Collection: 80's MUSIC MAPS
80s ALBUMS
Relive the 1980s through studio albums and band discographies.
Discover the albums that shaped a decade, mapped to highlight the evolution of 80s music legends.
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BILLY BRAGG Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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CHARLATANS Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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THE CURE Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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DIRE STRAITS - JOHN ILLSLEY Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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EDWYN COLLINS Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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JOHNNY MARR Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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LEVELLERS Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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LIAM GALLAGHER Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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LLOYD COLE Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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MANIC STREET PREACHERS Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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MORRISSEY Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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NEW ORDER Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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NICK CAVE Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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NOEL GALLAGHER Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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OASIS Albums in Order Music Map | Every album - Every artist
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MAKING THE MAPS
I work from my studio in East Sussex, where I am constantly creating music maps and plot line maps that represent the musical journeys of bands and solo artists, film narratives, and political events.
Each map results from meticulous research and careful planning, combining precision with creativity to produce something visually striking and data-driven.

Selecting the Subject: From Music Icons to Cultural Narratives
When thinking about making music maps, I choose artists with extensive discographies and significant influence on music and culture for my music maps. Often, fans or family members of the artists request these maps, adding a personal connection layer. I focus on plots and historical moments for films and political events that lend themselves well to visual representation.

Making Music Maps & More: Gathering and Organising Data
Research is a key part of the process. I begin by compiling a list of the artist’s studio albums for music maps. I then researched the credits for each album to identify the musicians involved. This often requires sifting through multiple sources and cross-referencing to ensure accuracy. Once I have the necessary data, I begin correlating it to lay the groundwork for the map.
For films, the process involves breaking down the plot into key points, characters, and their relationships. For political maps, I track significant events, alliances, and shifts in power, organising the data to create a logical and visually coherent design.
The Design Phase: Precision and CAD Software
Once the research is complete, I begin plotting the map using 2D CAD software. This approach is uncommon in art but allows for the precision required in my maps. Each line represents a connection between musicians, plot points, or political events, while intersections mark significant moments like album releases, character interactions, or key political shifts. Every element is drawn individually to ensure accuracy, and the layout is designed for visual appeal and clarity.

Mapping Film Plots: Translating Stories into Visual Form
When mapping movie plots, I focus on translating the story structure into a visual format. Characters often have their own “lines,” with significant plot points or twists becoming intersections. This method ensures the narrative remains clear, even when dealing with complex or non-linear plots. The challenge lies in maintaining simplicity without losing the key elements of the story.

Political Maps: Charting the Complexity of Power Dynamics
I track the evolution of political events, figures, and alliances for political maps. This involves organising the often complex and shifting data into an easy-to-follow format. The maps allow a visual understanding of political movements, highlighting key turning points and connections between influential figures or events.
Final Output: High-Quality Art Prints
After completing the design, I offer the maps as high-quality art prints in various sizes. Each print is created with attention to detail, ensuring that it meets the highest quality standards.
Great feedback from customers keeps me motivated, along with knowledgeable input!
About Me: From Event Designer to Data Visualisation Specialist
Hi, I’m Mike Bell, a UK-based show and event designer. I started creating these tube-style maps during the lockdown when my work in event design was temporarily put on hold. The first map combined my experience in live music with a growing interest in data visualisation. Since then, I’ve continued to create maps alongside my work in event design, and the two disciplines now form the core of my creative output.
PRINT SPECIFICATIONS
Prints shown in frames for visual purposes only.
All Mike's designs are printed in the UK to order on high quality art paper using papers and ink that provide long-term fade-free quality (always subject to environments).
The art prints are supplied on demand - there may be some print residue on the rear of prints as is found with short print run operations.
Prints are eco-packaged (compostable and recycled materials where possible) and shipped either rolled (A2+) or flat (A3).
PRINT SIZES GUIDE
ART PRINT SIZE GUIDE
I am currently offering all prints in two sizes online - A3 & A2
Smaller A4/Cards will only be available via retail outlets and record fairs.
A3 PRINT | 11.69" x 16.54" - 29.7cm x 42cm
A2 PRINT | 16.54" x 23.39" - 42cm x 59.4cm
MIKE BELL MAPS - CREATOR OF MUSIC MAPS & MORE

I’m a designer based in Lewes, East Sussex. Initially (and still occasionally), I was a show designer who shifted my focus during lockdown, when most of my 3d set and show design work for events evaporated, to start my new venture - Mike Bell Maps.
It was a full circle for me coming to the maps - a return to my early career of live sound - experiences of loading trucks with flight cases, cleaning cumbersome Midas desks, and climbing PA stacks to adjust the 'bullets' (you had to be there).
I was born to perfectly load a dancefloor (again, you had to..) and get the carnet out. Carnets are back for touring bands, and my full circle found me back in that chaos of live music, but this time loading my tube maps of bands with facts.
I produced my first music map a few years ago, based on The Fall's album line-ups' tube-inspired format. Sixteen attempts later, I thought I had it right—although a nudge from band member (and producer) Simon Rodgers, who noted, "The credits on Fall albums are pretty random, to say the least," meant another minor update.
Map design was never an exercise in money-making, but a way to keep my brain engaged as an exercise, whilst lockdown shut down my work and social life, to help combat my long-term diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. It still helps!
I now combine my love for storytelling with my passion for design, crafting unique tube-style maps that chart bands' histories, films' plots, and much more as beautiful art prints - selling them globally (tariffs and Brexit barriers permitting).
In 2024, Sam Knowles interviewed me on the Data Malarkey Podcast. We discussed data, bands, maps, and digital art.
".. IT'S A BRILLIANT IDEA.. REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MIKE.." BILLY BRAGG
In a world overflowing with information, it’s easy to lose track of the connections that make stories rich and meaningful. Whether you’re a music lover trying to understand the evolution of a band, a film buff exploring the intricate web of characters and plots, or someone keen on deciphering the complex interplay of politics or sports, traditional ways of presenting information can often feel overwhelming and disjointed.
My maps solve that problem by distilling vast, intricate histories into something visually engaging and easy to navigate. They bring clarity to chaos.
"IT IS TRULY AMAZING” THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ARCHIVE
Each map I create under my Mike Bell Maps brand helps you trace the history of your favourite band, as though you were following a tube line—each stop representing an album, and each musician a tube line, making the story easy to follow and engaging.
For film enthusiasts, my maps transform sprawling plots into a visual journey, where each character and event is connected intuitively and insightfully.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to expand my collection of maps and explore new genres, topics, and formats. Whether charting the intricate world of classic literature, exploring the evolution of a sports team, or mapping out the influences in political history, I’m always looking for new stories to tell.
"YOUR WORK IS VERY COOL AND SMART. I'D LOVE TO HAVE A COPY OF THE PRINCE MAP, ONCE YOU’VE COMPLETED IT." SUSAN ROGERS, PRODUCER
With greater availability through my online shop and global shipping, I’m thrilled to share these maps with an even wider audience. New ventures and avenues now include:
- A book deal for a map series in negotiation, and
- A licensing agreement to offer the maps in other formats through an international manufacturer
So, if you’re ready to see the world and its stories in a new light, I invite you to join my journey and explore the world of culture through my maps.
