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 5

97 Journey

United States of America · 1973– · rock 16.670

98 Echo & the Bunnymen

United Kingdom · 1978– · rock 16.160

99 Mercyful Fate

Denmark · 1981– · heavy metal 15.970

100 Paul Simon

United States of America · 1941– · pop 15.660

101 The Cult

United Kingdom · 1983– · hard rock 15.610

102

Jean‐Michel Jarre

France · 1948– · electronic 15.440

103

Leonard Cohen

Canada · 1934–2016 · rock 15.380

104

Front 242

Belgium · 1981– · ebm 15.200

105

Bad Religion

United States of America · 1980– · punk 14.640

106

Roxy Music

United Kingdom · 1971– · art rock 14.240

107 Skinny Puppy

Canada · 1982–2023 · industrial 14.220

108 Dinosaur Jr.

United States of America · 1984– · alternative rock 14.070

109 Foreigner

United States of America · 1976– · rock 14.010

110 Tracy Chapman

United States of America · 1964– · folk rock 13.740

111

Camel

United Kingdom · 1971– · progressive rock 13.010

112 Saxon

United Kingdom · 1976– · heavy metal 12.620

113

Bryan Adams

Canada · 1959– · rock 12.450

114

Coil

United Kingdom · 1982–2004 · experimental 12.440

115

Freddie Mercury

United Kingdom · 1946–1991 · rock 12.400

116 Roger Waters

United Kingdom · 1943– · rock 12.270

117 Cinderella

United States of America · 1983–2017 · hard rock 12.240

118

Electric Light Orchestra

United Kingdom · 1970–2025 · rock 12.210

119 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

United Kingdom · 1977– · electronic 12.180

120 The Cars

United States of America · 1976–1988 · rock 11.860