Timeline March 1985

Events in March 1985 12

• 1887 – 1985 Marc Chagall Surrealism · Belarus / France Marc Chagall (July 7, 1887 – March 28, 1985) was a Russian-French artist whose dreamlike, colourful paintings drew on Jewish folklore and his Belarusian childhood. He lived to 97 and worked across painting, stained glass and tapestry.
• 1911 – 1985 Konstantin Chernenko (1911-1985) Died 10 March 1985, aged 73 Chernenko led the Soviet Union as General Secretary of the Communist Party from February 1984 until his death. His brief, ailing tenure was followed immediately by the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev. He died in Moscow on 10 March 1985.
• 1911 – 1985 Konstantin Chernenko The last old-guard Soviet leader Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko (September 24, 1911 – March 10, 1985) was the Soviet leader from February 1984 until his death in March 1985, just 13 months in office. Already seriously ill when he took power, his death prompted the party to choose the younger Gorbachev.
• 1984 – 1985 Chernenko in power Last old-guard leader — 1984 to 1985 Chernenko led the Soviet Union for just 13 months, already gravely ill when appointed. His brief tenure was largely uneventful. His death at age 73 prompted the Politburo to finally choose a younger leader — Mikhail Gorbachev, aged 54.
• 1985 Iditarod 1985 — first woman wins Winner: Libby Riddles — 18 days 0h Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod, famously mushing into a blizzard while rivals sheltered. Her victory made international headlines and transformed the race's profile worldwide.
• 1985 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers release Southern Accents Don't Come Around Here No More With the Alice in Wonderland video for Don't Come Around Here No More.
• 1985 First HIV antibody test licensed Blood banks gain a tool to screen for the AIDS virus The US Food and Drug Administration licensed the first commercial blood test for antibodies to the AIDS virus on 2 March 1985. The ELISA test allowed blood banks to begin screening donations, sharply reducing transmission through transfusions. It was a major milestone in the response to the emerging global AIDS epidemic.
• 1985 – 1991 Gorbachev in power Glasnost, Perestroika and the collapse of the USSR — 1985 to 1991 Gorbachev became Soviet leader on March 11, 1985 and resigned on December 25, 1991, the day the Soviet Union was dissolved. His reforms of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) inadvertently unleashed forces that ended the Cold War and dissolved the USSR.
• 1985 "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" A last-minute addition to the album Released "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" on 18 March 1985 — famously a late addition to Songs from the Big Chair, sketched out by Orzabal on acoustic guitar for producer Chris Hughes under the working title "Everybody Wants to Go to War". Sung by Curt Smith, it reached US #1 and UK #2, and gave the band their iconic name.
• 1985 Prince wins an Oscar Best Original Song Score For Purple Rain.
• 1985 Stevie Wonder wins an Oscar I Just Called to Say I Love You Academy Award for Best Original Song from The Woman in Red.
• 1985 – present Stan Wawrinka Stan the Man Three-time Grand Slam winner known for his devastating one-handed backhand.