Pet Shop Boys (named after a group of friends that worked in a pet shop) formed in London in August 1981 in an electronics shop.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe shared a passion for dance music and synthesizers, and so, decided to start a band. A meeting with producer Bobby "O" Orlando in 1983, led to Orlando producing their first single "West End Girls". A second release of "West End Girls" in 1986 (produced by Stephen Hague) became an international chart-topper, and set the duo's debut LP, Please, up for massive success. Just one year after the immense success of their debut LP, Tennant and Lowe

Considered as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, David Bowie's sonic and visual work had an undeniable impact on popular music. Born in Brixton, South London, Bowie's interest in music and arts was apparent from an early age. Six years after embarking on a professional music career in 1963, "Space Oddity" became his first UK Top Five Single propelling his breakthrough.

His alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust turned Bowie into an international superstar, redefining glam rock in the early 70s. However, it was the 80s when Bowie hit the height of his powers, with his blockbuster 1983

In 1968, Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin, one of the most influential, innovative and successful groups in modern music, having sold more than 300 million albums worldwide.

The band rose from the ashes of The Yardbirds, when Page brought in Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones. In 1969, Led Zeppelin released its self-titled debut which was produced by Jimmy Page, as were all the subsequent albums. It marked the beginning of a 12-year reign, during which the group was widely considered to be the biggest and most innovative rock band in the world. Led Zeppelin continues to be honoured for its

Rising from the ashes of the legendary British post-punk unit Joy Division, the enigmatic New Order triumphed over tragedy to emerge as one of the most influential and acclaimed bands of the 1980s; embracing the electronic textures and disco rhythms of the underground club culture many years in advance of its contemporaries, the group's pioneering fusion of new wave aesthetics and dance music successfully bridged the gap between the two worlds, creating a distinctively thoughtful and oblique brand of synth pop appealing equally to the mind, body, and soul.

New Order's origins officially date back to

The Smiths were the definitive British indie rock band of the '80s, marking the end of synth-driven new wave and the beginning of the guitar rock that dominated English rock into the '90s. Sonically, the group was indebted to the British Invasion, crafting ringing, melodic three-minute pop singles, even for their album tracks. But their scope was far broader than that of a revivalist band.

The group's core members, vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, were obsessive rock fans inspired by the D.I.Y. ethics of punk, but they also had a fondness for girl groups, pop, and rockabilly. Morrissey