EP 85. A Brian, an Athlete, a Basketcase, a Princess and a Criminal

In this nostalgic dive into 1985, we are joined by special guest Brian Reiss, who you might remember from Episode 14, Van Halen vs. Van Hagar. Together, we explore a year where movie soundtracks spawned hits, metal got more extreme, thrash took over, and flea markets took over rollerskating rinks. Singles and solo artists dominated the airwaves, with new bands hitting the top spot on the charts seemingly every week. Meanwhile, concerned moms finally did something about those explicit pop songs, and alternative rock and college radio began to bubble under, with The Cure hitting their stride. 

In this episode, we delve into the themes that defined 1985. New Wave had taken over from rock on the pop airwaves, and rock, via hair metal, leaned into pop in an attempt to fight for their place on the charts. This push toward the bifurcation of genres—guitar-based vs. electronic-based—is something we still see today, but back then, the lines were more blurred. We share what we were listening to in 1985, from A-ha's "Take On Me" to Dio's Sacred Heart, and reminisce about buying albums like Theatre of Pain and World Wide Live on the same day.

We also take a look at what was popular in 1985, from the inaugural WrestleMania and and the debut of Calvin and Hobbes and the release of New Coke. We discuss significant events like the Live Aid benefit concerts, which raised over £50 million for famine relief in Ethiopia, and the disastrous Led Zeppelin reunion with Phil Collins on drums. Lastly, we talk about the old guard artists like Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, and Tina Turner, who continued to make waves in the music scene, and solo acts from earlier bands like Mick Jagger, Glenn Frey, and Phil Collins.

Amidst all this, Tom Waits' Rain Dogs stood alone as a beacon of obfuscation against a sea of mediocrity. Join us as we take a trip back to 1985, a year of musical evolution and unforgettable memories.

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