The Brixton riots, the miners’ strike and the Falklands War were among the decade’s biggest events.
But there were many joyous occasions too, which united the nation.
Below are nine of the most unforgettable moments during the 80s, which were memorable for the right reasons, from sporting triumphs to big weddings, concerts and major TV milestones.
How many of these occasions do you remember and what was your personal highlight of the 1980s?
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9. The world rocks out to Live Aid - 1985
Live Aid was surely the feel-good moment of the 80s, as the world's best musicians came together to raise millions for charity and put on one of the greatest shows ever seen. The event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in response to the famine in Ethiopia, with two huge fundraising concerts staged simultaneously at Wembley Stadium and across the Atlantic at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. Concerts were also staged in other countries around the world, with an estimated 1.9 billion viewers around the globe tuning in for the live broadcast. The Wembley gig featured performances from the likes of Queen, David Bowie, The Who, Elton John and Paul McCartney, and ended with a rousing rendition of the Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?. | Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Photo: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images