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

[DemonOfTheWoods]

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

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

Another thing involving King's X and grunge, maybe it's just me, but I've always heard a heavy King's X influence in Stone Temple Pilots' music. Why didn't King's X get as big as STP? If Dug Pinnick goes out and gets himself in trouble like Scott Weiland, maybe they'll get more recognition!

Icon, Fifth Angel, Badlands

Awesome bands! Agree 100%! Never heard 220 Volts, I'll have to check them out.

Blue Murder should have been much bigger but they came just too late.

Another great & under-rated band!

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.

It sickens me how Running Wild basically invented "Pirate Metal" and still got no recognition in the current Pirate Movement (if you can call it that) of bands like like Alestorm, Swashbuckle, and thats all I actually think of now. I did hear a Canadian pirate band called something Inception or Deception something. But yes, Running Wild should have been much bigger. They did survive all through the 80's though, consistently releasing albums and not actually calling it quits until 2009. But I'm sure you probably knew that.

Fastway FTW! I would love to hear those guys 20 years later, playing Trick or Treat.

Hell yeah, Fastway!

You are fucking kidding me !!! I figured I was the only person on this board who knows who Tangier is !!! I love Tangier. Ripcord, On the Line !! awesome. Come on bcak to Columbus and play. I might buy you a drink .... ha ha ha J/k. I'll buy you three.

Tangier was actually one of the first bands I thought of when I saw this thread!

Something kinda funny...when I was about 10 or so, I had a box of Heavy Metal trading cards. I don't remember what the series was called or what company produced them, but they had cards of members from bands like Anthrax, Testament, Megadeth, , AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Slaughter, Tangier, Junkyard, Salty Dog, etc. The "special cards" (you know how some series, like the old X-Men cards, had the hologram cards?) were artwork, mostly Eddie or Vic designs (although I don't remember there being Iron Maiden cards in the series...). Recently I was helping my grandmother move some stuff in her house and I found a couple of those cards! I found Chris Slade from AC/DC, Mark SLaughter, Someone from Tangier (I don't remember who), Brian Baker from Junkyard, and Charlie from Anthrax!

If ultimately what is being asked, is who were the most underrated bands of the decade, than my vote would go to Babylon A.D.

Another one! A GREAT one!

 

[No Username]

God how obscure can we get?

How about The Catholic Girls LOL:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgy_7RUPMNI&feature=related[/ame]

or (more seriously)

Cactus World News, The Better U2:




(Being the Record Reviewer for a medium size college newspaper enabled me to get tons of stuff like this. Still have those two albums.)

 

[Bryant]

I remember Zebra's minor hit song "Who's Behind the Door." It is a cool song, but it was more prog rock than La scene type metal. I never heard the whole release though. Reminds me just a bit if Triumph.

Bryant

 

[No Username]

I remember Zebra's minor hit song "Who's Behind the Door." It is a cool song, but it was more prog rock than La scene type metal. I never heard the whole release though. Reminds me just a bit if Triumph.

Bryant

Just to my right...on the shelf is that very album on cassette. And a lot of the songs on that album were as good.

+1 for New England...have that on cassette as well.

How about a "one hit wonder" who should NEVER have released the song for which they are known:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RskZkjDgXIk&feature=related[/ame]

Any band that will have a songs about the Guyana massacre AND the Kennedy assassinations has my attention.

 

[actordude]

Galactic Cowboys. Or were they early 90's?? In any case, very talented group of dudes. Space In Your Face is one hell of a disc......

 

[Imagikafan]

Besides the bands already mentioned...


Toxik

 

[BenMech]

Galactic Cowboys. Or were they early 90's?? In any case, very talented group of dudes. Space In Your Face is one hell of a disc......

90s, purely, save for 1 album in Y2k.

The self titled is better than SIYF, which is no slouch.

 

[adaher]

If ultimately what is being asked, is who were the most underrated bands of the decade, than my vote would go to Babylon A.D

That's not actually what I was asking. Let me be more clear.

Of all the BIG bands of the 80s, the ones who sold bigtime units and were playing arenas, which ones deserved to make it out and continue to be relevant by virtue of having a unique sound that could have translated well into the new musical landscape? Bon Jovi pulled off the trick nicely, and of course we all know about Metallica(although not really a "hair" band).

However much bands like Badlands and Tangier and Vain were quality bands, they didn't even really "make it" in the 80s. If they had later had commercial success in the 90s, they would have been in the category of Pantera, an 80s glam band that didn't become big until the 90s.

 

[TheLongshot]

I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned Giant. Dann Huff was the man.

 

[MissMusicJunkie]

Maybe I am too "East Coast" but I have to go with KIX. There was no more entertaining band to see live in the day and they barely even made it to MTV (when MTV mattered).

 

[Still Remains]

KIX, how could I forget? A great live band and a PA/MD staple. They still kick ass btw-saw them in Columbia MD two years ago.

 

[MysticX9]

Awesome bands! Agree 100%! Never heard 220 Volts, I'll have to check them out.

Here's an old video from 220 Volt, picture quality ain't great but it will give you a sample of their music: