Frankie say ... No reunion, no way

Bad news for Frankie Goes to Hollywood fans: Despite widespread reports in the U.K. that the Liverpool band had mended fences and plans a reunion tour, the manager for lead singer Holly Johnson says it's not happening.

"There is no truth in that rumor," Wolfgang Kuhle told Stuck in the '80s in an e-mail received today. "Holly is doing some promotion in the fall / winter for Universal who are doing a FGTH Greatest Hits and re-releasing Holly's two solo albums for MCA."

But that's it, Kuhle insists.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood called it quits in 1987 after just two albums (Welcome to the Pleasuredome and Liverpool). But in their short four years of recording, they scored five Top 10 hits in the U.K., including Relax, Two Tribes, The Power of Love, Welcome to the Pleasuredome and Rage Hard.

All attempts to reunite the band over the last 20 years have been unsuccessful, but reports of a reunion were sparked recently in the UK after Virgin Atlantic used Relax in a commercial.

These days, Johnson uses only his own name when he performs music, and any other band using the "Frankie" name would expose themselves to possible legal trouble from the original members.

[VH1 photo]

Lionel Richie, Commodores reunite in New Orleans

Lionel Richie gave New Orleans a nice surprise on Sunday when he was joined onstage by members of his old group The Commodores during the city's Essence Music Festival.

According to NOLA.com, guitarist Thomas McClary and bassist Ronald LaPread helped out Richie, though a full reunion isn't likely any time soon. (Guitarist Milan Williams died in 2006.)

"Original drummer/vocalist Walter "Clyde" Orange and trumpeter/guitarist William King continue to tour under the Commodores name, with singer J.D. Nicholas," NOLA.com reported. "In their view, it was Richie who left the Commodores in 1983; they sustained the band for all these years."

Richie, McClary and LaPread banged out Slippery When Wet, Too Hot ta Trot, Easy and a medley of tunes including Fancy Dancer, Just to be Close to You and Zoom. Of course, Brick House rounded things out. Richie then finished the set alone with All Night Long.

Click here to read the full review on NOLA.com.

[Getty Images]

From King of Pop to Dancing Queen? ABBA is promoter's pick for London shows

Michael Jackson's death has left a gaping hole of 50 open dates at London's O2 Arena. What music act in the world could possibly fill the seats for a run of shows like that?

Promoter AEG Live is reportedly wooing '70s/'80s pop/disco legends ABBA to take over Jackson's concert dates. The report comes from the Sun in UK, and is being discredited nearly as fast as the news is spreading, but still ... what an idea!

 "There's a little foursome out in Sweden we keep talking to," The firm's chief David Campbell said to the Sun. Presumably he's not talking about their Olympic curling team.

ABBA -- Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad -- called it quits in 1983. But can a huge payday bring them back together?

"There are millions on the table," a source tells the Sun. "But there are many hurdles to overcome."

Still, with ABBA's music still on people's minds thanks to the Broadway and Hollywood versions of the musical Mamma Mia, the timing couldn't possibly be better.

Another name in consideration to fill those dates, according to other reports: Whitney Houston, who has a new album due in September.

Who would you want to fill those 50 open dates?

Relax! Frankie Goes to Hollywood to reunite!

Twenty-five years ago, the hysteria over Frankie Goes to Hollywood in Britain was considered second only to the Beatles. But the Liverpool-bred band self-destructed after just two albums in 1986.

British tabloids today say that the members of Frankie -- Holly Johnson, Paul Rutherford, Peter Gill, Mark O'Toole and Brian Nash -- have decided to reunite and tour in the UK after the success of a Virgin Atlantic ad that features their signature hit Relax.

Also in the works are a new best-of collection of their hits and possibly some new material.

"We're thrilled our adverts helped persuade Frankie Goes To Hollywood to make a comeback," Virgin Atlantic told the Mirror. " It's a great coup for us and 80s pop fans will be equally delighted."

FGTH has reunited and toured a few times over the last two decades, but never with the full, original lineup. In 2003, VH-1's Bands Reunited brought all the original guys back together for the final show of the season. But lead singer Holly Johnson was the lone dissenting voice in playing a short reunion concert.

The BBC must be going nuts with this reunion news. It was largely because they banned the playing of the sexually-encouraging Relax back in the '80s that Frankie caught everyone's attention in the first place. 

TOP 5 HIGHEST-CHARTING FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD SONGS:

5. RAGE HARD: "I don't know which way to go. My love's like driven snow. When we past the test of time, my love, you shall be mine." [Performance]

4. WELCOME TO THE PLEASUREDOME: "I will give you diamonds by the shower, love your body even when its old." [Performance]

3. THE POWER OF LOVE: "When the chips are down I'll be around, with my undying, death-defying love for you." [Performance]

2. TWO TRIBES: "Are we living in a land where sex and horror are the new gods?" [Video]

1. RELAX: "Live those dreams. Scheme those schemes. ... Hit me with those laser beams" [Video]

Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris meets Jimmy Fallon

Former Saved by the Bell star Mark-Paul Gosselaar had the audience in tears last night when he showed up on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon dressed in character as teen idol Zack Morris -- retro blond haircut, stone-washed jeans and all. 

(Saved by the Bell might be a '90s guilty pleasure, but never forget that our buddies from Bayside High officially got started in 1989.)

I don't know if Jimmy Fallon's show is gonna survive or not, but watching the entire cast freeze perfectly every time Zack called time-out is reason enough to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Gosselaar even played the song Friends Forever with Fallon's house band and confirmed that a Saved by the Bell reunion project is working toward reality.

Another one bites the dust: Adam Lambert blows off Queen rumors

American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert has gone on the record to dismiss rumors he is the next lead singer for Queen.

"They've never actually offered me anything," Lambert tells Starpulse.com. "They expressed interest in working together, but just said they'd like to have a meaningful conversation, and that's it. It could have meant they wanted me to come to dinner with them, it could have meant they wanted to talk about the meaning of life."

Lambert finished a surprise second to Kris Allen in Season 8 of American Idol, but his performance with Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor was widely seen as an audition for the singing gig once held by the legendary Freddie Mercury. May even went on record with his interest in Lambert shortly after the show ended.

"They're legends," Lambert said. "I'm just the new kid on the block."

Seems like a vague denial, but Lambert also told Starpulse he wants to carve out a career in his own right. Still, we'll wait for him to officially turn down a real offer before we close the book on this one.

[Fox photo]

Spandau Ballet frontman: 'I'm just glad I wasn't in Kajagoogoo'

New Romantic heroes and BFFs again Spandau Ballet are all over the Web lately, as their reunion begins to chug forward.

The Telegraph over in London has a fantastic interview with Tony Hadley and Gary Kemp. In it, Hadley has this great line: "I'm just glad I wasn't in Kajagoogoo. Everybody wants to leave a mark in their lives, and we've left ours."

Wow, a little blast across the bow of Kajagoogoo, a band that also announced its reunion and plans to tour in 2009. Maybe not the savviest move, but when you're selling out every gig scheduled so far, Hadley and the lads deserve to be a little smug.

Here's some more Spandau Ballet scoop from the Web:

• According to Remembertheeighties.com, a feature-length documentary about the band's history is in the works. "We won't shy away from tackling the bad times," Kemp says.
• Take That star Gary Barlow, a huge fan of Spandau Ballet, has agreed to write some new material for the band's next album.
• Spandau Ballet now has three shows set for London's O2 Arena -- the first two having sold out in mere minutes. Take that, Michael Jackson. Click here for the latest tour info.

[Getty Images]

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]

After Spinal Tap, don't forget the Fanatics show

Once upon a time — when hair was feathered and ties were skinny, checker-boarded and made of leather — there was a catchy music act making waves around Tampa Bay called . . . the Fanatics.

Formed in Clearwater, the new wave band grew a local following with gigs at then-famous nightspots like Club 19 and the Courtroom Lounge.

The Fanatics even scored spots as openers when national '80s acts like Gene Loves Jezebel, Thompson Twins and Modern English came through town.

Alas, adult responsibilities eventually caught up to the band, and the Fanatics disbanded in 1987. Did I say disbanded? I meant "slumbered peacefully in a cocoon state," because the boys are finally back.

The Fanatics are reuniting tonight, May 8, for one night at the Garage in St. Petersburg. Doors open at 8 and there's a $5 cover change.

An added bonus: Sales of Fanatics memorabilia will directly benefit the Second Chance for Strays organization.

Roxette reunites for European tour

More proof that the '80s are going to live on forever: Roxette has reunited for a European tour, the AP reports.

The Swedish duo -- hands up anyone who thought Roxette was just one person -- will perform for the first time since 2001 at the Night of the Proms touring festival in Belgium, followed by a tour of the Netherlands and Germany.

Also, according to the Roxette official website, their entire back catalog will be remastered and re-released this fall.

Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle had four No. 1 singles in the United States and have sold some 45 million albums worldwide. The band took an extended hiatus in 2002 when Fredriksson was battling a brain tumor.

TOP 5 ROXETTE SONGS OF THE '80s:

5. DRESSED FOR SUCCESS (1988): Listen

4. DANGEROUS (1989): Listen

3. THE LOOK (1989): Listen

2. LISTEN TO YOUR HEART (1988): Listen

1. IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE (1987): Listen