Genres: New wave, reggae rock, post-punk, pop rock
Lineup: Sting - vocals, bass, keyboards
Andy Summers - guitar, keyboards, occasional vocals
Stewart Copeland - drums, percussion, occasional vocals
Albums from the 80s:
Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
Ghost in the Machine (1981)
Synchronicity (1983)
Propaganda: For a time they were the biggest band in the world. Sting was both a respected musician/songwriter and sex symbol. They broke up amid ego clashes, but all five of their albums (the first two were in the late 70s) remain beloved classics.
Beastie Boys
Formation: 1981
Genres: Hip hop, rap rock, alternative hip hop
Lineup: Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz - vocals, guitar
Adam "MCA" Yauch - vocals, bass
Michael "Mike D" Diamond - vocals, drums, programming
Albums from the 80s:
Polly Wog Stew EP (1982)
Licensed to Ill (1986)
Paul's Boutique (1989)
Propaganda: Three geeky New York Jewish boys became some of the coolest guys in the world through sheer confidence and skill.
"SEE, THIS AIN'T AMERICA'S MOST WANTED,
THIS IS AMERICA'S MOST MACKIN'!"
PIC(S) INFO: Mega spotlight on American hip-hop group, BEASTIE BOYS, walking down Franklin Ave., Los Angeles (Hollywood), CA, from the B. Boys' "Check Your Head" photo-session, c. 1991. 📸: Glen E. Friedman.
OVERVIEW: "We met up by the Capitol Records building and eventually ended up in a beach parking lot in Santa Monica. Same lot you would have parked in if you had a car and were going to Arthur Lake's parents home in ‘76 to skate their pool. Pictures from this day ended up on the cover of "CHECK YOUR HEAD" and on various other merchandise the boys put out.
This is one of my FAVORITES from the day.
Hearing this album in the studio with them for the first time while they were working on the sequencing is what inspired me to ask them to do the photo session. They already had the LP cover done I was told, but that was fine by me, once I faxed them some of these they changed direction and threw a Fax on the cover of the LP. On the cassette and later CD they used the actual photograph. Inspired, conquered. Great day, amazing work. They also met AWOL for the first time this day, since i asked him if he'd mind hauling us around in his van and hang out."
-- GLEN E. FRIEDMAN (American photographer/living legend)