The ten 80s bands that would make most money by re-forming

 

The announcement that Spandau Ballet are to reform spurred  Times Money into having a think about which Eighties bands would generate the most money by getting together again.
Here is our list:

1) Wham
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley (pictured above) formed what many regard as the ultimate Eighties duo. In their brief five years’ existence Wham topped the charts with half a dozen singles, including “I’m Your Man" and “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go”. Michael and Ridgeley split up in 1986 after a farewell concert at Wembley.

Archive: Wham!, the boys who are a hit with everyone (1985)

2) Culture Club
Culture Club was formed in the early Eighties by Boy George, who was, by some way, the band’s most famous member and who went on, like George Michael, to a successful solo career. Their 1982 single “Do you Really Want to Hurt Me” rocketed to number one in the UK and topped the charts in more than a dozen other countries. It was followed in 1983 by “Karma Chameleon”, which was an even bigger hit, selling 1.4 million copies. The band broke up in 1986 after repeated arguments. There was a brief reunion, lasting from 1998 to 2002.

Archive: Culture Club live at Brighton Centre (1983)

3) The Smiths
Although they never had a single that charted higher than number 10 in the UK, the Smiths attracted a large cult following. They were actively championed by the late John Peel, the DJ, and have been described as one of the most important alternative rock bands to emerge from the 1980s. Morrissey, the vocalist, must rank as the most famous member of the band.

Their first album, “The Smiths” reached number two in the charts, while “Meat is Murder” was the band’s only number one album. They split up in 1987 as their fourth album “Strangeways Here We Come” was released.

Archive: The Smiths live at the Lyceum (1984)

4) The Housemartins
Another alternative rock band that was backed by John Peel, the Housemartins enjoyed a brief spell of fame in the mid Eighties. Their single “Happy Hour” reached number three in the charts and they narrowly missed out on having the number one single at Christmas 1986 with “Caravan of Love”. The band split in 1988.

5) Dire Straits
Often seen as the archetypal Eighties band, Dire Straits were actually formed in the late Seventies. However their greatest successes were all in the following decade. Their 1982 album “Love Over Gold” reached number one in the UK, while “Brothers in Arms” became the best-selling album of 1985. Several tracks on the album became chart singles, including “Money for Nothing” and “Walk of Life”.

After a very successful world tour in 1985-1986 the band broke up and reformed several times between 1988 and 1995.

Archive: Dire Straits: Graceful strengths (1984)

6) Bros
Bros were a very successful boy band of the 1980s and early 1990s. The trio consisted of Craig Logan and twin brothers Matt and Luke Goss. They racked up a total of 11 top 40 singles and three top 20 albums. The single “When Will I be Famous” reached number two in the charts in 1987 and the following year the band reached number one with “I Owe You Nothing”.
The band split in 1992.

7) Bow Wow Wow
This New Wave band was originally formed in 1980 by Malcolm McLaren to promote the fashion items created by him and Vivienne Westwood, his business partner. The band was fronted by a 14-year-old singer, Annabella Lwin.

In 1982 the band had their first top ten hit with “Go Wild in the Country”, followed by their most popular single “I Want Candy” but tensions within the group led to a split in 1983.

The band was reformed between 1997-1998 and again from 2003 to 2006.

8) The Stone Roses
Formed in Manchester in 1984, The Stone Roses became one of the UK’s leading alternative rock bands. They scored a big hit with their debut album “The Stone Roses” in 1989. The same year they won four NME awards, one of which was for their single “Fool’s Gold”.

In the 1990s they suffered from a long-running battle with their record label and underwent several changes of line-up, before disbanding in 1996.

9) Frankie Goes to Hollywood
The band, formed in 1980, are perhaps most famous for their debut single “relax”, which was banned by the BBC but still topped the singles charts for five weeks in 1984. The two following singles “Two Tribes” and “The Power of Love”, also made it to number one, making the band only the second in history to reach number one with their first three singles (the first was Gerry and the Pacemakers). They broke up in 1987 but reformed for the three years from 2004 to 2007.

Archive: Relax, it's only a pop group (1985) (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)

10) Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan
No list of eighties music stars would be complete without Kylie and Jason. The co-stars of the TV soap “Neighbours” joined forces to sing for the record label PWL. Their single “Especially for You” was the fourth-highest selling single in the UK in 1989. Both have gone on to enjoy major solo recording careers but if the two singers were to get together again their appearances would be a guaranteed sell-out. 

Have we missed out any great eighties bands that could make millions by getting together again? Have your say below. And have your say on our selection by voting in our e-Poll below.

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Comments

[Wham! Fan]

Wham!, not Wham.

Get it right.

[Mal]

The Smiths no 3!! I think not, easily no 1, head and shoulders above anything else before and since

[Tim]

My teenage years and early twenties coincided with the eighties, a truly terrible decade for music, as witnessed by most of the above list. I would hate to see the return of Wham!, Culture Club and the Housemartins (who I remember playing our Hall of Residence) but I wouldn't complain too much if The Fine Young Cannibals were to make a return. In my mind, very much a product of the eighties but still quite listenable to, unlike most of the above. In truth, though, I just wish my musical youth (...hmmm Musical Youth ... no there wasn't a band) had coincided with the nineties.

[mike]

What about the Strangers with Hugh Cornwoll back at the helm

[AMC]

What about Echo & the Bunnymen!!
Bump of Kylie & Jason.

[Arf]

The writer might have added that it is unlikely that Culture Club and particularly Frankie goes to Hollywood will be reforming in the near future, given that the lead singer of the former is in chokey for the forseeable future, while the latter band's vocalist died several years ago. And Morrissey would never reform the Smiths, as he would not want to be instrumental in helping Johnny Marr and the other two to expand their pension funds.

[mike]

What about The Stranglers with Hugh Cornwell back at the helm?

[Patrick Bateman]

What kind of f***ery is this?

Where is Huey Lewis and the News??

[Matt]

How about Guns N' F*in Roses? The REAL one not just Axl's hired hands.

[Alex]

Holly Johnson is not dead - he may be HIV positive, but he is still very much alive.

P.S. The Smiths were bad enough first time round - please don't subject us to them again. Only the worst kind of pseudo intellectual idiots would be interested, and I was happy to leave them behind the moment I left education.

[Randy]

Alex. Are you trolling???

The Smiths were amazing. Fact.

[Gareth]

How about the first album line-up of The Sisters Of Mercy

[datsun]

talking heads

[Vincent]

"Several tracks on the album became chart singles, including “Money for Nothing” and “Walk of Life”"

Yeeesh! DUH! Who wrote this?

[Jo]

Much as I adore the Smiths and Morrissey,a reunion would be a disaster. You can't improve on perfection.

[sergio]

por favor julio iglesias y begin the beguine 1981. muy muy COOL

[Scott Benowitz]

"Now look at them yo-yos that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on the mtv...
That aint workin
That's the way you do it
Money for nothin and chicks for free
Now that aint workin',
That's the way you do it...
Lemme tell ya them guys aint dumb..."
-M. Knopfler, 1985

[Alison]

Blancmange

[Martin]

Definitely Japan! Messrs Sylvian and Karn and co are long overdue some recognition......

[garry hoggan]

I still love Johnny Marr, but I can't stand the Morrissey of now, and have no wish to see him pretend to be someone he patently isn't anymore.

Stone Roses I can see happening, and I can see being good, too.

As for the others...those people shouldn't be allowed to even talk to each other, after what they did together.

[Mr Mullet]

timmy malet should come back with itsy bitsy teeny weeny style covers. crrrrr-acking!

[Jimmy]

Please, not the Smiths. I adore them, but their youthful exuberance was beautiful in its fleetingness (if that's a word). It would make a lot of money, of course, but at what cost to the albums? They would never sound the same again!

The idea of a Smiths reunion makes me glad that Morrissey is an intransigent oaf.

[JJ Flash]

Talking Heads

[Snapperboy]

What No Adam and the Ants?

[Niko2]

@ Sisters of Mercy. I saw them last month and the singer war really really bad. Getting together the original lineup wouldn't change this. My choice would be the Dead Kennedys, Japan, Living Colour. Cheers

[WOW WOW WOW!]

Great that someone appreciate Bow Wow Wow. Best band 20th century without doubt. There Fools Rush In is F****** AWESOME. Check it on YouTube

[Jeff]

No love for OMD?

[Vicky]

Jeff. Don't worry! OMD have already done the reunion thing, recently touring.

[madgooner]

The Jam?

The real stars for me would be

The Photos (With Wendy not without)
Any Trouble (Gregson is a missed hero)
Vapors (forget Turning Japenese listen to the rest)

Big Country but sadly not possible...rip

[James]

Tubeway Army, and Japan.

[David]

Squeeze

[juls]

1. Bucks Fizz
2. Human League + Heaven 17
3. Kid Creole & The Coconuts
4. Prefab Sprout
5. Orange juice + Aztec Camera
6. Madness

[James E. Mahon]

Bros ? Oh come off it.

Here are some:

Adam and the Ants
ABC
Tears for Fears
Bananarama
Soft Cell
The Style Council
Simply Red

Apparently, Pet Shop Boys never disbanded, and The Pogues have kept going in some form, and The Psychedelic Furs have reformed, and... oh... enough already.

[brendan donaldson]

you have to be kidding me guys, the only band of the 80's that a world tour would generate a S@#$load of money and guarenteed sellouts for as long as they are together... is the original GUNS'N'ROSES.
there is no debating it ask anyone if they could have a ticket to gnr or kylie come on?!!!!

[Carl]

There are many bands that would make shed-loads of money if they re-formed, but for me by far the most popular and biggest income generating would be the Smiths and the Jam.

[Graham]

Are there no Ultravox fans on here?

[Kurt S]

Brendan Donaldson: Guns 'n' Roses is girly music, y'know?? Cussing in your post don't make you the man..

[Dan]

None of them. I want to remember those that soundtracked my adolescence as they were and not as middle aged simulations of their former selves.

Those with the talent and need to reinvent themselves have done so nicely. Those that haven't can stay in the past.

[eric]

siouxsie & the banshees 13yr itch maybe!

[lee]

ahem, Holly from Frankie did not die several years ago, he's very much alive and well! ARF wants to check his facts a bit!

as for the reunions, the orginal Frankie back together would make more money than Bros, Bow Wow Wow and Housemartins combined...

[Tim Footman]

Alex: "pseudo intellectual idiots" liked the Smiths?

What, those tiresome individuals who read books?

[Toyahtastic]

The original Toyah band with Joel Bogen and co which split in 1983.

[Ron Hill]

Culture Club, don't make me laugh! Insipid, off the shelf, formulatic reggae pop.

Apart from one or two exceptions his could easily be who don't you want to reform!

[Garry H]

Tim, let's be honest: there ARE a lot of pseudo-intellectuals who like The Smiths. There are a lot of pseudo-intellectuals who read books, too.

[Floozy]

DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS

The original line-up

YES. YES. YES. YES.

[higgs]

ALEX

Thanks for telling it like it is about those pretentious poseurs, The Smiths and their legions of twaddle-spouting fans.

[Alan]

Bring back DOLLAR - David Van Day and Thereza Bazar for a proper run of concerts.

I's also like to see Imagination back as the original trio, Bucks Fizz as the original 4 piece and the original trop Bananarama.

[Olaf Schrauwers]

I Vote For Dollar, the Best there is!!!!!

[Lee Butler]

Blondie - with Frankie Infante, Jimmy Destri and Nigel Harrison

Ie the line up that made them famous!

[Jamie]

Bring back Dollar!!!!

[ACN]

How about TALK TALK?

[Winner]

What is Dollar?? Some lame yank act?

[sendalittlesign]

The Smiths, of course, oh dear, that would be heavenly...
Or Propaganda, with the one and only Claudia Brucken, just sheer paradise...

[Alan Ford]

Yazoo
Ultravox
Thompson Twins

[Jason]

For R&B, it has to be SHALAMAR. They had Howard Hewett, Jodie Watley and Jeffrey Daniel. Howard and Jodie went onto great solo careers, and Jeffery taught Michael Jackson how to do the moonwalk and how to "Pop and Lock". SHALAMAR was a force!

[Dave]

Wot? No Queen?

[paddylad]

yes i say bring back Dollar also!!

[diogenes]

What devilry is this? A very thin excuse for a Money column. Must be a slow day in Wapping.

A Dollar reunion, though, would be cool.

[tim]

Yes. What kind of lamery is this?

[Austin Tassletine]

Re package, reissue repackage ...

And paint a vulgar picture ..

[Phil]

Definitely Ultravox and Japan. Kajagoogoo anyone? Love the hair! {Snigger}.

[Mr Motown]

Good popular music ceased at the close of 1979. Fact.

[Kevin Smith]

Please bring back Bad News, even though they didn't have the depth of Spinal Tap.

[MC]

Brap brap brap.

[Donny The Trumpet]

Bring back Onionhead..and Screaming Blue Messiahs...and definitely Throwing Muses (or Muesli's as they were often misquoted as)...

[Celine Dion]

Let it be. This is how it works. Things happen. Things stop. Myth's are myth's.

Ok, Morris minor and the majors. I haven't heard "stutter-rap" for a long time.

[Dave]

Got to agree with the others about Dollar. One of the most attractive, innovative and succesful duos of the 80s or any decade for that matter. David Van Day was a plonker but Thereza Bazar, apart from being a great singer was the sexiest woman of the 20th century only to be bettered by Anne Hathaway in the 21st.

[Anthony Richmond Clarke]

Bring back 52nd Street !! One of the 80's most underrated funk/soul acts ever !!

[Anthony Richmond Clarke]

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15423770491&ref=ts

[Anthony Richmond Clarke]

Bring back 52nd Street ! One of the UK's most underrated and best funk/soul bands ever !!!