The high gain amp simulator of my GNX 1 of Digitech sounds pretty much as 80's distortion. I cant see what so special about the 80's kind of style -- use lotsa reverb, chorus and delay and you should sound as your heroes.
And when you want to have the sound of somebody, I just have to remind you to look for his live sound because in the studio there is a lot of EQ work done and there is no way of acheiving this live