Can I just put a vote in for a band that, to me, were musically, lyrically and promotionally perfect - not the most "credible" of artists, but to me, for 4 years between 1983 and 1987 were totally and utterly everything in my world (and to be honest, still are)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Between those years, only probably one band (U2) were bigger. It is debatable, as anyone who saw both would say, which were better live, as both were unbelievable, but to a teenage boy, Frankie were perfect, the mixes, the T-Shirts, the anti-war, love-sex.
Vastly under-rated, and to me, split up when they were getting better and better - the Liverpool album knocks spots off the Pleasuredome album, the problem was, Holly wanted to go pop (Wildlife and subsequent solo stuff) and the band wanted to go rock (Warriors (which if anyone is into rock, listen to the Gary Moore mix and tell me it isn't good) / Kill the Pain etc...)
If they had just talked about it instead of having an on stage fight, they would have realised they could have done both !
My favourite band ever, and always will be, and I don't care who knows it