Anybody into 80s big music?

Sorry, but the 80's were a definite low point, with few exceptions (R.E.M., the Smiths, U2). Most of that music sounds very dated due to the synth pop production style. The best artists from the 60s and 70s generally stayed true to their use of actual instruments, but most tried to fit in at least briefly, probably due to pressure from their record companies. Most of the rock music we listen to today took place or had its origins in the 60s and 70s.

Just saw Flock of Seaguls,Wang Chung,ABC, Gene Loves Jezebel,, Naked Eyes and a few others at winery in Saratoga recently..... Awesome!

Czarivey mentioned Billy Idol's guitarist as a good 'un, and he's absolutely right. If you have a hi-res/surround sound system snag a copy of Stevens' "Flamenco A Go Go", it's a TERRIFIC album!!

Lowrider,
I got it. Big 80's is meant to be synth pop?
Til Tuesday, Thompson Twins, The Knack, Modern English -- Yak...Meh...Weh.. Shut down that thing and turn on the music please!

Dead Can Dance is definitely not synth pop.
I guess I can only enjoy Depeche Mode out of all synth pop or is it even synth pop?

My choice here is World Party. Karl Wallinger left The Waterboys in the mid-'80s and went bigger in almost every meaningful way. Mike Scott is IMO the more original and personal songwriter, but Wallinger is just a master re-cycler. He steals (pretty much exclusively) from The Beatles, The Stones, and Dylan and - given his particular gift - that's a surefire recipe for success.

"Goodbye Jumbo" (their best, IMO) was released in 1990, but I'll call these guys an '80s band, anyway.