Spandex, synths, and stories stranger than MTV commercials
🎤 Breakups, Bedazzlers, and Break On Through
Mascara, melodrama, and more exits than a John Hughes prom
Welcome back to my totally awesome journey through the 1985 KROQ Top 106.7 countdown. This is part two of my three‑part series, where I dig into the debut artists, the awkward band breakups, and the unforgettable Live Aid performances that defined New Wave and 80’s alternative in 1985. Think of this as the cassette tape’s Side B — still packed with hits, drama, and more eyeliner than a Duran Duran video.
🏴☠️ Arrgh! I’m a Pirate – Dead or Alive – The Top Band on the 1985 KROQ Top 106.7
Four hits, one eye patch, zero parrots
Dead or Alive stormed the countdown with four songs (the most on the 1985 countdown) — not bad for their first year! But the real mystery: Pete Burns and that infamous eye patch in the “You Spin Me Round” video. Depth perception? Totally bogus when you’re spinning like a record, baby. Turns out Burns used it to cover a nose job scar before appearing on Top of the Pops.
He liked the look so much he bedazzled it into a fashion statement, rocking it in multiple videos. Honestly, it was the most eye patches seen in SoCal outside of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
🎶 Feels Like the First Time
Third time’s the charm — just ask A‑ha
Notable first‑timers on the 1985 countdown:
- Dead or Alive – #6 “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”
- A‑ha – #7 “Take on Me”
- Big Audio Dynamite – #15 “The Bottom Line”
- King – #16 “Love and Pride”
- Sting – #20 “If You Love Somebody (Set Them Free)”
- The Cult – #65 “She Sells Sanctuary”
A‑ha’s “Take on Me” was actually their third attempt at the song. The first version flopped, but persistence (and producer Allan Tarney) paid off. Keyboardist Magne Furuholmen even credited The Doors’ Ray Manzarek as an influence — proving that sometimes you need a little psychedelic organ magic to make a synth‑pop masterpiece.
🚪 Break on Through to the Other Side
The Doors opened, and the 80s walked right in
The Doors cast a long shadow over the 80s alternative scene. Ray Manzarek didn’t just inspire keyboardists — he produced the first four albums by X, who landed at #71 on the 1985 countdown. Echo & the Bunnymen kept the spirit alive with their 1987 cover of “People Are Strange.”
And it wasn’t just them. Several bands featured on the 1985 KROQ Top 106.7 recorded Doors covers, including Adam Ant, Duran Duran, Simple Minds, The Cure, Eurythmics, The Cult, and UB40. In other words, the influence of Mr. Mojo Risin and company wasn’t confined to classic rock radio — it was woven right into the DNA of the New Wave and post‑punk acts that defined mid‑80s KROQ. Check out my playlist of Doors covers by 80’s New Wave Bands.
🤵 Well This is Awkward
Divorces, side projects, and more mousse than a dessert cart
1985 was the year of band divorces and awkward encounters — the musical equivalent of running into your ex at the mall food court while they’re hanging on the arm of their new significant other.
- Mick Jones, fired from The Clash, rebounded with Big Audio Dynamite — and scored bigger hits than The Clash’s final album, Cut the Crap. The title turned out to be unintentionally honest, since most fans agreed the record was, well… mostly crap.
- Danny Elfman released a solo album while Oingo Boingo carried on with Dead Man’s Party — an album that fed straight into their annual Halloween concerts, cementing the band’s spooky season reputation. Of course, Elfman’s real encore was Hollywood itself, where he transformed into one of film’s biggest composers, scoring everything from Batman to The Nightmare Before Christmas.
- Duran Duran gave us an epic Bond theme (“A View to a Kill”) before splintering into The Power Station and Arcadia. It was like watching your favorite soap opera, but with better hair mousse.
🏃 Run Away!
Robert Palmer: Bad Case of Leaving You.
Legendary KROQ host Richard Blade, in his autobiography World in My Eyes, tells the story of The Power Station visiting the station to promote their album and upcoming world tour. The band featured former Duranies John and Andy Taylor alongside singer Robert Palmer.
After what Blade described as a great interview, the band was ushered back to their limo by KROQ staff. Outside, a crowd of kids hoping to glimpse their Duran Duran heroes swelled and mobbed the car. Stuck in the chaos, Palmer simply got out, strolled across the street to the Pasadena Hilton, called a taxi, and bailed — not just from the scene, but ultimately from the band itself.
That left The Power Station scrambling. Palmer’s exit came right before their world tour and Live Aid gig. Enter Michael Des Barres — actor, singer, and co‑writer of Animotion’s “Obsession.” After just three days of rehearsal, he stepped onto the Live Aid stage in front of nearly 2 billion people. Talk about being thrown into the deep end of the MTV pool..
📺 Live Aid: Gen‑X’s Woodstock…with Fewer Hippies
Woodstock had mud. Live Aid had Aqua Net
Live Aid wasn’t just a concert — it was a global jukebox. On July 13, 1985, the event took place simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, and was watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people worldwide.
- MTV aired the entire marathon broadcast live, commercials and all, complete with backstage interviews and lesser‑known acts like Status Quo, Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, and The Style Council. For many fans, it was the first time seeing British bands live without waiting for a VHS import.
- ABC, meanwhile, only showed selected highlights in the evening — and since cable hadn’t made it to my TV yet, I had to settle for the watered‑down version. All I could do was join the chorus of the era’s famous campaign: “I want my MTV!”
Artists from the 1985 KROQ Top 106.7 who played Live Aid included:
- Boomtown Rats – Bob Geldof, co‑organizer, kicked things off.
- Adam Ant – Cut down to just one song after Geldof called him “over the hill.” Brutal.
- Sting – Performed in London, trading songs with Phil Collins.
- Phil Collins – Played in London and Philadelphia, thanks to the Concorde. The only artist to pull off the transatlantic double‑header.
- Howard Jones – Brought his synth‑pop charm to the London stage.
- Bryan Ferry – Smooth as ever, keeping things stylish.
- U2 – Bono stretched “Bad” into an epic moment, accidentally cutting “Pride” but cementing their legend.
- Simple Minds – Delivered soaring anthems to a global audience.
- David Bowie – Rocked the crowd, then introduced a famine awareness clip.
- Elton John – Worried about backstage food, so he brought his RV and grilled burgers for Bowie and Freddie Mercury. Peak Elton.
- The Cars – Represented American new wave with polished precision.
- Power Station – With Michael Des Barres stepping in last‑minute, they still managed to electrify the crowd. The best last-minute substitute since Lou Gehrig.
- Thompson Twins – Added their quirky pop energy to the lineup.
- Duran Duran – Their last performance together for nearly 20 years — bittersweet.
- Mick Jagger – Sang solo, then teamed with Tina Turner for one of the most unforgettable duets of the day.
🎮 Insert Quarter to Continue the Countdown
Game over for some bands, extra lives for others
1985 wasn’t just another year on the KROQ countdown — it was a neon‑lit soap opera of debuts, breakups, and world‑changing concerts. From Pete Burns’ bedazzled eye patch to Bono’s accidental legend‑making, the year proved that alternative music was as unpredictable as Pac‑Man’s ghost patterns. Stay tuned for part three, where I’ll re‑order the countdown based on which songs still slap today based on my decades of listening to 1st Wave on SiriusXM — and spotlight the bands who made their final curtain call in 1985. Spoiler: some exits were more dramatic than a John Hughes prom scene.
