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 13

289

The Who

United Kingdom · 1964– · rock 3.800

290

Grateful Dead

United States of America · 1965–1995 · rock 3.800

291 Slint

United States of America · 1986–1992 · post-rock 3.800

292 Danny Elfman

United States of America · 1953– · electronic 3.800

293 Soda Stereo

Argentina · 1982–2007 · rock 3.800

294 Obituary

United States of America · 1988– · death metal 3.800

295 This Heat

United Kingdom · 1975–1982 · experimental rock 3.800

296 Coroner

Switzerland · 1983– · technical thrash metal 3.800

297 Cowboy Junkies

Canada · 1985– · blues rock 3.800

298 Deborah Harry

United States of America · 1945– · pop rock 3.800

299 Laura Branigan

United States of America · 1952–2004 · pop 3.800

300

Poison

United States of America · 1983– · hard rock 3.800

301 Possessed

United States of America · 1983– · death metal 3.800

302 X

United States of America · 1977– · rock 3.800

303

The Offspring

United States of America · 1984– · punk rock 3.780

304 Tiffany

United States of America · 1971– · pop 3.720

305 Charly García

Argentina · 1951– · rock 3.700

306 坂本龍一

Japan · 1952–2023 · ambient 3.650

307

Mark Knopfler

United Kingdom · 1949– · rock 3.600

308

Vangelis

Greece · 1943–2022 · electronic 3.600

309 Scott Walker

United Kingdom · 1943–2019 · baroque pop 3.600

310 Elvis Costello & The Attractions

United Kingdom · 1977–1996 · rock 3.600

311 808 State

United Kingdom · 1988– · electronic 3.600

312 A Flock of Seagulls

United Kingdom · 1980– · new wave 3.600