World Events in 1985
Live Aid Concerts
On 13 July, Bob Geldof organised simultaneous concerts at Wembley Stadium and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. Queen's performance at Wembley is widely considered the greatest live set in rock history.
Gorbachev Becomes Soviet Leader
Mikhail Gorbachev became General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in March. His policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) would ultimately lead to the end of the Cold War.
Bradford City Fire
On 11 May, a fire engulfed the main stand at Bradford City's Valley Parade stadium during a match, killing 56 people and injuring over 250. It led to sweeping safety reforms in British football.
Heysel Stadium Disaster
On 29 May, 39 people died when a wall collapsed at Heysel Stadium in Brussels before the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus. English clubs were subsequently banned from European competition.
Titanic Wreck Discovered
On 1 September, a Franco-American expedition led by Robert Ballard located the wreck of RMS Titanic at a depth of 12,500 feet on the Atlantic seabed, 73 years after its sinking.
Mexico City Earthquake
On 19 September, a devastating 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico City, killing over 10,000 people and leaving 250,000 homeless. International relief efforts followed.
Music in 1985
"The Power of Love"
Jennifer Rush
A sweeping power ballad that spent five weeks at UK number one. It was the first single by a female solo artist to sell over a million copies in the UK.
"We Are the World"
USA for Africa
Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, this star-studded charity single raised over $63 million for African famine relief. Forty-six artists recorded it in a single night.
#1 Film of 1985
Back to the Future
Box Office: $388 million
Robert Zemeckis's time-travel comedy starring Michael J. Fox became a cultural phenomenon. The DeLorean, flux capacitor, and '1.21 gigawatts!' all entered popular culture permanently.
Born in 1985
Cristiano Ronaldo
Football icon, five-time Ballon d'Or winner
Bruno Mars
Singer and songwriter (Uptown Funk, 24K Magic)
Michael Phelps
Most decorated Olympian of all time, 23 gold medals
Rihanna
Singer, fashion mogul, businesswoman
Rooney Mara
Actress (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Carol)
Lost in 1985
Orson Welles
Director and actor (Citizen Kane)
Age 70
Rock Hudson
Actor, first major celebrity to die of AIDS
Age 59
Yul Brynner
Actor (The King and I, The Magnificent Seven)
Age 65
Laura Ashley
Welsh fashion designer
Age 60
Philip Larkin
English poet
Age 63
Technology in 1985
The first .com domain name was registered (symbolics.com). The Nintendo Entertainment System launched in the US, reviving the home console market. Microsoft released Windows 1.0 to a lukewarm reception. Mobile phones remained rare and expensive luxury items.
- ● First .com domain name registered (symbolics.com)
- ● Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched in the US
- ● Microsoft Windows 1.0 released
- ● C++ programming language published
Cost of Living in 1985
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £31,000 | $75,500 |
| Average salary | £9,300 | $24,200 |
| Pint of milk | 23p | $0.62 |
| Loaf of bread | 44p | $0.57 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | £1.75 | $1.12 |
| Pint of beer | 55p | $1.30 |
| Dozen eggs | 65p | $0.80 |
| Cinema ticket | £2.10 | $3.55 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1985
The year pop music became humanitarian. Live Aid connected a billion viewers across the planet. The Breakfast Club defined teen angst for a generation. Trainers became fashion, hair got bigger, and everyone was wearing Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Back to the Future made the DeLorean immortal.
In the News in 1985
Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia raised over £150 million for Ethiopian famine relief. Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader and introduced glasnost and perestroika. The wreck of the Titanic was found on the Atlantic seabed. The Bradford City stadium fire killed 56 people.