Mount Rushmore - 80s rock bands

This is a lot more broad than Southern Rock, so I will try to narrow it down.

This is not metal.
This is not rap.
This is not country.
This is not R&B, dance or hip hop.
Not synth pop.
Guitars and drums. Guitars and drums.

Without using the internet for time references, I will go with the following...

U2
The Police
The Pixies
Gund and Roses - hard call.

OK, those three are on. The fourth is where I'm having trouble.
REM? Not sure. Close, but I have a feeling I'm missing someone.
Guns and Roses? Maybe. They are more rock than metal, IMHO.
Black Crows? Maybe.
Rush? Damn, maybe.
Smashing Pumpkins?

 

Van Halen
Motley Crue
Guns and Roses
Journey

 

I'll add Prince and Bon Jovi to Liut's list.

 

Guns
Van Halen
The Police
INXS

 

I'm inclined to go...

U2
Guns 'n' Roses
The Smiths
Van Halen

The Clash misses by two weeks -- "London Calling" came out on December 14, 1979. I'm a little on the fence with Van Halen because the first two albums were released in the 70s. I might replace them with REM.

 

Groups
U2
Van Halen
The Police
Genesis

Solo
Michael Jackson
PRince
ozzy
Madonna

 

High school class of 1986 here. I'm not sure you can narrow it down to four.

You've got u2, GNR, REM, Journey, The Police, The Smiths, Talking Heads, Cars, Whitesnake, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Jane's Addiction, Bon Jovi, Sonic Youth, Pixies, Judas Priest and Black Flag in the mix. And that's just the cassettes I remember being in my car back then (not to mention the Dead).

 

Def Leppard ruled the '80s. Beginning to end. Their debut album came out in March 1980. Their first real hit came in 1981. Then Pyromania in 1983. Won best metal band at the 1989 AMAs.

Then their main songwriter Steve Clark left the band in 1990 and died in January 1991. They never hit the Top 10 again.

Def Leppard not only epitomized the 1980s, they did just about everything they are known for between Jan. 1, 1980 and Dec. 31, 1989.

 

... they are the correct choice.

This song IS the '80s. Funny thing is I heard this morning at the supermarket.

Also, it was the first champion of MTV's Friday Night Video Fights ... for like the first 6 weeks.

 

I don't know where to put The Smiths. Maybe more of a pop band? Brit pop? I love them, but I can't call them rock.

 

Can there be a side mountain for individual songs cuz this is on it.

 

This is Olaf sing metal.