Best 80s Rock Bands to Play on Guitar

 From new wave and reggae-influenced pop to glam metal and straight-ahead rock, this decade delivered some of the most recognizable songs ever written. On this page, you'll find acoustic guitar lessons inspired by many of the best 80s rock bands, featuring music that continues to be popular with players and listeners alike.

Whether you enjoy melodic hooks, driving rhythms, or unforgettable choruses, these arrangements offer a great way to learn classic songs from one of the most creative periods in rock history. Players of all skill levels will find plenty of timeless material to add to their acoustic guitar repertoire.

All You Zombies was the breakthrough single from The Hooters and appeared on their 1985 album Nervous Night. Written by band members Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman, the song blends rock, folk, and biblical imagery into a powerful commentary on faith and society.

Released as the album's first single, it reached No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100, though it became a much bigger success in Europe, particularly in Germany and Switzerland.

The dramatic music video received regular airplay on MTV and helped introduce the band to an international audience. Known for its distinctive melodica and soaring chorus, the song remains one of The Hooters' most ambitious and enduring recordings.

Deliver Me appeared on The Hooters' 1989 album Zig Zag. Written by Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman, the song blended folk-rock melodies with thoughtful lyrics about searching for hope and direction during difficult times.

Although it was not released as a major North American single, the recording helped showcase the more mature and reflective sound the band explored on Zig Zag. A promotional video was produced to support the album, which received stronger attention in Europe than in the United States.

Featuring rich harmonies, jangling guitars, and the band's trademark melodic style, “Deliver Me” remains a favorite among longtime Hooters fans and highlights the group's ability to combine meaningful lyrics with accessible rock arrangements.

Satellite was one of The Hooters' biggest hits and was also featured on their 1985 album Nervous Night. Written by Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman, the song uses a catchy rock arrangement to question the influence of televangelism and mass media.

Released as the fourth single from the album, it reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a radio favorite thanks to its memorable melody and thought-provoking lyrics. A colorful music video was produced and received substantial exposure on MTV during the band's commercial peak.

The song has remained a staple of The Hooters' live performances and captures the band's talent for combining socially aware themes with accessible pop-rock hooks.

Your Love  was the signature hit for The Outfield and appeared on their 1985 debut album Play Deep. Written by guitarist John Spinks, the song tells the story of a late-night phone call and a relationship on shaky ground.

Released as the album's second single, it climbed to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band's biggest success in the United States, where they enjoyed far greater popularity than in their native UK. The energetic music video received frequent rotation on MTV and helped establish the group's clean, melodic sound.

Covered by artists including Miley Cyrus and featured in numerous films and television shows, "Your Love" remains one of the most recognizable rock songs of the 1980s.

Angel Of The Morning was written by Chip Taylor and became a major hit for The Pretenders when they recorded it for the 1986 film Legal Eagles. The song was later included on the soundtrack album and released as a single, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 in Canada.

Chrissie Hynde delivered a powerful vocal that introduced the classic ballad to a new generation. A promotional video helped support the release during the band's commercial peak. The song had previously been recorded by Merrilee Rush in 1968 and later by Juice Newton in 1981, making The Pretenders' version part of a long and successful recording history.

Back On The Chain Gang appeared on The Pretenders' 1984 album Learning to Crawl, though it was first released as a single in 1982.

Written by Chrissie Hynde, the song was inspired by the death of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and carries both sadness and determination. It reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 17 in the UK, becoming one of the band's biggest hits. The accompanying music video received heavy airplay on MTV.

Billy Bremner played lead guitar on the recording, helping preserve the sound and spirit of the original Pretenders lineup.

I'll Stand By You was released by The Pretenders on their 1994 album Last of the Independents. Written by Chrissie Hynde with Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, the song offered a heartfelt message of loyalty and support.

It became an international hit, reaching No. 10 in the United States and No. 16 in the UK. The emotional music video helped make it one of the group's best-known later recordings.

The song has since been covered by artists including Girls Aloud and Carrie Underwood, and it remains one of Chrissie Hynde's most enduring compositions.

Talk Of The Town first appeared as a single by The Pretenders in 1980 and was later included on their 1981 extended play Extended Play and the U.S. version of Pretenders II.

This number was written by Chrissie Hynde, the song combines a gentle melody with lyrics about distance and longing. It reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the band's early signature recordings. Although it predates MTV, promotional footage and later live performances helped keep the song in circulation.

Its shimmering guitar work and understated vocal have made it a favorite among fans and one of the most elegant songs in The Pretenders' catalog.

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) was the breakthrough international hit for The Proclaimers and appeared on their 1988 album Sunshine on Leith. Written by twin brothers Charlie Reid and Craig Reid, the song was built around a simple promise of devotion and an instantly recognizable marching rhythm.

Released as a single in 1988, it reached No. 11 in the UK and later climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993 after being featured in the film Benny & Joon. The energetic music video highlighted the duo's distinctive style and helped broaden their appeal.

Covered by numerous artists and widely used in films, commercials, and sporting events, the song remains one of the most beloved sing-along anthems of the 1980s.

It's 7 o'clock was the opening track on The Quireboys' 1990 debut album A Bit of What You Fancy. Written by frontman Spike and guitarist Guy Bailey, the song captures the band's love of gritty, blues-based rock in the tradition of Faces and The Rolling Stones.

Released as the group's debut single in 1989, it reached No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart and introduced listeners to Spike's raspy voice and the band's swaggering sound.

A lively promotional video received regular exposure on music television during the rise of hard rock. Although never a major North American hit, "7 O'Clock" helped establish The Quireboys as one of the standout British rock acts of the early 1990s.

Baby I Love You was originally written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector and first became a hit for The Ronettes in 1963.

Ramones recorded their version for the 1980 album End of the Century, which was produced by Spector himself. Released as a single, it reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart, giving the band one of their biggest commercial successes.

The recording featured Joey Ramone's heartfelt vocal and a lush arrangement that blended punk energy with classic pop production. A promotional video helped support the release, and the song became a concert favorite that showed the Ramones' deep admiration for the music of the early 1960s.

And She Was appeared on Talking Heads' 1985 album Little Creatures. Written by David Byrne, the song was inspired by a friend who described lying in a field and feeling as if she were floating above the ground.

Released as a single, it reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the band's most accessible pop hits. The inventive animated music video received heavy rotation on MTV and helped introduce the song to a broader audience.

With its bright guitar lines and playful lyrics, "And She Was" showed a lighter side of Talking Heads while maintaining the quirky style that made the group so distinctive.

Psycho Killer was the first single released by Talking Heads and appeared on their 1977 debut album Talking Heads: 77.

Written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth, the song combines nervous vocals with a driving bass line and a few lines sung in French. Although it was only a modest chart success at the time, it became one of the band's best-known recordings and a defining song of the new wave era.

A performance-based video was later created and received regular airplay on MTV. The song has been covered by artists ranging from Velvet Revolver to Miley Cyrus.

Take Me To The River was written by Al Green and Mabon and first became a soul hit for Green in 1974. Talking Heads recorded their version for the 1978 album More Songs About Buildings and Food, produced by Brian Eno.

Released as a single, it reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band's first major commercial success. The song's hypnotic groove and unusual arrangement helped introduce Talking Heads to a much wider audience.

A music video was later created for MTV, and the recording remains one of the most celebrated reinterpretations of a classic soul song.

End Of The Line was one of the standout tracks from Traveling Wilburys' 1988 debut album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1.

Written by all five members—George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan—the song carries a relaxed message about enjoying life and accepting what comes. Released as a single in early 1989, it reached the Top 30 in the United States and received substantial airplay on both radio and MTV.

The memorable video paid tribute to Roy Orbison, who died shortly before its release, by showing his guitar rocking gently in an empty chair.

Handle With Care was the first song recorded by Traveling Wilburys and unexpectedly led to the formation of the group itself. It appeared on their 1988 debut album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 and was written jointly by George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan.

Released as the album's lead single, it reached No. 2 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and introduced listeners to the rare chemistry between five legendary artists.

The warm, playful video featured all members sharing lead vocals, helping make the song one of the most beloved collaborations in rock history.

You Took My Breath Away was featured on Traveling Wilburys' second and final studio album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, released in 1990.

Written by George Harrison and Jeff Lynne, the song is a gentle love ballad sung by Harrison with the group's trademark layered harmonies. Unlike the album's singles, this track was not released separately and did not chart, but it has become a favorite among fans for its understated beauty and heartfelt lyric.

No official music video was produced, yet the song highlights the quieter and more reflective side of this remarkable supergroup.

Red Red Wine is actually a Neil Diamond song which he first released back in 1967. UB40 decided to cover this number and included it as a track on their 1983 album Labour Of Love.

The song topped the charts in the UK and made it to #34 in the US. Neil Diamond liked the Reggae so much that he now performs that version in his concerts instead of the acoustic ballad version he originally recorded.

With its laid-back groove and singable melody, “Red Red Wine” is an essential crowd-pleaser and a great intro to reggae rhythm on guitar.

I Saw Red was one of the most personal songs recorded by Warrant and appeared on their 1990 album Cherry Pie. Written by lead singer Jani Lane, the ballad was inspired by the shock of discovering his girlfriend with another man.

Released as the album's third single in 1991, it reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 in Canada, proving the band could deliver more than hard-rock party songs.

The dramatic music video, featuring Lane performing at a piano, received heavy rotation on MTV. Its heartfelt lyrics and strong melody helped make it one of Warrant's biggest hits and a standout power ballad of the early 1990s.

When The Children Cry was the breakthrough ballad for White Lion and appeared on their 1987 album Pride. Written by vocalist Mike Tramp and guitarist Vito Bratta, the song reflects on war, poverty, and the hope for a better world.

This track was released as the fourth single from the album, it climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1989 and became the band's biggest international success.

The black-and-white music video received extensive airplay on MTV and highlighted the song's serious message. Its acoustic arrangement and thoughtful lyrics set it apart from the era's typical rock ballads.