Acts who didn't suck in my world
Northern Uk/Manchester Acts; Joy Division, who went on to become New Order, The Smiths, The Chameleons, Durutti Column, Inspiral Carpets, Orchestral Maneuvers in The Dark (OMD did suck after about album no. 4)
The Police
Dire Straits
Stevie Ray Vaughan & David Bowie
Australian & NZ local acts: Icehouse, Hunters and Collectors, Hoodoo Gurus, Late Cold Chisel, Split Enz, The Chills, The Clean, The Church
B52's & R.E.M. from Athens Georgia
The Fripp, Belew, Bruford, Levinson incarnation of King Crimson
Talking Heads
Midnight Oil
The Replacements
Stan Ridgway was cool
I'm slowly getting into the U.S. 80's punk material Minor Threat, Black Flag, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys etc
The Jesus and Mary Chain (just recently found out about these Scottish guys and their heavy distorted fuzz)
Early U2 up until about Rattle and Hum
No-one mentioned Simple Minds, I still think their great.
Iron Maiden
Motorhead
Metallica's first three albums thanks
@Delmarva &
@heavyrock (these two guys know a heap of 80's heavy material that doesn't suck)
Springsteen released some great stuff including the gorgeous "Nebraska"
Beastie Boys (Another band I didn't have much interest at the time but really enjoy them now, developed from frat boy rappers to quite a sophisticated unit.)
Brian Eno and most on this chart connected to Eno
& Then in 89
The Pixies
The Stone Roses
Rage Against the Machine
Nirvana
Galaxie 500
Slint