Top 10 Alternative Bands of the 1980s

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This decade saw bands come out of the underground, add electronic elements to their sound and pave the way for the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 alternative bands of the 1980s.
New Order/ iTunes goo.gl/dN1Qqf Amazon goo.gl/BuFlTS
The Cure/ iTunes goo.gl/gpgbPx Amazon goo.gl/CHbfru
INXS/ iTunes goo.gl/jJ8Uoq Amazon goo.gl/8ms2TF
Simple Minds/ iTunes goo.gl/pwJQnd Amazon goo.gl/e2TGkx
Hüsker Dü/ iTunes goo.gl/EZlXZy Amazon goo.gl/bnPCUG
Pixies/ iTunes goo.gl/EJ9ljD Amazon goo.gl/dEqhfW
Cutting Crew/ iTunes goo.gl/sTFAkZ Amazon goo.gl/C198YS
Eurythmics/ iTunes goo.gl/HGjjm3 Amazon goo.gl/dbjznm
The Replacements/ iTunes goo.gl/zl0htt Amazon goo.gl/3puK3g
Talking Heads/ iTunes goo.gl/ysBIKD Amazon goo.gl/Hvcu6a
The Go-Go's/ iTunes goo.gl/RRDpxG Amazon goo.gl/9Thj1F
Depeche Mode/ iTunes goo.gl/MUTzs9 Amazon goo.gl/21K4GD
The Smiths/ iTunes goo.gl/F4zq2g Amazon goo.gl/lR8SuZ
R.E.M./ iTunes goo.gl/THm9PE Amazon goo.gl/Q7UDhS
Tears for Fears/ iTunes goo.gl/qQanIg Amazon goo.gl/IRYQYC
This is part of a series of videos spanning the decades of alternative rock music from the 1970s to the 2000s, and includes our lists of the Top 10 Alternative Bands of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s as well as the Top 10 Punk Bands and Top 10 Grunge Bands. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 alternative bands of the 1980s. Special thanks to our users akt, scsvlogs and ninjakittycat1423 for submitting the idea on our Suggest Page at WatchMojo.com/suggest!
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[@jchdroid2]

1:18 - Simple Minds 2:10 - Pixies 3:35 - Eurythmics 4:45 - New Order 5:58 - Talking Heads 7:06 - The Smiths 8:20 - Tears for Fears 9:25 - R.E.M. 10:45 - Depeche Mode 11:52 - INXS 11:58 - Husker Du 12:01 - Cutting Crew 12:11 - The Replacements 12:16 - The Go-Go's 12:25 - The Cure

[@rajeevkaushek7370]

U2?

[@pe6921]

@@rajeevkaushek7370 Exactly- duh.

[@j.b.abraham4175]

I love that Depeche Mode, The Smiths, New Order and The Cure were listed. I was just sad that Siouxsie and the Banshees weren't on the list. They're my favorite.

[@jeremybaumeister8983]

Sioixie and the Banshees. Sisters Of Mercy. Psychedelic Furs. Jesus and Mary Chain

[@FFM0594]

70's stuff like Siouxsie Sioux?

[@CraigandJane1]

Jeremy Baumeister hell yeah. Peek-a-boo!

[@patrickcannady2066]

@@FFM0594 SATB's 1980s catalog: Kaleidoscope, 1980. Juju, one of SATB's most successful and interesting albums, was released in 1981. A Kiss in the Dream House and Nocturne were both released in 1983. Hyaena, 1984. Tinderbox, 1986. Through the Looking Glass, 1987. Peepshow, 1988. That's 8 releases, some of them pretty meaty in terms of musical sophistication, songwriting, and production values...in 8 years, all while touring constantly and with some personnel changes. It's true they released a couple of albums in the 70s, good ones, but that doesn't mean that they were a 70s band exclusively or that they were anything like a mainstream success until later in the 80s...

[@sarahmilitaria2478]

Jeremy Baumeister skinny puppy and alien sex fiend and so many more

[@patrickcannady2066]

@@FFM0594 Siouxsie was active throughout the 80s, and the Banshees 1980-1986 were a vastly superior band to the 70s version

[@Yankenzi]

for me its Depeche Mode, The Cure, R.E.M and The Smiths

[@erindaniel2310]

The smiths number one on that list bet yea agreed

[@90srule96]

Hard to argue with that, though I’d put The Smiths higher, unless you’re doing no particular order.

[@rarefind57]

R.E.M. at the top if a number one is required

[@Kevin-gc2ho]

And Sonic Youth : ))

[@rachelebert4941]

New order as well

[@madting8082]

ALL I EVER WANTED ALL I EVER NEEDED IS HERE IN MY ARMS

[@timtheguy2179]

WORDS ARE VERY UNNECESSARY THEY CAN ONLY DO HARM

[@riskydigitsta1794]

VOWS ARE SPOKEN TO BE BROKEN

[@rifll]

FEELINGS ARE INTENSE WORDS ARE TRIVIAL PLEASURES REMAIN SO DOES THE PAIN

[@skofron]

What! Echo and the Bunneymen didn't even score an honorable mention?

[@patrickcannady2066]

i know, it's a travesty

[@jameshenderson2863]

The best of the lot. God, they were brilliant from 78-85. And Eurythmics? Alternative?? Mkay.

[@applejacks2]

Their honourable mentions were atrocious imho.

[@danielgallacher8040]

This confused me so much lol

[@levisguy53]

and cutting crew did! seriously threw me for a loop.

[@larrymcgillicutty]

Sonic Youth, XTC, Camper Van Beethoven, Violent Femmes, They Might Be Giants, Love and Rockets, Bauhaus, Ministry, and I haven't touched on the Punk bands.

[@anthonysaunders345]

Excellent examples.

[@ellesamuse]

Love your list.

[@finality42069]

larrymcgillicutty THANK YOU! Who even calls Ramones, the creators of PUNK, alternative?

[@finality42069]

Andre Underwood husker du is at honorable mentions.

[@dats3]

Man, I want your playlist.

[@herowinsor7403]

I would have been so angry if The Cure wasn't in there. The Cure and Depeche Mode are the best bands ever!

[@sadiequiroz6406]

HW TheFoehammer AGREEEEE!!!!!!!

[@bicyclist2]

Agreed!

[@rachaelroessler9978]

I agree!!!

[@erindaniel2310]

Ok don’t get mad but I’m a smiths girl myself but the cure are good the smiths are just the greatest band that has ever existed

[@izetyusein3323]

@@erindaniel2310 I fucking love The Smiths, but I'm divided on Morrissey. On the one hand, Morrissey is an excellent frontman and incredible songwriter, and he is a huge fan of The New York Dolls which I also have to give him huge credit for, but on the other hand, his controversial statements and pretentious behaviour have gone way too far.

[@anyak1446]

Depeche Mode... My #1 band ever.... Even when I'm a grunge bands fan.

[@nicktinsley7779]

Can't beat SOFAD... Dave is HOT AS FUCK even in his heroin daze...

[@leonardonavarro2268]

Anya K sixz!€)(&!!-€€€€9ª3&.&.&€&::&99997€€&99988888887

[@TheDirectMessenger88]

+Nick Tinsley YES

[@razzirae5536]

Anya K I love depeche and the cure

[@carstenkjrulff5533]

Depeche Mode 4ever

[@WatchMojo]

Stay tuned for the rest of our Greatest Alternative Bands Series this week: Monday: Top 10 Punk Bands (REDUX) Tuesday: Top 10 Alternative Bands of the 1980s Wednesday: Top 10 Alternative Bands of the 1990s & Top 10 Grunge Bands (REDUX) Thursday: Top 10 Alternative Bands of the 2000s Friday: Top 10 Alternative Bands of All Time

[@Radiofacetheotherz]

Doritos of justice and virginaty

[@benvlam9451]

***** ACDC is not alt

[@mrhf1993]

Top ten animated dreamworks movies

[@dftmmwgitd]

that top 10 alt 2000 list will be painful.

[@dftmmwgitd]

knowing them. there are good bands but they will choose the click five.

[@pinkertonisbetterthanblue9096]

The Cure deserves #1 so much, amazing band in every way.

[@gmantramp404]

They're a 70, s act

[@zackzallie8735]

@@gmantramp404 Started in the 70's, but acclaimed and popular in the 80's.

[@thequeenofsiam]

@@gmantramp404 in the seventies they only released three imaginary boys album (1979)

[@gmantramp404]

@@thequeenofsiam killing an arab 1978 1st single on small wonder records and reissued on fiction 👍 same with Simple Minds 70,s act and made it in the early 80 s 👍

[@thescottishcrusader2781]

1) Depeche Mode 2) The Smiths 3) The Cure 4) REM 5) U2 6) Talking Heads 7) Tears for fears 8) New Order/Joy division 9) Echo and the Bunnymen 10) Stone Roses Hon. mentions: Happy Mondays, Psychedelic Furs, Devo

[@thescottishcrusader2781]

New wave and synthpop are not the only sub-genres of alternative music

[@sadiequiroz6406]

DUDE TALKING HEADS LOVE THEM!!!!!

[@sadiequiroz6406]

THE CURE IS THE BEST, DEPECHE MODE LOVE ENJOY THE SILENCE, THE SMITHS, NEW ORDER MY FAV BANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@FragmentedR_YT]

Pamela Sloane-Bradbury U2 being called alternative is definitely debatable, but the first three albums are (at the very least) very influenced by post punk, which would be considered alternative. However, considering that they were the biggest band (that wasn’t hair metal) in the 80s, I’m still reluctant to call them alternative, although compared to the sound of that time, their music technically would be.

[@thescottishcrusader2781]

@Fragmented R yeah I added them because of the sound but they definitely were massive and Bono is filthy rich

[@user7351]

I grew up listening to Depeche Mode and The Cure. Thanks Dad!

[@michaelsparling4152]

Same

[@ellafalcon1777]

Same

[@calebdickerson2003]

You’re welcome son

[@No_one_ig]

Same! My dad got me into Depeche Mode and I don’t think I’ll ever stop listening to them.😂😂

[@jjmanzano9]

That is abuse. I will call CPS on your father.

[@Wilde-Blume]

The 80's have spawned too many great bands to classify them into top 10 video!

[@DeadAngel14]

Yeah totally agree. It was the best time for music.

[@TGIFurry]

This is about the most influential. That can be tackled.

[@patrickcannady2066]

@@DeadAngel14 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, too. If I EVER hear "PYT" or "Thriller" again it will be too soon.

[@stevealcorn7599]

Agreed! WAT TOO MANY!!! The 80's was a whirlwind of great bands!!!

[@kristinb8172]

Absolutely. Although personally I agree with the top 2 on this list. Depeche Mode and The Cure influenced my life like no other music.

[@therobotdevil2284]

Every hipster dude out there today is trying to look like Morrissey lol.

[@anthonysaunders345]

Except the unibrow.

[@patrickcannady2066]

Well, Morrissey ca 1987, anyway. Dude got old.

[@therobotdevil2284]

@@patrickcannady2066 that's for sure! He got old fast

[@sergioobetgmail5690]

So?

[@therobotdevil2284]

@@sergioobetgmail5690 hey I ain't complainin ;D

[@ap-ql3os]

How the hell are The Smiths #5 behind Tears for Fears and REM???

[@azynkron]

Because they pull shit out of their arses to create lists.. that's all they do.

[@ap-ql3os]

BadTrip I thought this list was bad, but the "top 10 alternative bands of all time" list is even worse. Watch Mojo needs to stick to today's shitty music.

[@deadeye4520]

I 100% agree and was going to post the exact same comment. The Smiths should be #1. As many others have mentioned, Echo and the Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, and Siouxsie and the Banshees should all be listed. And honestly, an argument could be made for Joy Division.

[@ricardolopezhurtado8431]

R.E.M. were the boosters of alternative, they contributed to create one face of the 80’s music, so they deserve number 3 or even number 2

[@Hellwyck]

The Smiths were on Mainstream radio, REM not so much.

[@Davidwash3r3]

Um...what about Sonic Youth?

[@candimccann]

They didn't sign with a major label until 1990

[@Davidwash3r3]

***** Neither did the Smiths, yet they are on the list. Why not Sonic Youth? That's quintessential (I probably misspelled that bite me) Alt rock!

[@candimccann]

Davidwash3r3 I bet they'll be in the one for the 90's...that's when they toured with lollapalooza

[@Davidwash3r3]

***** Meh...I guess

[@GlassMufasa]

Thumps up for Don Karnage.

[@AlaskanGirlLRB]

Ah yes. The Cure

[@eliasstubbs8839]

INXS is one of my favourite bands

[@patrickcannady2066]

That's nice, and they were pretty good for a pop band. They were not alternative in any sense of the word, that is, they had backing from a big record company almost from the start, with access to top 40 radio.

[@cobbler88]

Exactly! Because the band ELIAS likes does not fall within the parameters specific to PATRICK, INXS cannot possibly be considered an alt band, regardless of the band having its own sound throughout it's career and the fact that its very early stuff sounds as empty and sterile as early Cure and Banshees. I wonder if it qualifies as irony that the alt people go all "no true Scotsman" at the drop of a hat.

[@tomatenmark2679]

My favorite Band / Singer was Heino from Germany , but he dont play alternative songs :(

[@heavymetalcompilations4784]

Elias Stubbs same

[@cwelite1243]

@@patrickcannady2066 they were more alt then most of these bands on this list

[@Sal.Manila]

DEVO? The B-52’s? Adam and the Ants??

[@krschimmel]

and the femmes? or are they punk not alternative

[@colusaboy]

Where the fuck is DEVO?

[@patrickcannady2066]

@@krschimmel it is possible to be both...alternative merely means "outside the usual mainstream bullshit" but can mean any style as long as it's not Top 40, Casey Kasem and Dick Clark never heard of them, and you had to go to tune in to an underpowered college radio station to hear it at all

[@zeitok8]

ricky martin

[@patrickcannady2066]

@@krschimmel The Femmes are a genre UNTO themselves...

[@crweaver987]

Echo and the Bunnymen Psychedelic Furs Bauhaus Love and Rockets

[@noodoo19]

And WHERE THE FUCK is JAPAN?!

[@anthonysaunders345]

Echo and the Bunnymen and Psychedelic Furs were New Wave. New Wave was mainstream.

[@midwayer11]

Shutup

[@anthonysaunders345]

@@midwayer11 That's all you have to say? How Eloquent.

[@midwayer11]

Anthony Saunders what can I say? I’m a wordsmith. Lol

[@vfaco]

No Siouxsie and the Banshees?? All your lists lies in dust!!!

[@lioneljonson4162]

vfaco i see what you did there

[@ChrisInTheNorth]

More seen as a 70s band maybe? Based on formation and influences? I guess that could be true of the Cure Too though

[@slayed8951]

I see you haha

[@lewisdsd]

TRUE

[@patrickcannady2066]

they were children in the 70s; their best work was 1980-1986

[@pearsecobb6168]

The top four should be, 1. The Smiths 2. The Cure 3. Talking Heads 4. New Order

[@uriharel6849]

What about pixies

[@pearsecobb6168]

@@uriharel6849 Yeah, replace New Order should be replaced by pixies

[@thebrowncasanova1017]

The Cure are better than the smiths

[@robertowens2799]

Swap the The Smiths and The Cure and we have a deal!

[@riskydigitsta1794]

I’d say 1. Depeche Mode 2. The Cure 3. New Order 4. The Smiths

[@j0hnn13K]

Talk Talk deserved to be in the list too, if only a honorable mention. But non the less, a good top 10

[@piotrr4097]

They are usually being ovelooked. Too bad...

[@TheBSideDJ]

such a shame....

[@jonatasvitalino5708]

Talk Talk is top 3.

[@scottnicklas9809]

No Cocteau Twins? For shame.

[@karlkuttup]

aka this mortal coil and allso stereo lab

[@patrickcannady2066]

I know, it's shameful.

[@eppursimuove6426]

My all-time favorite band. Can't get more alternative than them.

[@Phlinn96]

Oh man, the fucking Pixies should be way higher. They are by far one of, if not the most influential alt rock band of all time. Nirvana, Radiohead, The Strokes, U2 have been hugely influenced by the pixies. Hell, Weezer's first two albums (the only ones that don't fucking suck) Sound like Pixies albums. They should be in the top 3 at least. Also, where the fuck is sonic youth and dinosaur jr?

[@ryandschmidt4636]

They put Sonic Youth on the Top 10 GRUNGE Bands list. Fucking stupid, right?

[@leob4403]

They're influental in that they're a typical "hipster" band, that doesn't mean that they're good, and in fact they're not, Pixies are shit. If you listen to Nirvana, Radiohead, Strokes and U2 you hear REAL songs, there's no influence from Pixies at all, since pretty much all their songs are useless rambling noise shit.

[@nice-guyhunter4013]

Leo B Cuz fuck opinions, right?

[@Phlinn96]

Leo B The pixies are fucking fantastic who don't have a single bad record, and how the fuck are they a hipster band? They aren't at all inaccessible or hard to listen to. And you're a fucking idiot if you think that Nirvana doesn't have any influence from the pixies. The Quiet/ Loud dynamic was pioneered by the pixies, and nirvana takes extreme influence from them. Structurally and musically nirvana sounds the exact same as them, but with more punk, hard rock, and metal influences. Kurt Cobain said himself that smells like teen spirit was in his mind a ripoff of the pixies. Thom yorke also said himself that the pixies changed his life. You can't really hear a pixies influence on their post OK computer work, but it's extremely obvious on both the bends and OK computer, as the quiet/loud dynamic is extremely present. It's fine to not like the pixies, but you are a fucking moron who doesn't know shit about music if you deny their massive influence on all forms of modern rock from the 90's to current day. The Pixies were not a hugely commercially successful band, but extremely influential. This includes bands such as king crimson, My bloody valentine, and the velvet underground. They didn't sell much, but the records they did sell made everyone who listened to them start a new band.

[@thebasedgodmax1163]

OutoftheblueNinja Only Blue Album and Pinkerton are good? That's wrong. Green, EWBAITE and White are good.

[@JimmyOlsson]

Great list. Some more personal favourites: Dexys Midnight Runners, Franky Goes To Hollywood, B-52's, Soft Cell, Communards, Bronski Beat, Midnight Oil, Ultravox, Howard Jones, Human League and Men At Work. The 80's was a beast of a decade when it comes to music. Best decade to grow up! :)

[@williamking3583]

Duran Duran, echo and the Bunnymen also

[@brendancavin1515]

Cure 100% deserves #1!

[@derrick180]

B-ROLL Studios hell yeah they do. They’re the best band in this list

[@antonytye3484]

Nice to see Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears getting a bit of credit, they are criminally underrated, and people see them as girly new wave bands, but they are more than that, longevity and variety is the key, good music ahead of image.

[@barbarawhisenant750]

I agree 100% with you!

[@alexestrada6411]

Depeche Mode should be #1. Black Celebration and Music for the Masses are absolute masterpieces

[@olivierrorif6028]

no way the cure > depeche mode !! :p

[@DeadAngel14]

I love depeche mode but no.

[@jbgra2566]

Depeche Mode is better

[@DeadAngel14]

@@jbgra2566 honestly I can't choose between them as they are both one's of my favourite (I'm even playing Everything counts right now lol) but I meant to say that the cure had more impact than depeche mode as far as I believe.

[@quinnmullen5601]

I agree

[@jasonholland8232]

A list of the 80's made by people who were never there

[@anthonysaunders345]

'Tis true. I was there listening to the tunes and going to the concerts. I can tell you firsthand what was mainstream.

[@fkovacs1]

THANK YOU.

[@colusaboy]

you nailed it. I'm 53. They weren't even a gleam in a fetus's eye.

[@patrickcannady2066]

@@colusaboy I would say they weren't even a glint in the UPS delivery man's eye...

[@colusaboy]

@@patrickcannady2066 :D

[@JuanRamirez-rj5ws]

Real list of most important alternative bands from the 80s: 1. The Cure 2. The Smiths 3. The Clash 4. Joy Division / New Order 5. Talking Heads 6. U2 7. Depeche Mode 8. Siouxsie and the Banshees 9. Pixies 10. R.E.M. Honorable Mentions: Sonic Youth, Devo, Cocteau Twins, Talk Talk, The Cars, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Public Image Ltd, Blondie, Elvis Costello, Echo & the Bunnymen, Tears for Fears, Husker Du, The Chameleons, Violent Femmes, B-52s, The Replacements, Simple Minds, Bauhaus, Soft Cell

[@simpexxturquoise2276]

omg i love u

[@EIFFELTOUR1]

I like everyone you picked. In the 80's what I never got sick of and still like. DM, U2 , Phil Collins.Talk Talk, The Psychedelic Furs, Tear for Fears, Simple Minds,The Cure, DD,The Police, Journey, The Fixx and almost anything they played on Miami Vice

[@dddux]

Yes, great bands. Not alternative though. Just like the most of this list. I don't think people understand what a great *alternative* band is. A band that is first and foremost not pop, and it influenced other bands a great deal.

[@skippysaurio]

Phill Collins, is from the 70's!

[@rimmel65]

How to forget Echo and the bunnymen??

[@AaronT04]

+Lily Bowie yess psychedelic furs

[@Target_Buster]

New wave is such a incredible and vast genre that's impossible to incorporate all the great bands in a list.

[@originalfallinggirl]

Yessssss!

[@drunkvegangal8089]

.....Souxsie? Where are you? Jesus and Mary Chain? Talk Talk?

[@ianlikesguitars]

[@graffitiwomen]

Wait, and the 1st Cure song they play is from the 90's? Why?

[@jeremyc9593]

Why does that matter? The list is about bands, not individual songs.

[@patrickcannady2066]

IKR?

[@smoshbooz]

@@jeremyc9593 about bands in a certain decade, they just could have put in any of the billion other songs from the 80's the Cure has

[@jeremyc9593]

@@smoshbooz They could have, but technically what they did was fine. I mean, they did explain it right at the beginning of The Cure's bit.

[@zaknaifen193]

Duran Duran? OMD? Thompson twins? Violent Femmes? Souixsie and the banshees? Psychedelic Furrs? Pet Shop Boys? Erasure? It's hard to imagine a few of those are not in the top 10.

[@sadiequiroz6406]

zaknaifen193 THOMPSON TWINS OMD DURAN DURAN!!!!!!!

[@marito242]

How the fuck Duran Duran is alternative?

[@tmlodzik]

@@marito242 compare to CC Catch is...............:)

[@davidbaros8120]

marito242 .. alternative music wasn’t a term used to describe New Wave music back in the day.

[@robbie007]

The majority of this list - ARE NOT INDIE. I'd allow Violent Femmes, Souixsie and the banshees and Psychedelic Furrs. The others are mainstream 80s and would never be associated to INDIE.

[@Tintintintin666]

I'm 16 and I prefer all of these over everything on the radio today, I listen to the new order , joy division , nirvana tapes on a old Walkman I found in my parents garage

[@GUnitSeanAKAmong]

Congratulations?

[@thomasogrady4658]

I agree and I'm 5

[@mgrd1118]

Thomas O'Grady Liar !

[@KevonMD]

I thought this youngster pride of musical taste stopped being a trend long ago. Welcome to 2014, were no one cares. And i'm 9.

[@MattWeismiller1994]

too bad im cooler than you. im 5

[@dmitriymode1156]

Depeche Mode is number one, they were far ahead of time in 80s and not only in 80s

[@zachariahlloyd6043]

I will give DM this one.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaXTkqRobJKJbZI, but this was 97 so.... However, that is about as far as I can go to credit them as a rockin band really!!

[@fabthefab75]

@ Zachariah Lloyd : Rock band? Well you missed the point obviously. I have on my drive nearly 800 bands claiming their source and influence is Depeche Mode. Can't beat tthat.

[@DibIrken]

Hmmm..I have both Depeche Mode and The Cure. I like The Cure better. Personal preference.

[@charlie172011]

Talking Heads

[@ciN713]

They were not Alt, they were pop! (edit typo)

[@michaelgraves9462]

I absolutely love this decade...... And I'm also a fanatic Depeche Mode fan. 😎😎😎😎

[@jamesmoffett135]

Depeche mode is my all time favorite band

[@barbarawhisenant750]

Right on…👍🏻

[@junosynth]

New Order, Pet Shop Boys, The Cure and Depeche Mode should be top 4 hands down. For their talent, longevity and consistency of good music throughout their careers. These 4 are the best of the best as far as I'm concerned and some of them still make music today.

[@dystopia9662]

Where's Sonic Youth?

[@patrickcannady2066]

absolutely. Too much pop on this list

[@amedeo29]

Agreed. Simple Minds had one hit, what the hell are they doing on any top ten list? And how does Cutting Crew get an honorable mention without Sonic Youth getting mentioned? Whose ever sited Cutting Crew as an influence?? A real honorable mention would be Concrete Blonde or Bauhaus. Cutting Crew.... good grief.

[@JaeLCR13]

They were more of an underground band until the next decade. This list seems primarily focused on bands that had significant mainstream success during the 80s

[@tihomir7]

Yes, most of them are pop, but there can be hundred of most popular alternative bands

[@dom318]

exactly what I was thinking, their influence and importance is far more important than a lot of other bands on this list.

[@xdeadbeatboi6666x]

My Top 10 Best Alternative Bands Of The 80s 1.R.E.M. 2.The Smiths 3.Hüsker Dü 4.New Order 5.The Cure 6.The Replacements 7.Pixies 8.Depeche Mode 9.Cocteau Twins 10.INXS Honorable Mentions Echo And The Bunnymen The Jesus And Mary Chain U2 Big Black

[@danielburkeodonoghue7478]

*top band of all time -REM

[@360wnr]

no talking heads? they're awesomely creative

[@xdeadbeatboi6666x]

Riko van der Helm Oops Sorry about that. I love Talking Heads too it just that they're more new wave to me more than alternative but they could be a Influence on alternative rock.

[@360wnr]

Hmm fair enough, but new wave is imo just alternative music inspired by bands such as sex pistols, buzzcocks and joy division. Oh and depeche mode is quite a new wave band imo

[@xdeadbeatboi6666x]

Riko van der Helm That's fair too.

[@howiedewin3688]

Who wishes we could relive the 80's? Dam that was good!

[@HenryFrederick]

The Cure, Depeche Mode, When In Rome, Information Society, Tears for Fears, Tom Tom Club, Marcy's Playground, Smashing Pumpkins, REM, Duran Duran... BTW, I am an avid snorkeler: Florida Keys, Bahamas, Barbados, though haven't been in a few years since undergoing life-saving surgery for a massive aorta aneurysm... I was born in 1962, so the '80s and 90s were the formative years of my life as a young adult and music was a big part of it...

[@suljaard]

@Mike Marron Yeah, the first 2 albums

[@suljaard]

@Mike Marron Yeah, I know. That's why I said "according to this list" (in my comment)... But anyway more alternative than Wham shit, right? Never the less, I loved the first 2 of DD, and I still have them. By the way, Smashing Pumpkins were the 90's.. :-D

[@CraftySouthpaw]

Also, The Smithereens.

[@jgfunk]

I can't take a top alternative band list seriously if it doesn't contain the Smiths, the Pixies or Talking Heads.

[@sadiequiroz6406]

I listen to all of these bands love em

[@fluffyduffy1348]

Just waiting on a top 10 The Cure songs now.....

[@kostajovanovic3711]

+Robert Rattler #1 lullaby

[@NickyDiamond44]

Talking Heads #1 by far. I’m disappointed I’m not seeing more support for them in the comments. They’re an unbelievable band.

[@shirotokuno9429]

I definitely love them and this comment

[@MGM1105]

I agree. Heads and The Smiths. Eurythmics and INXS, for instance, are pop bands IMHO

[@coopdawg7203]

Talking heads started as alt but later they were definitely pop rock

[@j_delay4691]

Agreed 100%

[@ineternalsuffering791]

Depeche mode is #1

[@zackzallie8735]

80s bands are so good, bro!! DM is the one I always repeat.

[@purplekiss7834]

My boys got #1. I'm satisfied.

[@mrheisemberg2]

what? the Depeche Mode is the first band, they are still here and sing and song again, their latest album is Spirit of 2017

[@doro4692]

MrHeisemberg 2 YOU SAID IT !

[@YouTubeandI]

IT'S NOT FRIDAY BUT I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH THE CURE❤️❤️❤️

[@thegamingalien5476]

Kinda think The Smiths should have been higher on the list.

[@ianheaver3217]

Yes at Number one!

[@deadeye4520]

#1 indeed!

[@CraftySouthpaw]

Agreed, at least in the top 3.

[@VinylGirlRocksxxxxx]

2nd behind The King.....Mark E Smith.

[@achair650]

1# for sure

[@carlosaraujo3664]

Hey!!!! Wait a moment! Where is Siouxsie and The Banshees, Echo & The Bunnymen and Cocteau Twins ?🤔🤔

[@tylerharaf5901]

Cocteau twins will prolly be 90s because of Heaven and Las Vegas

[@mugurstefan68]

What about SIOUXSIE and The Banshees ? Aren't they not enough alternative ?

[@zachariahlloyd6043]

This is a 1980s list, not a 1970s list....

[@BartAlder]

@@zachariahlloyd6043 This is a list of almost entirely mainstream 80's pop music not alternative 80's music.

[@ellafalcon1777]

Siouxsie was an 80s alternative band, the banshees belong on this list

[@DigitalShark99]

This entire video is mis-labeled -- these bands were 1980s "New Wave" bands. The term "Alternative Rock" was not widely used until the 1990s.

[@christianjamesguevarra6257]

@@DigitalShark99 new wave is a broad genre which includes 80s synthpop and mid-late 80s alternative bands like Smiths, REM, Pixies, Psychdelic furs, etc.

[@atomheartmothersuite7913]

The Stone Roses? They only had one album in the 1980s but still absolutey owned it

[@bvaljalo]

It was an absolutely stellar record, but it's only one. They don't make the list, that's fair. But honorable mention above CUTTING CREW, for SURE.

[@natalimora2504]

Depeche Mode always!

[@roydean1137]

I think Yahzoo should have been an honorable mention. "Upstairs at Eric's" is one of my favorite albums.

[@ndx2k]

Y'know what I hate? People who can't tell the difference between facts and opinion. WatchMojo are stating their OPINION, not facts, calm down.

[@o.binwheelie9733]

Barvoucher Bizzle Watchmojo doesn't have an opinion, they have no mind. They just try to please as many people as possible with their mediocre, inoffensive top 10 lists to get views. They literally can't even be bothered to write any new script or find new clips for the lists with overlapping content. And if you tell me I'm stupid for watching them and why don't I just find better things to do, You're right. I don't know. I'm fucking bored.

[@WardenKaz]

Your preaching to the choir brother

[@TonyJOKTony]

Opinions are biases. I posted my biases opinions on this list. I don't agree with most of WatchMojo's views, but Nolan is right.

[@chellacasselli210]

How are U2 and The Psychedelic Furs not on this list?

[@RadioLaPrincess]

+Chella Casselli the omissions are odd.

[@jasonmatteson9909]

Or Pet Shop boys?

[@RealZeboTroob]

Probably because u2 started in the 70s

[@unconsidered1]

+Chella Casselli I think they see U2 as Arena Rock

[@andreiivanov874]

The Cure as well

[@bicyclist2]

This is the soundtrack to my youth. Your #2 Depeche Mode is my all time favorite band. Thanks.

[@nielrohlinger4954]

As a Cure fan, I am deeply satisfied with their results.

[@LFCJoseph]

The Stone Roses not even an honourable mention. Fucking madness.

[@o.binwheelie9733]

Richard Keys In fairness, they didn't release that much. Granted, this list has Tears for Fears at #4, so I'm not defending anyone.

[@LFCJoseph]

Bin Wheely True, but their first album is easily in the top 30 ever made, that alone should warrant them a place.

[@davidlindsay9564]

first LP wasn't til 89.

[@TheMrKlump]

Nice list I may say although I expected Depeche mode to be number 1 and I would've liked to see The Smiths higher up.

[@jaydanto]

Totally agree my man!!!

[@HadeesHeart]

Smiths & Pixies should've been higher. Tears & Eurythmics are great and all but they just can't live up to what the other bands have relased - but they DO still deserve to be on this list.

[@KongKat]

The Smiths number 1 thank you :)

[@al_6229]

1 Depeche Mode 2 The Smiths 3 The cure

[@Knightstorm12]

I saw the Pixies last Summer as they opened for Weezer....it was an awesome concert

[@monicamason3414]

Still a fan of Simple Minds (more current albums as well), Eurythmics, New Order, Tears For Fears (Top 10 for me of bands of my youth), Depeche Mode (liked them and now in my 40's love them), Inxs wore out several cassettes before getting them on CD, Cutting Crew has that one song that I never get tired of, The Cure were alright, but just fell in love with their greatest hits and have it on repeat currently.

[@al_6229]

3: the cure 2: the smiths 1: Depeche mode

[@stormygrayblue]

I agree with Depeche Mode and Cure absolutely and I'm sure most people viewing this love the Smith's, but I really find them dull and I can't listen to them. And I am a huge fan of British alternative bands.

[@adip_6075]

me _ your list is way better

[@punk.n.disorderly4322]

me _ no..the cure takes it hands down

[@rainbowrotcod]

Yes!!!

[@Blueboy-zf9js]

Great list here I agree almost 100%

[@rlinders9972]

Cutting Crew is in no way an alternative bands.

[@jonasc.5910]

Or that influential

[@PeterPan-dz7mu]

I can't judge, I only ever heard one of their songs. The one in the video. What a coincidence!

[@BartAlder]

I much prefer a bit of the old @@jonasc.5910.

[@miked3168]

They were just garbage.... this site is smoking crack when they make their lists

[@AdamG1983]

Agreed... it's like saying Maroon 5 is an alt rock band

[@pimpfnick8116]

Sooooo are we saying U2 were not alternative??? Depeche Mode should be #1 on this list. Where are they: Pet Shop Boys Erasure OMD Echo Furs Cutting Crew?????? Might as well put Men Without Hats then

[@agw8142]

This 👏 guy👏under👏stands👏

[@jeremyc9593]

We are definitely saying U2 isn't alternative.

[@positivevibrations6110]

No U2 is NOT alternative!! #u2lover

[@jeffmann9393]

Pet Shop Boys were top 40 from the beginning.

[@bleikrsound6127]

Agree with most of these. Glad to see my friends from The Cure in RnR HOF. Met them 94 in Atlanta when my band The Nightshade Project was touring. Robert liked our stuff, gave me a Guinness beer. Friends ever since.

[@andreas0101]

my bloody valentine, Dinosaur Jr, Hüsker Dü, the stone roses, talk talk, spacemen 3 just a few examples of way more deserving bands than Eurythmics and tears for fear and I dont hate on those bands but get real..

[@Urbeflurb93]

My Bloody Valentine only released one studio album and a couple of EPs and mini albums in the 80's, though. Their most "famous" and critically acclaimed work was released in the 90's.

[@andreas0101]

Tequila Mockingbird They released more stuff in the 80s than the 90s. Isn't Anything is just as acclaimed as loveless, only less famous. By your logic R.E.M shouldn't be on the list either. They got their commercial breakthrouh in the 90s.

[@justfadingaway]

maggot No R.E.M commercial breakthrough was in 1986 with Document. With the songs, It's the end of the world and the one I love. Yes their mainstream breakthrough came out in 1991 with Out of Time.

[@andreas0101]

justfadingaway zzz splitting hairs. It all depends on what you mean by commercial breakthrough.

[@SERPENTSEEKER]

Most of the bands you mentioned were really famous in the 90's...

[@ilysvengeance]

YES!! Depeche Mode and The Cure are the two most important bands ever PERIOD

[@popoff7808]

Hmmm.... I think they may disagree with you there. The Beatles may have something to do with that and possibly The Ramones.

[@jettcarlburg356]

Some of the acts that literally built the bridges between punk and new wave between 1979 - 1981 The Plasmatics Adam and the Ants Siouxie & the Banshees The Clash Lene Lovitch Bow Wow Wow The Pretenders Joy Division Gary Numan Public Image LTD

[@patrickcannady2066]

The real stuff! Don't forget Killing Joke. There would be no Ministry or KMFDM without them

[@shotbro4998]

My top 10 r: 1)Bauhaus 2) The Smiths 3) Depeche Mode 4) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 5) Violent Femmes 6) REM 7) Sisters of Mercy 8) Sonic Youth 9) The Cure 10) Pixies

[@TomYaz]

No mention of the B-52s.. who are STILL touring strong

[@vahi37]

Damn right!

[@miked3168]

B52s should have quit after Ricky died, cause their music sucked and lost its weirdness, just became top 40 shit.

[@m.scottmckenna1887]

I *loved* grinding songs such as "52 Girls". Rock Lobster is overplayed. "Shiny Happy People" was an abortion, after their earlier efforts. Just my opinion.

[@sweetsuszie]

M. Scott McKenna shinny happy people was rem. not the b52s

[@FragmentedR_YT]

sweetsuszie they probably got confused because a B-52 member is on “Shiny Happy People”

[@MrJollyjumper99]

Missing Violent Femmes.

[@bruhndylad2382]

Brennan T thank God I thought I was going insane

[@ucantcompare2U2]

Web surfing & came across your quote. Couldn't agree more.

[@tihomir7]

First 10???

[@freakyboo4811]

YES to Violent Femmes. The list included many bands that were not alternative at all and missed some of the biggest alt bands of the 80s.

[@patrickcannady2066]

yep

[@slaptree1]

The Smiths should be #1 on any serious list of best 80's bands!

[@curlyj49]

Swap The Smiths to #3 and we're good.

[@CraftySouthpaw]

Agreed, they should've been higher.

[@scoutmom4145]

Cutting Crew? Seriously??? Talk about ‘one hit wonder’ Sheeesh

[@jonasc.5910]

That's exactly what I thought. This was going great until they threw them in. Their "Broadcast" album was pretty good, but influential like these other players? I think they threw them in just to make us laugh...or cry.

[@xyzdgthereal]

@Dragonetta The Ultravox still deserve it more than the CC

[@skippysaurio]

Get out U2, even with all the bad comments against them.

[@TravelGuyTravel]

Seriously. This is the only thing that pissed me off.

[@asparagusbear3323]

I almost died in my arms tonight

[@Rqoiz]

The music were so much better in the 80's then nowadays.. So many genres that made so much great music, and still was played on the radio. If you're not playin mainstream braindead pop or rap, you can forget to be aired on the radio nowadays.

[@jonathanrubin9193]

DM #1 - yes. But what about OMD??

[@webgpu]

NOBODY NOTICED THEM IN THE DARK (OMG!)

[@Cerulean0987]

Enola Gay

[@victoriajuuu6585]

The cure!!!!sacaron increíbles discos en los 80tas se merecen el primer lugar! sin dudas!!!.

[@samspamable]

Pixies should be way higher, they pretty much reinvented garage bands.

[@quincyrich5817]

Agreed.

[@evana4010]

And Bowie praised them

[@condo35]

totally agree

[@JimmyStone54321]

That's my favorite band

[@aaliyahlove9536]

But this is a top "alternative band list", not a top 10 "grunge list".

[@kurayamiyoru6223]

the Cure

[@livingdeadcomics]

Siouxsie and the Banshees could replace several on the so called list.

[@invalidusername4011]

They were never mainstream as the bands in the list. Yes they were incredibly creative and influential and certainly the most underrated band of that era, also no Cure without Siouxsie Sioux. She shaped Robert's persona. But remember The Head on The Door was a huge hit in the mainstream culture. Siouxsie didn't achieve that even so they were a cult band filling up their venues. The list is not based on artistic values but the influence the bands had on the mainstream crowd. But anyhow I don't remember we were talking about "alternative bands or music" in the 80s so.......

[@darrenvader8597]

@@invalidusername4011 Peekaboo was a big mainstream hit, as was Kiss Them For Me.

[@cobbler88]

Oh, it's still a list. You might not like the acts, but that doesn't change the fact that it's still a list. :P

[@portcullis5622]

10000 Maniacs. Great songwriters and featured Natalie Merchant; one of the finest female indie/rock/folk voices of all.

[@maribotello2507]

Depeche Mode is number One ☝️

[@zachariahlloyd6043]

*Disagreed....*

[@darrenvandit]

@@zachariahlloyd6043 nobody cares what you disagree on #DM4LIFE 💚

[@zachariahlloyd6043]

@Darren Vandit Whatever, my disagreement stands.... For the record, DM is a pathetic, computer band that could not play an instrument to save their worthless lives!!

[@carlosalomar7877]

@@zachariahlloyd6043Both are great bands!...

[@gustavowestm]

@@zachariahlloyd6043 Hey bro DM is good,not pathetic,you are pathetic

[@Ryan-fs2xj]

1. The Smiths 2. Pixies 3. Sonic Youth 4. New Order 5. The Cure 6. Talking Heads 7. R.E.M 8.Tears for Fears 9. Depeche Mode 10. Siouxsie and the Banshees

[@olivierrorif6028]

not agree for the smiths ...

[@thegamingalien5476]

I agree for the smiths

[@brandonsamano7428]

NIce bands, terrible list

[@ianheaver3217]

The Smiths at number one for sure and New Order no. 2 for me!

[@conniekat3424]

The Cars always get overlooked....so underrated!

[@mikeyj.3605]

This should really be the top 100 alternative bands from the 80's. Then we would be getting somewhere.

[@lenchenhh3232]

The Cure is definitly the number one!

[@dchenkin02]

The Cult started out as alternative post-punk. There first two albums are awesome.

[@guyinsf]

Hard to pick 10 definitive 80's alternative band since some started in the 70s like the Talking Heads and some in the 80s like REM. I think you have to pick one and stick with it. I think U2 was mostly an alternative band in the 80s so they should be on this list.

[@TheD2JBug]

Depeche Mode = #1 based on the Rose Bowl show alone.

[@bicyclist2]

Agreed!

[@summerswinterer9247]

The 80's were so much better than the 90's makes when it came to original music.

[@PachuStinkt]

I havent heard about any of these bands, but everything sounds fucking amazing. I guess i will spent tonight checking all these bands out haha :p

[@UntrainableWizard]

You never heard of Eurythmics (Sweet Dreams), Talking Heads (Psycho Killer), Tears for Fears (Mad World), or REM (Their version of Mad World, or Shiny Happy People.). Ah well. There the groups I know and the songs I know them by... Then again, I'm into all but modern music (Stuff like Screamo). Modern is just screaming into a mic to me...

[@PachuStinkt]

***** Haha well sorry for my ignorance. I was born in 1999, and i think i started listening to the radio around 2007 (when i was 8 or something) I would always listen to the music that was on the radio (pop mostly). Like a year ago i really started to discover that there was way better music out there that wasn't playing on the radio. A few months ago i watched a DVD from Genesis, i believe that was also somewhere around the 80's. I know it is pop, but it was so good. From then on i started to really get into 'older music'. I haven't heard a lot yet, but i try to discover a lot of the music haha, its freaking awesome.

[@PachuStinkt]

***** I'm 15 :p And thank you :)

[@rockinchimp]

I'm not going to be one of those people who patronise you for not knowing certain bands, heck I was at that point myself too. I recommend all of the bands mentioned on here though one crucial one in my eyes are missing and they are Midnight Oil.

[@leoncatterall7872]

poasdpoa listen to joy division

[@asparagusbear3323]

We didn't call them "alternative" back then. we called it "college" radio or just good music.

[@DigitalShark99]

"New Wave Music"

[@asparagusbear3323]

@@DigitalShark99 That's it! Thank you.

[@johanvajse8410]

I was just saying this - alternative came around in the 90's I believe.

[@1313sp]

@@DigitalShark99 New Wave is more specific and there has to be synth elements. Many of these bands here, esp. the American ones, were not New Wave.

[@dbaxter103]

Exactly

[@RavenMoon13-jb2ly]

I’m a fan of The Mission, The Sister of Mercy, The Cult, , The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths and Agent Orange. And many more. Groups that are out there yet at the time.

[@musiclove4635]

Sorry, but Depeche Mode by all rights belong at number one on the list. INXS and the Replacements as honorable mentions, umm no.

[@bvaljalo]

No. Unless by 'ummm no' you mean 'they should've made the list over Tears for Fears and Simple Minds' ... in which case, then yeah. Depeche, The Cure and REM as #1, #2, #3 is almost undeniable, but the ORDER? I could see any of them being well-argued as any of those positions.

[@novembra7742]

yes! Yes! YES!

[@jackedmonston2419]

replacements need to be on the list

[@bicyclist2]

Agreed!

[@TheHellraiser96]

Top 10 Gothic Rock bands (Not based on my personal bias) : 10. Fields of the Nephilim 9. The Birthday Party 8. Killing Joke 7. The Damned 6. Christian Death 5. Siouxie and the Bandshees 4. The Cure 3. Sisters of Mercy 2. Joy Division 1. Bauhaus

[@Colossian316]

Tears for fears is the most underrated band of all time, move them up 2 and push Depeche Mode to number one

[@barbarawhisenant750]

I’m in total agreement with you on this! 😊

[@NODIR7398]

Hey watchmojo , could you please make some videos about Depeche mode, R.E.M., The Cure etc.