Scratch and Sniff: 1985 in Music Quiz

Answer: Hawkwind

"The Chronicle of the Black Sword" is Hawkwind's 14th studio album. It's at the rockier, catchier end of their oeuvre. The late, great guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton was on form once again, as was Hawkwind stalwart Dave Brock (guitar and vocals), as well as Harvey Bainbridge (keyboards), Alan Davey (bass) guitar, and Danny Thompson (drums). It got to number 65 on the UK Albums Chart.

The concept of "The Chronicle of the Black Sword" is based on the adventures of the Michael Moorcock-penned character Elric of Melniboné. Moorcock had been a close associate of Hawkwind since the early days, had written a number of lyrics for the band, and even performed with them. In fact many asked themselves how come the band had never thought of doing a Moorcock-inspired album previously.

There were actually two Hawkwind live recordings released in 1985. The aforementioned "Bring Me the Head of Yuri Gagarin" was recorded (badly) in 1973, whereas the other one, "Space Ritual Volume 2", was recorded at the same gig as "Space Ritual" in 1972. Both are for collectors only.

About the red herrings: In 1985 Rush released "Power Windows", Scritti Politti released "Cupid & Psyche 85", and Marillion released the disappointing, but very successful, album "Misplaced Childhood".

Answer: Slayer

"Hell Awaits" was very much a stepping stone for Slayer. Although it pales in comparison to their later work, in particular the following album "Reign In Blood", back in 1985 it was astounding, and miles apart from their debut, "Show No Mercy". Furthermore, it was mostly the production which let it down as several of the songs were kept in the Slayer live set-list for years.

In 1985, Exodus released their brutal debut album "Bonded By Blood". Both Possessed and Onslaught released debut albums including a song called "Death Metal" leading to arguments over who coined the phrase which have raged ever since. Denmark held its own with Artillery's "Fear of Tomorrow", and Destruction did Germany proud with "Infernal Overkill". New Yorkers Whiplash mixed a cocktail of speed metal and thrash, Hirax introduced mental vocals to the genre, and Swiss avant-gardists Celtic Frost were just mental. 1985 was a great year for metalheads.

About the red herrings: thrash metal band Anthrax released their second (and best) album "Spreading the Disease". Christian metal band Stryper released "Soldiers Under Command", and Eurythmics helped the "nadir in music" cause with the album "Be Yourself Tonight".

Answer: The Smiths

The Smiths' vocalist and lyricist Morrissey really got stuck into what was to become a long and hilarious career as l'enfant terrible of British pop music with "Meat Is Murder" and subsequent interviews.

The album itself is a bit odd since the band had, as often happens, put the best stuff on the first album and hadn't quite developed into the sophisticated act they went on to become on the following album, "The Queen Is Dead". Nevertheless, "Meat Is Murder" was undoubtedly the best pop album of the year. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart in February 1985.

About the red herrings: fellow-Mancunians The Fall released the brilliant "This Nation's Saving Grace", Leeds' The Mekons came up with a blinder with "Fear and Whiskey", and the brilliantly-named Prefab Sprout released "Steve McQueen".

Answer: Killing Joke

Unfortunately, "Night Time" is usually remembered as the album that contained the song "Eighties" which was (allegedly) ripped off by a well-known pop group in the early 1990s. It's a shame since it's a great album and quite an important one for Killing Joke. Important since it's the one on which they managed to get the eclectic mix of genres spot on.

Killing Joke released three singles from "Night Time": "Eighties", "Love Like Blood", and "Kings and Queens". They reached number sixty, sixteen, and fifty-eight respectively on the UK Singles Chart. The album got to number eleven on the UK Albums Chart.

About the red herrings: Although American hardcore band Black Flag were on their last legs in 1985, they released three top-notch records before imploding: the very accessible "Loose Nut", the avant-garde EP "The Process of Weeding Out", and one of their most accomplished albums, "In My Head". Sonic Youth released the fabulous "Bad Moon Rising", and Dire Straits kept the "1985 is the nadir of music" flag flying with "Brothers In Arms".

Answer: Rock Me Amadeus

"Rock Me Amadeus" was a number one hit in the UK, USA, Austria, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Japan, USSR, New Zealand and South Africa. The uncultured Aussies didn't get the reference and it only reached number fifteen.

Falco, whose real name was Johann Hölzel, was born in Vienna in 1957. He died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic in 1998 aged 40. The song "Rock Me Amadeus" was about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Amadeus was born in Salzburg in 1756 and he died in 1791 in Vienna. The circumstances surrounding his death are still contentious, as are those of Falco's.

About the red herrings: "Shout" was a huge worldwide hit single for Tears For Fears in 1985, "We Close Our Eyes" was a hit for Go West, and "Crazy Nights" was a single from Japanese heavy metal band Loudness's album "Thunder in the East".

Answer: Dio

Ronnie James Dio was a founding member of The Electric Elves who became The Elves, and then just Elf. Elf metamorphosed into Rainbow when Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple and took the band's regular support act (Elf) with him. When Ritchie Blackmore steered Rainbow towards a more poppy sound, Ronnie James Dio joined Black Sabbath. Ronnie James Dio and Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice fell out with Sabbath veterans Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, left and formed Dio.

"Sacred Heart" was Dio's third album. Although the songwriting was arguably less strong than on the previous two ("Holy Diver" and "Last In Line"), it doesn't really matter since it's all about Ronnie belting his lungs out anyway.

About the red herrings: In 1985 Keel released the fist-pumping album "The Right to Rock", Grim Reaper released "Fear No Evil", and the misleadingly-advertised "supergroup" The Firm released the imaginatively titled album "The Firm".

Answer: Death In June

The controversy starts from the band's flirting with Nazi imagery, often coupled with erotica. Having said that, Death In June have flirted with all kinds of esoteric symbolism and folklore, but it's the Nazi stuff that gets them in trouble.

Death In June's name has been interpreted in a myriad of imaginative ways. One of the most common interpretations is a reference to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (28 June 1914) and another links it to the Night of the Long Knives (30th June to 2nd July 2, 1934). However, founding member Douglas P. has clearly and repeatedly stated that actually he misheard something fellow band-member Patrick Leagas said in the recording studio. Douglas P: "I thought he'd said "death in June" but he hadn't, but I said the name and it was instantaneous, like manna from heaven; we'd got the name. Everyone has such a good time interpreting it but even for us it's purely post-rationalisation. It was just my hearing."

About the red herrings: In 1985, comedy punk rockers The Dead Milkmen released their debut album, "Big Lizard in My Backyard", serious punk rockers Dead Kennedys released "Frankenchrist", and thrashers Megadeth released their debut album "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!".

Answer: Thursday

The album "Thursday Afternoon" was an edited version of the music Eno made for what he called "seven video paintings" in 1984. The original version is 82 minutes, the album version about 60. The video-paintings were films of a woman called Christine Alicino, and the TV was supposed to be placed on its side to give a portrait format rather than a landscape one. Eno was at pains to distance himself from both the rock video and video art. He said video-paintings are "videos that don't move very fast". He also said he was trying to break with the relationship between viewer and screen in which the image moves, you sit still.

A strange cult of Eno fans regularly sit and play the album from beginning to end on a Thursday afternoon, alone or in company, and later compare notes. Apparently, the ambiance goes awry if you listen on any other afternoon.

Answer: Einstürzende Neubauten

"Halber Mensch", which translates as half man, was Einstürzende Neubauten's third album. It represents a slight shift in their approach and saw an increased use of more traditional "song" structures and instruments, and a wider range of vocals which had tended to be very abrasive on previous material. Having said that, it's still cutting edge, avant-garde stuff of the highest calibre.

A year after the album's release, Japanese filmmaker Sogo Ishii released the film "Halber Mensch" which included footage of the band performing in an abandoned factory/warehouse, live performances, and some wonderful music video-style pieces for some songs from the album "Halber Mensch".

About the red herrings: in 1985 German thrash band Kreator released their debut album "Endless Pain", German electronic band Tangerine Dream released "Le Parc", and Scottish band The Jesus and Mary Chain released their groundbreaking album "Psychocandy".

Answer: Done with Mirrors

Guitarist Joe Perry had left Aerosmith in 1979. His new band, The Joe Perry Project, recorded three albums ("Let the Music Do the Talking", "I've Got the Rock'n'Rolls Again", "Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker") before he went back to the fold (Aerosmith) in 1984. The other Aerosmith guitarist, Brad Whitford, had left in 1981. He recorded one album with Derek St. Holmes called "Whitford/St. Holmes".

"Done With Mirrors" has a heavier sound than much of the Aerosmith catalogue, something I think it benefits from. Apparently few agree with me and it was a flop. Several members of the band have since been quoted as saying they didn't rate it either.

About the red herrings: In 1985, Blue Öyster Cult released their supposed comeback album "Club Ninja", Aerosmith-influenced Ratt put out their second album "Invasion of Your Privacy", and AC/DC released "Fly on the Wall".