the most popular performers of the 1980’s.
Springsteen in concert in the 1980’s
Another popular performer of the 1980’s was that of Prince. He was born
Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1961. Prince quickly became
known for his flamboyant dress style and guitar playing. His debut album in
1980, Prince which he wrote, produced, and arranged and of which he also
played all 27 instruments on the album led to acclaim for his musicianship.
His next album, Purple Rain, won him acclaim as well. Prince became known
as a glitter performer but he should be known foremost as a talented musician
who also symbolized pop-culture in the 1980’s.
Probably the greatest influence in the 1980’s pop music scene was that
of Michael Jackson. Jackson had previously been in a band with his brothers
called the Jacksons but had left to pursue a solo career. His hit album Thriller,
released in 1982 is still the highest selling rock album of all time. Hits on
the album such as "Thriller", "Billie Jean", and "Beat
It" established Jackson as one of the largest pop icons of not only the
1980’s, but of all time. The establishment of MTV in the early 80’s
also contributed to the success of Michael Jackson with the introduction of
the music video. This allowed for a larger audience to see these pop stars of
the 1980’s and contributed to the success of these artists and heightened
their popularity in the 1980’s and beyond.
The
Heavy Metal influence, which began in the 1970’s continued in the 1980’s
with bands such as Metallica and Motorhead. Metallica was formed in 1981 with
Danish import Lars Ulrich on Tama drums and James
Hetfield playing his E.S.P. rhythm guitar and Lloyd
Grant and Dave Mustaine also on guitar with Ron McGovney on bass. The release
of the band’s first album Kill ‘Em All saw McGovney replaced
by Cliff Burton on bass and Mustaine replaced by Kirk Hammett on lead guitar
playing E.S.P., Fender Stratocaster,
and Gibson Les Paul guitars.
Lloyd Grant left the band in order to do session work. The band picked up heavy
metal where Black Sabbath had left off and developed as one of the pioneers
of speed metal, a faster version of heavy metal than what Black Sabbath had
played in the 1970’s. The band earned a small following after their debut
album and have become more mainstreamed since their self-titled album Metallica
was released in 1991. The band also won successive Grammy awards in 1990 and
1991 for best metal performance. They continue to be one of the best live bands
to see and sell out shows routinely.
Motorhead emerged in the mid 70’s and included the lineup of the trio Ian
Kilminster and Lary Wallis on guitar and Lucas Fox on drums and attracted almost
cult following in early 80’s with the release of the Ace of Spades single
in 1980. The release of No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith in 1981 was described
as the best recording of high energy since The Who’s Live at Leeds
and went to number one in England within a week after its issue. During that
year the band opened up for Ozzy Osbourne on his Blizzard of Oz tour. The band
has declined in subsequent years after the departure of Kilminster but is still
popular among true metalheads even today. The bands heavy metal sound was known
as an inspiration to bands such as Metallica and Megadeth and is regarded as
one of the originators of the heavy metal sound along with Black Sabbath.
