Anybody into 80s big music?

Red Lorry Yellow Lorry were so awesome, now you're talking the Leeds connection; Sisters of Mercy, March Violets, Mission UK, The Sisterhood, James Ray. Gothic/Post-punk, none would exist w/o Joy Division.

Still don't understand the definition of "Big Music," no Wiki page for it.

Attending college in the mid 80's vastly increased my exposure to new music. Had I not attended college, I'd probably still be listening to Van Halen and driving a Camaro.

Some of my fav's from that period:
The Romantics
The Call
The Replacements
Hoodoo Gurus
Squeeze
General Public
The Smiths
REM
Echo and the Bunnymen
The Fixx
INXS

This post has inspired me to beef up my 80s collection Lps. A local store had a $1 clearance sale, so I stocked up on some forgotten gems by many of the suggestions here. I basically left with 2 crates of Lps, which is kind of overkill, but I have a college friend coming to town, and we are going to have a late night listening session with some bourbon and cigars on some 80s vintage equipment in my man cave. A bit darker/noise fueled is the Leather Nun, a Swede band from the era with a heavy Lou Reed vibe. Thanks mates!

+1 for Leather Nun, saw them live about 1988.

not exactly the glossy, symphonic sound contemplated by the original post, but i just dusted off two 80s guitar bands which blew me away, both from alabama (of all places) and both available on spotify: primitons and carnival season. primitons, in particular, shoulda been huge--rem-ish guitars, great vox and unusual, poetic lyrics.