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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: KevShmev on March 27, 2018, 07:58:54 PM

Title: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on March 27, 2018, 07:58:54 PM
Not best or your favorites, but the biggest 4 rock bands in the 80s.

I would have to go with:

Van Halen
U2
Def Leppard
Bon Jovi
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on March 27, 2018, 08:01:30 PM
Not best or your favorites, but the biggest 4 rock bands in the 80s.

I would have to go with:

Van Halen
U2
Def Leppard
Bon Jovi

No argument there.  I saw all 4 in the 80's live.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 27, 2018, 08:03:54 PM
Not much to argue with there, Kev.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Cool Chris on March 27, 2018, 08:04:10 PM
AC/DC should be there but I don't know who to remove. Man I never liked U2. U2 is to me what the Stones are to jammindude.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: max_security on March 27, 2018, 08:17:36 PM
That list seems like it might be true for 88-89 but maybe not for the entire decade. Billy Idol and The Police may be contenders for few years as well. Phil Collins was like every other song on the radio for at least half of the decade.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 27, 2018, 08:22:26 PM
Not sure Billy Idol was a contender for any year.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: max_security on March 27, 2018, 08:37:33 PM
Not sure Billy Idol was a contender for any year.

Maybe it's a regional thing , it seemed like White Wedding and Rebel Yell were always playing somewhere. But you're right , it doesn't look like he had huge album sales like the others mentioned.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on March 27, 2018, 08:37:54 PM
Phil Collins was more pop in the 80's than rock.

If we were gonna do the Big 4 pop stars of the 80's, I'd put Collins on there along with Michael Jackson, Madonna and George Michael.  Prince could be on there as well, but not sure who you could take off.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on March 27, 2018, 08:38:05 PM
Journey should probably be on there somewhere.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 27, 2018, 08:40:20 PM
Not sure Billy Idol was a contender for any year.

Maybe it's a regional thing , it seemed like White Wedding and Rebel Yell were always playing somewhere. But you're right , it doesn't look like he had huge album sales like the others mentioned.

What region are you in?

Sure they were popular songs and all, but every other artist mentioned in this thread is true upper echelon for the 80's. I think Adam Sandler has as much to do with Idol's lasting popularity than Idol himself. I feel like he was a marginal performer in the 80's.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: CrimsonSunrise on March 27, 2018, 08:41:28 PM
"Rock" as a generic term covers many genres.  That being said....

Metallica
U2
Def Leppard
Iron Maiden
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on March 27, 2018, 08:42:26 PM
I don't think Billy Idol would have made the Big 20.  :lol :lol

Journey is not a bad pick, although they fizzled out in the latter part of the decade, and their most well known song, Don't Stop Believin', is far more popular now than it was at the time (it was a hit back then, but not a monster hit).

Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on March 27, 2018, 08:43:27 PM
"Rock" as a generic term covers many genres.  That being said....

Metallica
U2
Def Leppard
Iron Maiden

Huh? There is no way to argue that Maiden or Metallica were bigger in the 80's than Van Halen.  Heck, Metallica was an underground band until 1988.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 27, 2018, 08:43:44 PM
"Rock" as a generic term covers many genres.  That being said....

Metallica
 

Looking back, maybe. At the time. No way.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: max_security on March 27, 2018, 08:50:01 PM
Not sure Billy Idol was a contender for any year.

Maybe it's a regional thing , it seemed like White Wedding and Rebel Yell were always playing somewhere. But you're right , it doesn't look like he had huge album sales like the others mentioned.

What region are you in?

Sure they were popular songs and all, but every other artist mentioned in this thread is true upper echelon for the 80's. I think Adam Sandler has as much to do with Idol's lasting popularity than Idol himself. I feel like he was a marginal performer in the 80's.

I'm just going from memory of rock radio airplay in the Washington , DC Area ( DC 101 back then ) and 98 Rock Baltimore. Both are still on , but just barely . Billy Idol got a ton of air here  , and Phil Collins on these ROCK stations. They wore out Syncronicity for a few years as well.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on March 27, 2018, 08:58:46 PM
Survivor also got played on rock stations quite a bit. :P
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: bl5150 on March 27, 2018, 08:59:34 PM
It's interesting the difference in countries too.   Even though I am a big VH nut they weren't huge in Australia beyond Jump and (much to my disgust) never toured here with either Dave or Sammy .   I am not counting the tour a few years back with Roth.


Also Def Leppard - again I was a huge fan but to see them mentioned above in lists omitting Bon Jovi is hard to relate to.  Def Leppard weren't in Bon Jovi's ballpark out here.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: max_security on March 27, 2018, 09:02:26 PM
Survivor also got played on rock stations quite a bit. :P

Eye of the Tiger !!! lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: cramx3 on March 27, 2018, 09:06:49 PM
Not best or your favorites, but the biggest 4 rock bands in the 80s.

I would have to go with:

Van Halen
U2
Def Leppard
Bon Jovi

Kind of hard to go different, there's a few others have mentioned like Journey or AC/DC.  I'll add a few more that are up there:  Bruce Springsteen, Guns n Roses, Billy Joel
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: max_security on March 27, 2018, 09:20:54 PM
ZZ Top seemed like they were everywhere for 3/4 of the decade .
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on March 27, 2018, 09:23:45 PM
They were, but using all fake drums on Eliminator took away some of their "rock cred" for a while.

Springsteen had one of the 3-4 most popular albums of the 80's, so he definitely has a strong argument.

I am a big Billy Joel fan, but it feels like he was more of a pop star than a rock one, although he, like Elton John, often blurred the line between the two.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: wolfking on March 27, 2018, 09:43:10 PM
Not sure Billy Idol was a contender for any year.

 :lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: CrimsonSunrise on March 27, 2018, 11:20:07 PM
"Rock" as a generic term covers many genres.  That being said....

Metallica
U2
Def Leppard
Iron Maiden

Huh? There is no way to argue that Maiden or Metallica were bigger in the 80's than Van Halen.  Heck, Metallica was an underground band until 1988.
Underground band???  Not in Los Angeles.....  Kill 'em (83) all was an eye opener to the Metal scene here.  "Ride the Lightning" (84) was HUGE!  Followed up by "Master of Puppets"(86) and "And Justice for All" (88).  They were considered ground breaking and all eyes here were looking at them.

As far as Van Halen, their top 2 , and most popular albums were in 78 and 79.  After that... they were not as adored with LA fans, even though they were local boys.  So yeah....  while 1984 was a commercial success, it can't compete with the success of Metallicas 4 album run.  Fair Warning was a let down to most here after the epicness of the first 2.

As far as Maiden... same argument.  Here in LA they were MONSTERS!!!!!  For the whole run of the 80's.  Debut, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Powerslave...on and on...
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 28, 2018, 12:58:50 AM
AC/DC should be there but I don't know who to remove.

This.

And I would add Dire Straits and Aerosmith as contenders.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Architeuthis on March 28, 2018, 02:32:16 AM
What about Scorpions??? They were very popular in the eighties, Blackout, Love At First Sting, Savage Amusement, etc...
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: soupytwist on March 28, 2018, 02:49:15 AM
Queen, Aerosmith & G 'n' R were much, much bigger in the UK than Van Halen in the 80's - in fact Poison were bigger than VH over here.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: cramx3 on March 28, 2018, 07:32:45 AM
I am a big Billy Joel fan, but it feels like he was more of a pop star than a rock one, although he, like Elton John, often blurred the line between the two.

It's still rock and roll to me
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: bl5150 on March 28, 2018, 07:40:34 AM
Queen, Aerosmith & G 'n' R were much, much bigger in the UK than Van Halen in the 80's - in fact Poison were bigger than VH over here.

Around the time of Nothin But A Good Time , I would say the same here in Australia.


Early 80's the biggest our here (from my point of view at least) was KISS.  As KISS dropped off the top of the charts in the USA in the late 70's/early 80's they went ballistic out here with Dynasty and Unmasked.     They called it Kissteria out here.....they were everywhere and there is a bit of an industry in collecting the unique Aussie KISS memorabilia from that time.   
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Podaar on March 28, 2018, 07:55:24 AM
I'm tempted to throw Foreigner into the mix, but they kinda fizzled out during the mid-eighties. They were huge for a span of years but kinda straddled the classic rock of the 70's in their hey day.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: jingle.boy on March 28, 2018, 08:46:40 AM
Not best or your favorites, but the biggest 4 rock bands in the 80s.

I would have to go with:

Van Halen
U2
Def Leppard
Bon Jovi

No denying that Def and Bon Jovi both had two monster albums, but the earlier two albums (for each) were fairly ordinary.
 I would contend that Back in Black and Born in the USA join The Joshua Tree as the 'big 3' biggest rock albums in the decade; and each had other albums as highly regarded as Pyromania and/or New Jersey.  For those I'd give the nod to Bruce and ACDC over DL and BJ.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: bl5150 on March 28, 2018, 08:56:45 AM
High'n'Dry is ordinary ? -  first I've heard  ;D
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: jingle.boy on March 28, 2018, 09:44:17 AM
High'n'Dry is ordinary ? -  first I've heard  ;D

"Fairly".  Present poster not-withstanding, it wasn't even in the same league, let alone ball-park as Hysteria/Pyromania
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: bl5150 on March 28, 2018, 09:56:36 AM
High'n'Dry is ordinary ? -  first I've heard  ;D

"Fairly".  Present poster not-withstanding, it wasn't even in the same league, let alone ball-park as Hysteria/Pyromania

Perhaps in sales but I know I'm not the only one around here who would reach for High n Dry before Hysteria
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Podaar on March 28, 2018, 09:58:38 AM
High'n'Dry is ordinary ? -  first I've heard  ;D

"Fairly".  Present poster not-withstanding, it wasn't even in the same league, let alone ball-park as Hysteria/Pyromania

Perhaps in sales but I know I'm not the only one around here who would reach for High n Dry before Hysteria

*raises hand*
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Stadler on March 28, 2018, 10:06:50 AM
"Rock" as a generic term covers many genres.  That being said....

Metallica
U2
Def Leppard
Iron Maiden

Huh? There is no way to argue that Maiden or Metallica were bigger in the 80's than Van Halen.  Heck, Metallica was an underground band until 1988.
Underground band???  Not in Los Angeles.....  Kill 'em (83) all was an eye opener to the Metal scene here.  "Ride the Lightning" (84) was HUGE!  Followed up by "Master of Puppets"(86) and "And Justice for All" (88).  They were considered ground breaking and all eyes here were looking at them.

As far as Van Halen, their top 2 , and most popular albums were in 78 and 79.  After that... they were not as adored with LA fans, even though they were local boys.  So yeah....  while 1984 was a commercial success, it can't compete with the success of Metallicas 4 album run.  Fair Warning was a let down to most here after the epicness of the first 2.

As far as Maiden... same argument.  Here in LA they were MONSTERS!!!!!  For the whole run of the 80's.  Debut, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Powerslave...on and on...

Please.  LA is a vacuum.  It's not at all indicative of anywhere else.  I say all that tongue in cheek and with deep respect, but for real, east of the Mississippi?   Van Halen is Ritchie Blackmore and Metallica is Uli Jon Roth.   Van Halen was the band that EVERYONE had on their text books (remember when  you used to have to cover your textbooks in paper bags?).   Guys loved them, chicks loved them, and they played sold out arenas.   Metallica was the band that the weird kid had as a patch on his jean jacket and you never actually heard any songs from. 

This is not a diss, I love Metallica and Hetfield is, to me, the coolest guy in rock (something Roth still wants to be).  So I get Metallica and love them.  But let's not revise history.  Back in 1985 they were a niche band anywhere more than 20 miles from the Sunset Strip. 
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: WildRanger on March 28, 2018, 10:21:09 AM
Big 4 80's bands in general, worldwide (including metal):
U2
Guns N' Roses
Iron Maiden
Metallica

Big 4 bands in the USA excluding metal:
U2
Guns N' Roses
Van Halen
Def Leppard or Motley Crue (I can't stand MC, but they were the most prominent hair band)

Big 4 bands in Europe excluding metal:
U2
Guns N' Roses
Dire Straits
Whitesnake (Scorpions are very close)

Whitesnake were huge in Europe since the beginning of the 80's, while in America they didn't catch on until 1987(S/T album with hits Here I Go Again, Still of the Night and Is This Love), when from a boogie/bluesy hard rock band they turned into another commercial hair metal band to finally crack America.





Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: bosk1 on March 28, 2018, 10:35:08 AM
High'n'Dry is ordinary ? -  first I've heard  ;D

"Fairly".  Present poster not-withstanding, it wasn't even in the same league, let alone ball-park as Hysteria/Pyromania

Perhaps in sales but I know I'm not the only one around here who would reach for High n Dry before Hysteria

I love all three albums, but I would absolutely say High n Dry is anything but ordinary.  It didn't have the commercial accessibility of Pyromania or Hysteria.  But the songwriting and playing chops were absolutely there, and unlike most rock albums of that era, it is an album that you can really enjoy from side A, song 1 through the end without feeling like there is anything that is filler. 

Van Halen was the band that EVERYONE had on their text books (remember when  you used to have to cover your textbooks in paper bags?).   Guys loved them, chicks loved them, and they played sold out arenas.   Metallica was the band that the weird kid had as a patch on his jean jacket and you never actually heard any songs from. 

Yeah, I have to agree.  I mean, looking back from NOW, Van Halen is a joke that I thankfully outgrew fairly early on, whereas Metallica are true heavyweights that I can still go back and listen to and feel like they are the bedrock foundation of what metal evolved into.  But looking at the '80s alone, you can't really put Metallica anywhere near a "big 4 of rock" status.  Van Halen really helped define that era of rock.  Notwithstanding the arguable quality of Metallica's first two albums, they were still relatively obscure and underground, especially when compared to Van Halen.  Their fanbase grew tremendously with Puppets, and the Puppets tour started generating buzz about their cred as a legitimate epic live band.  But again, compared to Van Halen, they were still small potatoes.  They didn't start to REALLY take off commercially until AJFA, and that was at the very tail end of the '80s.  Again, that isn't to take away from their status, influence, or anything else.  But as far as the '80s go, Van Halen dominated that decade, whereas Metallica were up-and-comers until very late in that decade. 
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Stadler on March 28, 2018, 10:48:41 AM
Ironically, Metallica's legendary status today is a testament to their obscurity then.  They were NOT - like Guns - a one-hit wonder or - like Boston - one of those with a legendarily popular debut album.  They were the slow burn band, and they were (at least to me) very different than what I had heard before or what I was listening. 

And this from a guy who lived in college with a guy who slept out to get ...Justice on vinyl day of release.   It blew me away, but it wasn't the kind of music you cranked on your stereo for a college floor party. 
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 28, 2018, 04:27:27 PM
Big 4 80's bands in general, worldwide (including metal):
U2
Guns N' Roses
Iron Maiden
Metallica

Big 4 bands in the USA excluding metal:
U2
Guns N' Roses
Van Halen
Def Leppard or Motley Crue (I can't stand MC, but they were the most prominent hair band)

Big 4 bands in Europe excluding metal:
U2
Guns N' Roses
Dire Straits
Whitesnake (Scorpions are very close)

Whitesnake were huge in Europe since the beginning of the 80's, while in America they didn't catch on until 1987(S/T album with hits Here I Go Again, Still of the Night and Is This Love), when from a boogie/bluesy hard rock band they turned into another commercial hair metal band to finally crack America.



Wildranger, may I ask a question? How old are you and where are you located in the world?
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on March 28, 2018, 04:29:59 PM
Who is your daddy, and what does he do?
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 28, 2018, 04:30:33 PM
Who is your daddy, and what does he do?

Papa don't preach.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Anguyen92 on March 28, 2018, 04:42:01 PM
Yeah, I have to agree.  I mean, looking back from NOW, Van Halen is a joke that I thankfully outgrew fairly early on, whereas Metallica are true heavyweights that I can still go back and listen to and feel like they are the bedrock foundation of what metal evolved into.  But looking at the '80s alone, you can't really put Metallica anywhere near a "big 4 of rock" status.  Van Halen really helped define that era of rock.  Notwithstanding the arguable quality of Metallica's first two albums, they were still relatively obscure and underground, especially when compared to Van Halen.  Their fanbase grew tremendously with Puppets, and the Puppets tour started generating buzz about their cred as a legitimate epic live band.  But again, compared to Van Halen, they were still small potatoes.  They didn't start to REALLY take off commercially until AJFA, and that was at the very tail end of the '80s.  Again, that isn't to take away from their status, influence, or anything else.  But as far as the '80s go, Van Halen dominated that decade, whereas Metallica were up-and-comers until very late in that decade.

I mean you look at 1988, when Metallica released ...And Justice for All, they were on a stadium bill with Van Halen.  The Monsters of Rock Tour in 1988.  They were the 2nd opening band on the bill before Dokken, Scorpions, and Van Halen.  I heard from Tom Morello, when he did a thank you to Metallica for being together for 30 years as a band, that during the LA show in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, that Metallica created such a buzz and fury (which resulted in a small riot and chairs being thrown around) that poor Dokken had to follow that. 

Four years later, they went from 2nd opening band to co-headlining with GNR in the same venue and eventually, they went to headline the LA Coliseum by themselves.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on March 28, 2018, 05:09:15 PM
 I know that both TAC and I saw that tour.  Him in New Jersey I believe and I saw it in Maine. Metallica was on the up at that point but the video for One really got them into the mainstream and then when they did the Black Album everything blew up.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 28, 2018, 06:15:25 PM
June 26, 1988
Giants Stadium

Metallica is on stage!

(https://i.imgur.com/7ErF9PU.jpg)
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on March 28, 2018, 06:19:24 PM
 I was drunk, rain was pouring on me and I stepped on a mustard pack that shot my leg during Metallica. LOL
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 28, 2018, 06:22:30 PM
I was drunk, rain was pouring on me and I stepped on a mustard pack that shot my leg during Metallica. LOL

Good times! :lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on March 28, 2018, 06:54:57 PM
Who is your daddy, and what does he do?

Papa don't preach.

(https://vinnieh.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/madonna-papa-dont-preach.jpg)

  Please.  LA is a vacuum.  It's not at all indicative of anywhere else.  I say all that tongue in cheek and with deep respect, but for real, east of the Mississippi?   Van Halen is Ritchie Blackmore and Metallica is Uli Jon Roth.   Van Halen was the band that EVERYONE had on their text books (remember when  you used to have to cover your textbooks in paper bags?).   Guys loved them, chicks loved them, and they played sold out arenas.   Metallica was the band that the weird kid had as a patch on his jean jacket and you never actually heard any songs from. 

This is not a diss, I love Metallica and Hetfield is, to me, the coolest guy in rock (something Roth still wants to be).  So I get Metallica and love them.  But let's not revise history.  Back in 1985 they were a niche band anywhere more than 20 miles from the Sunset Strip.

Exactly.

But hey, if we can argue that a band/artist is in the Big 4 because they were big in my town, then I can put Sammy Hagar in there, since he has always been huge in St Louis, right? ;)
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on March 28, 2018, 06:59:39 PM
I was drunk, rain was pouring on me and I stepped on a mustard pack that shot my leg during Metallica. LOL

Good times! :lol

 oh the story I could tell you later back at my buddies Campground.  Lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 28, 2018, 07:01:18 PM
I hope it doesn't include mayonnaise down your leg. :lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on March 28, 2018, 07:08:08 PM
 I do have a story about that. LOL Would you like to hear about it?
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on March 28, 2018, 07:08:52 PM
I do have a story about that. LOL Would you like to hear about it?

Nah, I'm good, thanks.  :lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on March 29, 2018, 04:17:17 AM
Well too bad for you. LOL

Whole bunch of my friends and I rented a beach house and in the last day there's some food left I took this long sausage dioped it in mayonnaise and zipped the other end in my pants.

All my friends give me a nickname of CK.  Stood for Colossal Kielbasa.  Lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Podaar on March 29, 2018, 07:20:01 AM
Well too bad for you. LOL

Whole bunch of my friends and I rented a beach house and in the last day there's some food left I took this long sausage dioped it in mayonnaise and zipped the other end in my pants.

All my friends give me a nickname of CK.  Stood for Colossal Kielbasa.  Lol

I'll bet it sounded just like that. DIIIIIIIOP!
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on March 29, 2018, 07:45:46 AM
If only I tried slang.  Lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: MinistroRaven on October 17, 2019, 07:35:37 AM
Didn't know where to put this:

"ORIGINAL FOREIGNER MEMBERS REUNITE FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF MULTI-PLATINUM ALBUM “DOUBLE VISION”

With more than 80 million albums sold and 16 Top 30 hits, Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world. Now, ‘Foreigner - Double Vision: Then And Now’ takes viewers behind the scenes as original band members join Mick Jones and Foreigner’s current lineup for the very first time in the band’s 40-year history. Both incarnations of the band share the same stage for an epic performance. ‘Foreigner - Double Vision: Then And Now’ available on November 15th, 2019 via earMUSIC.

Watch rock and roll history with one of music’s most anticipated reunion events as ‘Foreigner - Double Vision: Then And Now’ celebrates the 40th anniversary of the band’s multi-platinum 1978 album ‘Double Vision’ with a masterful live performance of the band’s biggest hits, filmed at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA.

Original members Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, Dennis Elliott, Ian McDonald and Rick Wills take the stage with Mick Jones and Foreigner - Kelly Hansen, Tom Gimbel, Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein, Bruce Watson and Chris Frazier - to rock through some of the best-selling songs that bring back the memories that make it feel like the first time for both long-time fans and new generations.

Says Mick Jones, “This was a show that I will always remember! Sharing the stage with the guys that shaped Foreigner in the beginning and the stellar musicians that carry the flag in the new millennium, was a truly emotional moment.”

"We wanted to stage an elaborate production for the very first ‘Foreigner - Then And Now’ reunion concert”, says award-winning executive producer Barry Summers of Rock Fuel Media, who created this explosive rock celebration. “Something unlike any other previous Foreigner show has captured on film, that both visually and sonically breathes new life into their amazing classic songs – the songs that I grew up on - for the fans to enjoy for many years to come. I believe we achieved that in this film and live album."

Filmed in 4K Ultra HD using over 24 camera positions, the concert film features a stunning multimedia set design, with custom CGI animation, lasers, fog, and elaborate FX that elevate this powerful performance to new levels.

Special Performance Features

“Juke Box Hero” – Features an array of special effects, lasers, smoke and an insane animated jukebox on steroids.
 
“Starrider” – A 3D animated spacecraft and digital effects breathe new life into the digital age.
 
“Feels Like The First Time” - The song that launched the legacy is performed by original members for the first time in over 30 years.
 
“I Want To Know What Love Is” - A breathtaking full Gospel rendition that brings the Albert Strickland & Cho'Zen Choir together with both incarnations of the band onstage for the very first time.
 
“Hot Blooded” - A Flamin' HOT and electrifying encore finale featuring both incarnations of the band together onstage has the entire crowd on their feet and rockin’.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: hefdaddy42 on October 17, 2019, 12:56:15 PM
When we are saying "biggest of the 80s" we are talking truly huge, because the 80s were the biggest decade of all.  Here is a quick look at the top 25 selling albums of the 80s, with rock acts in bold.

1. Michael Jackson - Thriller
2. AC/DC - Back in Black
3. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
4. Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
5. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
6. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
7. Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
8. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Bank - Live/1975-85
9. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
10. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
11. Def Leppard - Hysteria
12. Various Artist - Dirty Dancing Original Soundtrack
13. Michael Jackson - Bad
14. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers
15. U2 - The Joshua Tree
16. George Michael - Faith
17. Madonna - Like a Virgin
18. Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down
19. Whitney Houston - Whitney
20. Van Halen - 1984
21. Various Artists - Top Gun Motion Picture Soundtrack
22. Madonna - True Blue
23. Various Artists - Footloose Motion Picture Soundtrack
24. Def Leppard - Pyromania
25. REO Speedwagon - High Infidelity

I owned every one of these albums.  Clearly the biggest act was Various Artists.

Just outside the Top 25 were Journey with Escape, ZZ Top with Eliminator, The Police with Syncronicity, Billy Joel with An Innocent Man, Bon Jovi with New Jersey, Genesis with Invisible Touch, Eagles with Eagles Live, Aerosmith with Pump, Metallica with ...And Justice For All, Phil Collins with Face Value AND ...But Seriously, Whitesnake with Whitesnake, U2 with Rattle and Hum, and Metallica with Master of Puppets.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: bosk1 on October 17, 2019, 01:03:36 PM
Wow, Springsteen had two in the top 10?  Some things will just never make sense to me.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Stadler on October 17, 2019, 01:04:54 PM
I had or have 17 of those.  Hmmm.

By the way, of the also rans?   "An Innocent Man" by Billy Joel is a very under-rated album. I LOVE that record, and if you dig into the where's and why's of that (and what Joel was trying to accomplish) it's even more amazing, especially since it landed with millions and millions of people had no clue of that subtext.  Plus the title track is a vocal tour de force. 

EDIT: I had 15; I miscounted the two Madonna records (I have Like A Prayer and the greatest hits, Immaculate Collection).
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on October 17, 2019, 01:07:19 PM
I had 8 of them.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on October 17, 2019, 01:16:13 PM
I only had 6 of them.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Stadler on October 17, 2019, 01:19:03 PM
Not to be a dick, but I will point out, only one in that top ten that isn't in (or currently nominated for) the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?  Phil Collins.

:) :)  :tup :loser:
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: pg1067 on October 17, 2019, 01:54:58 PM
Original members Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, Dennis Elliott, Ian McDonald and Rick Wills take the stage with Mick Jones and Foreigner - Kelly Hansen, Tom Gimbel, Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein, Bruce Watson and Chris Frazier - to rock through some of the best-selling songs that bring back the memories that make it feel like the first time for both long-time fans and new generations.

Since when is Rick Wills an original member?  Ed Gagliardi played bass on the self-titled debut and on Double Vision (which came out in 1978, making this its 41st, not 40th, anniversary).  Rick Wills didn't join the band until Head Games.


When we are saying "biggest of the 80s" we are talking truly huge, because the 80s were the biggest decade of all.  Here is a quick look at the top 25 selling albums of the 80s, with rock acts in bold.

I've only ever owned three of these albums (Back in Black, Slippery and Pyromania).

I wonder if there are any other decades with THREE movie soundtracks among top selling albums.  I'm sure the SNF soundtrack was one of the top 25 selling albums of the 70s, but I can't think of any others.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on October 17, 2019, 01:59:05 PM
Grease I would guess as well.  I think the 60's had more soundtrack albums that charted.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: bosk1 on October 17, 2019, 02:02:01 PM
I owned every one of these albums.  Clearly the biggest act was Various Artists.

I have had 7 of them.  Looking back, there are 9 I would own.  But just because they were huge doesn't mean they were an automatic buy for me.  There are plenty on that list that I have no interest in.  Take the AC/DC album, for example.  Great album.  But I would never listen to it.  The couple of standout songs from it could be heard on the radio or MTV than I cared to hear them, so that covered it.  I feel similarly about several of the others.

(but another 11 from the "almost" list)
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: pg1067 on October 17, 2019, 02:12:59 PM
I went and looked (because of course I did):

1970s:  SNF and Grease in the top 25

The 1960s are really interesting (at least to me).  Only three artists are represented in the top 10:  the Beatles (6), Led Zeppelin (2)....and the Monkees (2)!  The only soundtrack in the top 25 is West Side Story (unless you count Hard Days Night and Help)

1990s (the only list I could find was U.S. only):  The Bodyguard, Forrest Gump (?!) and Titanic.

There are no soundtracks among the best selling albums of the 21st Century (both decades combined), but soundtracks were the best selling albums in 2006 (High School Musical), 2007 (HS Musical 2), 2014 (Frozen) and 2018 (The Greatest Showman).

I'll stop derailing the thread now.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: hefdaddy42 on October 17, 2019, 02:15:56 PM
Wow, Springsteen had two in the top 10?  Some things will just never make sense to me.
The Boss is awesome.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: cramx3 on October 17, 2019, 02:22:46 PM
Damn, even I have at least 8 of those albums.  I miss when rock music was big like that.  I mean, I don't remember the 80s but rock was still big in the 90s of my child hood.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on October 17, 2019, 06:15:16 PM
Wow, Springsteen had two in the top 10?  Some things will just never make sense to me.
The Boss is awesome.

Some might call that...




wait for it.....









BOSSOME!
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Architeuthis on October 17, 2019, 06:46:24 PM
I'm surprised there's no mention of Motley Crue.  They were pretty big specially in the late eighties.

I would say,
  Scorpions
  Motley
  Journey
  Def Leppard

  OHH,, and Weird Al..    :metal

Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on October 17, 2019, 07:48:12 PM
I've owned 11 of those 25 at one point or another on cassette or CD.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on October 17, 2019, 07:50:12 PM
I had Back In Black and Hi Infidelity on 8-track. :lol
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on October 17, 2019, 07:55:11 PM
I'm surprised you've even heard of REO Speedwagon.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on October 17, 2019, 07:57:21 PM
He heard it from a friend who,  heard it from a friend who.....
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: TAC on October 17, 2019, 08:01:48 PM
I'm surprised you've even heard of REO Speedwagon.

Why? High Infidelity was huge. I was in junior high when that came out. Their live show from Denver from that tour was played quite a bit on MTV. They had a ton of great songs..Back On The Road Again, Riding The Storm Out, etc...

I actually have Hi Infidelity on CD.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: King Postwhore on October 17, 2019, 08:36:29 PM
They put on a good like show as well.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Cool Chris on October 17, 2019, 11:18:08 PM
I owned 6 of those at some point in time. 1 of them now in physical form (Back in Black). Hysteria was probably my #1 favorite CD for a good 5 year stretch when it was first released. It was the first or second CD I bought with my own money.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: The Curious Orange on October 18, 2019, 03:18:15 AM
While I appreciate that bands like Van Halen were huge in the US, they never made that much of a splash over here in the UK. So from a transatlantic perspective:

Queen
Bon Jovi
Dire Straits
Def Leppard

were all hugely popular in the UK in the 80s.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Stadler on October 18, 2019, 07:34:39 AM
I would venture to say that no kid that went to a school dance in 1981 can claim "I never heard REO Speedwagon". 

I don't have it on CD, just LP, but that "side one" is solid as a rock. 
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: pg1067 on October 18, 2019, 09:48:00 AM
I would venture to say that no kid that went to a school dance in 1981 can't claim "I never heard REO Speedwagon". 

There's no way this isn't not true!   :biggrin:
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: Stadler on October 18, 2019, 10:17:16 AM
I would venture to say that no kid that went to a school dance in 1981 can't claim "I never heard REO Speedwagon". 

There's no way this isn't not true!   :biggrin:
Goddammit!!  :) :) :)

Fixed.
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: El Barto on October 18, 2019, 10:38:08 AM
He heard it from a friend who,  heard it from a friend who.....
:lol


I using MTV as a barometer, and I think Def Leppard takes this kind of easily. Where we run into a problem is that so many of these bands were hugely popular in the mid 80s or the late 80s and so few were popular from 1980-1989. Bringin on the Heartbreak was huge for them in 81. Pyromania was epoch shattering. Hysteria carried them right on through to Adrenalize. That's a run nobody else tops.

ZZTop fits into the conversation. El Loco through Afterburner kept them on MTV and the radio for most of the 80s. They were huge. And while we probably won't consider her rock, Madonna probably had the best run of them all with ST, Virgin, True Blue, Prayer (83-89) (71 million units).
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: bosk1 on October 18, 2019, 11:11:26 AM
I using MTV as a barometer, and I think Def Leppard takes this kind of easily. Where we run into a problem is that so many of these bands were hugely popular in the mid 80s or the late 80s and so few were popular from 1980-1989. Bringin on the Heartbreak was huge for them in 81. Pyromania was epoch shattering. Hysteria carried them right on through to Adrenalize. That's a run nobody else tops.

That's true.  But they also had pretty big gaps between albums as well where nothing was going on. 
Title: Re: Big 4 bands of 80's rock
Post by: KevShmev on October 20, 2019, 08:24:41 PM
I using MTV as a barometer, and I think Def Leppard takes this kind of easily. Where we run into a problem is that so many of these bands were hugely popular in the mid 80s or the late 80s and so few were popular from 1980-1989. Bringin on the Heartbreak was huge for them in 81. Pyromania was epoch shattering. Hysteria carried them right on through to Adrenalize. That's a run nobody else tops.

That's true.  But they also had pretty big gaps between albums as well where nothing was going on.

True.  Def Leppard was mostly MIA on MTV from 1985 till later 1987 since they rarely played older videos once they ran their course except when they did best videos countdowns or rock blocks or stuff like that.