Like Totally 80s Interview with Greg Kihn
November 9, 2011 I recently had the extreme pleasure of talking with Greg Kihn—rockstar, novelist and radio personality. We covered topics as varied as his early days with Beserkley Records, his aspirations of a 3-generation Greg Kihn Band (we’re dubbing that “Kihnfolk”), the making of some of his biggest hits (hint: it included heartbreak and copious amounts of hot sake), and the days of coiffed hair and shoulder pads. Greg hit the...
Interview with Martika
November 1, 2011 Martika (born Marta Marrero) got her start on the show Kids Incorporated playing Gloria alongside costars Fergie and Mario Lopez. She went from there to the top of the pop charts in 1989 with her single “Toy Soldiers,” which spent two weeks in the top spot. Markita has a new album coming out and will be touring throughout 2012. We are so pleased to have been able to catch up with Martika. You can connect with her on...
Lyrics Video: Moron by Dead Milkmen
You either liked the Dead Milkmen or you didn’t. I did. A lot. This song, off of Eat Your Paisley, is them at their best. Enjoy!
Around the World in a Day: Your Video World Tour
Sure, we love it here in the United States, but sometimes we, like, get a wanderlust. World travel is totally rad! Come board our Like Totally 80s luxury jet and fly the friendly retro skies . . . Before we leave North America, let’s run for the border and take a dip in the Rio Grande. Duran Duran was (and is) straight-up awesome in every way. I know you recognize their hit “Rio” from their 1982 hit album of the same name: Note:...
Grape Nuts and My Crush on John Denver
It all started back in the late 70s and early 80s. I’m not sure when I first fell in love with John Denver – whether it was the appearances on the Muppet Show or his roles in the “Oh God” movies, but somewhere along the way I developed a serious crush on this man. I have forever since been a sucker for guys in glasses. My swim coach could do a mean “Annie’s Song” on the guitar, and I longed for a trip...
The 8 Worst Videos of the 1980s
By Rockdog 8. Journey – “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” (1983) Journey’s first real video is a disaster of epic proportions (think: Hindenburg). For starters, the band, who can actually play musical instruments, spends most of their time in the video playing air instruments, while a semi-good looking girl … walks. Yup, that is the concept of this video. Even better, it turns out (at the end, if you are masochistic enough to watch...
Thank You for the Music, Duran Duran!
By Laura Borgman Pitts Saturday, October 8, 2011 I wasn’t interested in attending Bayfest until I learned Duran Duran was a headlining act and I might get to meet the band. This reconfirmed my belief that life is sometimes a combination of ‘who you know,’ ‘being in the right place at the right time’ and occasionally just being ‘lucky.’ It was a gorgeous night, temps in the 70s at 9 pm when I accessed back stage with my husband and a...
Interview with Deon Estus of Wham!
October 5, 2011 We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Deon Estus of Wham! to talk about everything from his days touring with George Michael to juicing to the new music he’s working on now. Deon, a Detroit native, started out touring Europe with Marvin Gaye. It was while in Europe that he got connected with George Michael. From there, he joined Wham! as the bassist and stayed with George Michael through his solo career,...
80s Halloween Songs
There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are starting to change, and your neighbor has once again tied weirdly shaped squash to her mailbox. It can only mean one thing: Halloween is just around the corner! After putting together your bitchin’ costume and doing your party prep work, you need to get your eighties Halloween tune list lined up. These awesome eighties songs are perfect for your night of terror and treats. They range from...
Modern English Show – Review
September 28, 2011 Birmingham, AL The Modern English show, at The Nick in Birmingham, was a blast. The Nick Rocks is a small venue with serious rock n roll credentials and has hosted acts as diverse as Bono, Rob Thomas and Jack Black over its twenty year history. This is the kind of place that has Jager on tap. The band had just played a huge music festival to a crowd of thousands in Melbourne, Florida so this was a smaller, more...
Interview with Robbie Grey of Modern English
September 28, 2011 Birmingham, AL We recently had the extreme pleasure of sitting down with Robbie Grey, frontman of Modern English, before the last show of their recent tour of the Southeast. 2012 will be a big year for Robbie with new music forthcoming and a wedding (he’s getting married for the first time to his girlfriend of nine years). We cover topics ranging from what in the world “mesh and lace” means to his feelings on being...
Breakdancing in the 80s
By Julie Anderson Breakdancing is one of the great gifts of the 80s. A good breakdancer’s moves are jaw-dropping, gravity-defying, and at times downright inhuman. They moved in ways that we didn’t even know the human body could bend. Here’s a great video clip about the history of the dance technique and its various types: Back in elementary school in the early 80s, a few of the boys would bring their jamboxes to school and show off...
Concert Review: Devo at the Crystal Ballroom
Friday September 16, 2011 Portland, OR By Travis Greenwood ‘Greetings spuds of the NW!,’ proclaimed Bob Casale, keyboardist for ’80s icons, Devo, between songs during the band’s September 16th set at Portland’s historic Crystal Ballroom. The crowd, a healthy mix of longtime diehards and curious hipsters that came of age in a post-New Wave milieu, returned the favor with an hearty ovation, setting the tone...
Eye Candy Videos of the 80s
With the birth of MTV in 1981, music video production kicked into high gear. Many videos were straight-up concert footage or studio work, but we loved the ones that put a little more effort into the process. Costumes, plots, elaborate stages, puppets, animation… Here’s a look at my favorite visually awesome videos of the 1980s. Michael Jackson’s Thriller was SUCH a big deal when it came out in 1982. MTV gave us a schedule for...
Interview with Nick Richards of Boys Don’t Cry
September 3, 2011 Malibu, CA It was a beautiful day in Southern California as I drove through Malibu on my way to Nick Richards’ house for our interview. As I pulled into the drive, I was greeted with a sign on the gate that reads “Boogie Wonderland.” I took that to be a great start. I found Nick relaxed at home with family and friends in his beautiful retreat. After being greeted by the very friendly New Foundland, we moved to the...
