About these 1970s & 80s Style Bands

Looking for a local 70' or 80's band? Of course you are! Two of the most diverse periods in popular music; the rock, pop and disco/funk anthems of bands such as The Smiths, Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Chesney Hawks, Duran Duran, Chic and Madonna certainly provided a soundtrack of non-stop hits, for 20 years and beyond.

Both in the US and UK, many of the most recognisable dance floor fillers of all time were written in these decades - disco classics like 'We Are Family' and 'Good Times', as well as rock and pop anthems like 'Rio', 'You Can Go Your Own Way' and 'Sharp Dressed Man'. You can now relive your favourite songs by booking a 1970s/80s band in your area, creating a brilliant themed-night that should ideally involve costumes, decorations and, of course the music!

Ideal for:

Perfect for a themed birthday party or event, a professional themed/tribute band will dress and sound just like your favourite artists! These bands will have a varied repertoire of hits and some will even learn a special song or two if you ask them.

Whether you are looking to book a band for your public venue or a private function, an event with a strong theme is what these bands need. Try to go all out with your planning, as when it comes to the 70's and 80's, over the top was very much the aim of the game!

When booking a 70's or 80's band:

When searching for a 70's & 80's band for your event you should make sure that, as part of being a professional act, your band are able to supply key health and safety documentation. Every professional band should have all their equipment PAT tested for electrical safety and also have Public Liability Insurance in the unlikely event of any mishaps.

Bands will usually have a downloaded playlist ready and prepared for after their set up, between sets and before packing down, but it is always worth double-checking this - especially if you have any particular songs you'd like on it. Some bands may also charge extra for a particularly late finish, past 12am.

Prices for 70's and 80's bands:

Prices can vary, but most recommended 70's and 80's bands will be at least a 3 or 4-piece line up and so you'll be looking at a minimum of £500. The best way to find affordable 70's and 80's bands near you is by searching for local bands using the 'advanced search' feature.

About 70's and 80's music:

The 1970's gave rise to a host of truly diverse music on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, while traditional blues-rock musicians like Eric Clapton continued to be popular, rock n roll became more extravagant and flamboyant. Whether it was the incredibly complicated music of prog rock bands like Yes or the eye-catching costumes of glam rockers like T-Rex and David Bowie, rock in the 70's was anything but quiet and reserved.

Sadly, in the US, the early 1970's saw the untimely death of many of rock's biggest stars, including the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. While the early 70's also saw the huge popularity of punk bands like Blondie and The Ramones, the late 70's were to give rise to a dance floor phenomenon like no other Disco! Acts like Chic, The Bee Gees and Donna Summer were literally putting a spotlight on a whole new kind of underground dance music that is still guaranteed to put a smile on your face now. However, just when it seemed the disco phenomenon had reached its zenith, the new 'Disco Sucks' counter-movement emerged, intent on striking it down. This culminated with the destruction of thousands of disco records at a baseball game in 1979.

While the early 1980's saw disco's popularity wane, a new level of funk-influenced pop megastars were about to emerge. Huge names like Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna began to release albums and singles that would sell millions (sometimes hundreds of millions!) of records. For rock, the 1980's marked the peak of it's debauchery with new glam metal or 'hair metal' bands like Motley Crue, Whitesnake and Def Leppard graduating from the smokey clubs of LA to selling out arenas across the country.

The UK had its own pop megastars starting to appear in the form of Wham, The Human League and Duran Duran. Many other established stars like David Bowie and Paul McCartney started to include more synth-tinged pop, and found success on both sides of the Atlantic. For rock in the UK, one of the most pivotal moments of the decade was unquestionably Queen's appearance at Live Aid in 1985. Arguably performing one of the most amazing shows of all time, the band played some of their greatest hits, just three years before rumours began to circulate about frontman Freddy Mercury's ill-health. Other major bands of the decade included The Police, Fine Young Cannibals and the continuing evolution of the sounds of The Rolling Stones and U2.

The 1970s & 80s Style Bands featured on this page are all members of the LastMinuteMusicians.com entertainment directory. Use the refine section at the top of this page to find seventies & eighties acts close to you. Simply choose a county or enter a post code into the "available in" box to refine the listings to your local area. Click the 'visit listing' button to see the full profiles of the individual 1970s & 80s Style Bands. With over 3300 active listings, you are sure to find the perfect entertainer, musician, band or entertainment service for your event Don't forget you can use our online chat (below) to get instant help with your booking.