The Music of Chaos: 1985

It was the year when synthesizers were not just a thing, but a way of life. Synth-pop was all the rage, with acts like Tears for Fears, Eurythmics, and Tears for Fears' lesser-known cousin, The Fears for Tears.

And then there was hip-hop, with LL Cool J's "I'm a Rockstar", which was basically just a 10-minute rap about being a rockstar, and Grandmaster Flash' "Superman" which was actually just a 10-minute rap about being a superhero.

The 1985 music scene was a time of great experimentation, and not just with music. People wore neon, acid-washed everything, and mullets. It was a brave new world, full of possibility, and also full of mullets.

Want to see more?

• Super Groups of 1985
• Alternative Rock for the Alternative
• Electronic Music for the Electronically Challenged