BBC Music’s underrated 1980s list forgot these 3 bands

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BBC Music regularly publishes ‘best of’ lists, and that’s great! It’s impressive how many they create, even if you don’t always agree with their choices. Even when they get it wrong, their lists are still enjoyable to read.

Writer Steve Wright recently explored overlooked bands from the 1980s, a time when many groups focused more on music videos than on creating strong albums. As a result, a lot of great music from that decade got lost in the rise of MTV, but plenty of fantastic songs are still waiting to be discovered.

Wright’s list of twelve underappreciated bands is strong. While some might question the inclusion of the Replacements – they often appear on lists like this, making them less ‘underrated’ – his choice of Killing Joke is a good one.

Three bands that should have been on BBC Music’s underrated 1980s list

I could have included more bands on the list, but space was limited. These three groups were also strong contenders and deserved consideration.

The Time

Morris Day and his band, The Time, achieved lasting fame through their appearance in the classic film Purple Rain. Day played the villain, and The Time served as the movie’s featured band. Interestingly, Morris Day and Prince were close friends, and Prince actually wrote many of The Time’s hit songs, which likely contributed to their success.

A few of the songs were overly suggestive, but many were fantastic and showcased impressive musical skill. While Prince played a large part in that, particularly on tracks like “777-9311,” The Time had real talent, especially in their production. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, for example, went on to produce major hits for Janet Jackson, including her album Control.

The Fixx

Even back in the 1980s, the Fixx had a unique sound. It wasn’t quite industrial, but also didn’t fit neatly into the mainstream pop scene. Their hit song, “Saved by Zero,” is surprisingly unconventional for a song that became so popular.

The Fixx were a thoughtful and atmospheric band whose music still sounds fresh and exciting after 40 years. Songs like “Stand or Fall,” “One Thing Leads to Another,” and “Our We Ourselves?” deserve more recognition. They even backed up Tina Turner on her popular song, “Better Be Good to Me.”

Mission to Burma

Mission of Burma, a post-punk band from Boston, inspired many bands that formed years later, including one fronted by Dave Grohl. Their most impactful work, however, was created during a brief four-year period. While they reunited in the early 2000s, the reunion lacked the presence of Martin Swope, the engineer who was crucial to the band’s unique sound.

Mission to Burma only released one full album, called Vs. It perfectly showcases the band’s energetic live sound, which was truly where they shined. This album is a fantastic, often overlooked treasure from the 1980s that any music fan would enjoy having.

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2026-05-22 02:30