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~13.0M artists · ~39.4M recordings indexed
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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 flagUnited States of America · 1981– · heavy metal
251.080
Why this number?
The full board · page 3
49 Bon Jovi United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1983– · hard rock 30.300
50 Blue Öyster Cult United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1967– · hard rock 30.210
51 Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Australia flagAustralia · 1983– · alternative rock 30.130
52 Red Hot Chili Peppers United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1983– · alternative rock 30.080
53 a‐ha Norway flagNorway · 1983– · pop 29.340
54 Nine Inch Nails United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1988– · industrial 28.910
55 Nirvana United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1987–1994 · grunge 28.220
56 Cocteau Twins United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1979–1997 · dream pop 27.860
57 Joy Division United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1978–1980 · post-punk 26.070
58 Siouxsie and the Banshees United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1976–1996 · post-punk 25.780
59 Anthrax United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1981– · thrash metal 25.270
60 Tears for Fears United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1981– · new wave 25.030
61 Enya Ireland flagIreland · 1961– · new age 24.790
62 Dio United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1982–2010 · heavy metal 24.780
63 Duran Duran United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1978– · new wave 24.090
64 Brian Eno United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1948– · ambient 24.040
65 The Sisters of Mercy United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1980– · gothic rock 23.900
66 Whitesnake United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1978–2022 · hard rock 23.880
67 King Crimson United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1968–2021 · progressive rock 23.840
68 Tom Waits United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1949– · rock 23.360
69 The Jesus and Mary Chain United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1984– · alternative rock 23.310
70 38 Special United States of America flagUnited States of America · 1974– · southern rock 22.980
71 Pet Shop Boys United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1981– · synth-pop 22.500
72 Sting United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · 1951– · pop rock 22.260