Rockin' the Class of 1985

The music of our youth is part of what makes us the grown-ups we become. It's true of every generation: music is ever-changing, but those songs and singers and bands that formed the soundtrack of our teenage years will never leave us.

So it was for those who came of age in the early Eighties - Gen X, we call them now. Their journey was as unique as any, transitioning from the blue jean, tie-dyed Seventies to the hyper-colorful, big hair Eighties. They had a rich legacy of pop/rock from which to start, to which the radio added Van Halen; Duran Duran; a re-invented Michael Jackson; Whitney Houston.

Bruce Springsteen went from star to superstar; an Indiana boy named John made several names for himself; Madonna and George Michael made their debuts.

And a whole new genre - hair metal - served up Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe and Ratt, as England produced hair gel popsters like Duran Duran.

It was a musical journey like no other, recreated here year by year.