Michael Jackson: He was a superstar from 1983 to early 1992, even before that in some ways. I would say his career peak was 1983-1987, though...that's the period of "Billie Jean" and "Bad" and "Beat It." I think he was the biggest star in the world from about 1983 to early 1988, when Madonna arguably superseded him.
Madonna: Madonna's superstardom was late 1984 to early 1991. For a period around 1989 and 1990, she really was the absolute biggest star in the world, though she was huge before that to 1984 too.
Tears for Fears: Almost exclusively c. 1985.
Prince: Prince's superstardom was late 1982/early 1983 to mid 1987, chartwise, though he had "Cream" and "Batdance" a little later. The big hits ("Little Red Corvette", "1999", "Delirious", "When Doves Cry", "Purple Rain", "I Would Die 4 U", "Raspberry Beret", "Pop Life", "Kiss", "Sign O'The Times", "U Got the Look", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man") are from this period. He peaked in 1984.
Cyndi Lauper: Almost exclusively c. 1984, though "True Colors" was a big hit in 1986 or 1987.
George Michael and Wham!: Really, late 1984 to 1988 or so.
Janet Jackson: 1986 into the mid-'90s.
Bon Jovi: 1986-1991.
Whitesnake: Ditto.
Hall and Oates: They were superstars through 1984, but were the biggest stars in America in 1981 and 1982.

You sure do start alot of topics

U2- 1982-1992...maybe late 91, U2 was kind of overshadowed by grunge

Deborah Gibson: 1987 to 1990 (though still huge with her fans, including myself)

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Park/7255/34.jpg

^ I doubt she was ever as huge like Madge & Jacko


Maybe INXS, they were extremely popular in 1985 to 1990

Duran Duran: 1982-1985.
Mr. Mister: c. 1985.
Jody Watley: c. 1987-1989.
Wham! and George Michael (all together...anything with George Michael in it): 1984-1990.

Bumparific...

Both these groups are still going strong, but for world domination it's...

Five Star 1985-88

The Jets 1986-89

Not really familiar with the 80s, but the biggest bands in the world in the early 80s included AC/DC, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Blondie, Devo, The Cars and the Go Go's. AC/DC never really 'peaked' as such - I think they are about as popular now as they ever were in the early 80s. Michael Jackson probably had two small peaks - about 83-84 when Thriller was playing everywhere, with the infamous title-track video doing the rounds on MTV. Madonna's peak was undoubtedly the late eighties - probably about 1988-89, though she's of course been an international superstar since about 1984. The Smiths were extremely popular c. 1987-88, Tears for Fears was popular in 1985-1987.

Both these groups are still going strong, but for world domination it's...

Five Star 1985-88

The Jets 1986-89


The former, yes.  But the latter were no more than one-hit wonders in the UK....plus I always thought they sucked!

The Jets are no way in the same league as Five Star musically I agree, but The Jets were big time in the US, Japan, Asia etc - albeit for a short time.

Not really familiar with the 80s, but the biggest bands in the world in the early 80s included AC/DC, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Blondie, Devo, The Cars and the Go Go's. AC/DC never really 'peaked' as such - I think they are about as popular now as they ever were in the early 80s. Michael Jackson probably had two small peaks - about 83-84 when Thriller was playing everywhere, with the infamous title-track video doing the rounds on MTV. Madonna's peak was undoubtedly the late eighties - probably about 1988-89, though she's of course been an international superstar since about 1984. The Smiths were extremely popular c. 1987-88, Tears for Fears was popular in 1985-1987.


Yeah, Tears for Fears were quite popular with the Songs from the Big Chair album in c. 1985, when they actually scored two US #1 hits-that album had their three biggest hits, "Head Over Heels", "Shout", and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." The commercial peak of the Smiths was 1987 with The Queen Is Dead, in the US, inarguably...the Smiths were one of those "cult following" bands, though. They never exactly developed a commercial reputation in the US and were only mildly successful in terms of singles in Great Britain. However, alot of teenagers and young adults bought all the Smiths albums and obsessively followed them and so on, and they were played frequently on college radio. They were never quite "superstars."

The Bangles were huge 1987-1989, with "Walk Like An Egyptian" and "Eternal Flame."

I don't know about saying Hall and Oates where the biggest thing in america then. I would argue that Journey was.  I know my little sister and and her friends went ga ga over Steve Perry. :P