Stuck in the '80s

'Welcome to the Casbah Club'

2008-10-07T14:20:01-04:00

Here's a new must-own for many '80s fans: The Clash Live at Shea Stadium, a live CD from their Oct. 13, 1982 performance, hits the record racks today.

Our fave U.K.-bred punksters were opening for The Who on their first farewell tour and had just released their Combat Rock album. This is also the concert where the band's video for Should I Stay Or Should I Go was filmed. The tapes for the live CD were unearthed by the late Joe Strummer while packing for a move.

Added bonus: The CD includes a 24-page booklet with plenty of behind-the-scenes at Shea and recollections from rock photographer Bob Gruen. Here are some more highlights:

BEST TUNES: The band begins the show with London Calling, a no-brainer opening choice that sounds even better live. Joe Strummer wailing out whistle sounds before Train in Vain really fires up that tune as well. Spanish Bombs sounds more whimsical than biting on this disc, though a real fan never tires of hearing it. Career Opportunities shows up two-thirds of the way through the set, and the band really seems to finally click perfectly during this underrated tune.

THE CHATTER: The band isn't shy with the between-song commentary. "Here's The Guns of Brixton ... yeah, ask your neighbor what that's about," Joe Strummer taunts the crowd. Please, somebody bring back the contempt of the punk movement!

'WHAT THE HELL' MOMENT: Rock the Casbah sounds nothing like the radio-friendly version we've been saturated with over the last 25 years. That's not to say it sucks, but you'll be left wondering what the hell the band was going for with this live version.

AND THE FINALE: I Fought The Law is a brilliant ending number for any punk act, but The Clash climbs on and rides it with unmatched fury. God, I pity The Who having to follow these guys on stage this night.

Turn THESE into sequels, Costner!

2008-10-07T08:57:54-04:00

Score this idea an error: Kevin Costner is trying to talk Hollywood into making a sequel to our beloved Bull Durham.

No offense, Kevin, but I think the way the first movie ended was just about perfect. I don't want to know what happens next. Let's see. Nuke LaLoosh blows out his arm in the majors and comes back to Durham to fight for Annie's affections while working at the nearby Jiffy Lube. And Crash Davis ends up managing the Bulls and turns around their losing streak. Yawn. And pretty much exactly the same plot as Major League 3: Back to the Minors ... and we all know what a suck-fest that was.

You want to make a few sequels, Kev? Here are some suggested plots for "Part 2" of your other '80s classics. (And by the way, this is absolutely the last time I help you out for free.)

AMERICAN FLYERS (1985): Ah, yes, the forgotten cycling movie. Thankfully between 1985 and 2008, a miracle cure is found for your cerebral tumor. So you return to the sport and win the Tour de France title. Sadly, your wife Sarah (Rae Dawn Chong) leaves you for Lance Armstrong.

THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987): Elliot Ness should have quit while he was ahead. After putting Al Capone behind bars, the real Ness went on to a rather unremarkable career fighting hoods in Cleveland, moonshiners in Kentucky and prostitution in Washington, D.C. (Still it sounds more entertaining than the plot of The Bodyguard.)

NO WAY OUT (1987): You know who else is dying for a sequel of this underrated classic? Sean Young, baby! Turns out her Susan Atwell character didn't die after all. It was all a clever ruse by the Soviet spy machine. Now she's living in sin again with Costner, who is running an espionage school for gifted teenagers in rural Indiana. Sadly, he's exposed when a disgraced Gene Hackman shows up to coach the local high school basketball team.

FIELD OF DREAMS (1989): Now Ray Kinsella's wife Annie (Amy Madigan) is hearing voices -- "If you build it, he will skate." It seems she's haunted from being dumped by her junior high school boyfriend back in 1982. So she heeds her instincts and plows through another corn field to build a rollerskating rink, so she can have one more couple skate with him while REO Speedwagon's Keep on Loving You plays gently in the background. "Hey, sweetie bear ... wanna have a skate?" "I'd like that, Annie..." (Queue the sobbing from the '80s nation. Well, from me anyway.)

[Publicity photo from Orion Pictures]

Our '80s Shue fetish

2008-10-06T12:58:37-04:00

Elisabeth Shue is a complex creature of the decade. She only appeared in four really big movies during the decade -- easily half the number of credits of her peers. And even those roles were a little too watered down at times.

KARATE KID (1984): Is anyone else creeped out that Shue's "Ali" character is twice the size of love-interest Ralph Macchio? To this day, I think Ali had a better chance of taking out Daniel-San than Cobra Kai's "Johnny" did. And then they just write her out of the sequel by having her dump Macchio on prom night? Heartless!

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (1987): This is a movie that's always on sale at Target for like $5, and every time I go, I'm THIS close to buying it and still don't. I remember loving Shue as "Chris Parker," the babysitter who also is a dead-ringer for the Playmate of the month. And the Chicago club scene -- "Nobody gets out of here without singing the blues" -- is classic. But something is still missing. (A nude scene with a future '80s blogger? Think about it, Hollywood!)

COCKTAIL (1988): Ah, the infamous waterfall scene. What red-blooded guy hasn't thought of going to Jamaica if only for the totally shallow reason of trying to re-create that moment in our love lives. My question: If she's not pregnant, does she still take Tom Cruise back in the end? "Coughlin's Law: Never fall for a Scientologist ... your future acting career will never be taken seriously by the press."

BACK TO THE FUTURE II (1989): So you just co-starred in three relatively successful '80s flicks, so why do you play the largely paper-thin role of "Jennifer Parker" in this trilogy? Though it does make her other 1989 work -- starring as a doctor in Disney's Epcot Center ride "Body Wars" -- look like a career highlight.

Aww, don't hate on the Shue. She turned it all around in the '90s with flicks like The Saint and Leaving Las Vegas. Shue, who turns 45 years old today, is still looking for that great role. She's currently working on Waking Madison, a movie about a woman with multiple personality disorder trying to piece her life back together.

She's also rumored to be working with her Saint co-star Val Kilmer again in The Hard Ride. Nice movie, my lovely Elisabeth. Just stay clear of that Macchio reunion.

[Photo from Karate Kid]

What's happenin' with the podcast, hot stuff?

2008-10-05T17:45:23-04:00

Long Duk Dong wants to know: Assuming this week's Halloween audio commentary/podcast comes out somewhat entertaining, which '80s flick will Stuck in the '80s cover next? (Good news, Duckster ... I'm leaning toward your signature movie.)

There is a fairly big list of movies we haven't touched yet. But the key to doing a good commentary is picking a movie that most of us own on DVD. So here are some possible picks.

BREAKFAST CLUB: Sure, it was the subject of our very first podcast. But that only lasted about 10 minutes! We've been dying to go back and give it a more proper tribute. I honestly haven't watched it in full since the theater though.

THE GOONIES: Like Halloween, I haven't seen this flick yet in its entirety. Why not? I just wasn't into kiddie flicks at this point in my life. I just wanted to sneak into R-rated movies and see some forbidden sex.

STRIPES: Speaking of forbidden sex, this was the first movie I saw as a teen that had any significant amount of nudity. And yet, it's never been the subject of a podcast. (Trivia: We did play Stripes last night after Halloween, until Sean Daly had to be forcibly removed from the Spears Lair.)

SIXTEEN CANDLES: I believe this is the one remaining John Hughes teen movie we haven't discussed. Why? Because it's too hard to be funny about one of the funniest movies of the '80s. But surely every one of us owns this classic on DVD, right? I think this is our front-runner.

What other obvious picks are there for a DVD commentary?

Sunday morning - err, afternoon - anthem

2008-10-05T11:32:45-04:00

Another never-ending night of frivolity at the Spears Lair is in the books, and so we're all in our usual Sunday morning post-party routine:

Issuing blanket apologies to everyone on our Yahoo Messenger friend lists.
Checking our cell phone logs to see whom we'll be getting angry calls from today.
Cleaning tomato sauce off all the remotes and peeling renegade pieces of cheese off the sliding glass doors.
Sending a Mighty Maid over to the Daly Mansion with one goal: Clean the bathroom in the master bedroom.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our psuedo-live chat last night while we recorded our Halloween audio commentary!

Freak fest tonight at the Spears Lair

2008-10-04T12:46:00-04:00

It's Halloween time tonight!

Stuck in the '80s co-host Sean Daly will be returning to the Spears Lair this evening. It'll be his first visit since the tragic party weekend about a month ago, and thankfully the cigar stench is finally starting to fade.

We're expecting at least one surprise guest host for the recording of our audio commentary of the 1978 horror classic -- quite possibly this very familiar person to the left. Who else will show up? I don't wanna even guess. (Hey, enough veggie tacos for everyone!)

Join us online about 9 p.m. through midnight on the blog and we'll read your questions and comments during breaks in the movie.

Finally, the Boss will be your boss

2008-10-03T16:00:19-04:00

Ever wanted to be a roadie for a rock star? Now's your chance. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band need Tampa Bay area volunteers to help them with their Feb. 1 appearance during the Super Bowl halftime show.

The NFL needs about 600 volunteers to help assemble Springsteen's stage and perform other concert-related duties for the pregame and halftime shows. You must be 18 years or older and you don't need a ticket for the game. Stage crews will be on the field for Springsteen's performance -- maybe even in the front row, according to an NFL spokesperson.

Log on to superbowlproductions.com to fill out an application form.

[Photo from Dancing in the Dark video]

Planning an '80s Halloween? Fer sure!

2008-10-03T09:19:22-04:00

This is a question we get asked a lot here at Stuck in the '80s: "I'm planning a costume party with an '80s theme. Can you help with costume and party ideas?"

First reaction: "What?!? You don't still dress in parachute pants and overuse Aqua-Net today?" (I run sobbing away in my Jordache jeans and put my REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity record on the turntable and wail away to the sounds of Kevin Cronin and Take It On the Run. That's right, Kevin. Ease my pain.)

Second reaction: Sure, here are some good costume ideas with some links. (And though Jordache doesn't make my size in jeans, I will indeed listen to some REO during the list-writing. I'm still one of the Tough Guys after all.)

Today we'll tackle costume ideas. I'll get to other party ideas tomorrow.

TV STARS: This is perhaps the easiest route, and shows real devotion to the decade. Sonny Crockett from Miami Vice is easy. A linen jacket, a pastel T-shirt, a two-day beard, loafers. Or just go as Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties with the preppy look, complete with knitted tie. Wanna look a little less lazy? There's always The Greatest American Hero outfit, which can be bought online at sites like 80stees.com. Stuck in the '80s co-host Sean Daly is big on wearing a Hawaiian shirt, Detroit Tigers baseball cap and fake 'stache for the Magnum P.I. look. I'm still waiting for someone to bust out an ALF outfit. Oh wait ... here it is!

SPORTS HEROES: I'm a big fan of the '80s tennis star look, which is easily accomplished with a headband, tight white shirt and shorts, white Adidas or Rod Laver shoes and a wooden racket. Same thing with an '80s basketball player -- just find the tight, short shorts and pull those tube socks WAY up. Bonus points for finding retro-jerseys.

MOVIE STARS: This is the easiest one. Axel Foley from Beverly Hills Cop is a no-brainer, once you find the Mumford Phys. Ed Department shirt (easily procured at founditemclothing.com, which has a slew of shirts worn by stars in our favorite '80s flicks, including Real Genius, Loverboy, Spinal Tap and Meatballs). With Ghostbusters set for a sequel, it's a good time to bust out the overalls and ghoul-fighting proton-pack look. (Again, 80stees.com has it.) And one of these days, when I regain the proper physique, I'm totally going like a Cobra Kai from Karate Kid. "Sweep the leg! Yeah, send him home in a body bag, Johnny!" Oh god, don't let me drink at that party.

GUITAR HEROES: If you can't come up with an idea here, you're just not trying. Warning: Doing the Madonna thing here is getting a little tiresome, but the Michael Jackson look never gets old. I'm thinking Devo might be a better pick, especially if you can find friends to go as fellow bandmembers. Get really clever and combine movies and music: Olivia Newton-John in Xanadu (rollerskates, legwarmers), Prince in Purple Rain, the guys from Spinal Tap, and -- I can't believe I'm gonna say this but -- the Village People from Can't Stop the Music, which for some reason is playing nonstop lately on pay cable channels.

GO AS A PAIR OR GROUP: Hunter S. Thompson and his lawyer Carl Lazlo from Where the Buffalo Roam was my thing back in 1991 for Tampa's rowdy Guavaween festivities. (We were maced by skinheads shortly after 2 a.m., and they stole my Kennebunkport presidential shot glass -- true story.) There's Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen from Sid & Nancy. Danger Mouse and his loyal sidekick Penfold for you obscure cartoon fans. And if you have a really hot girlfriend you met in Las Vegas, you can always go as Jabba the Hutt and Princess Leia in the metal bikini. Money well, WELL spent.

Feel free to add your costume ideas. And if you have any pics from previous Halloweens, e-mail them to stuckinthe80s@tampabay.com and I'll post them online.

Is Journey's new singer tiring of the job?

2008-10-02T13:08:19-04:00

Is Arnel Pineda homesick or not? A few days after Rolling Stone magazine quoted Journey's new lead singer admitting he was homesick and tired of the grueling tour schedule, another band member argues that he was misquoted.

"I am quite comfortable with the stage now, but, for me, it's still a very grueling tour. I haven't done this before," Pineda said in a Rolling Stone interview. "It's very stressful. It's a very, very challenging job. It's a fantastic job, but at the same time it's a curse. Trying to fill up very, very big shoes."

Pineda goes on to admit he's lonelier than he had imagined he'd be when he took the job offer.

"It is very, very sad. There are days I would break down and cry," he says. "But, you know. I just have to be man enough to face that this is a job I'm doing for my family. That's all the consolation that I'm getting. That's the only thought."

However, Neal Schon, founding member and guitarist for Journey, disputes the article. "They took a segment of what he said in the interview and erased all the good stuff he said in between. It has happened to me a million times in my career," Schon told Asian Journal Online. "It's his first tour. None of us knew what it would be like. We didn't know what kind of strength he had in a long duration like he's been. We've been out here for a solid four months with no breaks in between."

[AP photo]

'Everyone's entitled to one good scare'

2008-10-02T08:57:27-04:00

Wanna hear something really scary? There is no new Stuck in the '80s podcast coming this Saturday!

BUT! But! Co-host Sean Daly and I are recording a special audio commentary/podcast for uber-horror flick Halloween on Saturday night right here from the Spears Lair. And you can participate. We'll be live on the blog during the movie and we'll read comments from the SIT80s nation during the podcast while there are breaks in the movie.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Halloween isn't even an '80s flick!" Suspend your firm grip on the facts, my friends. On this, the 30th anniversary of the John Carpenter classic, it's time that all of us tip our cap to the movie that created and defined the '80s slasher genre.

So drop by the blog after 9 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, Oct. 4, and say hello or fire away with trivia questions for us. We'll read your comments live (during recording), and you can tune in next week for the finished product.

FIVE MEMORABLE LINES FROM HALLOWEEN:

5. "Don't rip my blouse, it's expensive you idiot!"

4. "You've fooled them, haven't you, Michael? But not me."

3. "I'll be right back. Don't get dressed!"

2. "Death has come to your little town, Sheriff."

1. "It's Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare."

Alex Cox is stuck in the ... '70s???

2008-10-01T16:09:21-04:00

Former Stuck in the '80s co-host and Seattle correspondent Cathy Wos had a brush with greatness this week: director Alex Cox! Here's her report:

"I just got back from a visit to our awesome local video store, Scarecrow Video, where there was a signing with the director Alex Cox! For those who don't know him, he directed Repo Man and one of my all-time favorite movies, Sid and Nancy. He was in town signing his new autobiography X Films: True Confessions of a Radical Filmmaker. Later in the evening he was screening his new film Searchers 2.0. (Click here to read more about it.)"

"Meeting Mr. Cox was quite a thrill for me. To top it off, he was super-nice, signed my DVD and let me take this pic. The picture might be a little blurry because my hands were shaking. I know, I'm a dork."

"I told Alex that he would be on the Stuck in the '80s site and he was very enthusiastic. However, he made it known that he will be forever Stuck in the '70s. As he pointed out, the '80s was the end of punk!"

[Listen to our Repo Man podcast. Listen to our Sid & Nancy podcast.]

[Photo courtesy of Cathy Wos]

Sound-alike songs from the '80s

2008-10-01T09:03:13-04:00

It's not unusual to find songs that sound familiar to previous tunes, but Stuck in the '80s correspondent and technical guru David Peterkofsky has gone one step further and created this video that highlights "sound-alike" hit songs from the '80s:

80s Songs That Sound Like Other Songs from David on Vimeo.

What do you think? Some are a little fishier than others!

Crash Davis loves the Tampa Bay Rays

2008-09-30T14:25:55-04:00

No worries that Kevin Costner will ever star in a musical remake of Bull Durham or Field of Dreams. Because as a singer, Costner makes for a really great actor.

Costner and his band Modern West have just recorded a song for the Tampa Bay Rays to celebrate their AL East division title.

Called It's All Up To You, the song sounds like a typical honky-tonk rocker and features lyrics that begin, "You got to swing for the fence. Give a hundred percent. Dust yourself off. Get up and do it again."

Click here to listen to the complete song. Modern West and Costner played a live show in St. Petersburg back in November 2007 when the Rays unveiled their redesigned uniforms.

TOP 5 BASEBALL MOVIES LINES FROM KEVIN COSTNER:

5. "Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic." (Bull Durham)

4. "I can't think of a better reason not to be a Yankee." (For Love of the Game)

3. "God, I always said I would never bother you about baseball, lord knows you have bigger things to worry about. But if you could make this pain in my shoulder stop for ten minutes, I would really appreciate it." (For Love of the Game)

2. "Well, #$%& this #$%&ing game!" (Bull Durham)

1. "Dad ... you wanna have a catch?" (Field of Dreams)

Whole lotta AC/DC on the way

2008-09-30T06:01:29-04:00

The good news is that AC/DC has finally booked a Tampa gig on their upcoming world tour. (It's Dec. 21 at the St. Pete Times Forum. The better news? Chances are that no matter how good or bad their new album Black Ice is, the concert will basically be a greatest-hits show.

Word out there on the fan blogs is that concertgoers should expect one or two new songs and then a slew of the classics. Here's the set list from their last world tour back in 2001, according to Australia's Undercover.com Web site:

You Shook Me All Night Long (from Back In Black, 1980)
Stiff Upper Lip (from Stiff Upper Lip, 2000)
Shot Down in Flames (from Highway To Hell, 1979)
Thunderstruck (from The Razor’s Edge, 1990)
Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be (from Let There Be Rock, 1977)
Hard as a Rock (from Ballbreaker, 1995)
Shoot to Thrill (from Back In Black, 1980)
Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution (from Back In Black, 1980)
Sin City (from Powerage, 1978)
Bad Boy Boogie (from Let There Be Rock, 1977)
Hells Bells (from Back In Black, 1980)
Get it Hot (from Highway To Hell, 1979)
The Jack (from TNT, 1975)
Back in Black (from Back In Black, 1980)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (from Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 1976)
Highway to Hell (from Highway To Hell, 1979)
Whole Lotta Rosie (from Let There Be Rock, 1977)
Let There Be Rock (from Let There Be Rock, 1977)
TNT (from TNT, 1975)
For Those About to Rock (from For Those About To Rock, 1981)

[AP photo]

Her birthday wish: Name of a good lawyer

2008-09-29T10:33:35-04:00

Oh, this isn't good. Heather Locklear was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence in Montecito, Calif., according to the Los Angeles Times.

Locklear, who turned 47 years old last week, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol -- hey, CHiPs! -- after someone called 911 to report a woman driving "erratically."

Define "erratic"? Locklear reportedly drove "back and forth over a pair of sunglasses on the pavement and revving her engine. After leaving the parking lot, she stopped her car on the street and stumbled into the traffic lane, according to the caller, who followed Locklear out of concern," the Times reports.

Locklear was tested for alcohol consumption, but the tests were negative. Results are pending on other drug tests.

[Booking photo via Associated Press]

The Boss finally will play a Super Bowl

2008-09-28T22:29:59-04:00

This just in: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have been booked to play the halftime show of Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa on Feb. 1, 2009.

Springsteen, who has never before played a Super Bowl event, follows a string of '80s-friendly acts in recent years including Prince in 2007 and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 2008. The New Jersey-bred bard of the blue collar just finished a 100-show tour with a show at Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration in Milwaukee. (Click here to see his recent set lists.)

The last time a Super Bowl played in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, Aerosmith and Britney Spears were the big halftime attractions, while Styx and Sting were part of the pregame entertainment.

Assuming the Boss gets three or four songs to play during his halftime set, here are the ones we'd pick from his '80s catalog:

HUNGRY HEART (1980): A favorite at the skating rink back in the old days, this tune doesn't get nearly enough playtime anymore. (Watch a live performance.)

GLORY DAYS (1984): This song should be a warning to the next NFL spotlight hound who tries some lame celebration stunt after a routine touchdown: Someday, you'll be at home on the couch just like the rest of us. So cool it. (Video)

THE RIVER (1981): Sad and brooding. Just like the losers' locker room after the game. Or my digestive system after the fourth plate of meatless nachos. (Live performance)

DANCING IN THE DARK (1984): Even better if Springsteen pulls some fan up on the stage to dance at the ending. If he pulls up Courteney Cox again, it'd only be because she's got to have some new show premiering on whatever network is showing the game. (Video)

Oh sure, we know Born To Run will make it on the list. And personally, I'd be happy hearing Thunder Road, easily my favorite Springsteen tune.

What other songs need to be on Springsteen's short-list for the Super Bowl show?

[Photo from brucespringsteen.net]

Remakes & sequels: 'Now is the season of evil'

2008-09-28T11:44:51-04:00

Vigo the Carpathian - most evil-looking dude of the '80s? Or just a man very upset that his legacy in Ghostbusters 2 is about to be upstaged by the sequel 20 years later? You be the judge.

The good news is that a new Ghostbusters installment will probably include Bill Murray, who told a crowd at Fanastic Fest this week that he "would definitely be into doing another Ghostbusters movie, stating that the first 40 minutes of the original film is some of the best stuff he's been associated with and the whole shoot was an amazing amount of fun," according to Moviehole.com.

"He also went on to say that his enthusiasm for Ghostbusters was heightened after recording the voice of Peter Venkman for the video game over the summer," Moviehole.com says. "In fact, he said he found himself walking down the street singing the Ghostbusters theme song and then thought people walking around him were going to start yelling at him to 'get over yourself, Bill,' so he stopped ... But the enthusiasm was there."

Though Ghostbusters 3 seems like it's headed in the right direction, what about all the other '80s movies that are slated for remakes and sequels? That's the topic of this week's Stuck in the '80s podcast, featuring guest co-host Steve Persall, the film critic -- film genius dare I say? -- from the St. Petersburg Times.

Click here to download the show. Or click here to get all our shows for free via iTunes.