20 Photos Of '80s Musicians That Look Very Ridiculous Now

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20 Photos Of '80s Musicians That Look Very Ridiculous Now

Time to tease that hair and force your way into some neon spandex.

Published 5 months ago

Bands in the ‘80s are mostly known for rock anthems and their bold, extravagant styles. The colors were bright, the clothes were tight, and certain substances had them rockin’ all night. Don’t get us started on the hair.

Music in the ‘80s was wildly diverse, but even slightly less flashy genres than glam metal (like new wave, synth-pop, and hip-hop) were pretty out there stylistically as well.

Maybe it was that new MTV thing that had all these groups flying right over the top. Either way, here are 20 ‘80s artists that’d seem like aliens to the young folk of today.

1
The Clash
With their new wave of British punk rock, they look like kids "dressing punk" to impress their actual-punk older brothers.

2
Poison
The poster children for '80s Glam Metal, Poison's overly feminine look was highly polarizing in the conventionally macho metal world.

3
The Cure
With their very gothic style, The Cure gave every '80s dad something to roll their eyes at (while worrying about their daughters).

4
The New Kids on the Block
Credited as the first boy band, they tried to present as somewhat edgy but were overall way too pretty for that. Gen Z would definitely get behind that hair though.

5
Run-DMC
Artists like LL Cool J and Run-DMC brought the Kangol hat to new heights in the '80s. Kids today might ask why they wore bells on their heads, but they were very cool in '80s hip-hop.

6
Grace Jones
This Jamaican-American model, singer/songwriter was known for her striking androgynous appearance, and avant-garde fashion. The flat top hair stayed in the '80s but she could still rock any current catwalk.

7
Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force
Power Rangers villains? Nope. Bambaataa was actually a key figure in the development of hip-hop, and was known for blending various genres while remaining steeped in African and Indigenous cultures.

8
Cyndi Lauper
Girls just want to have fun indeed. Cyndi Lauper's look represented the brighter, more playful side of punk, with some Motley Crue on the side. Very '80s.

9
Boy George
Boy George's eclectic style is famously bright and androgynous, which challenged traditional gender norms. Kids today might see a flamboyant rooster, but they should pipe down, because he was a significant icon for the LGBTQ+ community.

10
Rick James
You probably read his name in Dave Chappelle's voice, but believe it or not, this is what peak manliness looked like in the '80s.

11
Guns N' Roses
Welcome to the jungle! The jungle of hair, bandanas, and top hats? Quite the combo.

12
Salt-N-Pepa
With their iconic "Push It" jackets, they had a very uniquely feminine take on '80s hip-hop style. It's bright and cartoonish but also kind of timeless.

13
Beastie Boys
Pictured here with Rick Rubin, they began as a punk band who dove right into '80s hip-hop.

14
Duran Duran
Heavily influenced by something called "the New Romantic movement," they were known for their androgynous style, characterized by tailored suits and flamboyant accessories.