Big hair, bigger synths, and a surprising amount of behind-the-scenes chaos. The Sole reckons he aced the decade, the Apple has already blurted 'Thriller' to every question, and the Wiper has forgotten what a cassette is. Let's see how you go.
80s Music Quiz: 10 Questions Most People Get Wrong
All the questions in this quiz
Hosting? Here they are. Answers are in the quiz above, or grab the printable pack.
- Which music video was the first ever played on MTV in August 1981?
- Which country is the band a-ha, of 'Take On Me' fame, from?
- Who co-wrote 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' with Midge Ure?
- Which star performed at both Live Aid concerts, in London and Philadelphia, on the same day?
- Jon Bon Jovi's first professional recording was a song on what?
- What was Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' originally going to be called?
- Who wrote The Bangles' 1986 hit 'Manic Monday'?
- Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' was first written by whom?
- What were U2 called immediately before they became U2?
- Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' reached number one in roughly how many countries?
Sources
- List of first music videos aired on MTV (Wikipedia)
- A-ha (Wikipedia)
- Do They Know It's Christmas? (Wikipedia)
- Phil Collins at Live Aid (Ultimate Classic Rock)
- Jon Bon Jovi (Wikipedia)
- Running Up That Hill (Wikipedia)
- Manic Monday (Wikipedia)
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Wikipedia)
- U2 (Wikipedia)
- Never Gonna Give You Up (Wikipedia)
Fact-checked 31 Oct 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it in public.
