the 80's

[buddyboy69]

o.k. so im a little bored.

is anyone else tired of the way the 80s are portrayed in movies and music? where i grew up it wasnt adam ant, relax dont do it, izods with sweaters around the neck and everything in pastels. i remember it being more about iron maiden, judas priest, ozzy, motley crue, led zep, triumph, rush, generally hard rock/progressive/metal in general with ripped jeans, leather jackets and rusty camaros. sure the fixx would play a small half filled venue and the girls kind of liked it. while iron maiden and even ratt were filling the war memorial which was like 40-60 in girl guy ratio. sure the late 80's were plagued with hair glam, which i did not approve and i thought basically sucked, but the lame yuppie, mtv english band with weird hair(flock of seagulls and the like)side seems a little off from what really happend. is it me? was it just my neck of the woods? anybody else?

o.k. done.

[Kmaz]

buddyboy, I remember all of that stuff happening and think the 80s were a great musical era.

[stvnscott]

It's not just you. Your recollection aligns perfectly with mine.

[wharris]

buddyboy, I remember all of that stuff happening and think the 80s were a great musical era.

With you 100%. Those were some great times…people actually played their instruments, too.

[ubermutant]

Oh I don't know I kind of liked Adam Ant back in the day.

b.

[DWB1960]

Had a blast in the 80s. All the great 70s groups were still in heavy rotation, plus there was killer stuff to be found in all of the newer genres too.

Plus it was the decade of the killer technique guitar player!

[guitarz1972]

OP, if you're bored just turn up your collar and hit on the cutie sitting by herself on the couch.

http://www.evilontwolegs.com/uploads/corey/fashion13th/group2.jpg

[Bankston]

The 80's you describe is what I experienced. I ignored Nu Wave and most Hair Metal (the first wave of bands, VH, Crue, Ratt, Dokken, WASP, were awesome).

It was all about Priest, Maiden, Ozzy, Queensryche, Triumph, etc.

Maybe it's because we're guitar players and so we paid attention to guitar music.

[Stu Cats]

My high school had both, plus the punks and mods.

[Peteyvee]

We had both kinds around here too...

[buddyboy69]

Maybe it's because we're guitar players and so we paid attention to guitar music.

well yeah, but everyone around me was listening to the same thing and rarely shopped at chess king. all parties i went to were cranking AC/DC not wham. chicks wore tight jeans and leather with crazy long hair, well they wore leg warmers too, but i didnt mind those.

[NAC25]

I think it all depended on where you lived. My family was overseas most of the 80's. Living in Aberdeen, Scotland, it was a mix of a bunch of great music. Most of us listened to metal, a minority of the students in HS listened to that Kajagoogoo/wuss stuff. Great decade for music. Rock seriously needs to make a comeback in popular music.

[sahhas]

ok, talking about the 80s, we were watching the parking garage episode of seinfeld a few days ago. the funny thing, everyone walking around the parking garage that jerry et al interact w/ for the most part look like they are from the 80s still. crazy hair (some giant hair girls!). crazy print outfits....and this was the early 90s...so the 80s held on a bit longer in pop culture a little bit....ha!!!

[smallbutmighty]

I concur.

The "80's" image most often portrayed in media - the Nu Wave look or the Hairspray Rocker look - is not what I experienced either.

I do remember a lot of touchstone trends like neon clothes, leg warmers, the "Flashdance-sweatshrit-off-one-shoulder", et al, but by and large I did the rocker thing: Judas Priest, Scorps, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, etc, and the first wave of CA bands: Van Halen, Ratt, Cinderella, etc.

The chicks were totally done up in leather, lace, and spandex, and they were hot. By the end of the decade the dudes were totally done up in leather, lace, and spandex, and the hair thing became more laughable. The Nu Wave fashion thing was kind of laughable to begin with. The media likes to portray those two extremes, I guess.

Funny...I HATED The Police in those days. I laughed at all my Nu Waver friends that went to see the Synchronicity tour. Idiots. Now they are one of my top three favorite bands.

Oh well.

[kev]

Here's (partly) your media darling, more along the lines of how I remember growing up, although there was plenty of the other stuff too: Freaks and Geeks (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0193676/)

One of my favorite moments from that series is when a dad (the guy who was Count Floyd on Second City) bags on Neil Peart - what a great inside joke, considering his connection with Rush...

anyway, this geek likes that show

[s2y]

People who abhor the 80's, especially the ones who always have to talk about it, generally take themselves too seriously.

[stvnscott]

People who abhor the 80's, especially the ones who always have to talk about it, generally take themselves too seriously.

Exactly! They should abhor the 90s like I do!

[mesa/boogieman]

Class of '88 here. The movies like to focus on one aspect of 80's lifestyle; the preppies. I totally dressed like that with my collar up on the polo shirt, argyle socks and Sperry top-siders. I listened to Wham, Culture Club, Huey Lewis, Duran Duran, Poison, Def Leppard etc. etc.

[buddyboy69]

Class of '88 here. The movies like to focus on one aspect of 80's lifestyle; the preppies. I totally dressed like that with my collar up on the polo shirt, argyle socks and Sperry top-siders. I listened to Wham, Culture Club, Huey Lewis, Duran Duran, Poison, Def Leppard etc. etc.

Ok, theres one.

[jimshine]

Nostalgia for the 80's has made me a lot of money. So I support it. I was thrilled when they were over. New Years 1990 I said "Thank god I will never have to hear the phrase "Its the 80's" ever again."

[s2y]

Exactly! They should abhor the 90s like I do!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/spade2you/steinberger.jpg

I am going to post this guitar. The OP is not allowed to bash it. How long can last before telling us that this guitar is sterile and he wouldn't be caught dead playing it? :rotflmao

[buddyboy69]

ok i cant take it, GET THAT THING OFF MY THRED!!!

No seriously, id play that.

[Route234]

o.k. so im a little bored.

is anyone else tired of the way the 80s are portrayed in movies and music? where i grew up it wasnt adam ant, relax dont do it, izods with sweaters around the neck and everything in pastels. i remember it being more about iron maiden, judas priest, ozzy, motley crue, led zep, triumph, rush, generally hard rock/progressive/metal in general with ripped jeans, leather jackets and rusty camaros. sure the fixx would play a small half filled venue and the girls kind of liked it. while iron maiden and even ratt were filling the war memorial which was like 40-60 in girl guy ratio. sure the late 80's were plagued with hair glam, which i did not approve and i thought basically sucked, but the lame yuppie, mtv english band with weird hair(flock of seagulls and the like)side seems a little off from what really happend. is it me? was it just my neck of the woods? anybody else?

o.k. done.

You are right about the metal groups you mentioned, but I cant imagine anyone who was over the age of an infant in the 80s who did not see the Relax stuff, pastels, Izods, sweaters over the shoulders, and just about every 80s cliche. That stuff was EVERYWHERE. It was never cool to me, but no way can I say it wasnt around.

Remember Coca Cola clothes? Leg warmers? Dressing like Madonna? That stuff was everywhere.

The 80s were never cool, not even in the 80s. I honestly cannot fathom "waxing" on and on about the 80s. Im glad they are over and Im still trying to forget how ridiculously cheesy a time it was. Chicks wearing baggy pants, guys rolling their jeans up, OP clothes, spike hairdos, valley girl shit. Please, all that stuff happened. No one is making it up.

[s2y]

ok i cant take it, GET THAT THING OFF MY THRED!!!

No seriously, id play that.

LOL.

[Julia343]

It also marked the end of Billy Squier's career.

[NR2112]

IMO, I dont like the eightys. for some reason they make me feel dirty. Also dont like the music either from that era.

[PVH5150]

The 80s are the reason I wish I was born in 1960.

I'd be 21 just as everything I love for music was the huge thing & countless concerts would be available for me to attend.

[dmb70]

It was all happening simultaneously. Your recollection was more my experience, but there were plenty of "yuppy/preppie kids to go around as well.

[Mr Boggie]

I just recall (graduated high school in 89) the metal heads vs the preppies vs the sporto's vs the dweebs vs the stoners. We and I had them all. I think they still have them today.

[captain_bob]

My school had 5% rockers and rest were the pastel wearing/izod loving preppy type.
(and it seemed like all the girls drove Volkswagon Rabbit Cabriolets and Carmen Ghia's.)

[j2b4o]

New wave was pretty huge compared to te metal scene IMO and rightfully so. Those "English bad hair bands" actually evolved music a bit and changed the sound of rock forever. What did ratt do? Make music look like a joke?

[asatbluesboy]

With you 100%. Those were some great times…people actually played their instruments, too.And sang.
ok, talking about the 80s, we were watching the parking garage episode of seinfeld a few days ago. the funny thing, everyone walking around the parking garage that jerry et al interact w/ for the most part look like they are from the 80s still. crazy hair (some giant hair girls!). crazy print outfits....and this was the early 90s...so the 80s held on a bit longer in pop culture a little bit....ha!!!Same impression I got from some Nirvana pics a friend took back in '93.

[s2y]

What did ratt do?

Made some music, had a good time, and partied while other people enjoyed it. Is that a crime or is this just an excuse to urinate on other folks' taste in music? I mean, some mullet head who listens/listend to Ratt will never be as cool as you, but you already knew that.

[semi-hollowbody]

the 80's were both...I prefered the hard rock/metal scene...as did my friends...mostly it was the girlies into duran duran, adam ant, frankie goes to hollywood...

[j2b4o]

Made some music, had a good time, and partied while other people enjoyed it. Is that a crime or is this just an excuse to urinate on other folks' taste in music? I mean, some mullet head who listens/listend to Ratt will never be as cool as you, but you already knew that.

Yea because the op didn't speak ill of new wave...

[s2y]

Yea because the op didn't speak ill of new wave...

and you're speaking ill of Ratt. Do 2 wrongs make a right?

[PVH5150]

What did ratt do?

The greatest intro riff ever recorded (Lay It Down).

[smallbutmighty]

The greatest intro riff ever recorded (Lay It Down).

Game. Set. Match.

Unless, perhaps, Unchained....also from the '80's.

[Melodyman]

So a head from the 80's is complaining that the movies only portray the preps? lol.

Nostalgia tends to paint the past with rose colored glasses, plenty of s**t in the 80's as well. I did have a good time but wouldn't want to go back, the nostalgia can blind you.

[ACfixer]

Graduated 1980 and I lived the 80's. Love the music from Iron Maiden to the Thompson Twins and from Duran Duran back to Ratt.

[germs]

being a kid from a Southern town in the 80's...scrolling through my memory...

to reference pop culture, i think that "Freaks & Geeks" is/was a pretty honest portrayal of the 80's as a whole.

of course, all the silly stuff is what people remember most: neon everything, new wave, all that.

i'm always interested in fashion (a little hobby) and looking back at what people ACTUALLY wore in the past 40/50/60/70/80, sure. there was some of THAT stuff out there, but not nearly as widespread as people want to remember. most of it seemed to be a flash in the pan. though i'm sure there was a concentration in particular areas...

[jsa61]

When I think of 80's music, two come to mind. SRV and Satriani. I realize these aren't mainstream, but I just wasn't into most of the pop and hair bands of that time.

[Redlined]

Class of '84 here. I was mainly into Zep, Doors, VH, Cars, Ian Hunter, Steppenwolf, Dio, UFO, Billy Squire, Scorpions, Black Sabath, Ozzie, Rainbow, Ratt, Def Leppard, ELP, Rush, Nugent, BOC, and so on.
I was exposed to the pop stuff of the time via MTV, most of it I didn't care for, but it wasn't all bad.
Clothing styles were pretty diverse then, we had rockers, preps, punks and break dancers. I never felt I belonged to any particular group, I played sports, listened to rock, partied and was into hot-rods.

[Redlined]

When I think of 80's music, two come to mind. SRV and Satriani. I realize these aren't mainstream, but I just wasn't into most of the pop and hair bands of that time.

It must have been '83 when I heard "Pride and Joy" on the radio for the first time, I was floored!

[paulrocker]

I think people auto-associate the 80s to gaudy pink and hair bands, when I think some of the best music and certainly music production happened. They were still making albums where bands sounded different.

The Police, the Clash, Bowie, Van Halen, Prince, Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteen, U2. Even if you didn't love them, classic none the less.

[I-IV-V]

Does anyone else remeber the wayfarer type sunglasses with the neon colored side pieces?

I graduated HS in 82, was living in the LA area in 89 & 90. I always thought those sunglasses were hilarious (I never wore a pair!) but they were so hip that everybody and their mother was wearing them in southern CA.

[Route234]

The best critique of the 80s is the stuff Zappa was putting out at the time. His take on that period of time is spot on, hilarious and full of great music by great players to boot.

[FlyingDutchman]

Where did you grow up? I grew up in MA and there were definitely two different groups. The skeds and the jocks. I tended to lean more towards the skeds with my OZZY back patch on my Levi denim jacket and Led Zeppelin/Iron Maiden patches on my book bag. Michael Jackson was huge in the 80's which was a big reason for the different clothing styles. I think the clothing styles helped define the decade. Cheese and cheese and more cheese..

http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/80s-clothes-mens.jpg

http://stylesizzle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/80s-fashion-trends.jpg

[PVH5150]

Game. Set. Match.

Unless, perhaps, Unchained....also from the '80's.

:beer

So many killer riffs that took place during the 80s. Top 3 are probably Lay It Down, Unchained & The Sentinel....no wait, Still of the Night....no wait, Balls to the Wall....damnit, I meant The Trooper.

Ah hell, pick any one. They've been my favorite at some point.

[Kmaz]

I really loved those harmony guitar parts that Maiden was doing back then.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I dug the 80s more than any decade mainly because I was 21 in 1980 and just starting to make good money, playing in bands and really getting into the new wave music scene! It was an exciting time for any musician. Great movies that decade too! :love:

[A-Bone]

I dug the 80s more than any decade mainly because I was 21 in 1980 and just starting to make good money, playing in bands and really getting into the new wave music scene! It was an exciting time for any musician. Great movies that decade too! :love:

What were the great movies of the 80s? I have to really think about it to come up with much of a list, and I graduated in '89, so I did all of my teen years in that decade (and remember it pretty darn well).

Now the 70s, on the other hand...

[Jube2550]

Think about it...what other decade has that much variety..? New wave, hair rock, metal, dance hits, top 40 galore ....you name it. That was what made it cool IMO. Everyone could cross over and vice versa to whatever floated your boat. I moderately liked the top 40 stuff like Hall and Oates, Adam Ant, Duran Duran, etc, then there was the new but classic rock ZZ, VH, Floyd still going...then newer bands like REM..u know..the MTV stuff. Then there was the metal/shred surge, Yngwie, Satch, Vai... which definitely spoke more to guitarists...at least for me. It's all good...

[PVH5150]

What were the great movies of the 80s?

The Shining
Full Metal Jacket
Raging Bull
Angel Heart
The Untouchables
Scarface
Airplane!
History Of The World: Part I
Porky's
Fast Times At Ridgemont High
The Terminator
Platoon
The Naked Gun
Christmas Vacation

[Jiffy_Jeff]

Class of '88 here. The movies like to focus on one aspect of 80's lifestyle; the preppies. I totally dressed like that with my collar up on the polo shirt, argyle socks and Sperry top-siders. I listened to Wham, Culture Club, Huey Lewis, Duran Duran, Poison, Def Leppard etc. etc.

Ditto....

Along with Motley Crue, Prince, The Cure, Erasure, Tears for Fears, Blondie, Go-Gos, Eagles, Van Halen, Boston, Michael Jackson....

...NWA, Too Short, Fresh Prince, LL Cool J, Salt n Pepa, Beastie Boys......

The list goes on.

[A-Bone]

The Shining
Full Metal Jacket
Raging Bull
Angel Heart
The Untouchables
Scarface
Airplane!
History Of The World: Part I
Porky's
Fast Times At Ridgemont High
The Terminator
Platoon
The Naked Gun
Christmas Vacation

Some of those movies would make the list in my head (the bolded ones), along with Blue Velvet, Dead Ringers, City of Sadness, Repo Man, Sid and Nancy, Brazil.

Some of the other movies I quite like, but have a hard time considering "great".

[mesa/boogieman]

What were the great movies of the 80s? I have to really think about it to come up with much of a list, and I graduated in '89, so I did all of my teen years in that decade (and remember it pretty darn well).

Now the 70s, on the other hand...

Let me help you with that list;

Beverly Hills Cop
Top Gun
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Aliens
Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
Raiders of the Lost Ark
48 Hrs.
Pretty in Pink
Back to the Future
Goonies
Airplane!
Top Secret!

So many more :)

[ACfixer]

Along with Motley Crue, Prince, The Cure, Erasure, Tears for Fears, Blondie, Go-Gos, Eagles, Van Halen, Boston, Michael Jackson....

...NWA, Too Short, Fresh Prince, LL Cool J, Salt n Pepa, Beastie Boys......

The list goes on.

Good mentions Jeff. We were listening to TFF Songs From the Big Chair last night. What a sweet sound they had.

Movies from the 80's - Rain Man

[s2y]

Think about it...what other decade has that much variety..? New wave, hair rock, metal, dance hits, top 40 galore ....you name it. That was what made it cool IMO. Everyone could cross over and vice versa to whatever floated your boat. I moderately liked the top 40 stuff like Hall and Oates, Adam Ant, Duran Duran, etc, then there was the new but classic rock ZZ, VH, Floyd still going...then newer bands like REM..u know..the MTV stuff. Then there was the metal/shred surge, Yngwie, Satch, Vai... which definitely spoke more to guitarists...at least for me. It's all good...

Bingo!!!

On top of that, it seemed like instrument manufacturers were trying to push the envelope.

One thing I enjoyed about the 80's was the element of the mega guitar solos. I'm not just talking about shred, but I liked how the guitar solo was basically obligatory in most songs. With the various sects of metal, every lead guitarist had their guitar, their tone, and a signature style. Even though guitars will always just be strings and pickups, it was nice to see variety instead of everyone rocking the same gear year after year. Hell, I sometimes thing George Lynch of Dokken and Lynch Mob had a new custom guitar in every new video! Who the heck can complain about that?! :rotflmao

[dangayle]

How come no one has mentioned Phil Collins/Genesis yet? I was only a kid, but even I remember him being on every time the radio came on.

As to clothing, I remember the 80s as being the end of those high basketball shorts. Also, all the surfer dude stuff spread out pretty heavily (Bill and Ted, Ninja Turtles, etc)

[s2y]

How come no one has mentioned Phil Collins/Genesis yet? I was only a kid, but even I remember him being on every time the radio came on.

As to clothing, I remember the 80s as being the end of those high basketball shorts. Also, all the surfer dude stuff spread out pretty heavily (Bill and Ted, Ninja Turtles, etc)

Oh man, I used to think San Dimas was a magical place when I was a kid. I had never been there, but only saw what Bill and Ted showed us.


EXCELLENT!!!

[twferrill]

I graduated in '89 and the '80's were a great time for music. I spent my first two years of high school at a performing arts school. Most of my guitar classmates were into Van Halen, Dokken, Ratt, Poison, Dio, Whitesnake, Steve Vai, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, etc. I wasn't then, nor am I now good enough to play most of the solos those bands were putting out. I could, however, play all the riffs INXS, The Cure, The Clash, U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Pixies, Jesus & Mary Chain, New Order, The Smiths, etc. were playing.

I like both the '80's guitar rock as well as the alternative music that was coming out at the time. I think by abilities have put me more in the alt rock crowd.

I'm also a huge fan of the '80's movies such as, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Less than Zero, Some Kind of Wonderful and Weird Science.

[Jiffy_Jeff]

Good mentions Jeff. We were listening to TFF Songs From the Big Chair last night. What a sweet sound they had.

Movies from the 80's - Rain Man


Cool. Next time there is a big concert in San diego, and I can get away, I will have to drive over. If your game for going.... Beers!

[peterdjp]

My bedroom 1983

http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad217/peterdjp/doubleneck.jpg

[buddyboy69]

thanks for all the posts. now its a little clearer what actually happend.(not really) it seems to have been pretty geographical. as the 80s retro movies keep coming out i would ask my friends if that is how they recall the era, and they say no, not really. but they are mainly from the north east and maybe we didnt buy into it as much as other areas(ahem, so cal, valley girls). but i guess this scenario did happen and i have to accept it.

another reason for the post was due to the fact that most decades have a cool vibe and a certain amount of importance attached to them. 50s, birth of rock and roll and cool cars, 60s free love and great music, 70s once again great music, 90s grunge and again great music. yet to see what the 2000s bring to their nostalgia, but us highschool 1980ers are stuck with the preppie guy and frankie goes to hollywood for all the younger generations to gack at.

[DWB1960]

My bedroom 1983

http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad217/peterdjp/doubleneck.jpg

Love it.

[wholetone]

It also marked the end of Billy Squier's career.

How can something that never really BEGAN have an ending?

:huh

[wholetone]

Let's see, graduated high school in '80, college BA '84 MA '87. I was trapped in the middle of the country, though, so it was more prep than surf (surf gear doesn't work well most of the year in Iowa).

I was so into prog rock, metal, and jazz that I'm still mystified that my age-appropriate GFs of The Now, who also grew up during the 70s/80s, think I'm some sort of freak because I didn't listen to New Wave at all...

[dwes]

My bedroom 1983

http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad217/peterdjp/doubleneck.jpg


1983! Timonium, MD. I remember that room - and that smile! Good times. What a small world...
S'up Pete? Been many years.
Hope you're well.
Dave

[Scott Miller]

The geezer perspective: I'm a 60s person, but, coincidentally, I have been listening to 80s New Wave stuff on Pandora for the last two days. I liked it in the 80s, I like it even more now. The Pretenders rAwK. Talking Heads haven't held up for me, though.

[BT Scott]

Loved the 80's!! Anything I needed for my rusty Camaro was in stock and thirty bucks.

[HerrRentz]

Graduated 1980 and I lived the 80's. Love the music from Iron Maiden to the Thompson Twins and from Duran Duran back to Ratt.

Same here.

I spent the '80's in the military and wasn't exposed to all that has been written about in this thread, but I loved what I remember and was exposed to.

I loved the rock and the new wave equally and played both.

[FuzzGazer]

Graduated in '85 and everything you see in movies was exactly as it was in my region (Intermountain West/South West). Clothes, hair, music, etc. exactly. I was a bit of a neo-Teddy Boy but since I played bass in a punkabilly band I hung out with Punks, Wavers, Rockers, Mods, Preps, Jocks, and Dorks from the Drama and AV Clubs. We also had a weird skinhead subset that wore trench-coats and Docs with red or white laces. We called 'em Trenchies, I don't really remember what they called themselves.

Nobody hung out with the marching band, those guys were freaks.

[Metalwolf]

Like dude,i remember the 80's IMHO it ended too quickly. It seems all the good music has been replaced by stuff like autotune and such. Wishes i could go back to the 80's to experience groups like the scorpions all over again.

[DGDGBD]

I've noticed too that movies/TV shows will often overly stereotype an era. My memories of the 80s (class of 83) is more in line with the OPs. I wasn't into the metal scene, but certainly not Wham, Flock of seagulls, and stuff like that. I was an old school rocker into the Stray Cats, early george thorogood, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Morse band. Also classic rock of the 60s and 70s, and he surviving bands from that era. I remeber hanging out with motorheads, going to biker bars, all kinds of partying. And mullets...

[mcknigs]

The '80s corresponded with my 20s and I pretty much didn't listen to any of that stuff. Not the synth pop, not the hair metal. Of the new music we listened to, my friends and I were into NRBQ, Marshall Crenshaw, Elvis Costello, Los Lobos, Rockpile, Richard Thompson and the Replacements. I laugh when I see a lot of bands today because they're wearing what I wore in the '80s - facial hair, button-down oxford shirts and sweater vests. So the '80s wasn't limited to synth pop and metal, Izods and leather/lace...

[Calaban]

The 80s were never cool, not even in the 80s. I honestly cannot fathom "waxing" on and on about the 80s. Im glad they are over and Im still trying to forget how ridiculously cheesy a time it was. Chicks wearing baggy pants, guys rolling their jeans up, OP clothes, spike hairdos, valley girl shit. Please, all that stuff happened. No one is making it up.

I have to agree. I was a teenager in the 80's and even though there was some music I liked, I have to regard the 80's as the darkest period in pop music history (with the 50's being a close second).

So much cheese.