1980
John Lennon is assassinated in front of his New York City apartment building
The Shining starring Jack Nicholson is in theatres
The Bourne Identity is on the bestsellers list
ACDC release “Back In Black”

1981
John Hinkley fails in his attempt to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan
Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer marry
Dallas is the number 1 show on television
Walter Cronkite retires as CBS Evening News anchor and is replaced by Dan Rather

1982
Saturday Night Live alumni John Belushi dies of a drug overdose
John Cougar releases “American Fool”
Epcot Center is Orlando, Florida opens
E.T. is the biggest film of the year

1983
Break dancing sweeps the nation
Return of The Jedi concludes the original Star Wars trilogy
The Police release “Synchronicity”
Cabbage Patch Kids are in with kids

1984
The Macintosh from Apple is introduced
The first Nightmare On Elm Street hits theatres, introducing Freddie Krueger into pop culture
Bruce Springsteen releases “Born In the U.S.A.”
Detroit wins the World Series

1985
The first Wrestlemania takes place at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Live Aid takes place in Philadelphia and London
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the U.S.S.R.
Bryan Adams released “Reckless”

1986
Van Halen release “5150” with new lead singer Sammy Hagar
The Challenger spaceshuttle explodes 30 seconds after lift off
20-year old Mike Tyson become the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history
Boston’s Roger Clemons strikes out 20 in a row in a single game

1987
U2 release their breakthrough album “The Joshua Tree”
Guns N Roses unleash their debut “Appetite for Destruction”
Fatal Attraction puts fear into the hearts of bunnies everywhere
Disposable cameras hit the market for the first time

1988
George Bush Sr. is elected president
Roseanne is the highest rated show on television
The Naked Gun, starring Canadian Leslie Nielsen hits the big screen
Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison form a supergroup called “The Travelling Wilburys” and release “Volume 1”

1989
Batman is biggest moneymaking movie of the year
The Rolling Stones hit the road for their “Steel Wheels” world tour
Led by Joe Montana, the San Francisco 49ers win Super Bowl XXIV
The Who reform for a stadium tour, performing their classic rock opera “Tommy”