The Groove

The greatest artists of the 1980s

333 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Metallica

United States of America · 1981– · heavy metal

251.080

Why this number?

The full board · page 11

241 Grover Washington, Jr.

United States of America · 1943–1999 · jazz 4.600

242 Bonnie Tyler

United Kingdom · 1951– · rock 4.450

243

Can

Germany · 1968–1991 · krautrock 4.400

244 Throwing Muses

United States of America · 1981– · rock 4.400

245 Exodus

United States of America · 1979– · thrash metal 4.400

246 Suicidal Tendencies

United States of America · 1982– · crossover thrash 4.400

247 Bruce Hornsby & the Range

United States of America · 1984–1991 · rock 4.400

248 Jon and Vangelis 1979– · electronic 4.400

249 Mötley Crüe

United States of America · 1981– · hard rock 4.400

250 Nitzer Ebb

United Kingdom · 1982– · ebm 4.400

251 REO Speedwagon

United States of America · 1967–2025 · rock 4.400

252 The E Street Band

United States of America · 1972– · rock 4.400

253 Wham!

United Kingdom · 1981–1986 · pop 4.400

254 Yazoo

United Kingdom · 1982–1983 · new wave 4.400

255

Billy Joel

United States of America · 1949– · pop rock 4.380

256 Boston

United States of America · 1975– · rock 4.380

257 k.d. lang

Canada · 1961– · country rock 4.380

258 Bolt Thrower

United Kingdom · 1986–2016 · death metal 4.320

259 Neneh Cherry

Sweden · 1964– · electronic 4.320

260

Blondie

United States of America · 1974– · new wave 4.200

261

Willie Nelson

United States of America · 1933– · country 4.200

262 Lucinda Williams

United States of America · 1953– · country 4.200

263 DEVO

United States of America · 1972– · new wave 4.200

264 ABC

United Kingdom · 1980– · pop 4.200