60 YEARS OF THE ROCK ERA. This update: 1982.

60 YEARS OF

ROCK

(1955-2015)

1982

       

    

 

    

   

 

    

-Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go For That" reaches #1 on the Pop, R&B and Disco charts.

-'The Dark Side Of the Moon' spends its 400th week on the Billboard Album chart.

-Pat Benatar marries Neil Geraldo (a member of her band).

-John Belushi dies of a drug overdose.

-Teddy Pendergrass is paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident.

-Adam Ant goes solo. 

-The Broadway cast album of musical 'Dream Girls' charts.

-The Pretenders' James Honeyman-Scott dies of a drug overdose. 

-Supergroup Asia's album reaches #1 in the USA.

-Paul Weller annnounces that The Jam is splitting up.

-Marvin Gaye enjoys a chart comeback with "Sexual Healing".

-Joe Cocker is back with a US #1 duet single "Up Where We Belong" with Jennifer Warnes.

-Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' album is unleashed.

     

  

    

    

  

1982 saw synthpop make its presence on the charts more obvious. There were hits from Soft Cell, The Human League, Yazoo (aka Yaz) and Vangelis. New Romantic groups were especially popular in Britain. Afrika Bambaattaa dropped "Planet Rock". Marvin Gaye enjoyed a revival with "Sexual Healing". Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five scored success with the first rap hit to focus on social commentary instead of the usual rap themes.The Clash stepped up with the album 'Combat Rock' and single "Rock The Casbah". The Jam also tackled social issues. Australia's Men At Work had the world singing along to "Down Under". A new supergroup emerged: Asia. Heavy rock fans greeted Iron Maiden's 'The Number Of The Beast' with enthusiasm. The E.P. (extended play/ mini-albums) saw a revival. ABBA recorded what was to be its final recording "The Day Before You Came".