Best band of the 80's

The Police anyone?

My vote goes to either Men at Work or Asia.

XTC, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Los lobos come to mind.

I second Wvick's nomination of U2. If the criteria of the question posed is the absolute best band during the decade of the 80's whether or not the band still exists, then it's U2 hands down. Their longevity and continued relevance as artists reinforces this decision. Now, we could start a subthread, "Best Defunct Band of the Eighties", and many of the previous bands mentioned would be worthy of the mantle (with no knock to their importance).

I have a strange relationship with U2 I liked them a lot at the time but now I find a lot of it pretty tired sounding.
I forgot The Smiths who are massively important and more original than U2.
I would argue REM's 80's music has (in my mind anyway)aged better than U2 and overall they've been more consistant than U2 although both bands releases in recent years have been below par-U2's have been particularly lame imho.
Some of the other suggestions are er um ah well bordering from the pitiful to the obscure.
It's all about opinions but dear oh dear Audiophile lameness abounds...