Rock (1980s) (Reference)

The reference list includes records that have been obtained and/or rated (in blue) as well as many other records that have been recommended from various sources.


ABC [1982– ]

The A-Bones [1988– ]

Paula Abdul (1962– )

Barry Adamson (1958– )

The Adolescents [1981– ]

Afghan Whigs [1988– ]

Age of Chance [1987–1990]

Agent Orange [1981– ]

The Alarm [1984–1991]

Alien Sex Fiend [1983– ]

All [1988–2000]

GG Allin (1956–93)

Marc Almond (1959– )

Alphaville [1984– ]

Altered Images [1981–1983]

Dave Alvin (1955– )

Phil Alvin (1953– )

American Music Club [1986–1995]

Laurie Anderson (1947– )

Thomas Anderson

Angry Samoans [1980–1988]

Anthrax [1984– ]

Antietam [1985– ]

Anti-Nowhere League [1982– ]

Steve Arrington (1956– )

Arsenal [1989–1990]

Art of Noise [1984– ]

Artists United Against Apartheid [1985– ]

Asia [1982– ]

Sweet Pea Atkinson (1945–2020)

Au Pairs [1981–1983]

Aztec Camera [1983– ]

Babyface (1959– )

Bad Brains [1982– ]

Bad Livers [1992– ]

Bad Religion [1982– ]

Philip Bailey (1951– )

Anita Baker (1958– )

Bananarama [1983– ]

The Bangles [1982–1988]

Lester Bangs (1949–82)

Bark Psychosis [1988– ]

Toni Basil (1950– )

The Bats [1984– ]

The Beakers [1980–1981]

The Beat Farmers [1985–1995]

Beat Happening [1983–1992]

The Beautiful South [1989– ]

Regina Belle (1964– )

Sandra Bernhard

Cindy Lee Berryhill

The Bevis Frond [1987– ]

Jello Biafra (1958– )

Big Audio Dynamite [1985– ]

Big Black [1983–1992]

Big Country

Big Head Todd and the Monsters [1989–1998]

Big Stick [1988– ]

Bim Skala Bim [1986– ]

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic [1984– ]

The Birthday Party [1980–1983]

Black Flag [1981–1986]

Blake Babies [1987–1991]

Blancmange [1982– ]

The Blasters [1980–1985]

Peter Blegvad

The Blow Monkeys [1984– ]

The Blue Nile [1984– ]

The Bluebells [1984–1992]

Blues Busters [1983–1986]

The BoDeans [1986– ]

Michael Bolton (1954– )

Bon Jovi [1984– ]

Bongwater [1988– ]

Boredoms [1988– ]

Boss Hog [1989– ]

Bow Wow Wow [1981–1983]

Boy George

Billy Bragg (1957– )

The Brains [1980–1982]

Edie Brickell (1966– )

Bobby Brown (1969– )

Julie Brown

Buffalo Tom [1989– ]

T Bone Burnett (1948– )

Bush Tetras

Butthole Surfers [1983– ]

David Byrne (1952– )

Chris Cacavas [1988– ]

Camper Van Beethoven [1985–1990]

Belinda Carlisle (1958– )

Paul Carrack (1951– )

Peter Case (1954– )

Nick Cave (1957– )

Celibate Rifles [1982– ]

Celtic Frost [1984– ]

Cerrone (1952– )

Exene Cervenka (1956– )

Chameleons UK [1983– ]

Champaign [1981–1991]

Change [1980– ]

Tracy Chapman (1964– )

The Chesterfield Kings [1983– ]

Billy Childish (1959– )

Toni Childs (1958– )

The Chills [1987– ]

China Crisis [1982– ]

Christian Death [1982– ]

Chumbawamba [1986– ]

The Church [1981– ]

The Circle Jerks [1981– ]

The Clean [1981– ]

Cleaners from Venus [1981–1990]

George Clinton (1940– )

Cocteau Twins [1982– ]

Lloyd Cole (1961– )

Edwyn Collins (1959– )

Phil Collins (1951– )

Colorblind James Experience [1987– ]

Shawn Colvin (1956– )

Comsat Angels [1980– ]

Concrete Blonde [1987– ]

The Connells [1986– ]

Loren Mazzacane Connors

Consolidated [1985– ]

Julian Cope (1957– )

Greg Copeland

Corrosion of Conformity [1983– ]

The Country Rockers [1989– ]

Cowboy Junkies [1986– ]

The Cows [1987– ]

The Creatures [1981– ]

Marshall Crenshaw (1953– )

Crime and the City Solution [1985– ]

Cristina (1956–2020)

Christopher Cross (1951– )

Crowded House [1986– ]

Julee Cruise (1956–2022)

The Cucumbers [1983–2004]

The Cult [1984–1995]

Culture Club [1982–1986]

Current 93 [1983– ]

Holger Czukay (1938– )

Dag Nasty [1986–1992]

Danny and Dusty [1985– ]

Terence Trent D'Arby (1962– )

David and David

Danielle Dax

Taylor Dayne (1962– )

The dB's [1981– ]

The Dead C [1987– ]

Dead Can Dance [1984– ]

The Dead Kennedys [1980–1991]

The Dead Milkmen [1985– ]

Dead Moon [1988–2006]

Death [1987– ]

DeBarge [1981–1985]

Chico DeBarge (1966– )

El DeBarge (1961– )

Def Leppard [1980– ]

Carmaig DeForest

Defunkt [1980– ]

Del Amitri [1985– ]

Delerium [1988– ]

The Del-Lords [1984– ]

The Dentists

Depeche Mode [1981– ]

Descendents [1981– ]

Dexy's Midnight Runners [1980– ]

DFX2

Dharma Bums [1989–1991]

Dicks [1980– ]

Died Pretty [1984– ]

Dinosaur Jr. [1987– ]

Dirty Looks [1980–1981]

Divinyls [1983– ]

Divine Horsemen [1984–1987]

Don Dixon (1950– )

D.O.A. [1980– ]

Thomas Dolby (1958– )

Anna Domino (1955– )

The Donner Party [1987– ]

Doves [1998– ]

Will Downing (1963– )

Dramarama [1985– ]

The Dream Syndicate [1982–1989]

Dream Theater [1989– ]

Drivin' n' Cryin' [1986– ]

Dumptruck [1983–1987]

Duran Duran [1981– ]

Sheila E. (1959– )

Echo and the Bunnymen [1980– ]

Bernard Edwards (1953–96)

Einstürzende Neubauten [1980– ]

Eleventh Dream Day [1988– ]

The Embarrassment [1979–1990]

The English Beat [1980–1983]

Erasure [1985– ]

ESG [1981–1991]

Melissa Etheridge (1961– )

E.U. [1986–1996]

Eurythmics [1981– ]

Everything but the Girl [1984– ]

The Ex [1980– ]

Exposé [1986– ]

Donald Fagen (1948– )

Jad Fair (1954– )

Faith No More [1985–1998]

Falco (1957–98)

Tav Falco (1945– )

The Fastbacks [1982– ]

The Fatima Mansions [1989– ]

Feedtime [1985–1989]

The Feelies [1980–1991]

Felt [1981– ]

F/i

The Fibonaccis [1981–1987]

Fine Young Cannibals [1985–1990]

Tim Finn (1952– )

Fishbone [1985– ]

The Fixx [1982– ]

The Flaming Lips [1985– ]

Flesh for Lulu [1984– ]

Flipper [1982– ]

A Flock of Seagulls [1982– ]

Foetus [1981– ]

Dredd Foole

Samantha Fox (1966– )

Fra Lippo Lippi [1984–1987]

Frankie Goes to Hollywood [1984– ]

French Frith Kaiser Thompson

Frightwig [1984–1995]

Front Line Assembly [1987– ]

Front 242 [1981– ]

Mitchell Froom

Fugazi [1988– ]

Fun Boy Three [1982– ]

Jimmy G. and the Tackheads

Galaxie 500 [1987–1991]

Game Theory [1982–1990]

Gang Green [1986– ]

GBH [1981– ]

Gear Daddies [1988–1994]

Bob Geldof (1954– )

Gene Loves Jezebel [1981– ]

General Public [1984– ]

The Georgia Satellites [1985–1989]

Giant Sand [1985– ]

Debbie Gibson (1970– )

Johnny Gill (1967– )

Girls Against Boys [1989– ]

Girlschool [1980– ]

The Godfathers [1986– ]

Godflesh [1988– ]

The Go-Go's [1981–1985]

The Golden Palominos [1983– ]

Goo Goo Dolls [1987– ]

Government Cheese [1985–1995]

The Grapes of Wrath [1986–1992]

Great Plains [1984–1987]

Green on Red [1982–1993]

Green River [1985–1988]

Guided by Voices [1987– ]

Gun Club [1981–1996]

Guns N' Roses [1986–1993]

Guy [1988– ]

GWAR [1988– ]

Half Japanese [1980– ]

Jimmy Hall

Hanoi Rocks [1981–1985]

Happy Mondays [1987–1992]

John Wesley Harding (1965– )

Jody Harris

Jerry Harrison (1949– )

Debbie Harry (1945– )

Corey Hart (1962– )

Grant Hart (1961–2017)

Bonnie Hayes

Haysi Fantayzee

Heaven 17 [1981– ]

Helmet [1989– ]

Nona Hendryx (1944– )

Don Henley (1947– )

Joe Henry (1960– )

Boo Hewerdine (1961– )

Howard Hewett (1955– )

Richard X. Heyman (1951– )

Peter Himmelman

Robyn Hitchcock (1953– )

Jools Holland

Jennifer Holliday (1960– )

Honeymoon Suite [1986– ]

Hoodoo Gurus [1983– ]

Bruce Hornsby (1954– )

The Horseflies [1987–1994]

Hose [1983– ]

A House [1988–1996]

The Housemartins [1986– ]

Whitney Houston (1963–2012)

Human Sexual Response [1980– ]

Hunters and Collectors [1983– ]

Hüsker Dü [1981–1987]

Billy Idol (1955– )

Imagination

Indeep

Incorporated Thang Band [1986–1988]

Indigo Girls [1986– ]

James Ingram (1956– )

Inspiral Carpets [1989– ]

INXS [1980– ]

Chris Isaak (1956– )

Isley Jasper Isley [1984–1987]

David J (1957– )

Freddie Jackson (1956– )

Janet Jackson (1966– )

Mick Jagger (1943– )

James [1984– ]

Colin James (1964– )

Jane's Addiction [1987–1991]

Jason and the Scorchers [1982– ]

The Jayhawks [1986– ]

Jellybean (1948– )

Jesus and Mary Chain [1985– ]

Jesus Jones [1989– ]

Jesus Lizard [1989–1999]

The Jet Set [1983–1988]

The Jets [1982– ]

Joan Jett (1960– )

Evan Johns (1955– )

Eric Johnson (1954– )

Daniel Johnston (1961–2019)

Glenn Jones

Marti Jones

Kajagoogoo [1983– ]

Katrina and the Waves [1983– ]

Kid Creole and the Coconuts [1980– ]

Killing Joke [1981– ]

King Missile [1987– ]

The Kingbees [1980–1982]

Kevin Kinney

Kix [1981–1995]

KMFDM [1986–1999]

The Knitters [1985– ]

Mark Knopfler (1949– )

Chris Knox (1952– )

Cub Koda (1948–2000)

Konk

Lenny Kravitz (1964– )

Laibach [1980– ]

Daniel Lanois

Cyndi Lauper (1953– )

The Leaving Trains [1984– ]

Legal Weapon

Legendary Pink Dots [1981– ]

Lemonheads [1987– ]

LeRoi Brothers [1983– ]

Let's Active [1983–1988]

LeVert [1985– ]

Lewis

Huey Lewis (1950– )

Lilac Time [1987– ]

Liliput [1980–1983]

David Lindley (1944–2023)

Arto Lindsay (1953– )

Linx [1981–1983]

Lio (1962– )

Liquid Liquid

Lisa

Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam [1985– ]

Living Colour [1988–1995]

Local Boys [1983– ]

Lone Justice [1985–1986]

The Long Ryders [1983– ]

Loop [1987– ]

The Lords of the New Church [1982–1986]

Love and Rockets [1985–1999]

Love of Life Orchestra [1980– ]

Love Tractor [1982–1989]

Loverboy [1980–1989]

L7 [1985–2000]

Gary Lucas (1952– )

Lunachicks [1989– ]

Lydia Lunch (1959– )

Lush [1989– ]

The Lyres [1981– ]

Kirsty MacColl (1959–2000)

Madonna (1958– )

Barbara Manning

Roger Manning

Marillion [1983– ]

Martha and the Muffins [1980– ]

Mary's Danish [1985–1992]

Nick Mason (1945– )

Material [1981– ]

Sarah McLachlan (1968– )

Malcolm McLaren (1946– )

Meat Puppets [1981– ]

The Meatmen [1982– ]

Mecca Normal [1983– ]

Megadeth [1983– ]

Men at Work [1981– ]

The Men They Couldn't Hang [1985– ]

The Mermen

Metallica [1983– ]

The Method Actors [1980–1981]

George Michael (1963– )

Michel'le

Midnight Star [1980– ]

Mike and the Mechanics [1985–1991]

Ministry [1981– ]

Kylie Minogue (1968– )

Minor Threat [1981–1984]

The Minutemen [1980–1986]

Miriodor [1984– ]

Missing Persons [1982–1986]

Mission of Burma [1980–1983]

The Mission UK [1986– ]

Mr. T Experience [1986– ]

Mofungo [1982–1989]

The Monochrome Set [1980– ]

Moondog

John Moore (1964– )

Michael Monroe (1960– )

Meli'sa Morgan

Junie Morrison

Morrissey (1959– )

Mother Love Bone [1989–1992]

Mötley Crüe [1981– ]

Bob Mould (1961– )

Mr. Big [1989– ]

Mudhoney [1988– ]

Peter Murphy (1957– )

My Bloody Valentine [1985– ]

Naked Raygun [1981–1991]

Napalm Death [1987– ]

Nastyfacts

Negativland [1980– ]

Ivan Neville (1959– )

New Age Steppers [1980– ]

New Edition [1983–1996]

New Model Army [1984– ]

New Order [1981– ]

Martin Newell (1953– )

Colin Newman (1954– )

Stevie Nicks (1948– )

Nightingales [1982– ]

Willie Nile (1949– )

Nine Inch Nails (1989– )

Nirvana [1989–1994]

Nitzer Ebb [1985– ]

Mojo Nixon (1957– )

NOFX [1988– ]

The Nomads

NoMeansNo [1984– ]

Klaus Nomi (1945–83)

Non-Fiction [1988–1992]

Billy Ocean (1950– )

Sinéad O'Connor (1966–2023)

The Offspring [1989– ]

Mary Margaret O'Hara

Oh-OK

Oingo Boingo

Alexander O'Neal (1953– )

Operation Ivy [1989–1990]

Orange Juice [1980–1984]

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark [1980– ]

Jim O'Rourke (1969– )

Jeffrey Osborne (1948– )

Ozzy Osbourne (1948– )

Oxbow [1989– ]

Ozric Tentacles [1984– ]

Jimmy Page (1944– )

Pajama Party [1989–1991]

Pantera

Vanessa Paradis

Charlie Peacock (1956– )

David Peaston

Pebbles (1966– )

Nia Peeples (1961– )

Michael Penn (1959– )

Pennywise [1989– ]

Peregrins [1989– ]

Perfect Disaster [1985–1990]

Steve Perry (1949– )

Persian Gulf [1984–1986]

Pet Shop Boys [1986– ]

Peter and the Test Tube Babies [1983– ]

Bob Pfeifer

P-Funk All-Stars [1982–1983]

Sam Phillips (1962– )

Phish [1988– ]

Pixies [1987–1991]

Pizzicato Five [1985– ]

Robert Plant (1948– )

The Plimsouls [1980–1983]

The Pogues [1984– ]

Poi Dog Pondering [1989– ]

Buster Poindexter [1987– ]

Poison [1983–1993]

The Pontiac Brothers [1985–1992]

The Pooh Sticks [1988– ]

Pop Will Eat Itself [1986–1996]

Pop-O-Pies [1982–1993]

Genesis P-Orridge (1950–2020)

The Posies [1988– ]

Pretenders [1980– ]

Prefab Sprout [1984–1990]

Primal Scream [1987– ]

The Primitives [1986–1989]

The Proclaimers [1987– ]

Prong [1987– ]

The Psychedelic Furs [1980– ]

Psychic TV [1982– ]

Pulnoc [1989– ]

Pulp [1983–2001]

The Pursuit of Happiness [1988– ]

Pussy Galore [1986–1990]

Queensrÿche [1984– ]

Robert Quine (1942– )

Rain Parade [1983–1986]

Lee Ranaldo (1956– )

Rank and File [1982–1987]

Rapeman [1988–1989]

The Rattlers [1979–1985]

The Rave-Ups [1985–1990]

Red Hot Chili Peppers [1984– ]

Red Lorry Yellow Lorry [1982– ]

Redd Kross [1980– ]

The Reducers [1984– ]

The Reivers [1985–1991]

R.E.M. [1982– ]

René and Angela

The Replacements [1981–1991]

Revolting Cocks [1986– ]

Keith Richards (1943– )

Lionel Richie (1949– )

Stan Ridgway

Will Rigby (1956– )

Cheryl Pepsii Riley

Rites of Spring

Robbie Robertson (1943–2023)

Rockpile [1979–1980]

Nile Rodgers (1952– )

Henry Rollins (1961– )

The Romantics [1980– ]

Romeo Void [1981–1984]

David Lee Roth (1955– )

Roxette [1986– ]

Royal Crescent Mob [1986– ]

Royal Trux [1988– ]

The Runaways [1976– ]

Sade (1959– )

Walter Salas-Humara

Joe Satriani (1956– )

Scandal

The Scene Is Now [1983– ]

Scraping Foetus off the Wheel [1984–1985]

Scratch Acid [1984–1987]

Scrawl [1987– ]

The Screaming Blue Messiahs [1984–1992]

Screaming Trees [1986–2000]

Screeching Weasel [1987– ]

Scritti Politti [1982– ]

Sebadoh [1989– ]

The Selecter [1980– ]

Sepultura [1986– ]

Brian Setzer (1959– )

Severed Heads [1983– ]

Phil Seymour (1952–93)

Billy Sheehan

Shockabilly [1983–1990]

Michelle Shocked (1962– )

Shonen Knife [1983– ]

Shop Assistants

Shriekback [1983– ]

Shrimp Boat [1986–1993]

Jane Siberry (1955– )

The Silos [1985– ]

Simply Red [1985– ]

Sisters of Mercy [1982– ]

The Skeletons [1987– ]

Skid Row [1989– ]

Skinny Puppy [1984– ]

Slayer [1983– ]

Slint [1989–1991]

T.V. Smith (1956– )

The Smithereens [1982– ]

The Smiths [1984–1987]

Snap [1987– ]

Snatches of Pink [1987– ]

Sneaker Pimps [1996– ]

Social Distortion [1983– ]

Soft Cell [1981–1985]

Jimmy Somerville (1961– )

Sonic Youth [1982– ]

SOS Band [1980–1991]

Soul Asylum [1984– ]

Soul II Soul [1989– ]

Souled American [1988– ]

Soundgarden [1987–1999]

The Soup Dragons [1988–1995]

Spacemen 3 [1986– ]

Spandau Ballet [1981– ]

Ronnie Spector (1947– )

Speed the Plough [1989– ]

The Speedboys

A Split Second [1987– ]

The Spongetones [1982– ]

Squirrel Bait [1985–1987]

Stacey Q (1958– )

Chris Stamey (1954– )

Dave Stewart (1952– )

Sting (1951– )

The Stone Roses [1987–1996]

Richard Strange

Syd Straw

Joe Strummer (1952–2002)

The Style Council [1983–1989]

Poly Styrene (1957–2011)

The Subdudes [1989– ]

The Suburbs [1980–1987]

Nikki Sudden

The Sugarcubes [1988–1992]

Suicidal Tendencies [1983– ]

Sun City Girls [1984– ]

Superchunk [1989– ]

Surface [1987– ]

Swans [1983– ]

Keith Sweat (1961– )

Matthew Sweet (1964– )

Swing Out Sister [1987– ]

David Sylvian (1958– )

Tackhead [1989–1990]

Talk Talk [1982– ]

Tall Dwarfs [1981– ]

The Teardrop Explodes [1980–1982]

Tears for Fears [1983– ]

Technotronic [1989– ]

Ten City

10,000 Maniacs [1982– ]

Texas Instruments [1987–1995]

That Petrol Emotion [1986– ]

The The [1981– ]

Thee Headcoats [1989– ]

Thelonious Monster [1987– ]

They Might Be Giants [1983– ]

Thinking Fellers Union Local #282 [1988– ]

This Mortal Coil [1983–1991]

David Thomas (1953– )

The Thompson Twins [1981– ]

Tracey Thorn (1962– )

The Three Johns [1983– ]

Throwing Muses [1984–1997]

Les Thugs [1985– ]

Tiffany (1971– )

Tanita Tikaram (1969– )

Til Tuesday [1985–1988]

Timbuk 3 [1986– ]

The Time [1981– ]

Sally Timms (1959– )

Tin Machine

Toad the Wet Sprocket [1989–1998]

The Toasters [1987– ]

Tom Tom Club [1981– ]

Tones on Tail [1983– ]

Tony Toni Toné [1988– ]

Too Much Joy [1987– ]

Liz Torres

The Tragically Hip [1987– ]

Transvision Vamp [1988–1991]

The Traveling Wilburys [1988–1990]

Triffids [1983– ]

Trio [1981–1985]

Tronics [1980– ]

Trotsky Icepick [1986–1994]

Trouble Funk [1981– ]

John Trudell (1946–2015)

The True Believers

True West [1983–1986]

The Trypes [1984– ]

TSOL [1981– ]

Moe Tucker

Ruby Turner

Tina Turner (1938– )

Tuxedomoon [1980– ]

22-Pistepirkko

24–7 Spyz [1988– ]

Twisted Sister [1982– ]

Ultra Vivid Scene [1988– ]

Unrest [1985– ]

Unsane [1989– ]

Midge Ure (1953– )

Urge Overkill [1986– ]

U2 [1980– ]

The Vandals [1989– ]

Luther Vandross (1951–2005)

The Vaselines [1986–1990]

Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954–90)

Vaughan Brothers [1990–1990]

Suzanne Vega (1959– )

Holly Beth Vincent

Violent Femmes [1982– ]

Virgin Prunes [1982–1986]

Voice of the Beehive [1987– ]

Voivod [1984– ]

Volcano Suns [1985– ]

Volebeats [1989– ]

The Vulgar Boatmen [1989–1995]

The Waitresses [1981–1983]

The Walkabouts [1984– ]

Wall of Voodoo [1980– ]

Was (Not Was) [1981– ]

The Waterboys [1981–1993]

Jody Watley (1959– )

Waxing Poetics [1987–1990]

The Wedding Present [1986– ]

Chuck E. Weiss (1952– )

Wham! [1983– ]

Karyn White (1965– )

Maurice White (1941– )

White Zombie [1986– ]

Barrence Whitfield (1955– )

Kim Wilde (1960– )

Webb Wilder

Vanessa Williams (1963– )

Victoria Williams (1959– )

Brian Wilson (1942– )

Winger [1988–1993]

The Wipers [1980– ]

Peter Wolf (1946– )

Wolfgang Press [1983– ]

Womack and Womack [1983– ]

Wonder Stuff [1988– ]

World Party [1987– ]

X [1980– ]

Yaz

Yo La Tengo [1986– ]

Paul Young (1956– )

Young Fresh Fellows [1984–1993]

Zapp

Zazou Bikaye

Various Artists


Introduction