Top 8 Artists Of The '80s: The Essential Eight
From Steve Peake, About.com
5) The Police
One of the decade's premier bands both commercially and artistically, this talented trio cut a swath through the charts and always retained its trailblazer edge. Merging rock, punk, reggae and pop in constantly challenging ways, the band made the most of a brief existence, offering up diverse albums as well as arguably the finest single of the decade in "Every Breath You Take". Sadly, the internal dissension that served as the band's creative fuel eventually spelled the end of the Police.
Distinctive Achievements:
* Blended the energy and power of punk rock with impressive musicianship and eclectic tastes to thrive as an '80s mainstream rock band
* Featured three of rock music?s finest talents, led by one of the '80s greatest songwriters
* Seamlessly entered and ruled the emerging video age with photogenic looks and imaginative video concepts
* Interspersed reggae and other world music without alienating pop audiences
* Recorded what is arguably the greatest single of the '80s in ?Every Breath You Take?
Legacy: The Police packed in much energetic and jagged but always layered music over their eight-year existence and the quality of the band?s atmospheric catalogue has always attracted a strong critical and popular following. Even today, the group stands as one of rock?s most influential, helping future bands realize ever greater potential for eclecticism and experimentation in mainstream rock. In essence, three of rock?s finest musicians formed one of its best bands, even if that process ultimately destroyed them at their peak.
From Steve Peake, About.com
5) The Police
One of the decade's premier bands both commercially and artistically, this talented trio cut a swath through the charts and always retained its trailblazer edge. Merging rock, punk, reggae and pop in constantly challenging ways, the band made the most of a brief existence, offering up diverse albums as well as arguably the finest single of the decade in "Every Breath You Take". Sadly, the internal dissension that served as the band's creative fuel eventually spelled the end of the Police.
Distinctive Achievements:
* Blended the energy and power of punk rock with impressive musicianship and eclectic tastes to thrive as an '80s mainstream rock band
* Featured three of rock music?s finest talents, led by one of the '80s greatest songwriters
* Seamlessly entered and ruled the emerging video age with photogenic looks and imaginative video concepts
* Interspersed reggae and other world music without alienating pop audiences
* Recorded what is arguably the greatest single of the '80s in ?Every Breath You Take?
Legacy: The Police packed in much energetic and jagged but always layered music over their eight-year existence and the quality of the band?s atmospheric catalogue has always attracted a strong critical and popular following. Even today, the group stands as one of rock?s most influential, helping future bands realize ever greater potential for eclecticism and experimentation in mainstream rock. In essence, three of rock?s finest musicians formed one of its best bands, even if that process ultimately destroyed them at their peak.

