When Rock Music Ruled the World
When the music ROCK genre ruled the world that was so true, in this feature I am going to talk about my experience what I enjoyed about the 1980s decade of rock. I was born in the early 1970s and rock music in my teens in the 1980s was my prime.
It was a decade also with great shows on TV to watch like MTV Headbangers Ball and here in Australia shows like Rage and Countdown with Molly Meldrum as the founder and host of the show.
So let's start what I use to call soft rock with legendary bands like REO Speedwagon, "Keep On Loving You" and Christopher Cross, "Ride Like the Wind" Toto, “Africa” and Air Supply “The One That You Love” there was so many iconic and unforgettable bands around. Still to this day you will hear many of them that dominated the music scene back in the 1980s still on radio today.
Now let's take a look into another part of the music scene of the 80s rock which was called Arena Rock - Stadium Rock, these were for massive crowds and literally filled these venues. Bands known for this is Queen, so many great hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” Bon Jovi, "Livin' on a Prayer" Def leppard, "Pour Sugar On Me" and was their biggest arena anthem back in (1988). Many of these bands and yes many more to filled stadiums and dominated radio airwaves.
Take a look back for example to Queen Live at Wembley Stadium 1986 that is and will be just one example of what performances were like from bands in this era of 1980s rock.
Hard Rock and Glam Metal
Now let's move on and take a look to when rock got a little bit more heavy with cool nice hard-hitting beats and riffs. You probably heard of hard rock and glam metal and not to mention I guess you heard of hair metal. Big hair also the tight leather pants and more.
When you take a look back to the 1980s and compared many things to now in 2026 the 1980's were like a party everyone was just out having fun like a non-stop party.
Bands in this time it would be safe to say like Poison "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" in (1988) Guns N' Roses with "Sweet Child O' Mine" in (1987) Motley Crue "Looks That Kill" released back in (1984) Cinderella "Shake Me" (1986) and Skid Row "Youth Gone Wild" late 1980s in (1989) all exploded on the music scene.
Bands in the 1980s also went out of their way to throw in a few surprises for the fans while performing live. They had live special stage effects along with pyrotechnics for example here Kiss and Motley Crue used flash pots and Motley Crue I remember Nikki Sixx enjoyed using flame throwers.
Then we had Tommy Lee from Motley Crue smashing out the drums while rotating and spinning around while playing the drums high above the crowd. These are some of the memories that will leave a lasting legacy for the fans.
While we are looking at rock and how huge it was in the 1980s let's now take a look at Alternative Rock. Bands that fitted the category of rock, some of these would be The Cure, "Just Like Heaven" (1987) R.E.M, "The One I Love" also released in 1987 Talking Heads, "Buring Down the House" (1983) and New Order, "Blue Monday" which was released back in (1983) one of my personal favorites.
Still looking into the 1980's when rock ruled the world, we were also seeing a rise in different ways to put a different spin into music. We seen a steady rise in electronic music New Order I remember extremely well with this and they released "Blue Monday"
It was a rise in synthesizers and the first release of the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). Also, electronic Drum Machines these were used for special effects and to this day now really dominate music in my opinion on that.
The 1980's was a time I can say I'm extremely proud to say I lived it because it was so much fun everyone was out living life to the fullest. The fashion and the TV Shows and I must also mention no phones in our pockets. You could have a good time at a music concert without all these phones been held up everywhere.
We were sitting around talking to our friends face to face in a group out roller skating on a Friday or Saturday night. Maybe just going to the movies it was the best. If you could give it all up and go back to the 1980's would you? I think I would.
SN Radio Live Rock Shows.
Here at SN Radio we enjoy our rock music and wow the 1980s was an amazing decade, we have had some great live rock radio shows and we will continue to do so because we believe rock music should never die. ROCK ON!!!
Thank you!!