Here are a few that might be in the running:

Talking Heads
Beastie Boys
INXS
Eurythmics
Whitesnake
Boston
Poison
Styx
Loverboy
The Fixx
Starship
Mr. Mister
Twisted Sister

Hope this helps! (The website below has the top 200.)
Source(s):
http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_artists80pop.html

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Boston, Kansas, Chicago, Asia, Journey
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I was into INXS, the Psychedelic Furs, Duran Duran, J. Giles Band, Men at Work and Eddie Grant.

I don't know if these band are making music today but I never get to hear them on the radio anymore, here is some Eddie Grant "Electric Avenue"
Source(s):
http://www.youtube.com/

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The Jam
T. Rex
Nena
Missing Persons
Wham
OMD-Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
New Order
The Stray Cats
Spandau Ballet
The Clash
The Kinks
The Pretenders
Bad Religion
Starship
A Flock of Seagulls
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One of the greatest singer/song wirters in the 80's in my opinion is,
Elvis Costello.

My favorite E.C. song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNHe7BUqhc

Major 80's impact even if it came out in '77.

Lets not forget Depeche Mode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v5DSdeAF8w&feature=related

One of the most well known songs of the 80's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCiVXigrjjQ

Dead or Alive
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Oh wow, the 80's was my favorite music era, and there are so many that no one ever hears from anymore except on VH1 specials.
Girlie bands like the Bangles, Bananarama, and BowWowWow
Really cool rocking bands like Loverboy, Men at Work, and DeadorAlive
There were also quite a few of the early long haired pretty boy bands that we don't hear much about anymore either- Poison, Warrant, L.A. Guns

Then there's JGeils Band, Billy Squier, Culture Club, Milli Vanilli, the list goes on and on.

Luckily Youtube rocks when it comes to finding great 80's music and videos, or of course you could watch VH1's one hit wonder specials and behind the music episodes to see what you've missed out on.

Am attaching one of my favorite 80's vids!
Source(s):
Personal Experience, YouTube, VH1

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Echo and the Bunnymen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdhKlyyb_68

Their song "Killing Moon" was momentarily resurrected by ''Donnie Darko'' (it was on the soundtrack), but they're just generally a great band that's sort of been forgotten.
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