'Happy, Happy Halloween ... Silver Shamrock'

TODAY'S RETRO-REVIEW: 1982's "Halloween III: Season of the Witch," starring Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin and Dan O'Herlihy. Directed and written by Tommy Lee Wallace, a longtime contributor John Carpenter films (including the original Halloween in 1978).

THE PLOT: A sinister mask-making company has secret plans to kill millions of treat-or-treaters with something hidden in Halloween masks. (Hidden laser beams inside the masks will fry the little kiddies -- pretty terrifying at the time. Of course, it'd be years before we realized that no such high-tech toys actually work as advertised.) Watch a clip.

MAYBE YOU REMEMBER: This is the only move in the Halloween series that doesn't revolve around the character of Michael Myers. That, coupled with the $2.5-million budget, doomed it to the worst box-office performance of all the movies in that family.

SURELY YOU CAN'T FORGET: Nobody can get the TV jingle of Silver Shamrock Novelties Co. out of the head: "Six more days 'til Halloween, Halloween, Halloween. Six more days 'til Halloween ... Silver Shamrock."

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID: "A low-rent thriller from the first frame. This is one of those Identikit movies, assembled out of familiar parts from other, better movies." --- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times.

WHY WE LOVE IT ANYWAY: Aside from the great ad jingle, there are references to other movies sprinkled liberally throughout ("The Thing," "On Golden Pond") and a sense of humor that would become standard in horror movies later in the decade.

TOP 5 LINES FROM HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH

5. "I don't believe this commercial! It never stops!"

4. "Drinking and doctoring. Great combination."

3. "All witches, all skeletons, all Jack-O-Lanterns, gather 'round and watch. Watch the magic pumpkin."

2. "Well, he had to be one strong businessman, I can tell you that. You don't just pull someone's skull apart without a little lower-arm strength, know what I mean?"

1. "I was always taught that when someone needs help, you help them. Unless there's trouble. There isn't going to be any trouble is there?"

B-52s ready to debut 'Funplex'

Sixteen years later, isn't it time for a new album from the world's greatest party band? Hell yeah! And here's the scoop on it.

The B-52s' new disc is called "Funplex" and it's due for release on Feb. 26. "Pump," the first track on the album, is set to be the first release, according to rumors around the web.

The band has also announced a few dates for a forthcoming tour. They play New York's Roseland Ballroom on Halloween night, the Roxy in LA on Nov. 16, Salt Lake City on Nov. 17 and the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville on Feb. 15.

Will Stuck in the 80s make a pilgrimage to the city it hates most to catch that February show? It's a distinct possibility. Just promise us they'll be no Lynryd Skynyrd on the radio on the trip up!

Check the band's official website for the latest news.

The Grand Delusion of Styx

What's so unique about Styx, those Chi-town prog-rockers, that makes them irresistible to book writers? (Remember, bassist Chuck Panozzo penned his own version of the Styx story last year.)

For starters, the band has a back-story more dramatic than any band of its generation. And until they manage to put differences aside and reunite with Dennis DeYoung, expect more written dissection of the band.

The latest book on Styx is called "The Grand Delusion: The Unauthorized True Story of Styx" by Sterling  Whitaker. The author allows minimal personal commentary and lets the band members and those in the inside circle tell the story of their highly dysfunctional history.

The result: A compelling and often sad tale of a group of vastly different personalities who formed an unlikely alliance and became a superstar act for the decades.

Whitaker, who lives in Nashville, wrote "Unsung Heroes of Rock Guitar" in 2003. He recently took time out to answer some questions from Stuck in the 80s on his latest book:

Why the attraction to Styx for a biography? You must be a super-fan.

"Absolutely. When I was in kindergarten, I won a huge stack of 45s at a cakewalk at the school fair at the gym. This was in 1975, and one of the songs was 'Lady,' which was new at that time, with B-side 'Children of the Land.' I was warped for life. Later on, 'The Grand Illusion' was the first album I ever bought with my own money, and it is still my favorite record ever recorded. When I became a freelance writer, Tommy Shaw was the first major interview I ever did."

It's an unauthorized biography. What sort of cooperation did you get from band members?

"I had been warned repeatedly by various insiders to tread lightly through the minefield of potential litigation that is the career of Styx, so I was not too surprised when I did not get cooperation from many of the principals. ...  In the end I got to interview Tommy (Shaw), Glen Burtnik (who briefly replaced Shaw) and Todd Sucherman (who took over drumming after John Panozzo) from the band, as well as many insiders such as managers, record company executives, crew members, PR people, journalists,  fans and friends."

Did any of the band members surprise you with their personalities when dealing with them one on one?

"My contact with Dennis was limited to a phone call a long time ago, but for what it's worth, he was cordial, polite, and very funny, and he also seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say."

"Tommy surprised me a bit in that he is much more intelligent and insightful than he sometimes comes across. Sometimes I think he plays that 'Aww shucks, I'm just a simple country boy' shtick out of habit, but it's not who he is; not entirely, at least. Tommy is not dumb at all. Many Styx insiders have told me that he is 'dumb like a fox,' and that although he may not have the formal education of the other guys, in street smarts he trumps them all."

-- For more information on Whitaker's book, visit his website.

Praising the 80s ... Broadway style

Finding it hard to envision an Adam Sandler movie being made into a Broadway musical? Imagine the shock for the guy who co-wrote the movie and stage version of "The Wedding Singer."

"When I first heard of it, it just seemed like one of those ridiculous things that come across your desk," Tim Herlihy says. "But the more I thought about it, it's sort of a musical movie to begin with."

Herlihy, 41, was Sander's roommate at New York University and has co-written most of the comedies ("Happy Gilmore," "The Waterboy," "Click" among them) that have turned his college buddy into box-office gold. In the mid '90s, he also served as head writer and producer of Saturday Night Live, working with other comedians including Will Ferrell, Chris Farley and Mike Myers.

With the stage version of "The Wedding Singer" playing St. Petersburg's Mahaffey Theater this week, Stuck in the 80s had a chance to interview Herlihy for the podcast. Click here to listen, or click here to subscribe to all our shows for free on iTunes.

Here are some highlights from the interview:

On Sandler's reaction to the stage version: "Somehow the signals got crossed and he came to the very, very first preview thinking this was when you were supposed to show up. But it was the very first time it'd been performed in front of an audience, so it was very rough. ... But he seemed to like it."

On converting the movie to stage: "My favorite moment of the movie is when they're eating ice cream and 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' by The Police is playing in the background. You can never recapture that on stage. Just the cutting back and forth and the closeups. In the same way, we didn't want to end [the musical] on a plane as it is in the movie because how do you show that on the stage."

On Herlihy's and Sandler's infatuation with the 80s: "It's a generational thing. A lot of people thought the music was ironic in putting it in, but I really love all that music. That's when we grew up. We grew up on Atari and stuff that people look back ironically at now. There's nothing ironic about Atari to me."

Enjoy the podcast.

'There's a man on the wing!'

TODAY'S RETRO-REVIEW: 1983's Twilight Zone: The Movie, starring Dan Aykroyd, Vic Morrow, Albert Brooks, John Larroquette, Scatman Crothers, John Lithgow and many others. Written by Rod Sterling and John Landis. Individual directors are Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante and George Miller.

THE PLOT: The movie is broken into four segments -- each its own horror/sci-fi story with its own director and cast. Segment one: A bigoted businessman (Morrow) gets the tables turned on him in truly mind-bending ways. Segment two: Scatman Crothers pulls a "Cocoon" at an old-folks home (please tell me this wasn't filmed here in St. Pete). Segment three: A 10-year-old boy's evil imagination comes to life. Segment four: John Lithgow takes a plane ride he won't soon forget.

MAYBE YOU REMEMBER: A helicopter accident during filming claimed the lives of Vic Morrow and two child-actors. Lawsuits followed for a decade after the tragedy.

SURELY YOU CAN'T FORGET: John Lithgow's segment gives me nightmares every time I fly. That damn gremlin on the wing, tearing the engine apart -- chilling stuff. Lithgow's acting in this movie surpasses anything else in his career. And when the gremlin wags his finger at him and flies away, I can finally start breathing again.

THE TUNES: Very little to remember here other than "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendix during the Vietnam scene and "The Midnight Special" by Creedence Clearwater Revival during the opening and closing scenes.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID: Our favorite critic, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, gave individual reviews for each segment. He panned Spielberg's "Kick The Can" piece ("so convoluted and shadowy that the action is hard to follow...") but loved Miller's direction of Lithgow.

WHY WE LOVE IT ANYWAY: It's the little details. The reference to "Animal House" in the Vietnam segment. The cameos by Akyroyd and Brooks. And that dreaded gremlin the wing.

TOP 5 LINES FROM TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE

5. "Th-th-th-that's all, Ethel!"

4. "It's not fair! You're supposed to be happy when your wishes come true!"

3. "There's a man on the wing of this airplane!"

2. "I told you guys we shouldn't have shot Lieutenant Niedermeyer!"

1. "Hey... you wanna see something really scary?"

'Wanna see something really scary?'

Halloween is nearly upon us, though it doesn't feel nearly the same this year without the daylight savings time kicking in. Trick or treating in the daylight? I think not.

Since the 80s nation is too old to go find the old "Baseball Fury" costumes from "The Warriors" that we wore every year as kids, it seems like a good year to stay home and watch a retro-horror flick.

Here's last year's list of the best horror movies of the 80s -- again. (No sense researching it all over again after all.)

The list was generated by reader suggestions, reviews of the movies and a little personal opinion here and there. It's not as long as our previous lists of best comedies, worst songs, best videos and worst films. But it'll still give you a great guide to picking movies to watch between now and Halloween.

Excerpts from critic reviews are only included in the top 5 for this list. Critics are traditionally harsh on horror movies and their comments weren't pretty beyond the very best of the movies. I picked the "taglines" for the rest of the flicks.

Enjoy the list and remember: "You can't choose between life and death when we're dealing with what is in between."

Top 20 Horror Films of the 80s:

20. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986): Dennis Hooper, Caroline Williams. "After a decade of silence... The buzzz is back!"

19. C.H.U.D. (1984): Daniel Stern, John Heard. "You Won't Want To Know What It Means."

18. The Changeling (1980): George C. Scott, Jean Marsh. "Whatever you do...DON'T GO INTO THE ATTIC."

17. Hellraiser (1987): Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins. "Demon to some. Angel to others."

16. The Evil Dead (1981): Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss. "The Ultimate Experience In Grueling Terror."

15. Fright Night (1985): Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale. "If you love being scared, it'll be the night of your life."

14. House on Sorority Row (1983): Kate McNeil, Eileen Davidson. "Sisters in life.  Sisters in death."

13. Re-Animator (1985): Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott. "Herbert West Has A Very Good Head On His Shoulders... And Another One In A Dish On His Desk."

12. The Lost Boys (1987): Jason Patric, Corey Haim. "Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It's fun to be a vampire."

11. Dressed to Kill (1980): Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson. "Every Nightmare Has A Beginning ... This One Never Ends."

10. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Johnny Depp, Robert Englund. "A scream that wakes you up, might be your own."

9. The Believers (1987): Martin Sheen, Helen Shaver. "They exist. Fear them."

8. Return of the Living Dead (1985): Clu Gulager, James Karen. "They're back ... They're Hungry ... And they're NOT vegetarian."

7. Prince of Darkness (1987): Donald Pleasance, Jameson Parker. "It is evil. It is real. It is awakening."

6. Christine (1983): Keith Gordon, John Stockwell. "Hell hath no Fury...like Christine."

The top 5...

5. The Shining (1980): Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall. One critic said: "It is not just a great horror film; it is a psychological profile of how people wrestle with their unsavory pasts."

4. Night of the Creeps (1986): Jason Lively, Steve Marshall. One critic said: "Rarely is a horror comedy as much fun to watch as this movie is."

3. American Werewolf in London (1981): David Naughton, Jenny Agutter. One critic said: "It may be one of the best endings to any movie, ever."

2. The Thing (1982): Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley. One critic said: "If you don't repeatedly drop your jaw and gape at the screen in disbelief, you might need to lay off the PCP."

1. Poltergeist (1982): Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams. One critic said: "This is the movie The Amityville Horror dreamed of being."

So there's the list. Feel free to share your darts and laurels.

Speaking of horror flicks...

Our Stuck in the 80s special Halloween podcast from last year is still online, featuring music and scenes from our favorite movies, along with the stories that made the day special for us back in the 80s. Click here to listen or click here to subscribe to the series for free on iTunes.

The hedonism of Simon Le Bon

I'm a Duran Duran nut, like most people who grew up in the early to mid 80s. But unlike the other lads, the Duranie I always wanted to be was Simon Le Bon.

He wasn't the babe magnet that John Taylor was. Wasn't the charming, intellectual Nick Rhodes. And he sure wasn't the antisocial, misfit of either Roger or Andy Taylor. Simon just wore wristbands, struck cool poses, sang his guts out ("Siiiiiiiiiiing, Blue Siiiiiiilver!"), gave interesting quotes to the media and generally didn't care all that much what people thought of him.

Plus, Simon didn't have to play an instrument. (Unless you count the tambourine as a real instrument, and unless you're in the Partridge Family, you don't.)

Simon turns 49 today. Here are a few favorite quotes from the birthday boy to enjoy, along with links to the full articles in which they appear.

On his role in the "View to a Kill" video: "It was the closest I was ever going to get to playing James Bond and I wasn't about to miss out on that opportunity, He had the works - the girls, the guns, the gadgets, the cars. He got to do everything. I used to read the Bond books as a kid, and I thought they were really sexy. I always wanted to be Bond." [Full interview]

On staying in shape: "I've got some very serious beauty tips. Don't run too much. You'll f--k your knees up. I go for nice long walks now, uphill. And one of these days, I'm going to get a dog. But I've got a very physical job, and I'd hate to have to go to the gym. That would be awful." [More]

On recording "Seven and the Ragged Tiger" in Australia: "Oh my God, that was hedonism. I succumbed to hedonism. My God, did we have a good time. Somebody came up to us once and said, 'I think you shagged all the girls in Sydney.' And we weren't even trying. It was so funny. We had some fantastic times." [More]

Most depressing songs of the 80s: Top 20

What better person to introduce the final 20 songs from the Most Depressing Songs of the 80s list than "Gary" from "Last American Virgin."

I'm going out on a limb here and proclaiming that Gary (played expertly by the much-underrated Lawrence Monoson) is the saddest movie character of the 80s. If you don't know why, then it's time to rent the movie again. (Even sadder that his signature tune ''Just Once" didn't make the top 20, but another song from the movie did.)

This list is for all the Gary's out there. (Click here to see Nos. 21-30, 31-40, 41-50)

MOST DEPRESSING SONGS OF THE 80s: The Top 20

20. With Or Without You (U2): "Sleight of hand and twist of fate, on a bed of nails she makes me wait." [Video]

19. Love on the Rocks (Neil Diamond): "First they say they want you, how they really need you. Suddenly you find you're out there, walking in a storm." [Video]

18. Throwing It All Away (Genesis): "Late at night when you call my name, the only sound you'll hear is the sound of your voice calling, calling after me." [Video]

17. Separate Lives (Phil Collins): "Some day I might find myself looking in your eyes. But for now, we’ll go on living separate lives." [Video]

16. The Bitterest Pill (The Jam): "I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive." [Video]

15. Since You're Gone (The Cars): "You're so treacherous when it comes to tenderness." [Video]

14. Goodnight Saigon (Billy Joel): "And who was wrong? And who was right? It didn't matter in the thick of the fight." [Video]

13. Against All Odds (Phil Collins): "I wish i could just make you turn around, turn around and see me cry." [Video]

12. Fairytale of New York (The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl): "Happy Christmas, your arse, I pray God it's our last." [Video]

11. Is This The World We Created? (Queen): "If there's a God up in the sky looking down, what can he think of what we've done?" [Live video]

10. Dear God (XTC): "If there's one thing I don't believe in... it's you." [Video]

9. Voices Carry (Til Tuesday): "He tells me tears are something to hide,  and something to fear." [Video]

8. Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper): "You said go slow. I fall behind. The second hand unwinds." [Video]

7. The River (Bruce Springsteen): "No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle. No flowers, no wedding dress." [Live video]

6. Mercy Street (Peter Gabriel): "Tugging at the darkness, word upon word." [Video]

5. No One Is To Blame (Howard Jones): "You can feel the punishment but you can't commit the sin." [Live video]

4. Blasphemous Rumors (Depeche Mode): "When I die I expect to find him laughing." [Live video]

3. Here Comes A Regular (The Replacements): "I used to live at home, now I stay at the house" [Listen]

2. Same Old Lang Syne (Dan Fogelberg): "We drank a toast to innocence. We drank a toast to now. And tried to reach beyond the emptiness. But neither one knew how." [Watch video]

1. Fast Car (Tracy Chapman): "We leave tonight or live and die this way." [Watch video]

Footloose, the movie ... again!

OK, Hollywood. Now you've gone too far. Footloose - The Musical, which of course is the stage version of the 1984 movie, is now becoming Footloose - The Movie (Based on the Musical). Ackkk! I think I'm getting dizzy. But wait! There's more!

Who's taking over for the role of Ren McCormack, made famous by Kevin Bacon? Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Zac Efron, of High School Musical fame! Is nothing holy anymore? (And by the way, am I the only person who thinks Efron looks like Rob Lowe during the 80s? Spooky.)

Of course, this isn't an entirely new concept. "Hairspray" and "The Producers" went through the exact same transition -- movie to Broadway musical to movie. Let's just hope they're not considering John Travolta to play the role of Rev. Shaw Moore (originally played by John Lithgow, who also pulled a Travolta and cross-dressed in World According to Garp.)

Kevin Bacon seems to keeping things in perspective. He recently told TV Guide that he's cool with everything. I've heard about it, and it's great" Bacon told their website. "But of course the truth is they're not really remaking the movie that I was in. They're remaking the Broadway musical."

(Something tells me Bacon is counting on some sort of financial payday buried deep down inside this mess. Maybe he's playing the role of book-burning Burlington Cranston!)

Most depressing songs of the 80s (#21-30)

Poor Duckie. He saw yesterday's list of Most Depressing Songs of the 80s, and was driven to a crying fit out in the rain because nothing from "Pretty in Pink" had made the list.

Cheer up, Duck man. Today's your big day.

(Click here to see Nos. 31-40 and 41-50)

TOP 50 DEPRESSING SONGS OF THE 80s: Nos. 21-30

30. How Soon Is Now? (The Smiths): "I am the son and heir of nothing in particular."

29. Who Wants To Live Forever? (Queen): "This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us."

28. Everytime You Go Away (Paul Young):  "I can feel your body move. It doesn't mean that much to me."

27. Hold On to the Nights (Richard Marx): "I wish that I could give you something more."

26. Luka (Suzanne Vega): "They only hit until you cry and after that you don't ask why."

25. Think Of Laura (Christopher Cross): "I think you're here, taking our tears away."

24. Purple Rain (Prince): "It's such a shame our friendship had to end."

23. The Way It Is (Bruce Hornsby): "As he catches the poor old lady's eyes, just for fun he says 'Get a job.' "

22. Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (The Smiths): "Lord knows, it would be the first time."

21. New York Minute (Don Henley): "Men get lost sometimes as years unfurl."

Sneak peak at the next 10: Just pour me a drink, and I'll tell you some lies.

Win a home theater system? Inconceivable!

Our favorite fairytale 80s movie -- well, maybe the only movie fitting that genre -- turns 20 years old this year. And "The Princess Bride" is coming out in a special editing DVD to mark the occasion. Look for it in stories in mid-November.

In conjunction with the anniversary and DVD release, MGM Home Entertainment has launched an "Ode to Princess Bride" online contest. Contestants in the online sweepstakes are provided and "editor's took kit" with video, audio and music from the film. Using those, the challenge is to create your own video trailer.

Winners will be selected by movie producers Norman Lear and Rob Reiner. What does the grand prize winner score? A state-of-the-art home theater package and autographed movie script.

The contest ends this Sunday, so get cracking. Go to www.theprincessbride.com for more information.

Last night at the REO show...

Just a couple quick stories to share from last night's epic twin bill of REO Speedwagon and .38 Special at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall.

.38 SPECIAL
First, a confession: Times pop critic Sean Daly and I missed most of .38 Special's set -- intentionally. Blame Sean. But we did catch "Caught Up In You" and "Hold On Loosely" -- fantastic performance. The crowd was more into it than I would have guessed. And the band was really soaking in the enthusiasm. I was happy for them. Every 80s band should get this type of audience on a regular basis. And next time, the gang from Jacksonville rolls through here, I promise to see the whole show.

REO SPEEDWAGON
Are you sure these guys are in their 50s? They acted like 20-somethings, racing around the stage nonstop. (Someone check nearby convenience stories for a shortage of Red Bull.) The setlist varied a little from what I reported yesterday -- it was better. They threw in some older tunes -- "Golden Country" was a standout -- along with a slew of the greatest hits catalog.

I was disappointed the crowd kept their seats for "Tough Guys" -- easily one of my favorite REO tunes. But at our age, we need to conserve our energy, I suppose. "Take It On The Run" sounds much better live these days. Not so much a ballad these days, it takes on a rebellious anthem tone. Bassist Bruce Hall sounded in peak form as well on "Back On The Road Again." That's a song that doesn't get enough credit.

Sean was caught off guard, I think. Expecting more of a soft-rock show, Sean wasn't expecting REO's high-powered set. "This is a rock show!" he kept saying. Damn straight.

Most depressing songs of the 80s (#31-40)

Yeah, I skipped a day in the list. How depressing. (Though less depressing than using a photo of Dawson's Creek on an 80s blog. Hey, somebody help me out with sad photos!)

The list of the 50 most depressing songs of the 80s continues today. (Repeat after me: Open mouth, insert Prozac, swallow.)

My personal favorite from today's list? No surprise to long-time fans here -- it's "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" by Asia. Though in all fairness, I'm a sobbing heap of melting flesh if you play any tune on today's list. How appropriate that it's been non-stop rain all morning here in Florida.

Click here to view Nos. 41-50. And as always, fire away with the feedback.

50 MOST DEPRESSING SONGS OF THE 80s: Nos. 31-40

40. Hard to Say I'm Sorry (Chicago): "Even lovers need a holiday, far away from each other."

39. Last Time Forever (Squeeze):" It all went wrong when I grew jealous."

38. Missing You (John Waite): "There's a heart that's breaking down this long distance line tonight."

37. Save a Prayer (Duran Duran): "You don't have to dream it all, just live a day."

36. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (Asia): "It's over now. It's not my fault. See how this feels for you."

35. Cigarette (Smithereens): "Just like this cigarette, our time is running down."

34. Mandolin Rain (Bruce Hornsby): "You don't know what you got till you lose it all again."

33. Just Once (James Ingram): "Seems we're always blowing whatever we got going."

32. Give Me It (The Cure): "Get away from me. Leave me alone. Like the pig on the stairs, hanging
in a groovy purple shirt."

31. Drive (The Cars): "You can't go on, thinkin' nothings wrong."

Sneak peak at tomorrow's list: If you think Mandolin Rain is sad, try the other kinds of rain.

A night with the 'he-man woman hater's club'

Happy REO Speedwagon Day! Our favorite rockers from the early 80s are in town here in Tampa Bay to play a gig tonight at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall. Stuck in the 80s will be there, of course. We're just upset this day hasn't been designated a state holiday.

(Sadly, my orchestrated attempted to pull a Ferris with the clammy hands was rejected by the bosses, so I'm at work until showtime.)

If you haven't heard our interview with lead singer Kevin Cronin, click here to download it now. Or click here to get all our great podcasts for free via iTunes.

Now that I've whipped you into a frenzy for tonight's show, you might be wondering how many of the old hits REO will be playing. The answer: Nearly all of them. Here's a quick look at what we believe is tonight's setlist:

• Don't Let Him Go: Perfect song to open the show with.
• Music Man: Great version of the sing available on Youtube.
• Take It on the Run: Reminds me of a bad breakup. Will use this moment for bathroom break.
• Keep Pushin': I'd swap this for something like "That Ain't Love" or "157 Riverside Avenue."
• Needed to Fall: First single off new album. Fantastic tune.
• Tough Guys: Possibly my favorite REO song. Love the "Lil Rascals" intro. ("Hey, Romeo, what about your promise to the he-man woman hater's club...")
• Dangerous Combination: Another song off new album.
• Can't Fight This Feelin: Theme to my senior prom. (My date was able to fight my feeling.)
• Smilin' in the End: Another good choice from new album.
• Time For Me To Fly: If you listen closely tonight, you'll hear Sean Daly and I singing along -- poorly.
• Back On the Road Again: Might be better played higher on the set list.
• Keep On Lovin' You: A song nobody can butcher in karaoke. I've proven this time and time again.
• Roll With the Changes: One of the all-time great songs live.
• Encore: Ridin' the Storm Out: A perfect ending to a perfect night, I'm hoping.

Moment of serendipity: Tonight's concert is 26 years -- plus one day -- since the first concert I ever saw -- Journey on their Escape tour, Oct. 22, 1981, at the Lakeland Civic Center. Come back, Steve Perry! Come back!

[AP photo]

The kids are still hot tonight

Just when you needed another fresh injection of 80s rock, Loverboy is here with a new album.

"Just Getting Started" is the name of the new album -- the band's first is more than 10 years. It will be released Nov. 6 initially in an exclusive deal with Wal-Mart.

I've been listening to the new disc for a couple weeks now, and it's a much-overdue blast of pure Canadian 80s rock. Vocalist Mike Reno's voice sounds fully recharged and he really seems energized by the new material.

The first song the band recorded -- "Stranded" -- is actually the last song on the disc. The song is written as an ode to Scott Smith, the band's former bassist who was lost at sea while sailing in 2000.

The 10 songs still feature the guitar-and-keyboards barrage and working class lyrics that made the band so accessible to fans during their hey-day. Highlights on the disc include the hard-rocking title track and the 9-to-5 anthem "One Of Them Days."

"I love the way it sounds. I love the album cover. I love the fact that we're almost giving it away," vocalist Mike Reno told a Canadian newspaper. "I love the fact that we're giving half-price downloads on most of the download systems. And I'm perfectly aware that more than half of the people in the world will steal it. I'm happy with all of that."

LOVERBOY PLAYS TAMPA BAY: Speaking of Loverboy, the band plays Oktoberfest in St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park on Saturday, Oct. 27. $5 advance at Albertson stores (with proof of purchase), $10 Ticketmaster; $20 at gate. (727) 579-2026

Most depressing songs of the 80s (#41-50)

Turn the lights low. Pour yourself a drink of scotch. Maybe keep a pack of cigarettes and a tissue box close by. The list of the Top 50 Most Depressing Songs of the 80s is here.

Thanks go to the all the Stuck in the 80s readers who offered a ton of suggestions via the blog and e-mail. I can proudly admit I've spent days weeping over the final rankings, looking up lyrics, listening to the tunes, sobbing openly and swearing in public at inappropriate times. (Again, I apologize to all those kids last night at Chuck E. Cheese.) You name it. But I did it all for you.

I'll roll out the list 10 songs at a time -- trust me, that's more depression than anyone can handle in a single day. As always, fire away with the comments, feedback, phone numbers for suicide hot lines.

TOP 50 MOST DEPRESSING SONGS OF THE 80s: Nos. 41-50

50. Friends of Mine (Duran Duran): "I thinks it's time you were told I think you're growing old."

49. Ghost Town (Cheap Trick): "Life goes on around me every day but it might as well be half a million miles away."

48. Always Something There to Remind Me (Naked Eyes): "If you should find you miss the sweet and tender love we used to share, just come back to the places where we used to go and I'll be there."

47. Hell Is For Children (Pat Benatar): "Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy. Tell grandma you fell off the swing."

46. Rockville (R.E.M.): "At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend I don't care that you're not here with me."

45. Who's Cryin' Now (Journey): "So many stormy nights, so many wrongs or rights."

44. Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division): "Do you cry out in your sleep?"

43. Haven't We Been Here Before (Styx): "Footsteps lead down to the note on the door that says I can't stay here anymore."

42. Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House): So don't say no, don't say nothings wrong 'cause when you get back home maybe I'll be gone."

41. Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me (The Smiths): No hope, no harm. Just another false alarm."

Sneak peak at tomorrow's list: More Duran Duran, the Cure and the Cars.

I'd just as soon kiss Carrie Fisher

Say what you like about Jabba the Hutt. He had a slight weight problem. He made a living in the black market. He slurred his words.

But the guy had an eye for beautiful women. And in 1983, he gave every teenage human boy in the 80s a gift: an enslaved Princess Leia in a gold metal bikini. The scene of a nearly nude Carrie Fisher in "Return of the Jedi" is probably responsible for more males entering puberty since the food fight scene in "Little Darlings."

Fischer, who turns 51 years old today, told Vanity Fair in a 1996 interview that she ended up getting the part in Star Wars because "I slept with some nerd."

"I hope it was George [Lucas]," she added, explaining to the interviewer that she was on too many drugs at the time to remember.

The popular story among Star Wars fans is that during filming of "Jedi," Fisher found that the metal bikini didn't really fit all that well. When she would recline back against Jabba, the top and bottom of the outfit would push out from her body, giving any nearby crew member a good view of her bare necessities. (I'm glad I didn't know this factoid back in '83 -- I think my testosterone levels would have surged beyond lethal levels.)

But our attraction to her goes way behind the slutty slave swimsuit. It's the titillating lines of dialog -- seemingly brushed with a tinge of innuendo. ("I'd just as soon kiss a wookie." "You're a jittery little thing, aren't you?" "Into the garbage shute, flyboy!")

These days, Fisher is staying busy with her writing novels ("Postcards from the Edge," "The Best Awful There Is") and has resumed her acting career. She is currently filming "The Women," a comedy flick with Bette Midler, Eva Mendes and Meg Ryan.

Holding on very loosely to .38 Special

Here's a confession darker and more terrifying than anything I've admitted before as an 80s addict: I once lived in Jacksonville, Fla., for four years.

(Sounds of screaming, as if my digestive tract was removed through an eye socket.)

Once known for its foul-smelling paper plants, these days Jacksonville is known primarily for three things:

• It's the site of the annual Florida-Georgia football game.
• Its residents' love of mustard-based BBQ sauce.
• It's the birthplace of Southern Rock idols Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and .38 Special.

Every day when I lived there, the FM stations would dedicate at least an hour of noon-time programming entirely to one of the bands (usually Skynyrd, I'm sorry to say). I've heard "Free Bird" more times than I've heard "Come On Eileen." I know every whistle in any Molly Hatchet hit. And I've memorized each harmonizing chorus by .38 Special. It's not a gift. It's a curse. The curse the Jacksonville.

So when I saw that .38 Special was performing with REO Speedwagon on Oct. 23 in Clearwater, I immediately felt queasy -- as if I'd consumed one too many racks of those mustardy ribs. I'm an REO addict so I have great seats to the show -- but can I survive another hour of .38 Special? I think so.

For those new to Southern rock, let me assure you: .38 Special is no one-hit wonder. More than 20 of their songs hit the charts between 1980 and the late 90s. How do you describe their sound? Skynyrd Lite? That's not fair. Maybe how Toto would sound had they been from southern Georgia? That's closer.

Here's a list for the optimistic side of me. The one that savors the memories of the wide, empty beaches on Jacksonville's Atlantic coast -- not the side of me that also is haunted by that gurgling Willy Wonka chocolate river running through the town called the St. John's.

TOP FIVE .38 SPECIAL TUNES:

5. If I'd Been The One: "Could you smile when inside you just want to cry?"

4. Caught Up In You: "When it's right the light just comes shining through."

3. Teacher, Teacher: "The joke's on those who believe the system's fair."

2. Fantasy Girl: "Now I've had my share and sometimes I swear that I've had me enough."

1. Hold On Loosely: "If you cling to tightly you're gonna lose control."

[Times staff photo; publicity shot from 38special.com]

Tom Petty and the night of short mini-skirts

When it comes to Tom Petty, I've actually been to the holy ground upon which he began his music career. Petty is a Gainesville, Fla., native. His first band, Mudcrutch, made a living playing gigs around the university town, including their home-away-from-home -- Dub's, a bar on the city outskirts.

Back in 1985, I was a freshman at the University of Florida and first heard of Dub's. By then, Petty's fame had led him to L.A., and Dub's current fame was equally alluring: It was the only bar in town that hosted a short mini-skirt contest on Thursday nights. The attraction was that the skirt was the only thing contestants had to wear (and even that was shed in the first 10 seconds of any song). The bar was notoriously lax on checking ID's, so even though I was only 18, I was able to get in and be served.

I'm not going to say that the aura of Petty's legacy still hung thick in the building. To be honest, I was more focused on the current night's entertainment. But still, one generous bartender there was intent on educating us punk kids on Petty's place in Gainesville history. And in time, we took timeout to soak in the atmosphere as he spun a few good yarns about the guy.

Alas, Dub's is gone now. The building remains, but the old owners are long gone. Petty, who turns 57 years old Saturday, is still going strong -- much to my delight ... and anyone else who caught Short Mini-Skirt Night at Dub's.

TOP 5 SONGS FROM TOM PETTY DURING THE 80s:

5. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (with Stevie Nicks): "I know you really want to tell me goodbye."

4. Don't Come Around Here No More: "You tangle my emotions."

3. Free Fallin': "All the good girls are home with broken hearts."

2. You Got Lucky: "Girl, if you can do better than me, go..."

1. The Waiting: "Baby, you're the only one that's ever known how to make me wanna live like I wanna live now."

MORE TOM PETTY: Remember when music videos were truly an artform? You can thank Tom Petty for some of that. His videos were epic, including my personal favorite from the early 80s -- You Got Lucky. But this clip of Weird Al Yankovic interviewing Petty is also a must-see.

[Publicity photo; Times files]

Wear your 80s addiction with pride

When it comes to movie worship, everyone takes second place to the cast of Stuck in the 80s. Or so I thought.

Remember all those cool t-shirts you see actors wearing in your favorite 80s movies? The "I (heart) Toxic Waste" shirt that Val Kilmer wears in Real Genius. The Bushwood Country Club shirt the caddies sport in Caddyshack. The so-cool "Senor Pizza" shirt that Patrick Dempsey wears in Loverboy.

All those and more are now for sale online from a website called founditemclothing.com. The company has been around for about two years, according to Adam Peter, who started the website in Portland, Oregon.

"I got the idea during a late night screening of Real Genius," Peter said. "I'd had seen the movie a bunch of times, but for whatever reason, after that viewing I really, really wanted an I Love Toxic Waste t-shirt.  I figured that I could go home that night do a quick search on Google and eBay and find one, but I had no such luck."

After designing and producing the shirts, Peter sold a small run of 25 shirts from the movie -- enough to recoup his initial investment. Then customers started asking for shirts from other 80s classics. Another cool online venture was born.

"It's been a lot of fun so far," Peter said.  "I've gotten a lot of great feedback from happy customers that appreciate the amount of detail and accuracy of our designs, and it's also a great excuse to watch lots of 80's movies."

(You need an excuse?)

Other shirts worn in movies you'll find at founditemclothing.com: Spinal Tap, Teen Wolf, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Tron, Beverly Hills Cop and more. There are shirts from movies outside the 80s too, including The Big Lebowski and Slap Shot.

And they've even got a page of 80s costume ideas -- something I'm asked about all the time here.

In addition, Stuck in the 80s is giving away five t-shirts from founditemclothing.com on our podcast. So check out the "Name that 80s tune" challenge in each of the next five episodes, beginning with the Kevin Cronin interview, for your chance to win.

Keep on Lovin' REO Speedwagon

If I can be so bold to offer this observation: Kevin Cronin was the face of the early 80s music scene. REO Speedwagon's live videos saturated the first day of MTV's programming. Their album "Hi Infidelity" was the top-selling record a half year in 1981. And six tunes from that glorious record reached the charts that year. In shorter words, he was a golden god.

Times music critic Sean Daly and I recently had the chance to interview Cronin for Stuck in the 80s prior to REO's concert here in Tampa Bay on Oct. 23 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. We asked him about his local ties (he's got in-laws all around Tampa Bay), the new album -- "Find Your Own Way Home," and his super-human songwriting powers that created the band's string of hits in the 80s.

Click here to download the entire interview (including a new Name That Tune challenge). Or click here to subscribe to all our shows for free on iTunes.

Here are some highlights from our talk with Cronin:

On the effect a new album has on touring: "Just on a vibe level, everyone's feeling renewed energy-wise. It's just a great feeling to finish a record and ... it can't help but rub off on the classic songs. The old songs song better than ever to me now. I'm having more fun singing them than I ever have."

On stories people have about their songs: "We get some wacky stories. We had a couple, as I was singing "Can't Fight This Feeling" in Syracuse, NY, ... there was a guy on one knee in the aisle proposing to his girlfriend as we sang the song. ... I got an e-mail recently from a guy in Iraq. They play our music inside their armored vehicles as they go into battle. They're playing 'Riding the Storm Out.' "

On how many women have been seduced to "Keep On Loving You": "That's a tightly held secret that no one in the band is able to disclose the actual facts and figures. We do have a bed post that we carry around in the tour bus that everyone puts notches in on a nightly basis. (laughs) Not at all. But there was a time. When those records were huge hits, I don't know exactly what it is, but women do like to be around rock bands.

On trashing hotel rooms: "The old days of throwing a nice big picture-tube analog TV out the window, there was a certain explosion that was made when one of those things hit the cement. The new flat-screens, they're just not as much fun to throw out windows anymore, so why bother?

Enjoy the podcast and leave us a comment with your feedback.

'Max and Jinx... Friends... For-e-ver'

After all the personal anguish over whether Space Camp (starring the lovely Kelly Preston) was a decent 80s movie or not ...

I hate using YouTube video on a regular basis here, but I spit Diet Mountain Dew through my nose when I heard the robot from Space Camp talk again. The "Family Guy" -- why am I not watching this show every night?

Parade in women's underpants? That's 'Class'

TODAY'S RETRO-REVIEW: The 1983 coming-of-age classic "Class," starring Robe Lowe, Andrew McCarthy and Jacqueline Bisset. Directed by Lewis Carlino, whose best-known work was writing and directing 1979's "The Great Santini."

THE PLOT: A naive and shy boy (McCarthy) gets a scholarship to an elite prep school, where he falls victim to classmates' pranks (the old "parade in women's underpants" gag. Classic.) before falling in love with a woman (Bisset) who turns out to be the mother of his rich, classy roommate (Lowe).

MAYBE YOU REMEMBER: The name of the bar where "Jonathan" meets Mrs. Burroughs is the "Free and Easy Club." However, the address he's dropped off at is the real-life address for Mother's -- the bar made so famous in the 80s flick "About Last Night."

SURELY YOU CAN'T FORGET: The movie was a who's-who of future young stars of Hollywood, including John Cusack, Alan Ruck, Joan Cusack and Virginia Madsen.

THE TUNES: Was there a soundtrack? I can't find one for sale. But among the better tunes included in the movie -- "Holiday in Cambodia" by the Dead Kennedys and "Little Drummer Boy" by Joan Jett.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID: "An uncomfortable, inconsistent movie that doesn't really pay off -- a movie in which everything points to two absolutely key scenes that are, inexplicably, the two most awkward scenes in the film." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times.

WHY WE LOVE IT ANYWAY: Rob Lowe shows his rare comic genius in only his second Hollywood movie (the first being "The Outsiders.") His Halloween costume -- dressing as Jesus -- remains the highlight of the movie. His success here no doubt kick-started his career in the 80s, though it's a shame he didn't keep his hand in comedy.

TOP 5 MEMORABLE LINES FROM CLASS:

5. "I usually have at least a month, before I am faced with student in womens underwear or an artists rendering of my persona dangling from the rafters."

4. "Jonathan, until you get laid none of us are safe!"

3. "It was a lousy thing to do. But I was just so humiliated I just had to kill myself."

2. Not only are you forbidden to attend the Halloween dance, but you are the first student in the history of Vernon Academy ever to be banned from Foxfield until, and I quote, 'The day you die.' "

1. "Worriest thou not about being banished for ever from the Foxfield school for girls, for yea, thought they are the only females within a 100 miles, there is still a place where thou canst journey to. Chicago, on the nine o'clock bus."

Roger Moore is 80 years old?!?

Surely this is a misprint: Roger Moore is celebrating his 80th birthday today. In case you're wondering, that makes him three years older than the "007" he replaced -- Sean Connery.

Moore played "James Bond" from 1973 to 1985, appearing in what I believe are some of the best 007 films ("The Spy Who Loved Me" and "For Your Eyes Only") -- and easily the worst ("A View To A Kill"). To be honest, I preferred him to Connery and Pierce Brosnan. (And I'll also confess I thought Timothy Dalton's two turns as Bond were some of my favorites.)

His niche in the 007 library: He was the funniest of the Bonds. (Lest we forget his other great acting role of the 80s '-- "Seymour Goldfarb Jr." in 1981's "Cannonball Run.") And probably the most suave of the Bonds. (He's got his own official website, which in typically Bond fashion prompts visitors "Why not ask me a question?")

These days, Moore still makes an occasional screen appearance (he's hilariously "gay" in 2002's "Boat Trip" -- seriously, that movie kills me.) Mostly he spends his time serving as a UNICEF ambassador, a cause he continues to promote when he does appear in public.

FAVORITE ROGER MOORE MOVIE QUOTES OF THE 80s:

"He was going to kill me. And you. Things like that tend to make me impulsive." (Seawolves, 1980)

"Now put your clothes back on, and I'll buy you an ice cream." (For Your Eyes Only, 1981)

"Do you think you can help me? Someone seems to have stuck a knife in my wallet." (Octopussy, 1983)

"Call me James. It's five days until Alaska." (A View To A Kill, 1985)

Name that 80s tune: "Too Shy"

Our "name that 80s tune" challenge for episode #101 wasn't quite the brain-teaser I thought it was when I put the show together. By now, even people in countries without the Internet know the correct answer: "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo.

The song was the debut single by the band and was released in January 1983. It became a No. 1 hit in the U.K. and peaked at No. 5 in the United States. Two other tunes -- "Ooh to Be Ah" and "Hang on Now" -- also were top 15 hits in the U.K. But things went downhill for the band when lead singer Limahl was fired.

Though the band briefly reunited in 2004, these days they continue to go it without Limahl. The current lineup of Nick Beggs, Steve Askew and Stuart Neale released a new single -- "Rocket Boy" -- in June. A new album is planned for 2008. Check out the band's official website for the latest news along with other multimedia features-- including their own podcast. (How will until they appear on the Stuck in the 80s podcast? We'll see.)

[Publicity photo]

So much more than arm candy

She's not just Mrs. John Travolta. At one point in time, Kelly Preston was one of the most underrated babes of the 1980s.

Most movie fans know Preston for her memorable 90s roles, including villainous turns in "Jerry Maguire" and "Addicted to Love" and a simple romantic pairing with Kevin Costner in "For Love of the Game." 

But Preston, who turns 45 years old today, spent the 1980s playing the pretty face in a handful of largely forgotten movies. But just because they're forgotten, that doesn't mean they weren't good. And give Preston credit for making every one of these films better.

TOP 5 KELLY PRESTON MOVIES OF THE 80s:

5. Space Camp (1986): I'm not going to pretend this is a great movie. But I have fond memories of seeing it for free at 2 a.m. during a free employee showing at the multiplex.

4. Mischief (1985): One of the forgotten "losing your virginity" movies of the 80s. Familiar plot, but set in the 50s.

3. Secret Admirer (1985): Preston plays nearly the exact same character as in "Mischief." But if it works, it works -- thanks to C. Thomas Howell and the ultra-sexy Lori Loughlin.

2. Twins (1988): Now, I realize I'll be mocked for lauding this movie at all. But you gotta admit, the seduction scene between Preston and Arnold Schwarzenegger is classic.

1. The Experts (1989): The flick in w