A 'Thriller' parody CD cover? Bad karma, DJ Cobra

Designing a CD cover that mimics the legendary Thriller album by Michael Jackson probably seemed like a good idea. Until June 25, 2009.

But that's what "DJ Cobra" did with his new album, iller. (Ouch, even the name sorta hurts.)

According to his publicist, the album cover was developed back in May and was intended as a tribute to Jackson. It was released just days before MJ's death.

Cobra (a.k.a. Andrew Bragg) is one of those touring celebrity disc jockeys who play the club circuit. He reportedly has "opened" (you know current music sucks eggs when you have a DJ open for you) for acts like Puff Daddy, Nelly, Lucacris and Lady Gaga. And yes, that's the first and last time you'll see those names listed on Stuck in the '80s.

The album itself is billed as "a continuous blend of songs from ... the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin paired along with notable recent performers like Coldplay, Lil Wayne, Santogold and others."

In other words, I'm not taking it out of the wrapper. As MJ would say, just tell Cobra that it's human nature.

The best (and worst) fake bands of the '80s

Give Eric Idle of Monty Python's Flying Circus the credit for dreaming up the idea of fictional bands and making them popular. (Cough, cough. There was the Monkees too, but let's continue.)

His invention, The Rutles, debuted in the 1978 film All You Need Is Cash. A few short years later, the big screen would be full of fab -- and drab -- fakes, including our beloved Spinal Tap.

Tap releases their new album Back from the Dead today. It's a must-buy for all '80s fans, if only for the action-figures of Derek, David and Nigel that pop out of the liner notes. But while you're busy contemplating how to sneak off to the record store today, here's the list that Stuck in the '80s fans and writers dreamed up for the occasion.

TOP 5 BEST FAKE BANDS OF THE '80s:

5. PEZ PEOPLE (The Big Picture, 1989): Kevin Bacon and Michael McKean direct the video for Pez People in this flick about aspiring filmmakers. And yes, The Whites of Their Eyes -- which sounds exactly like a Spinal Tap tune  -- was written by McKean and Christopher Guest. [Watch it]

4. THE SWANKY MODES (Tapeheads, 1988): Another obscure pick, but the finale of this John Cusack and Tom Robbins cult flick wouldn't be the same without their performance of Ordinary Man. [Watch it]

3. THE SORELS/ELLEN AIM AND THE ATTACKERS (Streets of Fire, 1984): Give the Sorels the slight nod in this tie because they perform I Can Dream About You (by the very white and now late Dan Hartman). But Diane Lane's Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young is an anthem.  [Watch the Sorels | Watch Ellen Aim]

2. EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS (Eddie and the Cruisers, 1983; Eddie Lives, 1989): Michael Pare channels Bruce during On The Dark Side, but you gotta love Tom "Sgt. Barnes" Berenger on keyboards. Hat tip, of course, to John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. [Watch it]

1. SPINAL TAP (This is Spinal Tap, 1984): From Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight to Stonehenge to even the lovely Cups and Cakes, you can't stop "England's loudest band." [Watch it]

TOP 5 WORST FAKE BANDS OF THE '80s:

5. THE MYSTERY (Satisfaction, 1988): The only satisfaction we got from this Justine Bateman would-be star vehicle is adding to this list of frauds perpetuated on music fans.

4. THE PINHEADS (Back to the Future, 1985): Huey Lewis was right. Michael J. Fox and his band are just too darn loud.

3. SEXUAL CHOCOLATE (Coming to America, 1988): Seeing Eddie Murphy perform her song Greatest Love of All is probably what started Whitney Houston's substance-abuse problem in the first place. [Watch it]

2. HONG KONG CAVALIERS (The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension, 1984): Peter Weller stops a concert because he suddenly hears Ellen Barkin crying? Take the Cavaliers to the pit, Big-Booty ... and use more honey! [Watch it]

1. WYLD STALLYNS (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989): The music of Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter may provide the model for life for San Dimas, Calif., in the year 2688. But in 1989, it just sucked. [Clip]

Also on the bad list: The Barbusters (Light of Day), Cube-Squared (Tapeheads).

Check out my list of the best fake bands of all time on tampabay.com.

25 years later, 'Born in the USA' is still iconic Bruce Springsteen

Twenty-five years later, you can still hear the songs of the cash registers ringing away for our '80s blue-collar hero Bruce Springsteen. Yep, on June 4, 1984, the Boss released an album you may have heard of ... Born in the USA. 

It's nearly impossible to say anything about this album that hasn't already been shouted from the corners of the planet. But here's some quickie facts that still amaze 25 years later:

• Born in the USA went platinum just one month after its released and spawned seven Top 10 singles during 1984 and 1985.
• Dancing in the Dark was the first single, but actually a late addition to the album lineup after producers wanted a sure-fire hit right away. Of course, everyone knows which Friend appears in the music video.
• On Rolling Stone's list of the greatest albums of all time, it ranks 85th. Born To Run, his 1975 album, is No. 18. (But Born in the USA does rank No. 6 on the magazine's 100 greatest albums of the '80s list.)
• The iconic cover photo of Bruce's butt? Taken by Annie Leibovitz of course.
• Only one song reached No. 1 on the charts -- Dancing in the Dark. (The title track, which is often mistaken for a patriotic anthem, only reached No. 9).
• Most of the songs were written about the same time as the songs from 1982's Nebraska, according to interviews with Bruce. 

It's probably one of five albums from the '80s that anyone who grew up in the decade HAD to own, whether you listened to it or not. Others would include Michael Jackson's Thriller, AC/DC's Back in Black, Prince's Purple Rain and U2's Joshua Tree.

TOP 5 FAVORITE SONGS FROM BORN IN THE USA:

5. COVER ME: Straight out rocker. (And sorry, but there's no way I'm putting the title track on this list. I can't stand it.) Listen

4. MY HOMETOWN: For some reason, I think of its use in Roger and Me every time I hear it, and think of poor Flint, Michigan. Live performance

3. DANCING IN THE DARK: Okay, I admit it. It's just because of Courtney Cox.

2. I'M GOIN' DOWN: Catchy, fun and thankfully not an earworm. Listen

1. GLORY DAYS: Sorry, but it's practically the unspoken anthem of Stuck in the '80s. And it has a classic video.

Who will be Queen's new lead singer: Adam Lambert, Jeff Scott Soto ... or George Michael?

Rumors continue to swirl around the Web that American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert could be Queen's top pick as their next lead singer.

"[Drummer Roger Taylor] and I are definitely hoping to have a meaningful conversation with him at some point," Queen guitarist Brian May told Rolling Stone late last week amid rumors that Lambert had already been offered the job. "It’s not like we, as Queen, would rush into coalescing with another singer just like that. It isn’t that easy. But I’d certainly like to work with Adam. That is one amazing instrument he has there."

The band just jettisoned Paul Rodgers (amicably, both sides insist) on May 12, and Lambert's performance with Queen during Idol's Season 8 finale could have been a "tryout" of sorts. And, of course, by mysteriously losing to Ned Flanders-esque Kris Allen, Lambert is free to pursue his own career now. 

On the positive side, May and Taylor would inherit a young singer who could give the band a much-needed dose of energy. And Lambert would bring a whole new generation of fans with him. Very appealing indeed. On the down side, trying to replace Freddie Mercury seems like a bad way to start a promising career. Still, would Lambert be able to say no if he's asked?

If Lambert does turn down a presumed offer, the smart money is that Queen will take a long, serious look at Jeff Scott Soto, the former Journey singer who was dumped by the band before they hired Arnel Pineda. Soto doesn't have the same type of vocal chops as Lambert or Mercury, but he has thrilled Queen fans with his regular performances at Queen conventions around the world. Click here to see one of his Queen performances on YouTube.

Want one more dark horse? George Michael would be an inspired pick. Michael channeled Mercury while playing with Queen during 1992's A Concert for Life tribute show in London. Click here to see his performance of Somebody To Love.

[Fox photo]

Vote for the horrible hits of 1983

How long has it been since you heard some '80s songs you truly hated? I mean, besides our last "horrible hits" podcast. (And I mean, besides songs by Frank Stallone.)

It's time again to vote for the "hit" songs you hated most from the otherwise phenomenal year of 1983, so that Sean Daly and I can turn it into a new podcast: the horrible hits of 1983.

If you want to see the full list of potential songs, click right here. Until we have your votes, I've asked Vegas Girlfriend to pick her 10 most-hated songs from 1983. Here they are. Click on the artist to hear the song:

She Works Hard For The Money (Donna Summer)

Up Where We Belong (Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes)

You Can't Hurry Love (Phil Collins)

We've Got Tonight (Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton)

The Girl Is Mine (Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney)

How Am I Supposed To Live Without You (Laura Branigan)

Straight From The Heart (Bryan Adams)

Pass The Dutchie (Musical Youth)

Far From Over (Frank Stallone)

Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack)

Who is Adrian Belew and why is he on all our '80s records?

Adrian Belew? That look on our collective faces is indeed total confusion. But today's guest blogger, Douglas "The General" Arthur, promises to explain why Adrian's is a name we all need to know a lot better.

When the grand tale of rock 'n' roll finally comes to an end someday, it will be hard to argue that no one was plucked from obscurity quite like Adrian Belew. "Not so fast, General," you say,"I've never heard of this Adrian Belew character." And by name recognition alone, you might be right. However, I guarantee you've heard his music.

The name Adrian Belew, when brought up in polite conversation, usually brings blank stares or some glimmer of recognition as the "Oh, Daddy" guy. The truth is that his work has been heard more often than not, even if most folks don't recognize him. There is a reason, however, that Trent Reznor once declared, "Adrian Belew is the best f------ guitarist alive!"

Adrian is well known and well respected by other musicians, and it is a shame he never got the commercial success he deserved.

So today we will take a look at some of the benchmark albums he worked on in our favorite decade.

To fully understand how this all connects we have to go back to 1977. Adrian was playing with a house band in a Holiday Inn in Nashville when, by chance, Frank Zappa happened into the lounge. Being impressed by his unique style and virtuosity, Frank asked him to join his band on the spot, and so began his career.

Adrian contributed to his 1978 album Sheik Yerbouti and showed up in the concert film Baby Snakes. While touring with Zappa, David Bowie caught a show and immediately found his way backstage to offer Adrian a spot on his upcoming "Heroes" tour. This meant that he'd be playing guitar lines created by his one of his idols, Robert Fripp. This led to playing solos on Bowie's next album, Lodger, with Brian Eno. This association would bear much fruit for Belew as he entered the '80s. He went from playing a Holiday Inn lounge circuit to arenas around the globe in a matter of months!

As the Talking Heads were finishing up their Remain In Light sessions, Eno decided to bring Adrian in to add some solos. By this time, he had gained a reputation as a "stunt guitarist." Those are his soaring fuzzed-out solos that grace songs like The Great Curve, Once In a Lifetime and Crosseyed and Painless.

When they went on tour, they decided that they couldn't replicate his work without him, and asked him to tag along. But this is where Adrian's story gets interesting. During the Remain In Light sessions and tour, things between David Byrne and the rest of the band soured considerably, mostly over songwriting credits on things that were mainly improvised in the studio.

Sometime during the tour, Tina and Chris approached Adrian and asked him if he'd like to join the band permanently as they were looking to fire David. He said he needed a little time to think about it, and coincidentally during the next few days he was contacted by Robert Fripp asking if he might be interested in joining a new band with himself, Tony Levin (from Peter Gabriel's band) and Bill Bruford (from Yes and King Crimson).

So now Adrian was left with a choice. Does he stay where he is, in a successful band, but one in which he would have to replace a founding member, or go join one of his idols on a venture that may or may not go anywhere. Ultimately he decided that replacing David Byrne in Talking Heads was a no-win situation for everyone involved, and opted to join Robert Fripp's new band.

Initially they called themselves Discipline, but as they played more together, they all came to an agreement that this was really a new version of King Crimson. So their first album became Discipline, instead. Adrian has been involved with Crimson ever since. Incidentally, this era of King Crimson is widely considered to be one of the best by critics.

This really opened up the flood gates and Adrian became much in demand and he lent his guitar to albums by Tom Tom Club, Laurie Anderson, Joan Armatrading, David Byrne's Catherine Wheel project, Joe Cocker, the Elvis Brothers, Peter Gabriel (for the Gremlins soundtrack), Herbie Hancock, Jerry Harrison's Red and The Black album, Garland Jefferies, Jean-Michel Jarre, Scott Merrit, Yoshiyuki Ohsawa, Mike Oldfield, Robert Palmer, The Raisins, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Paul Simon's Graceland and Peter Wolf. Not to mention a thriving solo career, including four albums in the '80s.

He even had a minor hit in 1989 with Oh, Daddy from his Mr. Musichead album, a duet with his daughter Audie asking him when he was going to be hugely successful.

As the decade closed he prepared to tour again with David Bowie on his epic Sound + Vision tour, as lead guitarist and musical director.

We focused today on the '80s but Adrian's success continued as he collaborated with Nine Inch Nails, Crash Test Dummies and Tori Amos and even produced the hugely successful Jars of Clay song, Flood!

So here are my top 6 Adrian Belew albums of the '80s:

6. Tom Tom Club (Tom Tom Club): A fun record that spawned the mega hit Genius Of Love! Adrian thanks Mariah Carey every time her version is played.

5. Graceland (Paul Simon): It's hard to pick out his parts, but this album is awesome anyway.

4. Lone Rhino (Adrian Belew): This was his first solo record, and it's a screamer.

3. Discipline (King Crimson): Adrian's first foray as lead songwriter and guitarist is a collaboration with some of rock's greats.

2. Twang Bar King (Adrian Belew): His second solo record finds him more relaxed and experimental ... plus he throws in a killer cover of the Beatles' I'm Down.

1. Remain In Light (Talking Heads): The landmark genre-buster would not be the same without his wild and soaring solos.

Check your liner notes, he may just be on one of your favorite records.

Adrian is currently touring with the Adrian Belew Power Trio, so check your local listings and go. He puts on the greatest live show I have seen. His enthusiasm is infectious and his powerful songs will move your hips.

[Publicity photo]

Top 5 underrated classics from the '80s

Underrated classics from the '80s always fire up a real Stuck in the '80s fan. Today's guest blogger is Crystal Cole, a student at USF St. Petersburg majoring in English. When she's not writing poetry, she moonlights as an expert karaoke singer whenever it's '80s night.

If you're like me, there are a select few (or maybe a whole boatload!) of songs that made you stop and wonder: "Why the heck didn't this tune top the charts?!?" I've channeled my rage into today's top 5 list: an ode to underrated, less-well-known, obscure, and yet bad-ass songs of the '80s.

TOP 5 UNDERRATED SONGS OF THE '80s:

5. CRY LITTLE SISTER (Gerard McMann): The Lost Boys theme song ... are you kidding me? This tune epitomizes the dark side of the '80s culture. [Listen]

4. ALIVE AND KICKING (Simple Minds): Both musically dynamic and lyrically catchy, this song is a perfect example of radio stations just ignoring a song that should have been a smash hit. [Video]

3. WHITE HEAT (Madonna): Ya gotta love Mo's intro as she gives a big shout-out to the James Cagney film by the same name in this "Don't mess with my love" anthem. [Live performance]

2. MYSTIFY (INXS): In my opinion ...THE most underrated song INXS ever released! [Live performance]

1. LULLABY (The Cure): This haunting, yet sensual piece by Robert Smith and the boys is one of my absolute all-time favorite songs! [Video]

Remember this song? It's coming back on CD

Kim Wilde's Kids in America appears on one of the most under-rated and sadly forgotten soundtracks of the '80s? Can you remember it? (Answer at the bottom.) But here's the good news: Wilde has just re-released her first two albums -- Kim Wilde and Select -- in expanded CD editions.

Her debut album reached No.3 on the U.K. charts when originally issued in 1981 with the hit singles Kids In America (No. 2 in the U.K., No. 3 in Australia, No. 25 in the U.S.), Chequered Love and Water On Glass. Both re-releases have bonus tracks, the original LP artwork and liner notes approved by her official fan club and Wilde herself.

If all this news has you aching to see her live in concert, you better hope you live in the U.K. or have the coin to buy a plane ticket. Her latest tour dates keep our British cutie -- yeah, she looks hotter than ever -- very close to home. Maybe we can snag her for a future Regeneration Tour to the U.S.

Best soundtracks of the '80s? Tell us your favorites

The best soundtracks of the '80s -- it's a list that has eluded mankind for far too long. But its time has come.

I spent the weekend doing laps around Lake Itopia and was amazed how my iPod kept spitting out classic tunes from soundtrack after soundtrack, thus defeating the unwritten rule that I don't stop my workout until a bad song comes on over my sweaty little headphones. (All I can say is, thank you Wham for saving me from a heart attack.)

For some reason, I kept hitting repeat on the Gary Myrick song Time To Win from Valley Girl, which plays when Randy and Julie make out in the back seat of the car the first night they meet. And it's not even the best tune on the soundtrack. (What is? That's up for debate too, but I'm leaning toward A Million Miles Away by the Plimsouls. Heck, any song by the Plimsouls.)

So here's the drill. Leave a comment with your favorite soundtracks of the '80s. You can name as many as you want, but let me know if one stands above the rest. A couple of rules too. The soundtrack must have actually been released either on vinyl, cassette or CD, though not necessarily during the '80s, and it doesn't have to still be in print. Soundtracks with '80s songs are going to rate higher than soundtracks with songs from previous decades. (Sorry, Big Chill fans!) Here are some obvious candidates.

VALLEY GIRL (1983): Perfectly captures the KROQ radio sound of Southern California in the '80s with bands the rest of the country hadn't heard yet. Josie Cotton, Sparks, the Plimsouls and many more. Of course, it also houses the most overplayed song of the '80s, Melt With You by Modern English.

PURPLE RAIN (1984): An obvious frontrunner. It won every award in the book. We've all committed it to memory. And it was far better than the actual movie. But it would have been better had the soundtrack actually included the tunes by Morris Day, Apollonia 6 and the Modernaires.

SIXTEEN CANDLES (1984): A-ha! A tricky one, since the original soundtrack only featured six songs from the film. (But hey, you can buy a copy autographed by Molly Ringwald on eBay for only $200.) If they ever release a complete soundtrack, this would be a contender thanks to Spandau Ballet, Oingo Boingo, the Vapors and more.

PRETTY IN PINK (1986): Yes, of course John Hughes movies are going to dominate this list, because he put more thought into the music than perhaps any director before or since. Again, the soundtrack -- Echo and the Bunnymen, OMD, New Order, the Smiths -- is maybe better than the film.

REPO MAN (1984): Bet you didn't see that one coming. Hey, every pick can't be a Hughes movie. And give a little love to the film that honored Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies and the Circle Jerks. Very intense. But remember, "a repo man spends his life getting into tense situations."

Add your favorites and let's band out the authoritative list of best '80s soundtracks.

'Yes,' the Pet Shop Boys still sound great

Chances are the average American music fan hasn’t thought much about the Pet Shop Boys since their debut single West End Girls saturated radio dials back in 1985.

That’s tragic, because Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have been spinning out far superior dance-friendly hits nonstop over the last 25 years. Disco for smart people, PSB squeezes social commentary and political astuteness into catchy hooks and playful musicianship.

Think of their music as the soundtrack for Jetsons: The Movie on a crazy Saturday night in Orbit City – in the SoHo district.

Yes is the duo’s 10th studio album, and it finds Chris and Neil still extolling passion, lamenting pain ... and mischievously taping “kick me” signs on the backs of those who follow the wrong paths in life.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY: The album starts with dueling, one-two pop punches of Love Etc. and Beautiful People – the first a hopefully not-too-subtle lampoon of greed, the second a brooding ode to our current economic desperation. (And yep, that's Johnny Marr from the Smiths on guitar in Beautiful People. Nice touch.)

NOW START DANCING: Is that the Nutcracker suite we hear sampled during All Over The World? Tchaikovsky never boogied like that. Other instant dance classics include Did You See Me Coming? and the better Pandemonium. (“Is this a riot or are you just pleased to see me?”)

LOVE AND LOSS: Slow it down now for Vulnerable, a plunge into a deep well of self doubt — “At night I am lying awake, through the hours trying to calculate 'Am I good enough?’ ” The mood lightens only slightly for the richly ambient King of Rome.

BUY OR NO BUY: A definite yes on Yes. And consider getting the limited edition version, which has a bonus disc with This Used To Be The Future, a track featuring Phil Oakey of the Human League, along with other mixes. The whole project is the reason so many of us are still addicted to the ’80s: Why be current, when the past was perfect?