Mental Floss

THE '80S







The Clash—Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, and Nicky 'Topper' Headon—in New York in 1978.

Rolling Stone named 'London Calling,' the landmark third album by English rockers The Clash, #1 on its list of the 100 Best Albums of the 1980s—and with good reason.

Kenneth Partridge


Timothy Dalton and Sam J. Jones in Flash Gordon (1980).

The 1980 film based on the Alex Raymond comic strip was a box office disappointment but later earned a cult following—including a fan in Queen Elizabeth II.

Jake Rossen


Val Kilmer stars in Martha Coolidge's Real Genius (1985).

Martha Coolidge's 1985 film 'Real Genius,' starring Val Kilmer, ranked first among equals from that decade for its stellar cast, sensitive direction, and genuine-nerd bona fides.

Todd Gilchrist






Matthew Peyton/Getty Images

Pro wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was known for his Scottish kilt and bagpipes, but he was also a serious martial artist and even recorded a pop song.

Jake Rossen
L to R: Beastie Boys Ad-Rock (Adam Horowitz), MCA (Adam Yauch), and Mike D (Michael Diamond) pose in Portugal 1998.

Though Beastie Boys effectively disbanded following the 2012 death of Adam "MCA" Yauch, the band has been collecting fans for more than 40 years with its uniquely intoxicating, and ever-evolving, sound.

Todd Gilchrist