15. The Police
Formed in London in 1977, The Police were first labeled as new wave. However, the band played a blend of rock, reggae, jazz, and punk. Success came in the 1980s, with a string of top ten hits including “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (#3) and “Every Breath You Take” (#1). Only releasing five studio albums, The Police are one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 75 million records sold worldwide.
14. Van Halen
Van Halen was formed in 1973 but the 1980s was their most successful era. Fans called the incarnation with singer Sammy Hagar “Van Hagar.” 1983’s “Jump” was the band’s first #1 single thanks to heavy MTV play. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. At that point, Van Halen had sold 75 million albums worldwide.
13. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers formed in Florida in 1976. They had 3 successful albums during the 70s, but they had numerous radio hits during the 1980s that propelled the group into the mainstream. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
12. R.E.M.
R.E.M was formed in 1980 and is considered among the first alternative rock bands. Two songs broke the top ten on the Hot 100 chart during the 80s: “The One I Love” (#9) and “Stand” (#6). R.E.M released 15 studio albums, selling more than 90 million albums worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
11. Scorpions
Formed in Germany in 1965, Scorpions saw success in the 70s but skyrocketed during the 1980s and continued into the 90s. Their success was largely due to FM radio and heavy touring. They cracked the top 40 once with “Rock You Like a Hurricane” (#25) in 1984. Scorpions have sold between 75-100 million records worldwide.
