Loverboy

When bands such as Van Halen, Cheap Trick, and Foreigner hit the big time in the late '70s, few realized that they created a winning formula that would be adopted by numerous other bands in the coming decade. The recipe included hard rock with insanely catchy pop hooks, as well as having charismatic frontmen with poster boy good looks. One of the first bands to pick up on this (and eventually take it to the next level) was Canada's Loverboy.

Whereas the aforementioned bands were hard rockers at heart who dabbled in pop melodies, Loverboy was the opposite--a pop band that hardened up its sound with rock guitar. Its 1980 self-titled debut was a surprise hit, due to such melodic anthems as "Turn Me Loose" and "The Kid Is Hot Tonight." LOVERBOY laid down the groundwork for the band's subsequent releases throughout the decade.