1985 January - Rock in Rio

January 11 - 20,  1985

Rock in Rio Festival

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Go-Go's played at the  Rock in Rio Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The festival was held January 11 through 20th 1985. The Go-Go's played on two days (January 13th & 18th, 1985).

The rock festival was organized by entrepreneur Roberto Medina and was the largest rock festival in the world. Headliners each occupied top spots for two nights. About 1.4 million people attended the 10-day long festival. 

The shows were broadcast throughout South America by Globo. Each show was watched by nearly 200 million people in 60 countries. It was later broadcasted in the United States on MTV as Queen: Rock in Rio. 

photo: Living library.org

 The whole festival was recorded for broadcast throughout South America.  Queen was the only band to obtain rights to release their performance on video - released in May 1985. 

Headliners for the music festival included Queen, George Benson, James Taylor, Rod Stewart AC/DC and Yes. The festival was heavy in showcasing heavy metal and hair bands such as Iron Maiden, Whitesnake and Scorpions. 

Queen was the highest paid act, getting $600,000 for its two headlining performances.

About 1.4 million people attended the 10 day long festival. 

The Go-Go's played two nights -   

• Sunday, January 13, 1985
  
• Friday, January 18 1985

The Gazette, Montreal, Que

January 10, 1985

Rio Rock Festival Expected to Draw 1.5 million

Excerpt from article:

Some 1.5 million fans from Latin America, Asia, Europe and the United States are expected to attend what is being touted as the biggest rock festival the music world has ever seen.

With comparisons to the 1969 Woodstock festival and ads proclaiming 'peace and love', the event is a highly organized business venture designed to attract foreign investment. 

The acts are a mix of musical styles, ranging from heavy metal rockers as Ozzy Obourne and Iron Maiden to jazz stylist Al Jarreau and George Benson to New Wave groups such as the Go-Go's and the B-52's. 

The $11 million project was completed in 4 1/2 months. The City of rock has 32 stores selling everything from jeans to spaghetti, two beer gardens, 420 toilets, an emergency hospital and fountains for fans to cool off. There also are outdoor parking lots for 33,000 cars.  

However - all was not good in GoGo-land.

Blame it on Rio

While in Rio, things continued to unravel for the GoGo's.

Rio turned into 10 days of partying and all- round destructive behavior. Drug addiction was taking it's toll on the band. For years Charlotte struggled with heroin.  Somehow she managed to get kicked out of Ozzy Osborne's dressing room. Belinda was also on a dangerous downward spiral of substance abuse. 

All in the band were on edge.  It wouldn't be long 'til all would go tumbling down.

Personal conflicts and egos continued to tear band members apart.  At the end of the day ... the band-mates did not like or speak to one another. It was clear their hearts were just not into it anymore. 

Schedule of Performers - Rock in Rio (1985)

11 January, 1985

Friday  

150 million viewers

Ney Matogrosso

Erasmo Carlos

Baby consuelo e Pepeu Gomes

Whitesnake

Iron Maiden

Queen

12 January 1985

Saturday

250 million viewers

Ivan Lins

Elba Ramalho

Gilberto Gil

Al Jarreau

James Taylor

George Benson

13 January 1985

Sunday

90 million viewers

Os Paralamas do Sucesso

Lulu Santos

Blitz

Nina Hagen

the Go-Go's

Rod Stewart

14 January 1985

Monday

30 million viewers

Moraes Moreira

Alceu Valenca

George Benson

James Taylor

15 January  1985

Tuesday

50 million viewers

Kid Abelha & Os Aboboras

Selvagens

Eduardo Disel

Barao Vermelho

Scorpions

AC/DC

16 January 1985

Wednesday

40 million viewers

Os Paralamas do Sucesso

Moraes Moreira

Rita Lee

Ozzy Osbourne

Rod Stewart

17 January 1985

Thursday

20 million viewers

Alceu Valenca

Elba Ramalho

Al Jarreau

Yes

18 January 1985

Friday

250 million viewers

Kid Abelha & Os Aboboras

Selvagens

Eduardo Dusek

Lulu Santos

the B-52's

the Go-Go's

Queen

19 January 1985

Saturday

250 million viewers

Baby Consuelo e Pepeu Gomes

Whitesnake

Ozzy Osbourne

Scorpions

AC/DC

20 January 1985

Sunday

200 million viewers

Erasmo Carlos

Barao Vermelho

Gilbert Gil

Blitz

Nina Hagen

the B-52's

Yes

Other Rock in Rio Festivals were held in: 

Rio de Janeiro

• 1991
  
• 2001
  

Lisbon

• 2004
  
• 2006
  
• 2008 (and Madrid)

1985

note: What people are listening to on the radio January - April 1985.

Top Ten Singles 

January 1985

1. "Like A Virgin," Madonna

2. "All I Need," Jack Wagner

3. "You're The Inspiration," Chicago

4. "The Wild Boys," Duran Duran

5. "Run To You," Bryan Adams

6. "I Want To Know What Love Is," Foreigner

7. "We Belong," Pat Benatar

8. "Easy Lover," Philip Bailey & Phil Collins

9. "Sea Of Love," Honeydrippers

10. "Born In The U.S.A.," Bruce Springsteen

February 1985

1. "Careless Whisper," Wham!

2. "I Want To Know What Love Is," Foreigner

3. "Easy Lover," Philip Bailey & Phil Collins

4. "Loverboy," Billy Ocean

5. "Method Of Modern Love," Hall & Oates

6. "Neutron Dance," Pointer Sisters

7. "The Boys Of Summer," Don Henley

8. "The Heat Is On," Glenn Frey

9. "You're The Inspiration," Chicago

10. "Can't Fight This Feeling," REO Speedwagon

March 1985

1. "Can't Fight This Feeling," REO Speedwagon

2. "The Heat Is On," Glenn Frey

3. "Material Girl," Madonna

4. "Too Late For Goodbyes," Julian Lennon

5. "Careless Whisper," Wham!

6. "California Girls," David Lee Roth

7. "One More Night," Phil Collins

8. "Lovergirl," Teena Marie

9. "Private Dancer," Tina Turner

10. "Neutron Dance," Pointer Sisters

April 1985

1. "We Are The World," USA For Africa

2. "Crazy For You," Madonna

3. "One More Night," Phil Collins

4. "Nightshift," Commodores

5. "Rhythm Of The Night," DeBarge

6. "I'm On Fire," Bruce Springsteen

7. "Obsession," Animotion

8. "Material Girl," Madonna

9. "Don't You (Forget About Me)," Simple Minds

10. "One Night In Bangkok," Murray Head

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