80s Events and News on Like Totally 80s

Michael Jackson passed away suddenly Thursday, June 25th, 2009 after suffering cardiac arrest. He was only 50. Michael revolutionized the face of music, dance, and fashion and become a world-wide Pop Phenom. He brought us classic hits like Rock With You, Thriller, Billie Jean, Black or White, Bad, and Beat It. He gave us the Moonwalk, leather zippered jackets, and sparkling gloves. And who can forget the amazing mini-movie/dance music video for Thriller. There's never been anyone like Michael and there probably never will again. While in recent years his eccentricities and over all weirdness mad us go, "What's up with that?" and "Where'd our MJ of the 70s & 80s go?," you can't deny his talent and what he brought to the world. So from all of us at Like Totally 80s... Michael, we thought you rocked and you'll be truly missed.

Check out these Michael Jackson stories, photos, and videos:

Then reminisce with us and watch some of Michaels classic 80s music videos:

06.17.09: Fame gets a makeover.

Fame! I'm going to live forever.
I'm going to learn how to fly....

This classic 1980 Oscar-winning hit movie is being reinvented for the next generation. Fame follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts. As each student strives for his or her moment in the spotlight, they'll discover who among them has the talent and discipline to succeed ... and achieve Fame.

In addition to being a successful movie, Fame was also a hit TV series that ran from 1982-1987. Debbie Allen, star of both the show and original film, will also appear in the remake as Principal Angela Simms.

Catch Fame in theaters September 25th. Until then, check out the Fame trailer or visit the official movie site at www.generationfame.com.

04.30.09: Retrofest - Kelly McGillis comes out

80s mega actress and sultry love interest of Top Gun’s Maverick (Tom Cruise) has come out as a lesbian. > read article

04.15.09: Retrofest - The Original 80s Music Festival

Now in its third year having already attracted the biggest 80s line up since Live Aid the biggest 80s Music Festival in Europe Retrofest returns with a new location in the middle of Glasgow City featuring Level 42 - Gloria Gaynor - Heaven 17 - Sister Sledge - Average White Band - ABC - Five Star - Midge Ure - Nik Kershaw - Rick Astley - Bad Manners - A Flock of Seagulls - Go West - Nick Heyward - Right Said Fred - Aswad - East 17 - Bay City Rollers - Showaddywaddy & Jaki Graham.

Tickets are available by calling 0844.736.5222 or via the website www.retrofest.co.uk.

03.28.09: Spinal Tap is on tour again “Unwigged and Unplugged” – for more information and concert dates/locations, click here.

Visit Official Tour Web Site: www.unwigged.com

03.19.09: Breakdance The Movie and Breakdance 2 Electric Boogaloo are re-released in widescreen format on DVD in the UK

Twenty five years after its original release Breakdance The Movie (1984) is without a doubt
still the original and best breakdance film: a movie inspired by a street movement that went on to spread the craze wider and further than anyone anticipated.

As well as introducing scores of teens in the US and UK to the dancing, the moves,
the music and the clothes that characterised breakdancing, bodypopping and hip hop
in general, Breakdance also brought fledgling rapper Ice T to a wider audience for
the first time ever.

Now, get out your lino, stick on your ghetto blaster and don your cap as Breakdance
– and its sequel Breakdance 2 Electric Boogaloo – spin on to DVD courtesy of
Second Sight.

The freshest DVDs of 2009 will be released in their full widescreen glory for the first
time in the UK on 6 April 2009. Click here for more information.

02.20.09: Belinda Carlisle (of Go-Gos 80s fame) will be one of the contestants on this season's Dancing with the Stars. We'll be rooting for you, Belinda! Let's hope you've still got the beat!!!

Here are some then and now photos and some video links to set the mood.

01.15.09: On Newsstands Now: People Magazine’s Celebrate the 80s special publication. This special release is chocked full of info, movies, music, fashions and all the people that made the 80s so awesome. The newsstand price is $11.99 and worth every penny!!

12.23.08: Encore's Big 80s Weekend

Encore is celebrating the weekend between Christmas and New Year’s with a Big 80s Weekend beginning Friday, Dec 26th at 8pm! In addition to a marathon of classic 80’s flicks such as Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Mannequin, Back to the Future and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, catch the world television premiere of Us Festival 1983 – Day One including performances by INXS, Oingo Boingo (featuring Danny Elfman) and The Clash, as well as interviews with MTV VJ Mark Goodman and Men At Work’s Colin Hay.

Click here for more info and a complete TV schedule.

12.08.08: ROCK OF AGES Lights up New York

ROCK OF AGES is an off-Broadway 80's rock musical that pretty much hits it out of the park. Staring American Idol's Constantine Maroulis, it takes audiences on a musical trip with a story set to blazing hits from iconic rockers such as Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more.

Visit www.RockOfAgesMusical.com for more information.

12.03.08: 80s Rewind Festival

The 80s Rewind Festival is the country's newest boutique festival celebrating the greatest music from the coolest decade with the biggest line up of eighties acts since Live Aid.

When: August 21 - 23
Where: Temple Island Meadows near Henley-on-Thames

For more info, visit 80s Rewind Festival's official site.

11.22.08: New Kids on the Block is appearing on the American Music Awards tomorrow night on ABC. Whether they continue to have “The Right Stuff” remains to be seen. > Learn more about the 2008 AMAs. In addition to this performance, they are going on tour – see NKOTB's site for dates and locations.


Then	Now

10.24.08: Rhino Reissues A Decade of New Order

Double-Disc Collector's Editions of Movement, Power, Corruption & Lies, Low-Life, Brotherhood and Technique Feature Original Factory Records Releases Remastered and Expanded with Non-Album Singles, B-Sides and Remixes.

Each Available from Rhino November 11.

LOS ANGELES -- After forming in 1980, New Order went on to develop a groundbreaking sound that mixed synthesizer-driven pop with electronic dance beats on a series of acclaimed and influential albums. The band -- Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert -- released a total of five albums during the '80s that helped blaze a trail for the alternative music movement that would peak a decade later. Rhino pays tribute to these musical pioneers with Collector's Editions of the band's first five albums: MOVEMENT, POWER, CORRUPTION & LIES, LOW-LIFE, BROTHERHOOD and TECHNIQUE. On November 11, all five will be available at all retail outlets, including www.rhino.com, for a list price of $24.98.

They are also giving away a signed bass from Peter Hook of New Order, enter here:
http://www.bendermusicgroup.com/rhino/contest.html

And don't forget to visit our New Order page to reminice with their songs & music videos.

10.10.08: New DVD Release: The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Series

For the first time, all seasons (147 episodes) of The Real Ghostbusters are available in one collection, on 25 DVDs.

● All Episodes of The Real Ghostbusters
● All Episodes from Slimer! And The Real

● Unique Collector's Box with Exclusive Art

Also included are over TWELVE HOURS of bonus features, including:

● The original promotional pilot for The Real Ghostbusters, NEVER BEFORE AIRED
● 21 on-camera Commentary Tracks with producers, voice actors, writers, animators

and production personnel

● 5 exclusive Documentaries
● 86 Episode Introductions
● 16-page booklets include episode synopses, trivia, and art for every episode!
● Plus Scripts, Storyboards, Image Galleries, Music & Effects Audio Tracks, and Much

● Interviews with J. Michael Straczynski (Writer & Story Editor), Maurice La Marche

(Voice Of " Egon Spenglerg"), Laura Summer (Voice Of First "Janine Melnitz"), Kath Soucie (Voice Of Second "Janine Melnitz"), and Many Others

Pre-Order your copy now at: www.realghostbustersdvd.com

09.23.08: Kirk Cameron refuses to kiss his costar.

Kirk Cameron has made the headlines today for his refusal to kiss the actress playing his wife in his new movie Fireproof (since it wasn’t his real wife and that would break his marriage vows). Watch his interview with Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on The Today Show below.

08.22.08: Bruce Springsteen on tour and better than ever!

A review by an LT80s site reader of his August 21st concert in Nashville, TN:

Bruce Springsteen took the stage at the Sommet Center in Nashville and played a 3 hour set with joyful abandon. Appearing to have the voice and stamina of a twenty year old, Bruce took audience requests and delivered a rockin’ show that satisfied fans of all ages. Reaching back to the early days with a story about his first guitar during “Spirit in the Night” all the way up to an encore of the new “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” dedicated to Tennessee ladies, Bruce and the E Street Band proved it all night that he is The Once and Forever Boss. Without a doubt the best concert I’ve ever been to. – submitted by Julie, Birmingham

Link to Tour site: http://www.brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html

Some Bruce Springsteen videos to get you in the mood:

● Glory Days
● Born to Run
● Born in the USA

08.15.08: Knight Rider back on the air as a new NBC TV series. On the heels of NBC's hit movie, the iconic 1980s television classic comes roaring back to life as a reinvented, updated and super-charged action series showcasing the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand). Absolutely the coolest car ever created, KITT is equipped with an "AI" (artificial intelligence) that is capable of hacking almost any system. Its weapons systems match that of a jet fighter, and its body is capable of actually transforming into other vehicles and using sophisticated holographic imagery to elude villains. The cast includes Justin Bruening as Mike Traceur - estranged son of Michael Knight; Sydney Tamiia Pitier as Carrie Ruvai - a tough FBI agent who doesn't see eye-to-eye with Mike Traceur; Sarah Graiman as Deanna Russo - childhood best friend, one-time girlfriend of Mike Traceur, and daughter of KITT creator, Charles Graiman; and Bruce Davidson as Charles Graiman - creator of Knight Industries Three Thousand (KITT). The new version of Knight Rider premiers Wednesday, September 24th at 8/7c on NBC. If you missed the TV movie, you can watch it in full here: http://www.nbc.com/Knight_Rider/video/episodes.shtml.

07.25.08: New online radio station streaming all 80s music all the time. check out this great new option for getting your 80s music fix here: www.mixlovesthe80s.com

07.24.08: Toni Basil is a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance. You may remember Toni Basil from her 80s hit "Mickey." Besides being a singer, she is also a dancer and choreographer. She is currently choreographing Bette Midler's hit Las Vegas show, "The Show Must Go On." Watch Toni on the So You Think You Can Dance results show tonight on FOX at 9/8c. For more information about So You Think You Can Dance, visit: www.fox.com/dance.

07.16.08: eBay Charity Auction for Public Television Rocks! Commemorates Historic Final Concert of the Police with Special Guests The B-52s. A charity auction for The Police has just began on eBay, commemorating their upcoming historic final concert with special guests the B-52s in New York’s Madison Square Garden. There are a very limited number of once-in-a-lifetime concert experiences and autographed memorabilia being auctioned online through eBay Giving Works for both artists, and The Police have chosen to have 100% of the proceeds benefit local New York Public Television Rocks!

Beginning July 14th at 7pm (ET) through July 24th, several VIP Concert Packages will be available including for example: The Police Ultimate VIP Package for Two which features an intimate meeting with The Police, Access to the band's final Sound Check (a few select guests will be invited to join the Police on stage to lend their rock star abilities to the rehearsal!), Front row seats to the final show, Pre concert dinner with a cocktail reception, and Limited edition souvenirs. There is a B-52s VIP package for Four, which includes a private Meet n' Greet, Rare access to the B-52s Sound Check, Front row seats, and Four one-of-a-kind signed memorabilia gift sets. There is also The Police Snake Pit Ticket package for Four (the only Pit tickets available to the general public are in this auction!).

Then, beginning August 4th at 7:00pm (ET) - August 14th, the second wave of the auction will begin. It will feature a complete set of The Police’s autographed instruments including: Sting’s Signature Bass, Sennheiser Microphone and Stand (used during the 2007/2008 world Police tour); Andy’s Signature Fender Telecaster; plus Stewart’s Tama Star Drum Set (played at 2007 GRAMMY Awards).

Go to www.ebay.com/publictelevisionrocks to bid or view more information.

100% of the proceeds from both auctions will benefit Public Television Rocks!, an initiative formed between NY Public Television stations, Thirteen/WNET and WLIW21. The Police chose to support these stations in recognition of their contributions to art, music, and culture both in New York, and nationally. For more information, visit www.publictelevisionrocks.org

07.01.08: New 80s movie web site: 80’s cult Movie Source. This site features film synopses, movie links, and film battles such as Jeff Spicoli vs. Dudley “Booger” Dawson.

07.01.08: New 80s inspired musical in NYC this summer, The Johnny Musical, as a part of the New York International Fringe Festival. It answers the question, What happened to the bullying blonde jock in all those beloved '80s movies AFTER he lost to the scrappy young underdog? When Johnny Zabka loses for the first time ever, he has no idea what to do with his life. Shunned by his friends and evicted by his parents, Johnny must find a new way to win or else face the fact that he just may have peaked at the ripe old age of eighteen. With a musical score that not only echoes the music of the 1980s, but also finds a place for tap and Irish-themed numbers, The Johnny is a lively musical that is full of laughs and heart. For more info visit www.thejohnnymusical.com.

07.01.08: Molly Ringwald (John Hughes 80s Brat Pack star) returns to TV in a new series on ABC Family called ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager.’ In it, she plays 40 year old mom of a 15 year old daughter that finds herself pregnant. It is produced by Brenda Hampton, creator of “7th Heaven” and she likens this show to that, only with sex. We at Like Totally 80s are thrilled to see Molly Ringwald doing so many great things (she is also a star on Broadway), although she’ll always be Samantha Baker, the girl that got Jake Ryan to us.

80s Happenings