Hard Rock — 1980s Genre Guide

Hard rock and hair metal dominated 1980s arenas and MTV. Explore the genre's biggest bands, anthems and albums.

1980s hard rock — including the more glamorous offshoot known as hair metal — defined arena music for an entire generation. From Mötley Crüe's debauched theatrics to Bon Jovi's mass-appeal anthems, the genre was built for MTV and stadium tours.

Key artists

• Bon Jovi — Hair-metal's biggest pop crossover.
• Def Leppard — Sheffield's stadium-rock perfectionists.
• Mötley Crüe — Sunset Strip excess turned into a global brand.
• Guns N' Roses — Brought danger back to hard rock.
• Poison — Glam-metal pop hits and ballads.