60s artists who became pop stars in the 80s!

[powderfinger]

I was thinking... quite a few 60s rockers became pop stars in the 80s.

Steve Winwood-
Began his career in the 60s doing R&B, soul, and blues with Spencer Davis, Traffic (who later were more prog), and Blind Faith. Of course in the 80s he became a synth pop chart topping machine.. Back in the High Life, Valerie, Roll with It, etc.

Eric Clatpton-
For most of the 60s (and 70s), Clapton was playing blues/rock/blues rock with a handful of bands. Seems in the 80s he blew up as a pop star with songs like Forever Man, In the Way that You Use it, Bad Love, Pretending. Dude was on soundtracks, MTV, pop radio.

Members of Genesis-
Peter Gabriel went from being crossdressing fox to being an MTV video sensation with Big Time, Sledge Hammer... Phillip Collins went onto front Genesis and have a huge (and oftentimes lame) solo career in the 80s. Heck, Michael Rutherford as well.. Mike and the Mechanics.

Yes-
Yes went from being 60s/70s prog rockers to pop stars with "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Changes", etc. I don't think this pleased the diehard Yes fans.

So, can anyone else think of any examples of artists (from any decade), who became pop stars a generation later? Basically, "sell outs"... haha. jk.

[powderfinger]

I might add Cher to the list, although Cher was pretty much pop in the 60s and 70s, as well as 80s and 90s.

[Phalex]

I'm reminded of the "Super Groups"

Power Station
Traveling Wilburys
Asia
The Honey Drippers

They were mostly made up of old dudes trying to make a buck in the musical wastelands.....

[stflbn]

Journey, Kansas, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Reo Speedwagon

[Rickett Customs]

Hey, didn't Manfred Mann do this?

[PDGood]

This is an interesting topic. Jethro Tull came a bit later but also started out as blues before going pop. The Who went the other way. They started out pop and got more edge. Steely Dan (also a little later in time) went from pop to jazz.

I would just add that I don't see pop as a bad thing and I was never disappointed in Yes (or Phil Collins or Clapton for that matter). Many artists need change - it's part of the creative process. Look at how Clapton also went Unplugged. Most acts start off playing something familiar like other bands around them are playing and then find their own voice.

The Beatles actually considered themselves and R&B band in the beginning. The Stones went from pop, to rock back to pop.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by PDGood

This is an interesting topic. Jethro Tull came a bit later but also started out as blues before going pop. The Who went the other way. They started out pop and got more edge. Steely Dan (also a little later in time) went from pop to jazz.

I would just add that I don't see pop as a bad thing and I was never disappointed in Yes (or Phil Collins or Clapton for that matter). Many artists need change - it's part of the creative process. Look at how Clapton also went Unplugged. Most acts start off playing something familiar like other bands around them are playing and then find their own voice.

The Beatles actually considered themselves and R&B band in the beginning. The Stones went from pop, to rock back to pop.

Yep, Ive no problem with pop, if its good music. I absolutely loved Phil Collins as the frontman for Geneis, but didnt care much for his solo work in the 80s...except for Easy Lover, because that was overall bitchin' song.

Phalex mentioned the Travelling Wilburys. I do think a lot of old foggies were trying to cash in on pop in the 80s. I think Clapton, Winwood, and Collins were quite successful (musically). I am not as impressed with Power Station and Honeydrippers, although I did love the Wilburys.

The Beatles did this in the 80s as well. Harrison had "Got My Mind Set on You", with MTV video and all. McCartney did that ridiculous soundtrack for something.. can't even remember.. just remember the song "No More Lonley Nights", and of course who could forget "Say Say Say", his duet with Michael Jackson. Or "Ebony and Ivory" with Stevie Wonder.

Ah.. Stevie. Theres another. In the 60s and 70s Stevie was a badass. In the 80s he did I Just Called To Say I Love you... and Part Time Lovers.

[20db pad]

Tina Turner!

[powderfinger]

Tina Turner... yes.

Hell, Michael Jackson included here as well. Jackson 5 to King of Pop.

Seems like most every 80s pop star was on their 2nd wind as a musician. Except the hair bands... most of those guys were hatched in the 80s. Too bad most of them didnt stay there... sigh...

[Freez]

When it comes to former bad-ass rockers that sold out for mainstream pop success, Aerosmith is at the very top of the list!!! It's disgusting what happened to them...Joe and Steven don't even write together anymore. Listen to 70's Aerosmith, then listen to anything on Permanent Vacation or later. Doesn't even sound like the same band...

Heart also gets (dis)honorable mention in this category...

[Rockmusician]

Originally Posted by stflbn

Journey, Kansas, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Reo Speedwagon

Actually, Kansas was formed in 1970 and Journey and Cheap Trick were formed in 1973. They are not 60's artists who became pop stars in the 80's.

REO Speedwagon and Chicago were both formed in 1967 so they do belong on the list.

[steamthief]

The Moody Blues. For a 70's band that went candy-ass, Heart.

[Rockmusician]

Originally Posted by Freez

When it comes to former bad-ass rockers that sold out for mainstream pop success, Aerosmith is at the very top of the list!!! It's disgusting what happened to them...Joe and Steven don't even write together anymore. Listen to 70's Aerosmith, then listen to anything on Permanent Vacation or later. Doesn't even sound like the same band...

Heart also gets (dis)honorable mention in this category...

Aerosmith and Heart were not around in the 60's.

[Freez]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

Aerosmith and Heart were not around in the 60's.

Thank you Captain Obvious! Nonetheless, they were classic rockers that sold out for mainstream pop success.

[stflbn]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

Actually, Kansas was formed in 1970 and Journey and Cheap Trick were formed in 1973.

Picky picky...

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

Yep, Ive no problem with pop, if its good music.

What's your stand on pop punk?

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

What's your stand on pop punk?

The right bass is important.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by Freez

When it comes to former bad-ass rockers that sold out for mainstream pop success, Aerosmith is at the very top of the list!!! It's disgusting what happened to them...Joe and Steven don't even write together anymore. Listen to 70's Aerosmith, then listen to anything on Permanent Vacation or later. Doesn't even sound like the same band...

Heart also gets (dis)honorable mention in this category...

In Aerosmith's defense. They were really high in the 70's.

[burk48237]

I think their are different categories here. One of the things we forget was that mainstream was a far different thing before MTV. Chicago was very much mainstream in the 60's and selling out huge arenas as a real rock band. Clapton was also huge before the 80's. Heck the bestselling band from the 70's was Led Zepelin, so you'd have to argue they were mainstream in the 70's.

With Clapton, though you do have a real change in what made him notable. He went from being a guitar hero to being a singer songwriter. Both of those areas of his musicianship also improved dramatically from the 60's. In that way Chicago and Clapton were different in that they changed styles to gain a following in different eras. Unlike say the Stones who kept plodding along doing what they do.

[steamthief]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

What's your stand on pop punk?

The Ramones made a big mistake working with Phil Spector...