Still hanging tough with New Kids on the Block

Hey gang, Stephanie Hayes here. Spears, to maintain his last miserable shred of dignity, asked me to take the blog reigns on this one - NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! The dreamy Boston boy band ruled in the late 80s, pimped by Maurice Starr as a white answer to New Edition.

Yesterday, I shared a moment with my friend, Tamara. She's a pavement-pounding journalist by day, a closet NKOTB fan by night. Here's our electronic exchange. Only true NKOTB fans will appreciate it:

Tamara: NKOTB!!!!
Stephanie: HANGING TOUGH!
Tamara: step by step oh babyyyyyyy gonna get to you giiiiirrrrrlllllllll
Stephanie: you got the right stuff, baybee, love the way you turn me on
Tamara: please dont go giiiiiiiirl
Stephanie: jordan is so hot
Tamara: i heart jordan.

Two professional women reduced to sniveling fan girls. Sad. I had the Jordan Knight doll, which if I recall, came with ONE EARRING. I had trading cards. A hot pink plastic watch. My sophisticated neighbor, Ashley Kunaszewski, who was a year older and had a boyfriend, CARVED HER HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN with Jonathan Knight's initials. (Ashley – e-mail me!)

In the early 90s, the group became a punch line. The boys were later forced into desperation gigs on the "Surreal Life" and "Dancing with the Stars."

But fear not! There has been mucho chatter of a New Kids reunion. Danny Wood, the, um, unfortunate looking one, keeps posting cryptic things on MySpace like, "I can guarantee all the fans that if this reunion were to happen, they would hear about it first on www.NKOTB.com." If it pans out, Tamara and I are getting front row tickets.

I know many of you are bent over puking into the wastebasket now. I don't expect you to share my passion for boys with fade haircuts and high tops.

But here’s my question to you, 80s nation: Not counting New Kids, what 80s band reunion would you LEAST like to see?

[AP photo]

Comments

[Bassnote]

Dexy's Midnight Runners

[Tamara]

I had the NKOTB bed sheets, trading cards and hot pink slap bracelet!

Stephanie, if they don't come to Tampa, we're taking a road trip.

[Spears]

Least like to see reunite:

-- Culture Club
-- The Police (doh!)
-- The Outfield
-- The Hooters
-- Wham!
-- Power Station

How's that for starters?

[Jeff in Cuba]

I'd rather listen to a real flock of seagulls than their eponymous 80's counterparts.

By the way, asking which 80's band shouldn't reunite but exempting NKOTB is a lot like asking:

"Other than Michael Jackson, who would you least like to see teaching your child's fifth-grade Health class?"

[jane]

Mr. Spears.

Them's fightin' words... I'm giving you a virtual glare for that Police crack.

And I could go the rest of my life without a reunion of Men Without Hats and be just fine.

[Stephanie Hayes]

Hah! Fair enough, Jeff. Fair enough.

[Douglas Arthur]

Total Coelo gets my vote. and Bon Jovi. I think you revealed a lot about yourself on this one Stephanie. I'm just saying...

[Stephanie Hayes]

C'mon Doug! Surely you swooned over a celeb or two in your youth, yes?

[Spears]

Here's my theory: In the 80s, we rarely worshiped anyone based solely on looks. That's a curse from the 90s (and beyond), I believe.

[Brad]

The Rolling Stones

[Brad]

(ducks)

[Bassnote]

Air Supply
The Cars
Cutting Crew
Dire Straits
Electric Light Orchestra
The Firm
Foreigner
GTR
Guns 'n Roses

[jane]

That is actually a pretty good theory, Mr. Spears -- besides the aforementioned Police (*cough*Stewart Copeland*cough*), my other '80s musical obsession was Billy Joel. He's not what you'd call a real looker -- it was all about the talent. Although my affection waned after An Innocent Man. But I digress.

[Melissa]

Spearsy - what about Duran Duran? They were LOVED for their looks. Yeh, they had good music but those great looks didn't hurt record sales! Besides, they were ugly in the 90s. We were all beautiful in the 80s.

[Jeff in Cuba]

The Cars are a perfect example of everything that is wrong with reunited 80's bands.

Every time a band gets back together I have to think, "Is it about making more great music, or is it just about cashing in on the wave of nostalgia?" Not that I have any problem with bands making money, it's just that I prefer that the money not be the primary driver. Or at least not appear to be the primary driver.

When Eliot Easton and Greg Hawkes asked Todd Rundgren to take Ric Ocasek's place, I had my doubts about their motivation. But now Todd Rundgren has made this announcement:

"The New Cars are on indefinite hiatus at this point, although the band is still available for private and corporate events."

So apparently it's all about the music, provided that someone pays in advance.

Despicable.

[Marissa]

Uh, has anyone seen Donny Wahlberg lately? He resembles the crazy uncle who shows up for holidays and drinks all the good beer. Then, heads out to his car for the case of Schaeffer's that's been waiting for a 'special occasion.'
NKOTB isn't the pack of cute-ish boys with all the right dance steps. Well, maybe Joey Macintire since he is now an accomplished 'Dancing with the Stars' alum and Broadway baby.
Maybe they have enough girls like Stephanie and Tamara still holding a candle for them.
I simply think they need to bask in the glory days and let old dogs sleep, curled up on the porch.

[Sherrie]

Yikes, the update on Donny Wahlberg makes me sad, Marissa! I was 19 or 20 when NKOTB were big, and while I didn't enjoy their music at all, I couldn't help having a bit of a crush on Donny W. I'm not sure that I want to see what he looks like now. At least I'll always have the eternally easy on the eyes Rick Springfield to drown my sorrows. :)

[Stephanie Hayes]

You ladies want a real scare? Check out the Danny Wood MySpace link and look at his pics. He looks like he should be selling Rolex watches out of a trenchcoat in a dark alley. Not cute.

[Sherrie]

Thanks for the scoop Stephanie, I'll check it out. However he looks today, I always thought that Danny Wood looked like he'd been in some sort of horrible recreational accident and absorbed a rugby ball into his head. He has a vast melon, and not in a good way.

[Big Tex]

I hardly consider NKOTB an 80's group. 80's music began in 1978 with the release of The Cars' first album and ended about the time I first heard Paula Abdul on the radio.

[Bill in Nokomis]

Just read where there might be a NKOTB Reunion in the works.

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/betterthanrehab/archives/130492.asp?from=blog_last3

[Spears]

Big Tex absolutely NAILS the 80s right there. I totally agree.

[Kelley]

Cute article. I for one have been a huge New Kids/Joey McIntyre fan since the age of 5. I am now 24 and I can promise you, if this reunion really does happen, I will be the first to snap a soccer mom's neck if they get in my way. Let's hope they don't bring their kids along for the ride.

[Tara]

"The unfortunate looking one"??? What? Danny Wood is smokin' hot & so sexy. He has grown into a handsome Man, you need to double check baby, I'm telling you....and his solo music is the best thing I've heard in a long time. His newest venture is called "Coming Home", and I can't choose the worst song cuz there isn't one. Heartfelt, straight from the soul lyrics, it's beautiful! Check it out guys:

http://www.myspace.com/dannywoodmusic
&
http://www.myspace.com/dannywood2006

I love 'Beautiful Bad Girl', and take a listen to 'No Hero' it really shows off his great voice. I really love them all tho. Browse his pics while you're at it. You won't be disappointed :-)