What band deserved to make it out of the 80s and didn't?

[adaher]

Bon Jovi is probably the only "hair" band from the 80s that made it out with their popularity completely intact. Mainly, I think it's because their sound was always a lot more diverse than they got credit for from the haters of the time, so it was easy for them to transition into a new sound, elements of which were already present by Slippery When Wet anyway. But other bands who had a more pure "hair metal" sound pretty much went away as soon as Nirvana hit. A few, like Motley Crue, Van Halen, and Guns N. Roses, did manage to keep their careers going, but for various reasons(mainly self destruction of band members), not at nearly the level Bon Jovi managed to maintain.

So, out of the bands whose careers pretty much imploded after 1991, who really deserved better? Who else should by all rights be as big as Bon Jovi today? Who had shown signs of being able to diversify their sound enough to survive in a new musical era?

IMO, although I was never a big Cinderella fan, I could really see them doing well. They'd already transitioned out of hair metal and into a more rootsy, bluesy Black Crowesish sound as early as 1988.

Extreme would be another one. They had a really diverse sound with creative lyrics and for the life of me I can't see why they couldn't have just continued to evolve normally without any major changes and survive the 90s. I think the album they made after III Sides to Every story was a strategic mistake. So many hair bands tried to modern up their sound, but they just didn't know how to write that way, so lost their fan base and failed to win new fans. No one wanted to hear grunge versions of Trixter, Slaughter, or Extreme. Or Bruce Dickinson for that matter.

So, anyone else have any nominees for our alternate history?

 

[dionysus11]

I think that bands like: Drive She Said, Alien,T.Y.R,and even Driver should have been a lot more famous than they are. They are great AOR bands, and a ton of people listen to them,but I feel they could have been more mainstream here in the States.

 

[Formerly known as Chris F5]

Saigon Kick should have flourished through thr 90's
They already had a very heavy sound,but were so diverse with their songwriting that they often had a ton of little wrinkles on each CD
Unfortunately for them their big hit was a typical acoustic ballad of the time that got them lumped in with the More than Words and stuff

And Kings X should have been huge and for a long time period,in a way they kinda invented the "grunge" sound but also had that slightly prog feel that made them unique

 

[nomisofsiman]

I'm not big on this era of bands. The only ones I like out of that group are VAn Halen (which honestly I don't classify in the same group and they were earlier) and GNR who I definitely don't see to be anything like the other hair metal bands. They were much heavier and had a lot more attitude.

As for Bon Jovi, I'm sorry dude but I think the reason they made it is they changed with the times. In other words, they sort of went in directions that were popular.

 

[adaher]

I don't really think that's fair. Bon Jovi didn't go modern rock. They did abandon the hair metal sound, but they abandoned it for a different aspect of their sound that already existed before, but which post-80s pop fans could still get into.

While most hair bands tried to modern up and downtune their sound, Bon Jovi went for a more Mellencamp/Springsteen vibe and it worked like a charm.

 

[BenMech]

Saigon Kick should have flourished through thr 90's
They already had a very heavy sound,but were so diverse with their songwriting that they often had a ton of little wrinkles on each CD
Unfortunately for them their big hit was a typical acoustic ballad of the time that got them lumped in with the More than Words and stuff

And King's X should have been huge and for a long time period,in a way they kinda invented the "grunge" sound but also had that slightly prog feel that made them unique

q4t.

Speaking of KX's connection to "grunge", Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament has long said exactly that point.

 

[J-Man]

For me it would have to be Krokus, UFO, and a very unknow AOR melodic band called New England.

 

[TribunalRecords]

Pretty Boy Floyd.

 

[Creeps]

Saigon Kick was a 90s band, not an 80s band, but good anyhow.

My vote will always be Lord Tracy.

 

[J. Golden]

I'd say Saigon Kick. But I was always amazed King's X did not get bigger especially with what the 90s would bring in.
As for Bon Jovi, well like Def Leppard both bands became lame and stale and so did must of the fanbase that continued with them. These groups basically became adult contemporary while their now 30 something year old fans were having babies and driving minivans with soccer ball stickers.

 

[J. Golden]

Pretty Boy Floyd.

You're kidding right? Vain were much better.

 

[MysticX9]

Too many to make a full list right now but several that spring to mind are Icon, Fifth Angel, Badlands and 220 Volt...

 

[Creeps]

You're kidding right? Vain were much better.

Tough call on that one

 

[AMBR]

TT Quick

 

[Fire breath]

Blue Murder should have been much bigger but they came just too late. If they had been around the same time as Whitesnake's 87 disk then they would have made it for Sykes as well as being in Whitesnake. For me Running Wild should have been much bigger. Probably due to the fact that Rock n Rolf probably hated touring outside of a few countries. Helloween got much bigger than them cause they toured the world but for me RW kills Helloween stone dead.

 

[MysticX9]

Blue Murder should have been much bigger but they came just too late. If they had been around the same time as Whitesnake's 87 disk then they would have made it for Sykes as well as being in Whitesnake. For me Running Wild should have been much bigger. Probably due to the fact that Rock n Rolf probably hated touring outside of a few countries. Helloween got much bigger than them cause they toured the world but for me RW kills Helloween stone dead.

Yes, Blue Murder, good call!!!

 

[Fire breath]

Virgin Steele started way way back and deserved to be at least as big as Manowar are these days but alas it's not to be. I love Manowar but VS's music surpasses anything Manowar can do. I guess DeFeis didn't want it as bad as Joey although he does seem to have as big an ego as Joey does.

 

[Justin G]

Pretty Boy Floyd.

I know you're kidding.

Leather boys with electric toys isn't exactly a timeless classic.

I'd go with King's X. They should have been the U2 of hard rock.

 

[J. Golden]

I know you're kidding.

Leather boys with electric toys isn't exactly a timeless classic.

I'd go with King's X. They should have been the U2 of hard rock.

I agree, only King's X would not have had a douche bag frontman.

 

[J. Golden]

There are good bands named here but not bands with staying power. TT Quick? They barely nade an impression when they were here.
Beyond King's X I cannot think of another.