Anyone know how to fly a plane?

Today's the big travel day to Las Vegas for a group of brave (read: "foolish") Stuck in the 80s fans who are congregating (read: "drinking then passing out") in Sin City for the Morris Day and The Time show and the Regeneration Tour.

It's probably a bad time to confess that ever since seeing all the "Airport" disaster movies of the '70s, I'm a wee bit anxious about flying. But I figure as long as I'm not flying Trans Global airlines and the captain doesn't look like Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin or George Kennedy, I should be OK.

But then there's 1980's "Airplane," and my confidence drips away. What mystic force caused me to watch this movie 4 hours before heading to the airport is anyone's guess. But here are the lines from the movie that scare me most.

TOP 5 FLYER-UNFRIENDLY LINES FROM AIRPLANE:

5. "I've got to concentrate... concentrate... concentrate... Hello?... hello... hello... Echo... echo... echo... Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon... Manny Mota... Mota... Mota..."

4. "The life of everyone on board depends upon just one thing: finding someone back there who can not only fly this plane, but who didn't have fish for dinner."

3. "I know but this guy has no flying experience at all. He's a menace to himself and everything else in the air... yes, birds too."

2. "They bought their tickets, they knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash."

1. "There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?"

Talk to you soon from Vegas!

The enduring majesty of Journey

Say one thing about the Journey-Heart-Cheap Trick tour: After four solid hours of 70s and 80s rock, these three bands had nothing left to prove to anyone.

Here are some highlights from the tour stop at Tampa's Ford Amphitheatre on Wednesday night:

EARLY START: It looked like a nearly full house at the outdoor venue, but maybe half had managed to arrive in time for Cheap Trick's 7 p.m. start time. That's a shame, because Robin Zander & Co. played only 45 minutes.

IF THEY WANT OUR LOVE, THEY GOT IT: Despite their short set, Cheap Trick got in all the classics, including "The Flame," which doesn't work itself in set-lists often. And hearing "Surrender" live just proves once again it's one of the best teenage anthems of any decade.

THEY'RE NEVER ALONE: Heart sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson were brilliant in an hour-long set. If you've never seen Heart play live, then frankly you haven't seen the best that rock n' roll has to offer. When Nancy starts the frantic acoustic chord work of "Crazy on You," I felt like my heart was about to explode. "Magic Man" remains as powerful today as it did 32 years ago. And their acoustic version of "Alone" never seems to lose its charm.

WE (HEART) HEART: The fans seemed surprised by Heart's commanding performance. A female fan two rows in front turned around and gushed at me: "God, I love Heart!" When waiting in the t-shirt line, where Heart's "Crazy on You" tank-tops were hot-sellers, another woman asked me, "Do you think Heart will come back and play more?" Nope, I told her while explaining the night's lineup, and she seemed  crushed.

NO DREAMS: One missing piece to the Heart set -- "These Dreams," their 1986 classic sung by Nancy. But reportedly she had a cold, so we'll take a rain check.

A LITTLE WARM: Pass the word to other bands visiting soon -- it's warm here in Florida during the summer. Still most bands came on stage dressed like they were playing a winter sock-hop at Clear Lake, Iowa. (Oh, I'd have paid double to see Nancy Wilson in a skirt and halter-top. Sorry, Cameron Crowe. You're wife is amazing, and I'm only human)

NICE SURPRISE: Journey opened with a surprise -- playing "Majestic," an aptly titled instrumental from 1979's "Evolution" album. Many fans recognize it also as the opening tune from their live "Captured" album. The harmonizing by the band members sent chills straight from your feet to your brain stem. The perfect opening to a great set.

ARNEL IS THE REAL DEAL: New lead singer Arnel Pineda worked the stage like a seasoned front-man, no small task in a steamy Florida summer night. Give him another two years, and he'll be the face of the band.

TWO-TISSUE SPECIAL: In an odd move, Journey stacked their two best-known ballads on top of each other, playing "Open Arms" and then going straight into "Faithfully." But hey, they've been doing this for 35 years now. I'm sure they had their reasons. Just feel free to share those with the women around me who spent 10 solid minutes crying during that love-a-polooza marathon.

THE CLASSICS: Many of the band's older tunes in the set -- "Lights," "Wheel in the Sky" and encore "Lovin' Touchin' Feelin' " -- had some extra zing that really brought them alive. But "Separate Ways" -- never my favorite tune -- really was pumped up, and it made all the difference.

WHAT ABOUT...: Hey, no "Who's Crying Now?" No problem, as far as I'm concerned. It wasn't for lack of time though. A hillbilly jam with Jonathan Cain on harmonica and Neal Shon on acoustic guitar seemed out of place and time-consuming. Still, it's obvious the band is changing its set-list nightly, and that's always the sign of a confident group of musicians.

THE SHIRTS: Ah, of course, the big question. All three bands have decent shirts for sale. And yeah, I bought two, including a Journey shirt that will soon replace my beloved 1981 "Escape Tour" jersey. (Click here to buy a replica online.) I chose a traditional black number, with the "Revelation" artwork on front and the tour stops listed on back. Dare I say classic?

BOTTOM LINE: A fantastic lineup of bands who still perform as well today as any point in their careers. This is the summer tour to beat right now. If this lineup passes within 500 miles of you, go!

Video didn't kill Journey's star

Let's face it: Journey is about eight years overdue for a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Eligible since 2000, our San Fran rockers are victim to the sort of pre-Darwinian mentality that puts Madonna into the hall before them.

But our Neal, Ross and the gang are no threat to win the coveted MTV Video Vanguard award for a career of great music videos. I can't think of a band in the 80s that did less with MTV than Journey. And that's OK with fans, so long as they keep banging out great music and hitting the road for tours.

Still, if you force the issue, here's what you have...

TOP 5 JOURNEY VIDEOS:

5. WHEN YOU LOVE A WOMAN (watch it): Ah yes, the obligatory "look, we're recording the song" video.

4. SEND HER MY LOVE (watch it): Note to all our favorite bands. Always gotta love the "live concert" video with the studio version of the song laid in over the top.

3. ANY WAY YOU WANT IT (watch it): Late 70s cheesy goodness. Ross Valory looks like he belongs in Molly Hatchet, not Journey.

2. SEPARATE WAYS (watch it): I think the air-playing of the instruments is border-line creepy, but this video is as '80s as it gets.

1. FAITHFULLY (watch it): Steve Perry with a mustache in the ultimate "weary band on the road" tale. Any more questions?

Planning the perfect concert experience

This is a big concert week for a small group of Stuck in the 80s fans and particularly me. And big concert weeks require a lot of strategic planning.

It begins tonight with seeing Journey for the first time in 27 years. (And seeing Heart for the first time ... Cheap Trick for the third time.) But it continues with a small contingent of blog/podcast fans going to Vegas to see Morris Day and The Time on Friday and the Regeneration Tour on Saturday.

Considering the historic significance behind all these shows (Morris' first reunion show in 20 years; a rare U.S. appearance by The Human League), there's added pressure on the planning -- anything to make sure these became ideal experiences.

So without further hyperbole, here's my fool-proof, 10-step "day-of" plan for a great concert experience.

1. TAKE THE DAY OFF: Concerts are better enjoyed when you not rushing to the venue from the office. Plus, at our age, a nice afternoon siesta after a late afternoon, pre-concert feast of Taco Bell gorditas never hurts.

2. NO PLAYING THE MUSIC OF THE BANDS YOU'RE SEEING: Sure, it's OK to overdose on Journey's new album in the weeks leading up to the show, but I have a strict policy against it on gameday. I want the music to feel fresh. (I should say that my frequent concert pal Sean Daly maintains the opposite of this rule.)

3. CHOOSING A WARDROBE: Don't wear the shirt of the band you're going to see. ("Don't be that guy," as Jeremy Piven says in "PCU.") These days, I go with my patented black Tommy Bahama knockoff shirt, usually with jeans and shoes that won't be ruined by sloshing through concert arena muck. But by all means, mentally undress those of the opposite sex who wear the faded baby-doll concert tees from previous tours.

4. BRING A GOOD FRIEND, NOT A DATE: You won't remember the date's name a month from now. But your friend and you will talk about the show 'til the day you're both sitting side by side in the nursing home, waiting for your sponge-baths.

5. ARRIVE EARLY: Back in the old days, when it was general admission to most arena shows, this was mandatory if you wanted good seats. Now it just makes sense so that you can relax and even browse the concert tees (Hint: take then back to your car after purchase, since you parked so close).

6. GO EASY ON THE DRINKS: A shocker, I know, but everyone remembers the tragic ending to my "ziplock bags of rum" story from the Sting concert back in '85. To this day, I rarely have more than one or two drinks before or during a show. Remember, you don't drink beer ... you only rent it. And I hate paying the rent check while missing out on great tunes.

7. KNOW THE SET-LIST: This is a controversial practice of mine, but lately I try to look up the band's set-list on the Web ahead of time, so I know at what point in the show is a good time to grab a hot dog or a final beer. You want to be surprised? Fine. But I was more than happy at the Rush concert to head for my car early rather than listen to the 10-minute, head-numbing encore of "YYZ."

8. MINIMIZE DANCING: At our age, chances are you can't dance anyway. Feel free to stand up, sway around like someone sucker-punched you, but don't annoy your neighbors by pulling out moves best left to the days when you only had to shave twice a week.

9. SING ALONG: I'm anti-dance, but pro singing-at-top-volume. Go figure. Chances are no one can hear you anyway. You honesty think I'll have my mouth shut if Journey plays "Stone in Love?" I'll be in full air-guitar mode as well. Have fun -- it's a concert.

10. PULL A FERRIS THE NEXT DAY: Oh, yeah, the dreaded "stomach flu" (nod, nod, wink, win, know what you mean) -- why does it always strike the morning after the big show? Surely the boss won't begrudge you a few extra hours of downtime. (Oh, he will? Then schedule a phantom doctor or dentist appointment. You'll actually get sympathy for showing up late.)

Will I pull a Ferris the day after this long concert week ends? No need. I'll be vegging in our private pool cabana at the Luxor in Vegas on Sunday with the rest of the die-hard '80s fans. That's my final rule in concert planning: Allow plenty of time afterward to bask in the memories with those who went with you.

[AP photo]

Taking a Journey back to greatness

Journey is one day away from its gig here in Tampa Bay at the Ford Amphitheatre, though it seems like we've been waiting years for this tour. (Read my story in today's St. Pete Times here, and click here to hear the Ross Valory podcast interview.)

Naturally, I've spent the last few days looking up the band's setlist from recent shows, trying to figure out if my favorite tunes will be taken for a spin on Wednesday night. The good news is that nearly all of the songs you NEED to hear will be played.

But what about those lost classics? The tunes from earlier albums deserve just as much love as "Stone in Love" or "Faithfully."

The great thing about bands like Journey is that they had great tunes deep into every album they did back in the '70s and '80s, when making a "complete album" was still a cherished art form.

These days, iTunes has pretty much dissolved that necessity for musicians. But forgive me if I look back on fonder years. (Dude, it's what I do.)

TOP 5 LOST JOURNEY CLASSICS:

5. STAY AWHILE: "Reach out your hand, oh, to me. Oh, I'm fallin'."

4. THE PARTY'S OVER: "What can this poor boy do when he's hopelessly in love with you?"

3. DIXIE HIGHWAY: "I don't care what you want to be, baby, long as you're happy and free."

2. LINE OF FIRE: "Bye, bye, bye, Suzi."

1. JUST THE SAME WAY: "Come with me, never go away. Every day we will fly."

All '80s, all night this Saturday

George Michael's gig in Tampa Bay is around the corner. And for those of you who want to make his Aug. 2 gig at the St. Pete Times Forum into the ultimate 80s night, here's some great news.

Rubix Cubed, the official 80s cover band of Stuck in the 80s, is playing an after-party on Saturday at Tampa's MacDintons (405 S. Howard Ave. in Soho). The band's 80s "veejay" also will be spinning music videos, TV and music clips and 80s commercials all night.

If you didn't catch Rubix Cubed at '80s Night at Tropicana Field this summer, you missed out on a good show. The band covers all the great classics, including "She-Bop," "Video Killed The Radio Star" and "Melt With You." Listen to their music, and get a schedule of their upcoming shows at their MySpace page.

Will George show up and sing along to "Someone to Love?" Only one way to find out.

Helen Mirren ... beloved 80s comrade

Gotta be careful about how this next sentence is worded ... ah, caution be damned: Helen Mirren is a babe!

Sorry, but it's true. Mirren, who turned 63 years old over the weekend, recently was photographed wearing a bikini by paparazzi, and the result? Well, click here to see her. Don't worry -- it's a safe-for-work photo. And it's OK to leer at her -- she did co-star in 1979's "Caligula" for crying out loud. More teenage boys reached puberty watching that movie than "Risky Business" and "My Tutor" combined.

While Helen is rightfully earning long-overdue praise now for her recent portrayal of Her Royal Majesty in 2006's "The Queen," let us not forget that like all true geniuses, she really shined in our beloved decade.

My personal favorite? "White Nights," playing the abandoned but ultimately sympathetic ex-lover to Mikhail Baryshnikov. And I'm sorry Mikhail, but if I had Helen as a girlfriend in the 80s, I'd have stayed back in the U.S.S.R. (You don't know how lucky you are.)

TOP 5 HELEN MIRREN MOVIES OF THE 80s:

5. 2010 (1984): "You have been drinking your whiskey from Kentucky!"

4. THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY (1980): "Saved by the bell. Goodnight."

3. THE COOK THE THIEF HIS WIFE & HER LOVER (1989): "Try the &$#@, Albert. It's a delicacy, and you know where it's been."

2. EXCALIBUR (1981): "Can't you acknowledge... love? Perhaps you ache for what you've never known."

1. WHITE NIGHTS (1985): "Yes, I rebuilt my life! I was supposed to throw everything away so that you could live in Disneyland?"

Sunday chat: 3 years of podcasting

Seems like forever since we all got together for a powwow, doesn't it? Sunday's chat is now over, but the transcript remains. Just click on "comments" and read what everyone had to say.

Among the topics discussed: the highs and lows from 3 years of Stuck in the 80s, but I'll also revealed:

• My own top 5 list of my favorite podcasts to date;
• A top 5 list of most-requested podcasts.
• A list of top 5 people we're still dying to interview.
• A sneak preview of next week's podcast for everyone to download , and;
• Both Gina Vivinetto and Cathy Wos, our beloved former co-hosts, dropped by and chatted for a while.

Not bad for a Sunday night, eh?

I'm still thinking about whether to try a chat LIVE FROM VEGAS next Sunday night.

Sunday chat returns: Anniversary edition

That's right, after giving us a shot at much-needed social lives on Sunday nights, the live chat returns this weekend to Stuck in the 80s.

The topic this Sunday: We blow out the candles and celebrate the three-year anniversary of Stuck in the 80s by chatting up the biggest hits and misses of the last 135 shows. And we look ahead to Year 4 with your suggestions on topics we haven't touched yet.

It was July 22, 2005 when Gina Vivinetto and I recorded Episode #1, a 13-minute tribute to "The Breakfast Club." Only 13 minutes, you ask? It was supposed to be only 5 minutes long and fit inside another podcast that Tampabay.com was already producing. My bad.

Sure, we've had some miscues. Our show about The Cars lacked any real zing. My interview with Andrew Dice Clay was a rough show. And when Cathy Wos and Sean Daly spent a half hour beating on my skull during our "St. Elmo's Fire" episode, I about left town.

So join us Sunday night at 9 p.m. Eastern time and we'll sit around the campfire and roast a few more episodes. Maybe a few former hosts will make surprise appearances.

Podcast: Keeping time with Ross Valory

When it comes to getting answers about Journey, there are few people on the planet you can trust more than bassist Ross Valory. (The other name that comes to mind? Guitarist Neal Schon -- he and Valory are the sole remaining founding members.)

So imagine how difficult it was to squeeze 35 years of band history into about 25 minutes. The result of which is our Stuck in the 80s podcast this week -- Journey's rebirth, featuring a nice chat with Ross, who happily answered my queries just hours before taking the stage for a show that night in Iowa.

What will Ross reveal? The whereabouts of former members Gregg Rolie (umm, here) and Steve Smith (and here) for starters. And he'll surprise you with revealing who came up with the idea for the 3-disc set we know as "Revelation." For the rest, you'll just have to listen.

Click here to download the show. Or click here to get all our shows delivered automatically via iTunes. Don't forget: Journey, along with Heart and Cheap Trick, is criss-crossing the U.S. right now on tour. They play July 30 in Tampa at the Ford Amphitheatre.

[Photo from rossvalory.com]

Tommy's got his number too

Here's a great reader e-mail from "J Dub" in Joliet, Ill. (aka "The Joilet):

As a proud member of the class of 1988, I just wanted to send you and Sean a thanks. I found your website about six months ago while Google-ing for information about the feud between John Cusack and Savage Steve Holland, and although I hate podcasts, I have listened to every single one of yours.

I have a recent, '80s-related story, although it doesn't tie into any podcast or blog. Last summer, a friend of mine named Kelly who bartends at a Chicago bar named Cans called me up because, for their anniversary celebration, they had booked Tommy Tutone for an outdoor concert.

Knowing that I'm a child of the '80s, and that "Tommy Tutone 2" was one of my inaugural selections from the Columbia Record And Tape Club back in 1983, she knew I wouldn't pass the show up. I went, and enjoyed the rather guitar-heavy sound they now feature. I only recognized about three songs; in addition to "867-5309 (Jenny)," fitting for me since I had just broken up with a girl by that name, they played covers of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" (awful) and a Blink-182 song (awful-er).

Still, when some girl wandered into the crowd selling a new CD by the band for $10, I figured it was worth the expense to pick it up. It even had a sequel to "867-5309", named "Jenny's Calling" (again rather fitting, since I hooked back up with my Jenny not long after).

Kelly was running an outdoor beer tub, and I hung with her as the security crew started herding everyone into the bar after the show. After she closed her station and we started to leave, I heard the girl who had been selling the CDs yell "That's him! He's the one!" and looked over to see her pointing at me.

At first I was afraid that I was drunker than I thought and had done more than just hand her some money in exchange for a CD, but it turned out that out of the rather large crowd there for the show, I was the only person who had bought the CD.

The guys in the band came outside, said hi, and thanked me for buying their album.

I gotta admit, I was torn between being geeked out that the band had said hello to me and feeling ashamed for being the single person out of hundreds who was so '80s-obsessed that I shelled out $10 for a CD that, I found out later, wasn't very good.

Such is the life of someone stuck in the '80s, and I thank both of you for catering to those of us who, like me, for some reason insanely romanticize that decade.

Yo ho, an Ice Pirate's life for me

It's always amazing the level of spin given to Hollywood sequels these days. "Oh wow, they took a tired old plot and extended it for two more hours ... let's stand in line for half the night to see it!"

This week's example: The new X-Files movie subtitled "I Want To Believe." Well, I believe that if I want to see David Duchovny do some great acting, I'll wait until the second season of Showtime's "Californication," the only proof available to me that there's intelligent life in the universe.

The trouble is this: If you want entertaining, yet nearly B-movie status sci-fi action, just look back to the 80s. We had the market cornered on this niche. (Though "Fox Mulder" would have made for a great porn movie biz alias.)

TOP 5 FORGOTTEN SCI-FI CLASSICS OF THE 80s:

5. ICE PIRATES (1984): Robert Urich, Mary Crosby. "I hope no one minds but I have no intention of facing this sober."

4. FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR (1986): Paul Reubens, Sara Jessica Parker, Joey Cramer. "Hey, blimpo... too many Twinkies."

3. THEY LIVE (1988): Roddy Piper, Keith David. "You look like your face fell in the cheese dip back in 1957."

2. THE LAST STARFIGHTER (1984):  Lance Guest, Robert Preston. "Greetings, Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan armada."

1. STARMAN (1984): Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen. "I gave you a baby tonight."

'How about a nice game of chess?'

Hard to believe, but it's been 25 years since Matthew Broderick nearly triggered World War 3 in "WarGames."

The movie made stars out of Broderick and co-star Ally Sheedy. But it also made a lot of guys in Hollywood pretty rich. A surprise sucess, it cost only $12-million to make -- including a then-godly sum of $1-million to build a replica of NORAD -- but made more than $70-million during its run in theaters.

The anniversary is being marked around the country with a special screening of the movie, along with interviews of all the stars and a sneak preview of a sequel, "WarGames: The Dead Code."

In Tampa Bay, the screening is at the Citrus Park 20 theaters at Citrus Park Town Center in Tampa. The show is 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $10.

Also, a special 25th anniversary edition DVD is set for release on July 29.

As for the "Dead Code" sequel (also set for release later this month), Wired.com says the new movie is going direct to DVD. The plot mirrors the original movie, but updates it for today's terrorism climate. A young hacker finds a way into a government super-computer (now called R.I.P.L.E.Y instead of W.O.P.R.) in order to play what he thinks is an online terrorist-attack simulation game. Click here to see a trailer.

Word has it that "Dead Code" is one of several direct-to-DVD sequels planned. And in true WarGames fashion, the entire movie was hacked and leaked onto the Internet exactly one month before its planned release date. "David Lightman" would be so proud.

TOP 5 LINES FROM 1983's WARGAMES:

5. "General, you are listening to a machine. Do the world a favor and don't act like one."

4. "Could we have pills and cook the corn?"

3. "I loved it when you nuked Las Vegas. Suitably biblical ending to the place, don't you think?"

2. "Nature knows when to give up, David."

1. "A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?"

Not too shy-shy to start touring

Kajagoogoo has just announced plans to start touring again. So far, the only dates are in Germany, but depending on how things go there, who knows?

Dubbed the "Kajagoogoo Reunion Tour," this series of gigs marks the first real tour since lead singer Limahl and drummer Jez Strode returned to the band in February.

Limahl was booted from Kajagoogoo by other band members way back in 1983, sparking the start of his solo career. Though the original lineup played together in 2004 on VH1's "Bands Reunited," this year marks the first real series of live shows.

Really a 'Once in a Lifetime' tour

Look who's finally coming around to good sense: David Byrne is planning a fall tour and will play the tunes he made famous with Talking Heads.

The full list of dates hasn't been released yet, but a few dates are known: Sept. 20 in Atlanta, Sept. 26 at the Austin City Limits festival and Oct. 4 in Santa Barbara, Calif., according to the Reuters news service.

And although the tour is technically called "The Songs of Talking Heads' David Byrne and Roxy Music founder Brian Eno," Reuters says Eno will not be joining Byrne on the tour. The two musicians recently finished a new studio album -- their first joint product since 1981. Look for its release later this year.

Byrne left Talking Heads back in 1991, pursuing a solo career instead. Though the group reunited to perform in 2002 at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, don't look for a full-time reunion anytime soon. That's one reason why this tour is a can't-miss opportunity. Here are a couple more...

TOP 5 TALKING HEADS SONGS FROM THE 80s:

5. BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: "Cool babies. Strange but not a stranger." [Video]

4. GIRLFRIEND IS BETTER: "We wanna wait, but here we go again." [Video]

3. AND SHE WAS: "She had a pleasant elevation." [Video]

2. THIS MUST BE THE PLACE: "Cover up and say goodnight." [Video]

1. ONCE IN A LIFETIME: "And you may tell yourself, this is not my beautiful wife!" [Video]

Ross Valory and Journey's 'Cinderella story'

Hard to believe it has been 35 years since a group of jazz-fusion musicians came together in San Francisco to create a group they envisioned as a back-up band for local artists, only to end up as a phenomenon we know as Journey.

But even their humble beginnings -- and historical indifference from critics -- can't hide an impressive run of commercial success that includes nearly a dozen top 20 anthems and worldwide album sales surpassing 75-million.

These days, the band is perhaps the biggest feel-good story of 2008, re-energized by the new album "Revelation" and the addition of Arnel Pineda, a Philippines-born singer whose pipes are eerily similar to legendary Journey frontman Steve Perry.

So imagine the total honor it was to talk today with bassist Ross Valory, one of two remaining founding members. Here are some highlights from the interview. (Look for the full podcast this weekend.)

Does it surprise you that Journey's not yet in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You've been eligible since 2000.

Ross Valory: "I'm not surprised at all. ... I don't lose sleep over it. It's all politics. Without being either negative or positive about it ... sooner or later it's gonna happen. I have a feeling it's going to happen sooner, but I'm still not going to hold my breath."

Does having Arnel Pineda onboard now finally put to rest the questions about Steve Perry returning to the band?

"With the fans and the public, yes, that does put it to rest. ... Even if we hadn't found Arnel, it would not have been any more likely than it has been since 1996 that [Perry] would return to the band."

Did Journey really find Pineda using the Internet?

"Neal Schon, our guitarist, was cruising the 'Net literally late one night, and literally in the 11th hour of completing our lineup for doing the record ... and he was at YouTube and he just typed in "Journey singer" or "Journey vocalist," and there he is, watching this guy sing these songs... He couldn't believe it."

What was your reaction when you heard him sing in person the first time?

"Goosebumps. ... And that's the way it was for all of us."

It makes for a nice fairy-tale year for you and the gang.

"It's a Cinderella story. ... Even Rolling Stone, which has never liked this band, has a story. ... And that's not to be glib or superficial. It's just the perfect story for a band's comeback."

-- Journey plays the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa on July 30 along with Heart and Cheap Trick.

Top Gun sequel? Crash and burn, Mav...

How come every time Tom Cruise makes the news, everyone's immediate reaction is to wince and say something along the lines of ... "Oh, no, no, for the love of Joel Goodsen and all that's holy, NOOOOOO!"

Here goes: Tom Cruise is in talks with Hollywood studios to produce and star in a sequel to 1986's "Top Gun." (Somewhere, Val Kilmer just awoke suddenly in bed and screamed out in horror -- though that could be because he hasn't made a decent movie in 10 years.)

News is just leaking out on the Web that Cruise would reprise his role as "Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell," this time playing a flight instructor at the Navy's "Top Gun" school. But instead of tangling with Kelly "Charlie" McGillis, he must come to grips with a cocky female pilot.

Well, at least the plot sounds realistic. But if that pilot is played by Katie Holmes, I will seriously disavow the '80s and go tend sheep in the Greek isles ... and try to live out my "Summer Lovers" fetish.

If this remake must be made though...

TOP 5 PLOT POINTS FOR TOP GUN SEQUEL:

5. Miley Cyrus as the female pilot maybe? No, go with Mia Sara as the female pilot ... because she and Cruise worked SO well together 1985's "Legend." (OK, she's 40 years old, but she's also well-rested.)

4. Terri Nunn and Berlin are enlisted to offer up another classic song for the love theme. They pick "Sex," because the lyrics are very romantic. ("I'm a man. I'm a Geisha. I'm a little girl -- and we make love together!")   

3. In a cruel twist of much-needed irony, Nicole Kidman plays Maverick's soon-to-be ex-wife. ("Take me to bed ... or lose half your assets" becomes the new catchphrase.)

2. Meg Ryan, widow of the late, great "Goose," returns as the manager of the Navy base's bar/beach volleyball court. Motto: No shirt, no shoes, no problem.

1. Stunning revelation: The young pilot, with whom he is romantically attached, is actually his secret love-child with "Charlie."

You really are unsafe, Maverick!

9 days left to get 'Lost in America' with us

Let's just come to a friendly arrangement: You agree to come to the Las Vegas get-together for Stuck in the 80s, and I'll agree to stop this daily countdown feature right now.

You're gonna be stubborn, I see. OK. And so we march on.

Though the '80s don't give us nearly enough opportunities to discuss the genius work of Albert Brooks (I'm in love with 1991's "Defending Your Life"), there's at least one movie of his with a Vegas theme -- "Lost in America" from 1985. And wouldn't you know it, Brooks also turns 61 years old today.

You know he wants to be doing the "Jungle Love" slide with Jerome, Jellybean and us in V-town. (Only he's rich, so he'd score the Pharaoh's Suite at the Luxor.) Drum-roll please...

TODAY'S MAGIC NUMBER .... NINE days 'til the Vegas trip and ...

TOP 9 LINES FROM "LOST IN AMERICA":

9. "Shut up Brad! Your song stunk, I hate your suit and I could hurt you!"

8. "Twenty-two, twenty-two, come on back to me, come on back to me!"

7. "He'll buy that boat from that stupid boat catalog he's been making me look at for the last two months, and he will crash that boat off Catalina Island, and he will drown and die and seals will eat him."

6. "Nice dam, huh? Do you want to go first, or should I?"

5. "I lost a woman! A whole woman!"

4. "Why didn't you tell me when we got married that you were this horrible gambling addict? It's like when you have a venereal disease - you tell somebody!"

3. "If you pick up that Keno card, I'll kill you. I'll kill you."

2. "I've seen the future! And it's a bald-headed man from New York!"

1. "Say it! Say it! Say 'I lost the nest-egg.' Go on, say it!"

Still laughing through the tears

A good friend lost her father today. And as someone who lost a dad just over a year ago -- and has yet to really get over it -- I was at a loss to provide any really sound advice.

Here at Stuck in the 80s-land, I'm pretty much able to wrap up any occasion -- sad or happy -- in a flurry of movie quotes, song lyrics or incredibly bizarre stories of my inept social behavior from days long gone. Still, going into my patented "Is this the man who wrecked the buffet at the Harrow Club" routine from "Beverly Hills Cop" didn't seem like the way to go this time around.

Let's face it: I'm the guy you turn to for perspective when your spouse runs away with a tubby bus driver from Cleveland ("I mean whatever happens, your toes are still tappin'.") Or the guy you give a cheap cigar to when you have a baby ("You're gonna name the kid Elliot? No, you can't name the kid Elliot. Elliot is a fat kid with glasses who eats paste.")

But death? All the good lines are from the '70s, for crying out loud. God bless Woody Allen's "Love and Death" -- my dad and I were big fans. ("And so I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Actually, make that 'I run through the valley of the shadow of death' - in order to get OUT of the valley of the shadow of death more quickly, you see.")

May all of those who have lost loved ones this year find peace, especially you Jen. And if I can be of any help, just pass me that cheap cigar and take heart in the only words of comfort I'm capable of invoking.

TOP 5 MEANING OF LIFE QUOTES FROM 80s FLICKS:

5. "Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you? You are at your very best when things are worst." (Starman)

4. "A little advice about feelings, kiddo: Don't expect it always to tickle." (Ordinary People)

3. "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." (Steel Magnolias)

2.  "If we can't get strong from what we lose, what we miss, what we want and can't have... then we could never get strong enough, could we? What else makes us strong?" (The Hotel New Hampshire)

1. "I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life... to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." (Dead Poets Society)

10 days 'til Vegas: Join us or else!

Just 10 days until the first-ever Stuck in the 80s get-together in Las Vegas. Are you still sitting on the fence about coming along to see Morris Day and the Time on Aug. 1 ... AND ... The Regeneration Tour, starring The Human League, ABC, Belinda Carlisle, Naked Eyes and A Flock of Seagulls on Aug. 2?

We'll give you one reason each day for the next 10 days, leading up to our epic journey to the land of 99-cent shrimp cocktails and 190 Octane frozen drinks.

Today's magic number... TEN: The number of albums released by Martin Fry and ABC, from the landmark "The Lexicon of Love" in 1982 all the way to "Traffic" in 2008.

Fry joined the Stuck in the 80s podcast a few weeks ago and was easily one of the best interviews we've had on the show. Expect to see our gang of 80s fanatics on our feet for the entire ABC set, singing along to classics like "Poison Arrow," "Be Near Me," and "How to be a Millionaire."

We still have one extra ticket in our block of seats for both the Morris Day and the Regeneration shows. E-mail me if you're interested in coming along. It's a can't-miss event. Don't believe me? You've got nine more reasons coming over the next nine days. Oh, you'll change your mind. Or you'll slowly go insane.

Happy birthday, Mr. Weasel

Remember when Robin Williams used to make really great films? Think back. No, no. Keep going.

The '80s, you say? Good guess! (And the early 90s, I'll admit.) Say what you like about Chris Rock and Eddie Murphy, but I'll argue that Robin Williams is the funniest AND most talented actor/comedian of the last 40 years.

If there's a curse associated with Williams, it's this: Back in the early 80s, Robin was the headliner at the University of Florida's "Gator Growl," a homecoming celebration hosted in the football stadium and the world's largest student-run pep rally. His "Mr. Happy" comedy routine, however, infuriated the older alumni in attendance, who forced the students to start booking more family-friendly acts. So who headlined Gator Growl when I arrived a few years later for my freshman year?

The Smothers Brothers. Thanks, Robin. Thanks.

Williams turns 57 years old today, and while his film career has been handicapped by a series of strictly "B" flicks, he is still a can't-miss attraction on the stand-up circuit. (Click here to see some of his "Live at the Met" performance, but beware of adult language. Or "Gator Growl" residual language, as I call it.)

TOP 5 ROBIN WILLIAMS MOVIES OF THE 80s:

5. CLUB PARADISE (1986): "I got a little paranoid and thought people were out to get me. Now I know, they are."

4. THE BEST OF TIMES (1986): "Mr. Weasel's here."

3. THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP (1982): "Honey, the chances of another plane hitting this house are astronomical. It's been pre-disastered. We're going to be safe here."

2. MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON (1984): "Excuse me, I a... happy to talk to you, but I must now to make toilet."

1. DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989): "No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."

He's so over "Jesse's Girl" now

Rick Springfield is finally ready to release his new CD -- "Venus in Overdrive." The official date is July 29, but tracks have been leaking out for the last few months.

Fans can listen to the 12 new cuts by clicking here. According to some longtime Springfield fans, multiple versions of the album are expected. Some versions reportedly will include "Who Killed Rock n' Roll?" -- the song Rick has been using as the opening number in live shows for the last few years.

Check out the songs and drop us a comment with your thoughts.

Sing Shea a song, you're the piano man

Billy Joel bid farewell to New York's Shea Stadium this week, playing the last music gigs at the soon-to-be-destroyed baseball venue. Among the fans in the stands to sing along -- his famous ex-wife Christie Brinkley. Musicians joining Joel onstage included John Mellencamp and Don Henley.

Wondering what sort of setlist an event like that would require? Here's the full list of songs:

• The Star-Spangled Banner
• Miami 2017
• Angry Young Man
• My Life
• Everybody Loves You Now
• The Entertainer
• Zanzibar
• Allentown
• Ballad of Billy the Kid
• New York State of Mind (with Tony Bennett)
• Big Man on Mulberry Street
• Root Beer Rag
• Movin' Out
• Goodnight Saigon
• Don't Ask Me Why
• This Is the Time (with John Mayer)
• Keepin' the Faith
• Downeaster
• Alexa
• An Innocent Man
• Boys of Summer (with Don Henley)
• She's Always a Woman
• Captain Jack
• Lullabye
• Hard Day's Night/River of Dreams
• Pink Houses (with John Mellencamp)
• We Didn't Start the Fire
• It's Still Rock'n'Roll to Me
• Please Please Me
• You May Be Right
• Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
• Only the Good Die Young
• She Loves You
• Piano Man
• Souvenir

You wreck me, Tom Petty

The glow of this week's Tom Petty concert here in Tampa has yet to wear off, so the timing seems right to show off our latest Stuck in the 80s episode: Our tribute to T.P. and his rock-god friends the Heartbreakers.

Podcast co-host and pop-music critic Sean Daly and I have been spending our office hours productively by jumping out around corners here, yelling "You wreck me, baby!" at startled coworkers. Sure, they're upset for a little while, and a couple of times we had to call the paramedics. But it's not our fault that we're under the influence of a true '80s rock legend.

Click here to download the show. Or click here to get all our shows for free via iTunes. Please leave us some feedback too. But don't blame us if, once the show is over, you keep singing "Oh, yeah, you wreck me, baby! You break me in two! But you move me, honey! Yes, you do!"

[AP photo]

Valley Girl ... the musical? Like totally gross

"Valley Girl," the 1983 classic that made a star out of Nicolas Cage and turned the music of Modern English into an 80s cliche, is now set to be remade ... as a musical.

Entertainment Weekly reports that MGM is developing the idea, with plans to keep the same storyline and songs. The new flick would be produced by Sean Bailey, who's also working on a "Tron" sequel. (What? You mean the computer world has evolved since 1982? My TI-99/4A and 1200-baud modem beg to disagree!)

Of course, "Valley Girl" isn't the only '80s classic getting the musical remake. "Footloose - The Musical" is planned for a 2010 release with "High School Musical's" Zac Efron slated to take over the role of "Ren," made famous by Kevin Bacon.

Still, Valley Girl? If it must be done, here are some suggestions:

• Have Nic Cage and Deborah Foreman play the roles of "Julie's" parents. I can totally picture Nic running the health food store in the Valley.
• Re-introduce the lovely E.G. Daily, but give her the cougar role of "Stacie's mom." (But this time, she lands "Skip.")
• Let the L.A. rockers The Plimsouls reunite to play again in Randy's favorite Hollywood bar, powering out "Million Miles Away" and "Oldest Story in the World." That'd be worth the ticket price alone.
• For the roles of "Randy" and "Julie," do the unthinkable: Pick two unknowns to play the parts -- just like director Martha Coolidge did 25 years ago. That would be like tripendicular, ya know?

'She's giving me the high sign'

Have you bought your tickets yet for the Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick tour? (Click for dates.) If not, hopefully this video will get you off the fence.

"She's Tight" is perhaps my all-time favorite Cheap Trick song -- a power-pop chord explosion that's equal parts high-school fun and locker-room naughty. If Robin Zander and Co. play it Wednesday, July 30, at the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa, you'll know. You'll be able to hear me singing along from anywhere inside the continental United States. It won't be pretty, but it'll be honest.

And if nothing else, it's a good song to help you wake up on a Friday morning.

'My specialty is crustacean reproduction!'

Is there any sequel in the '80s more painful to watch than "Teen Wolf Too?"

Poor Jason Bateman. I hope he gets some sort of fat check every time this monstrosity from 1987 plays on cable TV. The original "Teen Wolf," starring Michael J. Fox, was pretty much a stinker itself, so how a second chapter was OK'd is beyond human comprehension.

Still, if you're forced to sit through "Too," you might as well make the best of it. Enjoy the soundtrack for starters, which features a pair of nice Oingo Boingo tunes among other 80s classics. Or do what I do: Focus on the interpersonal relationship tips that can be harvested from the movie.

TOP 5 PICK-UP LINES FROM TEEN WOLF TOO:

5. "You know, I was the science fair champion in the tri-county area."

4. "Biologically speaking, it's fascinating what's happening to you."

3. "Sooo... how's your boyfriend?"

2. "I'm a dog."

1. "My specialty is crustacean reproduction."

Finally, a Journey interview!

Today is the culmination of my very being: I get to talk to one of the original members of Journey, the first band I ever saw perform live -- and the unofficial symbol of our Stuck in the 80s kingdom.

Ross Valory, the nimble-fingered bassist of the San Francisco band since 1973, has invited me to give him a ring tonight prior to the band's July 30 show here in Tampa with Heart and Cheap Trick.

I hope he's ready for some serious fan slobbering, because he's going to get an earful during our short chat. You can bet I'll ask him about Steve Perry, new singer Arnel Pineda, former keyboardist Gregg Rolie and the band's new 2-disc set, which I still listen to about once every 4 hours.

As always though, I'm happy to ask him your questions as well. So drop me a comment with suggested questions. The interview begins at 6 p.m. so time is runnin' short.

No broken hearts with Tom Petty

There's something so simply sublime about a band of hirsute musicians, armed only with instruments invented 50 years ago, taking the stage and conquering an arena full of rock n' roll fans.

It's a Herculean task that only Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers can handle these days. And our estranged Florida musicians did it with guts, muscle and a zen-like spell that they cast wide over the nearly full St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday night.

Click here to read Sean Daly's review. Here are some other highlights:

WINWOOD RULES: Booking Steve Winwood as the opening act for Petty was a bold move. Winwood took a while to get rolling but killed with his catalog of hits dating back to the mid '60s, including the never-ordinary "Can't Find My Way Home" from his Blind Faith days.

FORGET THE SUPER BOWL: Remember the stiff performance Petty delivered during the Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year? Good. Now forget about it. Seriously. Burn every detail from your brain. On stage Wednesday, Petty was playful, engaged and mobile. Up his arthritis meds and he'd probably do a drum-stand kick like David Lee Roth.

THE SET LIST: Gotta admire any band that commits to a huge tour like Petty and the Heartbreakers, who are far removed from the good ole days playing Dub's Bar in Gainesville for free beer and a cut of the door. But the band's ability to tinker with the set list each night on this tour is also commendable. Fans were left guessing song to song, and that's what makes a show like this worth the ticket price.

HIGH POINTS: From the opening "You Wreck Me," through "Even The Losers" and "End of the Line," it's nearly impossible to find any song that didn't sound nearly perfect live. "Learning to Fly" benefited from a smaller, lighter arrangement, while "American Girl" -- the closer -- soared higher with Mike Campbell's frantic guitar work.

LOW POINTS: This was the best show I've seen so far this year, so it's nearly impossible to pick the off tunes. "Sweet William" and "Honey Bee," though, seemed like popular restroom-break songs for some of the audience, even though the tunes were executed perfectly.

LESS IS MORE: Tell this to Bon Jovi, Kanye West and any other musician who feels they need to shake their goods around to get squeals from the audience: On Wednesday night in Tampa, Tom Petty showed everyone that all you need are great songs and expert musicianship. Anything else is a waste of time.

One more Who tour? You better you bet

A lot of people dismiss the work by The Who in the '80s. But they're missing out on some genius song-work in two of the band's last albums: "Face Dances" and "It's Hard."

"Face Dances" is one of those few albums that needs to be replaced immediately after it's worn out. To this day, that CD remains on my "must-not-lend" list, and I feel an over-whelming urge to buy back-up copies of it whenever I see it in record-store racks. (And sorry, Roger Daltrey, but I absolutely cherish the drumming of Kenney Jones on that disc.)

Some people in our generation don't "get" The Who, but I can empathize. It's like watching Roger, Pete and pals in the 1975 flick "Tommy" for the first time some 30 years later. A frightening and altogether unsettling experience, not unlike catching "Red Dawn" for the first time outside the warm, comfy confines of the '80s. Some bands need more context for full ap