1985 IN MUSIC

''See also:''

★

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Contents

Events

Bands formed

Bands disbanded

Albums released

Biggest hit singles

Top hits

Classical music

Opera

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Charts

List of No. 1 Hits

KROQ

Events

★ January 28 - Various artists, including Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Perry, Kenny Loggins, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder, record the song "We Are the World".

★ February 21 - Whitney Houston releases her first album.

★ March 3 - A wax likeness of Michael Jackson is unveiled at London's Madame Tussaud's wax museum.

★ March 26 - South African radio stations ban Stevie Wonder's music in response to Wonder dedicating the Oscar he had won the night before to Nelson Mandela.

★ April 1 - After months of talks, David Lee Roth leaves Van Halen to begin a solo career.

★ April 10 - Madonna goes on her very first tour, dubbed after her ''Like a Virgin'' album, The Virgin Tour in Seattle, Washington.

★ June 11 - Madonna ends The Virgin Tour at Madison Square Garden in New York.

★ July 13 - Live Aid concert in Wembley and Philadelphia. Headlining act at the latter venue included a Led Zeppelin reunion, the first since their 1980 disbandment.

★ August 1 - Michael Jackson purchases the publishing rights for most of the Beatles' music for US$47 million, much to the dismay of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

★ August 16 - On her 27th birthday, Madonna marries actor Sean Penn. They will divorce in 1989.

★ September 19 - the P.M.R.C's infamous "senate hearing on rock censorship" was held on this day in Washington D.C. Heavy metal singer Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, rock star Frank Zappa and country singer John Denver testified against the P.M.R.C.

★ September 22 - Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois.

★ December 5 - The first fully digital reggae single, Wayne Smith's "(Under Me) Sleng Teng", is recorded at Prince Jammy's studio; it is the beginning of ragga style reggae.

★ Eric B. & Rakim meet and begin making music together

★ The former Beatles producer George Martin works with country music legend Kenny Rogers on the album 'The Heart of the Matter'.

★ Several hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars in publishing royalties are released to the surviving members of Badfinger and families of the deceased. Two band members, Pete Ham and Tom Evans, previously committed suicide due to financial problems.

Bands formed

★ Brainbombs

★ Guns N' Roses

★ Dream Theater (under the name ''Majesty'')

★ Erasure

★ The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

★ Private Domain

★ Widespread Panic

★ Stabbing Westward

★ Totalitär

★ The Mad Capsule Markets

★ Phranc solo career starts

★ The Feelies reunite

★ The Modern Art release their debut single

Bands disbanded

★ The Police

★ Split Enz

★ The Specials

★ Men at Work

★ Quarterflash

★ Minutemen

★ Orange Juice

★ Chic

★ Dr. Hook

★ Devo disband (they reform in 1987, and disband again in 1990)

★ Mercyful Fate (they reform in 1993)

★ The J. Geils Band

★ Hanoi Rocks

★ The Go-Go's

★ Cheech & Chong

★ The Sugarhill Gang

★ Weather Report

Albums released

★ ''3-Way Tie (For Last)'' - Minutemen

★ ''7800 Fahrenheit'' - Bon Jovi

★ ''A Cappella'' - Todd Rundgren

★ ''A Classic Case'' - Jethro Tull

★ ''A Diamond Hidden in the Mouth of a Corpse'' - Giorno Poetry Systems

★ ''A Sense of Wonder'' - Van Morrison

★ ''Ancient Artifacts'' - D.I. (debut album)

★ ''Armed and Dangerous EP'' - Anthrax

★ ''Around the World in a Day'' - Prince and the Revolution

★ ''Asylum'' - Kiss

★ ''Auf rote Rosen fallen Tränen'' - Die Flippers

★ ''Backwaxed'' - Anvil

★ ''Bad Moon Rising'' - Sonic Youth

★ ''Beat Happening'' - Beat Happening

★ ''Behind the Sun (Eric Clapton album)'' - Eric Clapton

★ ''Bites'' - Skinny Puppy

★ ''Bonded by Blood'' - Exodus

★ ''Brothers in Arms'' - Dire Straits

★ ''Clan of Xymox'' - Clan of Xymox

★ ''Company Of Justice'' - Play Dead

★ ''Code Of Honor EP'' - Mark Edwards

★ ''Centerfield'' - John Fogerty

★ ''Come Out and Play'' - Twisted Sister

★ ''Crazy from the Heat (EP)'' - David Lee Roth (solo debut release)

★ ''Cupid & Psyche 85'' - Scritti Politti

★ ''Cut the Crap'' - The Clash

★ ''Dare to Be Stupid'' - "Weird Al" Yankovic

★ ''Delirious Nomad'' - Armored Saint

★ ''Despite Straight Lines'' - Marilyn

★ ''Diamond Life'' - Sade

★ ''Disturbing the Peace'' - Alcatrazz

★ ''Done with Mirrors'' - Aerosmith

★ ''Don't Stand Me Down'' - Dexys Midnight Runners

★ ''Down for the Count'' - Y&T

★ ''The Dream of the Blue Turtles'' - Sting

★ ''Eaten Alive'' - Diana Ross

★ ''Fables of the Reconstruction'' - R.E.M.

★ ''Father's House'' - Dreams So Real

★ ''Fear No Evil'' - Grim Reaper

★ ''Feel the Fire'' - Overkill

★ ''Fight to Survive'' - White Lion

★ ''The Firm'' - The Firm

★ ''First and Last and Always'' - The Sisters of Mercy

★ ''The Firstborn is Dead'' - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

★ ''Fly on the Wall'' - AC/DC

★ ''Horse Bites Dog Cries'' - D.I.

★ ''For The Working Class Man'' - Jimmy Barnes

★ ''Folksinger'' - Phranc

★ ''Frankenchrist'' - Dead Kennedys

★ ''Freaky Styley'' - Red Hot Chili Peppers

★ ''Futile Combat'' - Skeletal Family

★ ''Garista'' (re-release) -

★ ''Greatest Hits'' - The Cars (debut compilation)

★ ''Halber Mensch'' (or ''½ Mensch''; English: "Half Man") - Einstürzende Neubauten

★ ''The Head on the Door'' - The Cure

★ ''Heart'' - Heart

★ ''The Heart of the Matter'' - Kenny Rogers

★ ''Hell Awaits'' - Slayer

★ ''Hellbound'' - Warlock

★ ''Hold Me'' - Laura Branigan

★ ''Horror Epics'' - The Exploited

★ ''Hounds of Love'' - Kate Bush

★ ''Hunting High and Low'' - a-ha

★ ''I Am The Night'' - Pantera

★ ''Ice on Fire'' - Elton John

★ ''Into The Fire Live'' - Play Dead

★ ''Invasion of Your Privacy'' - Ratt

★ ''Kingdom In The Streets'' - Dion DiMucci

★ ''Killer Dwarfs'' - Killer Dwarfs

★ ''Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!'' - Megadeth (debut)

★ ''The Last Command'' - W.A.S.P.

★ ''Listen Like Thieves'' - Inxs

★ ''Little Creatures'' - Talking Heads

★ ''Live ?!
★ @ Like a Suicide'' - Guns N' Roses

★ ''Live After Death'' - Iron Maiden

★ ''Long Way to Heaven'' - Helix

★ ''Loose Nut'' - Black Flag

★ ''Love'' - The Cult (debut)

★ ''Love Bomb'' - The Tubes

★ ''Love You to Pieces'' - Lizzy Borden

★ ''Low-Life'' - New Order

★ ''Luxury Of Life'' - Five Star

★ ''Mad Not Mad'' - Madness

★ ''Marching Out'' - Yngwie Malmsteen

★ ''Make it Big'' - Wham!

★ ''Meat Is Murder - The Smiths

★ ''Metal Heart'' - Accept

★ ''Midnite Dynamite'' - Kix

★ ''Misplaced Childhood'' - Marillion

★ ''New Day Rising'' - Hüsker Dü

★ ''The Night of the Crime'' - Icon

★ ''No Jacket Required'' - Phil Collins

★ ''No Muss...No Fuss'' - Donnie Iris

★ ''No Tellin' Lies'' - Zebra

★ ''Off The Board'' - Ludichrist

★ ''Open Fire'' - Y&T

★ ''Original Masters'' - Jethro Tull

★ ''Oironaoshi (The Change)'' - Miyuki Nakajima

★ ''Power Station'' - Power Station

★ ''Power Windows'' - Rush

★ '' - Minutemen

★ ''Promise'' - Sade

★ ''Psychocandy'' - The Jesus and Mary Chain

★ ''Radio'' - LL Cool J

★ ''Rain Dogs'' - Tom Waits

★ ''Ready to Strike'' - King Kobra

★ ''Rescue You'' - Joe Lynn Turner (solo debut)

★ ''The Right to Rock'' - Keel

★ ''Riptide'' - Robert Palmer

★ ''Rough Cutt'' - Rough Cutt

★ ''Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash'' - The Pogues

★ ''Run for Cover'' - Gary Moore

★ ''Sacred Heart'' - Dio

★ ''Say You Love Me'' - Jennifer Holliday

★ ''Scarecrow'' - John Cougar Mellencamp

★ ''Seven the Hard Way'' - Pat Benatar

★ ''Shaken 'n' Stirred'' - Robert Plant

★ ''So Red the Rose'' - Arcadia

★ ''Soldiers Under Command'' - Stryper

★ ''Some Of My Best Jokes Are Friends''-George Clinton

★ ''Songs from the Big Chair'' - Tears for Fears

★ ''Soul to Soul'' - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

★ ''Spoiled Girl'' - Carly Simon

★ ''Spreading the Disease'' - Anthrax

★ ''Stella'' - Yello

★ ''Steve McQueen'' (US Title: ''Two Wheels Good'') - Prefab Sprout

★ ''Suzanne Vega'' - Suzanne Vega

★ ''Machine Age Voodoo'' - SPK (band)

★ ''Syirin Farthat'' - Elvy Sukaesih

★ ''The Best Of Elvy Sukaeish'' - Elvy Sukaesih

★ ''Talk about the Weather'' - Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

★ ''Telephone Free Landslide Victory'' - Camper Van Beethoven

★ ''Three-Way Tie for Last'' - Minutemen

★ ''Theatre of Pain'' - Mötley Crüe

★ ''The Pacific Age'' - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

★ ''This is Big Audio Dynamite'' - Big Audio Dynamite

★ ''This Nation's Saving Grace'' - The Fall

★ ''Thunder in the East'' - Loudness (American debut)

★ ''Thursday Afternoon'' - Brian Eno

★ ''Tim'' - The Replacements

★ ''To Mega Therion'' - Celtic Frost

★ - an untitled album by :$OVIET:FRANCE: (re-edited version)

★ ''Under Lock and Key'' - Dokken

★ ''Unguarded'' - Amy Grant

★ ''Up on the Sun'' - Meat Puppets

★ ''VU'' - The Velvet Underground

★ ''Waiting for the Roar'' - Fastway

★ ''We Are the World'' - USA for Africa

★ ''Welcome to the Real World'' - Mr. Mister

★ ''Whispering Jack'' - John Farnham

★ ''Whitney Houston'' - Whitney Houston

★ ''Who's Zooming Who'' - Aretha Franklin

★ ''Without Love'' - Black N' Blue

★ ''World Machine'' - Level 42

★ ''World Wide Live'' - Scorpions

★ ''Youthquake'' - Dead or Alive

★ ''Zaman'' - Ebiet G. Ade

Biggest hit singles

The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in 1985.

#	Artist	Title	Year	Chart Entries
1	USA for Africa	We Are the World	1985	UK 1 - Apr 1985, US BB 1 - Mar 1985, US BB 40 of 1985, US CashBox 1 of 1985, Canada 1 - Apr 1985, Holland 1 - Mar 1985, Sweden 1 - Mar 1985, Sweden (alt) 1 - Apr 1985, Austria 2 - Apr 1985, Switzerland 1 - Apr 1985, Norway 1 - Mar 1985, Australia 1 of 1985, Germany 263 of the 1980s, Germany 2 - Apr 1985, Eire 1 - Apr 1985, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks Apr 1985, Australia 1 for 9 weeks Dec 1985, South Africa 8 of 1985, Global 4 (20 M sold) - 1985, Grammy in 1985, POP 71 of 1985, RIAA 121, Acclaimed 1371, OzNet 418
2	A-Ha	Take On Me	1985	UK 2 - Sep 1985, US BB 1 - Aug 1985, US BB 36 of 1985, US CashBox 15 of 1985, Canada 1 - Aug 1985, Holland 1 - Oct 1985, Sweden 4 - Aug 1985, Sweden (alt) 1 - Oct 1985, France 1 - May 1985, Austria 4 - Dec 1985, Switzerland 1 - Nov 1985, Norway 1 - Nov 1984, Australia 12 of 1985, Germany 81 of the 1980s, Germany 1 - Jan 1986, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Aug 1986, Europe 20 of the 1980s, Global 33 (5 M sold) - 1985, RYM 8 of 1984, POP 31 of 1985, Scrobulate 1 of 80s, Acclaimed 2396, KROQ 7 of 1985, OzNet 795, Party 133 of 2007
3	Foreigner	I Want to Know What Love Is	1985	UK 1 - Dec 1984, US BB 1 - Dec 1984, US BB 34 of 1985, US CashBox 8 of 1985, Canada 1 - Dec 1984, Holland 6 - Dec 1984, Sweden 1 - Dec 1984, Sweden (alt) 1 - Dec 1984, Austria 7 - Feb 1985, Switzerland 2 - Jan 1985, Norway 1 - Jan 1985, Australia 5 of 1985, Germany 255 of the 1980s, Germany 4 - Jan 1985, Eire 1 - Jan 1985, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Feb 1985, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Oct 1985, Europe 38 of the 1980s, South Africa 12 of 1985, Rolling Stone 476, RYM 186 of 1984, POP 17 of 1985, Acclaimed 659, OzNet 180
4	Tears for Fears	Shout	1985	UK 4 - Dec 1984, US BB 1 - Jun 1985, US CashBox 13 of 1985, Canada 1 - Feb 1985, Holland 1 - Jan 1985, Sweden 5 - Dec 1984, Sweden (alt) 16 - Feb 1985, France 3 - Dec 1984, Austria 6 - Mar 1985, Switzerland 1 - Feb 1985, Norway 5 - Mar 1985, Australia 14 of 1985, Germany 104 of the 1980s, Germany 1 - Jan 1985, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Mar 1985, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Nov 1985, South Africa 16 of 1985, RYM 27 of 1984, Scrobulate 36 of 80s, Acclaimed 974, KROQ 5 of 1985
5	Madonna	Into the Groove	1985	UK 1 - Jul 1985, US BB 7 of 1985, Holland 1 - Aug 1985, Sweden 2 - Aug 1985, Sweden (alt) 3 - Aug 1985, France 9 - Aug 1985, Austria 7 - Sep 1985, Switzerland 2 - Aug 1985, Norway 4 - Aug 1985, Australia 2 of 1985, Germany 271 of the 1980s, Germany 3 - Aug 1985, Eire 1 - Aug 1985, New Zealand 1 for 6 weeks Aug 1985, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Mar 1986, RYM 9 of 1985, POP 13 of 1985, Scrobulate 73 of 80s, Acclaimed 235, OzNet 200, Party 193 of 1999

Top hits

★ "A View to a Kill" - Duran Duran

★ "Alive And Kicking" - Simple Minds

★ "All I Need" - Jack Wagner

★ "Angel" - Madonna

★ "Barbados" - The Models

★ "Born in the U.S.A." - Bruce Springsteen

★ "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" - The Smiths

★ "The Boys of Summer" - Don Henley

★ "Broken Wings" - Mr. Mister

★ "Brothers In Arms" -Dire Straits

★ "Can't Fight This Feeling" - REO Speedwagon

★ "Centerfield" - John Fogerty

★ "C'était mon ami" - Dalida

★ "Close To Me" - The Cure

★ "Crazy for You" - Madonna

★ "Dancing in the Street" - David Bowie and Mick Jagger

★ "Dirty Old Town" - The Pogues

★ "Don't Come Around Here No More" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

★ "Don't Lose My Number" - Phil Collins

★ "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - Simple Minds

★ "Dress You Up" - Madonna

★ "Duel" - Propaganda

★ "E=MC²" - Big Audio Dynamite

★ "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" - Tears for Fears

★ "Everything She Wants" - Wham!

★ "Everytime You Go Away" - Paul Young

★ "Find A Way" - Amy Grant

★ "Faron Young" - Prefab Sprout

★ "Fortress Around Your Heart" - Sting

★ "Freeway of Love" - Aretha Franklin

★ "Gambler" - Madonna

★ "Glory Days" - Bruce Springsteen

★ "(Gotta Be) Wrong Way To Love" - Dynamic Hepnotics

★ "Head Over Heels" - Tears for Fears

★ "The Heat Is On" - Glenn Frey

★ "Heaven" - Bryan Adams

★ "How Soon Is Now?" - The Smiths

★ "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" - Peabo Bryson

★ "If You Love Somebody (Set Them Free)" - Sting

★ "I'm Goin' Down" - Bruce Springsteen

★ "I'm On Fire" - Bruce Springsteen

★ "In Between Days" - The Cure

★ "Into the Groove" - Madonna

★ "Indianapolis" - Menudo

★ "I Want to Know What Love Is" - Foreigner

★ "Jealous Guy" - John Lennon

★ "Johnny Come Home" - Fine Young Cannibals

★ "Kayleigh" - Marillion

★ "Le temps d'aimer" - Dalida

★ "Le Vénitien de Levallois" - Dalida

★ "Lean on Me (ah-li-ayo)" - Red Box

★ "Legs" - ZZ Top

★ "Let's Go Crazy/Take Me With U" - Prince and the Revolution

★ "Lovergirl" - Teena Marie

★ "Loverboy" - Billy Ocean

★ "Miami Vice Theme" - Jan Hammer

★ "Material Girl" - Madonna

★ "Merry Christmas Everyone" - Shakin' Stevens

★ "Money for Nothing" - Dire Straits

★ "19" -- Paul Hardcastle

★ "Oh Sheila" - Ready for the World

★ "One Lonely Night" - REO Speedwagon

★ "One More Night" - Phil Collins

★ "One Night in Bangkok" - Murray Head

★ "Only the Young" - Journey

★ "Out Of Mind Out Of Sight" - The Models #1

★ "Party All the Time" - Eddie Murphy

★ "Part-Time Lover" - Stevie Wonder

★ "Piece By Piece" - The Tubes

★ "Private Dancer" - Tina Turner

★ "The Power of Love" - Huey Lewis & the News

★ "Reviens-moi" - Dalida

★ "Saving All My Love for You" - Whitney Houston

★ "Say You, Say Me" - Lionel Richie

★ "Separate Lives" Phil Collins with Marilyn Martin

★ "Shout" - Tears for Fears

★ "So Red The Rose" - Arcadia

★ "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" - Judas Priest

★ "Some Like It Hot" - Power Station

★ "Somebody" - Bryan Adams

★ "Spanish Eddie" - Laura Branigan

★ "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" - John Parr

★ "Suddenly" - Billy Ocean

★ "Summer of 69" - Bryan Adams

★ "The Super Bowl Shuffle" - 1985 Chicago Bears

★ "Sussudio" - Phil Collins

★ "Take On Me" - a-ha

★ "The Big Money" - Rush

★ "The Whole Of The Moon" - The Waterboys

★ "Walk Like a Man" - Divine

★ "We Are the World" - USA for Africa

★ "We Built This City" - Jefferson Starship

★ "West End Girls" - Pet Shop Boys

★ "Wise Up" - Amy Grant

★ "What You Need" - Inxs

★ "Who's Zoomin' Who?" - Aretha Franklin

★ "Working Class Man" - Jimmy Barnes

★ "You Give Good Love" - Whitney Houston

★ "You're The Voice" - John Farnham (in Australia, UK, and Quebec; not released in the rest of North America until 1990)
''See also: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1985''

Classical music

★ Mario Davidovsky - Capriccio for Two Pianos

★ Henri Dutilleux - Violin Concerto ''L'arbre des Songes''

★ Jacques Hétu - ''Missa pro trecentisimo anno''

★ Nicholas Jackson - Organ Sonata

★ Witold Lutosławski - ''Chain 2''

★ Witold Lutosławski - ''Chain 3''

★ John Rutter - Requiem

★ Alfred Schnittke - String Trio

★ Joan Tower - Piano Concerto

★ Robert Ward - ''Raleigh Divertimento''

Opera

★ Dominick Argento - ''Casanova's Homecoming''

★ Dorothy Rudd Moore - ''Frederick Douglass''

Musical theater

★ ''Big River'' - Broadway production

★ ''Dames at Sea'' - off-Broadway revival

★ ''The King and I'' (Rodgers & Hammerstein) - Broadway revival

★ ''Me and My Girl'' (Noel Gay) - London revival

★ ''Les Misérables'' - London production

★ ''Mystery of Edwin Drood'' - Broadway production

★ ''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'' (Saul Chaplin, Gene de Paul and Johnny Mercer) - London production

★ ''Singin' in the Rain'' - Broadway production

★ ''Song and Dance'' - Broadway production

Musical films

★ ''A Chorus Line''

★ ''That's Dancing!''

Births

★ February 20 - Yulia Volkova, Russian singer (t.A.T.u.)

★ May 10 - Asley Poole, singer Dream (Group)

★ May 11 - Obi Cittie, lead guitar Triple Chin (band)

★ May 22 - Vangie Tang, singer

★ June 15 - Nadine Walsh, Girls Aloud

★ August 1 - Dina, singer

★ August 3 - Holly Arnstein, Singer Dream (Group)

★ September 23 - Diana Ortiz, Singer Dream (Group)

★ October 15 - Nicola Roberts, Girls Aloud

★ October 22 - Zachary Hanson, Hanson

★ November 15 - Patrick Lew, Guitar, Singer (Band of Asians)

★ December 10 - Raven-Symoné, actress and singer

Deaths

★ January 9 - Anton Karas, Austrian zither player and composer

★ February 11 - Heinz Eric Roemheld

★ February 11 - Ulysses Simpson Kay

★ February 12 - Leslie Sarony, English singer, comedian and songwriter

★ February 18 - Gábor Darvas, composer and musicologist

★ February 22 - Efrem Zimbalist, violinist

★ February 28 - David Byron, Uriah Heep

★ March 16 - Roger Sessions, American composer

★ March 31 - Jeanine Deckers, known as The Singing Nun and had a hit record, "Dominique"

★ May 19 - Hilding Rosenberg, composer

★ July 23 - Kay Kyser, US bandleader

★ August 24 - Paul Creston, American composer

★ September 6 - Little Brother Montgomery

★ September 11 - William Alwyn, English composer

★ October 6 - Nelson Riddle, US conductor, composer and arranger

★ October 11 - Tex Williams, US country singer

★ October 14 - Emil Gilels, pianist

★ October 21 - Ricky Wilson, founding member of The B-52's

★ December 12 - Ian Stewart, The Rolling Stones, cerebrovascular accident

★ December 22 - D. Boon, lead singer of Minutemen

★ December 31 - Ricky Nelson, singer, former teen idol

Awards

Grammy Awards

★ Grammy Awards of 1985

Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

★ Eurovision Song Contest 1985

Charts

List of No. 1 Hits

★ Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1985

KROQ

★ KROQ Top 106.7 Countdown of 1985