If you are a fan of bold fashion, big hair, shoulder pads, and blockbuster action movies, then you would have loved the 1980s. If not, then you might want to use your time machines to venture back to a different decade. Other than what we mentioned above, another cultural trait that defined the 1980s was the drastic musical shift that transpired. In essence, the world went from The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac to Madonna and Duran Duran. So, for classic rock fans, it wasn’t the ideal transformation. Here are three underrated rock artists from the 1980s who didn’t have big hair or use drum machines!

The Replacements

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, The Replacements were one of the most important bands in the growth of alternative rock. Like most early alternative rock bands, The Replacements failed to garner major commercial success, but they had a loyal cult following all the way up until their dissolution in 1991.

Don’t expect any distracting theatrics or cop-out music tactics; expect exceptional, authentic music, because that is what they made. Some of the alternative band’s more notable tracks include “Can’t Hardly Wait”, “I Will Dare”, “Unsatisfied”, and “Left Of The Dial”. On several songs, it’s truly difficult to tell if this band is from the 1970s or the 1980s.

The Chameleons

If you mixed Nirvana with U2, you’d come out with The Chameleons. Formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 1981, The Chameleons didn’t fall into the fads of the 1980s. Rather, they seemingly stayed true to their artistic vision and consequently produced records that went against the music industry’s equation for success.

Like The Replacement’s, The Chameleons weren’t a band that generated commercial success, but they had one heck of a cult following. The Chameleons are often cited as one of the most influential bands in the post-punk movement, and that is in part thanks to their songs “View From A Hill”, “Here Today”, and “Pleasure And Pain”.

Hüsker Dü

Also hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hüsker Dü was a hardcore indie-alternative rock band whose work pioneered modern indie rock. If you want an easy listen, these guys have it. If you want ear-drum-shattering music, these guys have that too. In other words, these guys could do it all, but they didn’t take part in the commercial movement that their contemporaries, such as The Police and The Cure, took part in.

Again, these guys have a little bit of everything in their music. Some of their most memorable and influential work include their albums, Zen Arcade and New Day Rising. Furthermore, their more notable singles are “Pink Turns To Blue”, “Celebrated Summer”, and “Could You Be The One?”.

Courtesy of Rhino