The Best Electronic Dance Music Artists and Bands from the 80s

Looking for a dose of nostalgia? Check out our list of the best electronic dance music artists and bands from the 80s! From Depeche Mode to New Order, these are the artists that defined the decade.

The 80s – a Decade of Electronic Dance Music

The 80s were a golden age for electronic dance music. This was the decade when artists like Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and Afrika Bambaataa created some of the most influential and timeless tracks in the genre.

Many of the most popular electronic dance music artists and bands today got their start in the 80s. This was the decade when Daft Punk, The Prodigy, and Moby first rose to prominence.

If you’re a fan of electronic dance music, then you owe a debt of gratitude to the artists and bands who pioneered the genre in the 80s. Here are some of the most essential acts from that decade.

The Best Electronic Dance Music Artists and Bands from the 80s

The 80s was a great time for electronic dance music. Some of the best artists and bands emerged during this time. If you’re looking for some great 80s electronic dance music, look no further. In this article, we’ll countdown the best electronic dance music artists and bands from the 80s.

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode is an English electronic band that formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group’s original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan (lead vocals), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, chief songwriter after 1981), Andy Fletcher (keyboards) and Vince Clarke (keyboards, chief songwriter from 1980 until 1981). Their early music style was influenced by the electronic sound of Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder, as well as the synthesiser-driven new wave of Yellow Magic Orchestra and Human League. Depeche Mode’s success has been credited to their incorporation of new wave and synth-pop elements with an industrial rock flair.

Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk is a German electronic music band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered as innovators and pioneers of electronic music, they were the first to achieve widespread commercial success with their sound. The band’s signature style combines elements of motorik, minimalism, pop and classical music into a unique and influential whole.

The group has released eight studio albums, two live albums and a host of compilations and singles over the course of their career. They have been honored with four Grammy Awards, an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kraftwerk’s legacy can be heard in the work of countless subsequent artists, from New Wave to hip-hop to EDM.

New Order

New Order is an English rock band formed in 1980, currently composed of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert, Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman. The band was formed in 1980 by Sumner (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Morris (drums, keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar, vocals) and Gilbert (keyboards, vocals), following the departure of Bernard Albrecht from Joy Division. They released their debut album Movement in 1981 and their best-known hit singles “Blue Monday” and “Confusion” the following year.

New Order’s post-punk sound initially combined synthesizers with the rock instrumentation of guitar, bass and drums; while retaining Joy Division’s danceable rhythms and dark lyrical themes. They produced a number of critically acclaimed albums throughout the 80s and early 90s; but struggled with internal conflict due to drug abuse within the band, leading to the departures of Morris in 1988 and Hook in 2007. New Order embarked on a reunion tour in 2011 which culminated in a performance at the 2012 London Olympics’ closing ceremony; before Gilbert left the group again in October that year. Chapman joined New Order as their permanent drummer after the conclusion of their last album campaign with Gilbert in 2015; with Phil Cunningham replacing her on guitars for live performances two years later.

The Cure

The Cure is a British rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1976. The group has experienced several line-up changes, with Robert Smith being the only constant member. The Cure first gained popularity in the late 1970s with their debut album, Three Imaginary Boys (1979). This was followed by several more successful albums, including Pornography (1982), Disintegration (1989), and Wish (1992). By the 1990s, the band had sold more than 27 million records worldwide and had become one of the best-selling groups of all time.

The band has experienced several lineup changes over the years, with Robert Smith being the only constant member. The Cure first gained popularity in the late 1970s with their debut album, Three Imaginary Boys (1979). The album was followed by several more successful albums, including Pornography (1982), Disintegration (1989), and Wish (1992). By the 1990s, the band had sold more than 27 million records worldwide and had become one of the best-selling groups of all time.

The Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music band formed in London in 1981. The group consists of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. They are one of the most successful electronic music bands of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and their work has been hugely influential on popular culture.

The Pet Shop Boys began their career as part of the new wave scene of the early 1980s, releasing their debut single “West End Girls” in 1984. The song was a worldwide hit, reaching number one in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany. It helped to establish them as leading lights of the British new wave and synth-pop movements.

Over the next few years, the Pet Shop Boys released a string of increasingly successful singles and albums, including “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” (1985), “Suburban Decay” (1985), “Pretty In Pink” (1986), “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” (1987), “. com” (1987), “Always On My Mind” (1987), “Left to My Own Devices” (1988), and “Domino Dancing” (1988). These tracks helped to solidify their position as one of the most successful British pop groups of all time.

In addition to their work as a recording artist, the Pet Shop Boys have also been prolific remixers over the years, working with everyone from Madonna to Dusty Springfield to Kylie Minogue. They have also written hits for other artists, including Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983) and Donna Summer’s “This Time I Know It’s for Real” (1989).

The Pet Shop Boys continue to be active today, releasing new music and touring regularly. They are widely regarded as one of the best electronic dance music artists and bands of all time.

The Legacy of 80s Electronic Dance Music

Electronic dance music has come a long way since the 80s. The pioneers of the genre laid the foundation for what would become one of the most popular genres of music today. Here are some of the best electronic dance music artists and bands from the 80s.

The influence of 80s electronic dance music on today’s artists

Although electronic dance music has been around for decades, it wasn’t until the 1980s that it started to gain mainstream popularity. The pioneering artists of this era created a new sound that would go on to influence countless other artists and bands.

Today, many of the biggest names in electronic dance music cite the 80s as a major inspiration. Artists like Skrillex, Deadmau5, and Calvin Harris have all spoken about how influential the music of this era was on their own work.

The legacy of 80s electronic dance music can still be heard in today’s charts. Many of the biggest hits in recent years have been heavily influenced by the sounds of this era. So next time you’re dancing to your favorite song, remember the pioneers who started it all.

The enduring popularity of 80s electronic dance music

From the founding of disco in the 1970s to the synth-pop explosion of the early 1980s, electronic dance music has had a profound and lasting impact on popular culture. Today, EDM is more popular than ever, with top DJs and producers regularly topping the charts and selling out stadiums around the world.

But where did it all begin? The history of EDM is often told through the stories of its pioneers, those groundbreaking artists and bands who paved the way for today’s superstars. Here are just a few of the most influential EDM acts of the 1980s.

Kraftwerk
Arguably the most important electronic band of all time, Kraftwerk were true innovators, experimenting with synthesizers and other newfangled technology to create a completely new sound. Their influence can be heard in everything from techno to hip-hop, making them one of the most important progenitors of modern electronic music.

Yellow Magic Orchestra
Another hugely influential electronic band, Yellow Magic Orchestra combined elements of disco, funk, and pop with cutting-edge synth work to create a unique and timeless sound. They were also one of the first groups to fuse traditional Japanese instruments with electronic music, paving the way for a whole new subgenre.

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
One of hip-hop’s earliest innovators, Afrika Bambaataa was one of the first DJs to incorporate electronic beats into his tracks. His 1982 song “Planet Rock” was a huge hit, bridging the gap between rap and dance music and helping to introduce electro to a wider audience. Bambaataa’s influence can still be heard in today’s EDM scene.

New Order
New Order were one of the most successful bands to emerge from England’s post-punk scene, fusing rock with danceable synth-pop to create a string of timeless hits. Though they underwent several lineup changes over their career, they always remained at the forefront of electronic music, consistently pushing boundaries and experimenting with new sounds.