Drop the weapon and play 'It's Only Love'!

Tina Turner is ready to make her comeback (again) and is plotting her first tour in nearly a decade.

According to the Reuters news service, the 68-year-old Turner decided to give it another go  after friend and film legend Sophia Loren told her it was "time to hit the road again."

( I would have guessed that seeing Syesha Mercardo doing a Halloween-esque version of "Proud Mary" on "American Idol" would have been reason enough to return. Please, wash that performance from our minds.)

The tour begins Oct. 1 in Kansas City and continues through Dec. 8 in Montreal. Only two Florida dates are currently listed: Nov. 2 in Fort Lauderdale and Nov. 5 in Orlando. Click here to see the full list.

Tina owned the 80s, recording 25 songs that hit the charts either in the U.S. or abroad. Still, my personal favorite Tina moment? No, not a song. Her role as "Aunty Entity" in 1985's "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome."

"You know the law: Two men enter, one man leaves."

Police will call it quits in NYC

The Police are going to wrap things up pretty much in the same place they started: New York City.

The band announced this week that they'll play their "last ever" show this summer in New York --  though the exact date and venue haven't been decided yet.

"We kicked off our very first American tour at CBGB's in 1978 and this summer, 30 years later, our journey will come full circle as we play our final show here in New York City," the band said on their official website.

The Police also pledged to donate $1-million to the city to plant 10,000 trees and said the final concert's proceeds will go to fund public television in New York.

The band is still traveling around North American on its reunion tour, which isn't set to end until early August. The Police have two shows coming up in Florida -- May 16 in Orlando and May 17 in West Palm Beach.

[AP photo]

Tickets on sale for Tampa get-together

For those unable to attend the Stuck in the 80s get-together in Las Vegas, there's still the Journey/Heart/Cheap Trick show on July 30 in Tampa at the Ford Amphitheatre.

And we just got word on ticket sales. They go on sale Saturday, May 10 (the same day as the Vegas tickets) and range from $25 for a lawn seat all the way up to $125 for reserved seats close to the stage. (There's also a group deal: 4 lawn tickets for $75.) Go to livenation.com for more information.

Co-host Sean Daly says he'll show up at the Tampa show and promises not to ruin everybody's night by drinking too many Red Bulls. I'll be at the show, of course, even though I leave the next day for Vegas.

Meanwhile, I'm working with the newspaper and the bands' PR people on other opportunities for us. Hopefully we'll snag a meet-and-greet with the bands. Drop a comment on the blog if you think you're up for the show!

Ready to get Regenerated?

This summer's most impressive 80s music fest -- the Regeneration Tour -- is starting to ramp up its publicity machine. Now there's an official website to keep fans up to date on tour news.

Only 16 dates have been announced for this tour, which includes The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, ABC, Dead or Alive, A Flock of Seagulls and Naked Eyes.

Keep your eye on the Aug. 2 date for Las Vegas, because a group of Stuck in the 80s fans are planning to attend (yeah, myself included.) Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 10. E-mail me at stuckinthe80s@tampabay.com if you want more information on what we've got planned for that weekend.

Bon Jovi's bad medicine

Jon Bon Jovi plays the St. Pete Times Forum on April 27. [Atoyia Deans | Times]

If there's any aging rocker who really should insist on staying Stuck in the 80s, it's gotta be Jon Bon Jovi.

During his show in Tampa on Sunday night, he won the audience over with hit after hit from the golden decade. But not before planting them firmly in their seats during his more recent work.

Give credit to Bon Jovi. What appreciation he couldn't earn through faux country songs, he solicited through butt wiggles and toothy grins. The guy knows how to work an audience.

The show finished up just before 11 p.m. Here are some quick observations.

HIT THE HIGHWAY: Opening the show with the title track from his new "Lost Highway" disc was an omen for the night. The first half of the show was littered with tunes from this rightly unappreciated album. Hard to believe that Bon Jovi has cranked out only 10 studio albums in 25 years, and this is the best they can do?

PARTY TIME, BATTALION STYLE: If beer sales at a Bon Jovi concert could be an consumer confidence indicator, we'll soon be out of our long economic depression. I felt like we were filming a Budweiser commercial tonight.

WHAT THE ?!?: Name one musical instrument that has no business in a Bon Jovi concert. If you said "violin," you're today's lucky winner. But there it was, played by a hottie that looked like she was picked out of the crowd for the honor. Still, I kept expecting the Dixie Chicks to walk out on stage.

FRIENDLY FANS: One thing you gotta love about a Bon Jovi show: There is no shortage of revved up female party-goers. It's the ultimate Ladies Night. From the one who kept offering Sean her drink to my cute, next-door neighbor who used her cell-phone to light up my notebook while I scribbled down these gems of wisdom.

JON NEEDS A VACATION: The rehearsed stage banter is starting to feel a little tired, Jon. Maybe what you need is 5 years off the concert circuit. Maybe restart the acting career. Just take time off and recharge the live performance batteries. Your fans will be waiting when you get back.

MARRY ME JON!: I lost count of how many "I (heart) Jon Bon Jovi" and "Mrs. Bon Jovi" shirts I saw in the ranks of female fans tonight. You get the feeling they're just happy to be breathing the same air molecules as their hero.

OLD SCHOOL: I was never a fan of "Runaway" -- until tonight. They ripped through it like it was 1983 all over again. That's what I call keeping the faith. Thanks, guys.

CHANGE OF PLANS: "Livin' on a Prayer" was slated to be the first encore, but it ended up being the first set finale tonight. "Dead or Alive" proved to be the final encore. An oddly sedate way to end things.

PICK UP THE TEMPO: "It's My Life" seemed like it was a beat too slow. In a way, that was the theme of the night. Come on, guys. It's an anthem! Don't play it like you're the opening act to a funeral.

PLAYING TO THE CROWD: Jon donned a Tampa Bay Storm jersey for the encores and said coach Tim Marcum and Bucs coach Jon Gruden were in the crowd. On NFL Draft Day? Impressive.

TAKE THAT BRUCE FANS: People thought I was insane for saying Bon Jovi was the ultimate East Coast rocker, over grampa Bruce Springsteen. Bruce was here last week and drew about 16,000. Bon Jovi -- a little more than 20,000. Glory days, yeah, they'll pass you by.

OK, EVEN I SANG ALONG: "Bad Medicine" is one of those tunes that your body forces you to participate in. I'm not ashamed to admit I gave Sean Daly a sweaty bear-hug when the band launched into it. (Just tape up those ribs, Sean. They'll heal in a few weeks.)

FINAL GRADE: A B-minus maybe, but only because they were happy to play their 80s hits. After all the hype, I just expected more. Maybe it's because the performance is so slick and rehearsed. Or maybe because it's nearing the end of the tour. It certainly can't help to be supporting an album that sounds nothing like their best work.

Still, a night of 80s rock with thousand of drunken fans is a nice way to end the weekend. Maybe that's the magic of Bon Jovi. All it takes for it to work is a microphone, a stage and a neverending supply of golden amber inspiration.

OK, pretty boy, let's see what you got

Jon Bon Jovi -- singer, actor, part own of an Arena Football team. Nah, none of these titles do him justice. Can we just agree that you also have to throw in words like "heart-throb" or "pretty boy?"

Tonight, Pretty Boy Jon plays Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum, and I'll be there to catch my first-ever Bon Jovi show. I gotta confess: I'm going in there with a bit of a chip on my shoulder. Last night, I caught a re-run of VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s, and "Livin' On A Prayer" was the top song.

Are you kidding me? It sends me into a rage every time. I want to cry "Fix!" and hunt down the warped computer hackers in Jersey who concocted this crime.

I'll get over it by the 7:30 start time. If you tune into the blog tonight, I'll try to blog some from the show. Maybe even include a photo of me and Ritchie Sambora sharing a beer bong or two.

In the meantime, here's the set list that the band was playing earlier this month:

1. “Lost Highway”
2. “Born to be My Baby”
3. “You Give Love a Bad Name”
4. “Complicated”
5. “Runaway”
6. “I Love This Town”
7. “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”
8. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
9. “Blaze of Glory”
10. “Welcome to Wherever You Are”
11. “Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night”
12. “We Got It Going On”
13. “It’s My Life”
14. “Bad Medicine” (with partial version of “Shout”)
15. “I’ll Be There For You”
16. “You Want to (Make a Memory)”
17. “Bed of Roses”
18. “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
19. “Have a Nice Day”
20. “Keep the Faith”

Encore:
21. “Livin’ on a Prayer’
22. “Last Man Standing”
23. “Wanted Dead or Alive”

If you leave? Wait, they're back

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark -- oh please, just call them OMD -- is heading out on the road again.

The band is planning a UK tour for the fall, to be followed by more dates in Europe. No word on whether they'll hope a plane a play a few other continents, according to OMD's official website.

OMD also is set to release a CD and DVD recorded during their live concerts from 2007, when they were playing their classic 1981 "Architecture and Morality" album again. The CD version of "OMD Live" is out already, while the DVD will debut within the next few months. All the tracks were recorded live at the Hammersmith Apollo in London in May 2007.

"Those summer nights are calling..."

This could be a big summer for die-hard Journey fans -- both of them. No, just kidding. Though I was mocked via e-mail last week by a new friend who is completely baffled with my love affair with the band: "I really, really hate Journey. Do you now rescind your friendship?" she asked.

It's Journey, baby! Love means never having to sing "I'm sorry" in falsetto.

Things seem to be clicking again for our San Fran friends. The band just unveiled a redesigned website, a brand new singer, a new album is coming in June and a U.S tour begins in July.

The new album is "Revelation" and is set for release June 3. Don't expect any advance reviews; the band's management says no copies will be made available to critics before the release date.

"Revelation" is actually planned as a three-disc set. The first disc will have 11 re-recorded Journey classics, presumably with Arnel Pineda now on vocals instead of Steve Perry. The second disc has 11 new songs. The third disc is a concert DVD.

Journey will back up "Revelation" with a tour, set to begin July 9 in Denver. For Tampa Bay fans, Journey is is set to play Tampa's Ford Amphitheatre with Heart and Cheap Trick on July 30. Still no word on when tickets go on sale. I'd gladly pay double to sit an ice chest instead of a regular seat. Outdoor shows in July? Who's cryin' now!

Are you ready for Bruce?

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band hits Florida this week -- though a few days later than planned.

Springsteen delayed a couple of dates after the death of keyboardist Danny Federici last week. His show originally scheduled for tonight in Tampa is now Tuesday. Am I going? Nah, I'm not a huge Bruce fan. Remember, I'm the same idiot who argued that Bon Jovi was the better East Coast rocker.

Plus, I doubt he'll play enough of the songs that I really enjoy. And by that, you know what's coming next.

TOP FIVE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN SONGS OF THE 80s:

Four unexpected words: Boy George on tour

Last time we saw Boy George, wasn't he sweeping streets on prison work release or community service? Or chaining his friends to bedroom walls?

Well, the Boy is back in town. Pollstar.com reports that Boy George has a series of concert dates planned for this summer, including a few stops in the U.S. out on the west coast.

I can't speak for all of 80s Nation, but I'd rather see a Boy George impersonator now than the real thing. You know, someone who'll dress Old School and play the classics. And let's face it, someone who doesn't like one of the Munsters.

[AP photo]

World's worst Motley Crue story

I remember the first time I ever heard of Motley Crue. It was the early '80s, and my high school in nearby Clearwater, Fla., was holding its twice-a-year lip-sync show, which was a big deal back in those days -- concert lighting, huge amplifiers, fake smoke, the works.

I'm sitting right down in front of the stage when the faux Crue is announced. Out come these gorgeous girls with their hair teased up and their bodies wrapped tightly in spandex. I immediately recognized them from the stoner-mallrat clique, but they never looked this good!

The sold-out crowd of probably 1,000 hormone-infused teens jump to their feet for the chest-shaking, hip-grinding, burlesque club performance of "Shout at the Devil." When it's done, I lean over to my friend and say with a straight face, "Wow, I think Motley Crue is a hotter girl-group than the Go-Go's!" He readily agreed.

Imagine the shock and horror -- well, the embarrassment -- the next day when I purchased the latest Crue album only to discover they weren't actually females. I've never forgiven Vince, Tommy, Nikki and Mick for that gender-bending splinter in my young psyche.

So imagine the cold sweat when I discovered that Motley Crue has just announced they're hitting the road again for a mega-tour. This time they're doing it right -- far less spandex, I hope, and the shows start right here in Florida in July. For those of us in Tampa Bay not mentally incapacitated by high school lip sync shenanigans, there's a show at the Ford Amphitheatre on July 3. Click here for a full list of dates.

'I want more boom boom boom!'

Neil Diamond, honorary '80s star for the day, is heading out on tour again. Click here for the full slate of dates. For those of us in Tampa Bay, he's got a date Oct. 24 at the St. Pete Times Forum. (Tickets go on sale April 21.)

When you hear Neil Diamond, you probably think "Cherry Cherry" or "Sweet Caroline." Nice tunes, but what goes through my head is the 1980 movie "The Jazz Singer" -- easily one of the worst movies featuring some truly great music.

"The Jazz Singer" actually was the second movie my family purchased on VHS after we acquired our tape player. (The first? That was "Can't Stop The Music" -- for $80!!) So needless to say that -- like every other 80s movie out there -- I know every line of the "Jazz Singer" by heart now.

My favorite character? Not Diamond's "Jess Robin." Nah, it's Paul Nicholas playing the obnoxious punk rock singer "Keith Lennox." A singer and stage performer for years, Nicholas would find fame in the U.K. later in the '80s as the star of the TV sitcom "Just Good Friends." For now, hopefully he's happy that one of his "Jazz Singer" quotes made the list today.

TOP 5 FAVORITE LINES FROM THE JAZZ SINGER:

5. "That ain't no brother! That's a white boy!"

4. "That was, um, very nice. Now why don't you just piss off and take those four clowns with you."

3. "Hello? ... Hello again?"

2. "I offered him my body. He settled for ice cream."

1. "Boom boom boom! I want more boom boom boom!"

Another mega-80s tour in the works

How's this for a great '80s concert lineup: The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, ABC, Dead Or Alive, A Flock of Seagulls and Naked Eyes!

The so-called "Regeneration Tour" begins Aug. 1 in Phoenix and wraps up Aug. 28 in Atlanta, according to Billboard.com. Tickets range from $20 and $75. For that price, this is a no-brainer decision. (Even if the members of The Human League today look more like judges on a Bravo Network reality show.)

The exact lineup of bands at each tour stop could vary, depending on artist availability.

Red Entertainment Agency's Rick Shoor, who organized the tour, got the idea from shopping at music stores. "I was hearing all these '80s hits played in the stores I shopped in every week, so I thought putting a great hits package together could be a cool thing for the summer touring season," he tells Billboard.

Click here to see all the tour stops from Livedaily.com. (There aren't any scheduled for Florida; the Atlanta finale is the closest show.)

Put up your dukes: Benatar's on tour

Time to take money out of our retirement accounts: We have yet another can't-miss '80s legend making a summer tour.

Pat Benatar has announced a slew of new summer dates, including a stop here in Tampa Bay at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall on July 7. Click here to see if she's coming near you. Tickets for the Ruth Eckerd Hall show go on sale April 11 and range in price from $34.75 to $70.

In one media interview, Benatar says fans should expect a show covering the hits -- with a few surprises. "The classic hits are in there, and we have an acoustic set, which is really lovely -- four or five songs we've taken and play them acoustically -- everyone seems to really enjoy that. And then, some new things that we have coming out."

New things? Maybe a new album? We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, you can re-listen to our Pat Benatar podcast on Stuck in the 80s -- and you can bet we'll be redoing that show if we can score an interview before her show here!

Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick join forces

The first mega-80s tour of 2008 is officially on the books: Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick will do a summer tour together across the United States.

The official word is that Journey -- with new singer Arnel Pineda -- is the headlining act -- but really ... it doesn't matter. This is a great chance to catch three of the best live acts of the 80s on one bill. The tour begins July 9 in Englewood, Colorado, and wraps up Sept. 30 in Los Angeles. And yes -- there's a Tampa date scheduled: July 30 at the Ford Amphitheatre.

Tickets begin going on sale April 5 via Ticketmaster. Check Pollstar.com for a full list of dates. No word yet on when Tampa tickets go on sale or what the price is.

This will be Journey's first U.S. tour with Pineda, the Steve Perry sound-alike who caught the band's attention with his videos on Youtube.com. The band also has a new album -- Revelation -- due out June 3.

Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson -- who probably wince anytime someone on "American Idol" attempts their songs -- will get some additional exposure when then join Bono, Annie Lennox and other musicians and celebrities on April 9 for the fundraiser special "Idol Gives Back." According to Pollstar.com, they'll perform "Barracuda" on the show with Fergie. (Listen to our podcast interview with Nancy Wilson from 2007.)

Do I even need to sell the Cheap Trick angle? Any chance to catch Robin Zander and the gang should not be missed.

[Getty Images]

Have faith: George Michael is coming

We told you it was just a matter of getting his ducks in a row: George Michael's "25 Live" tour has finally and officially announced its dates for North America.

The tour begins June 17 in San Diego and wraps up Aug. 3 in South Florida. And yes, he has a date for Tampa -- the St. Pete Times Forum on Aug. 2. Nice!

Click here to see the full schedule. Tickets are $56.75-$151.75 and go on sale at 10 a.m. April 7 at the Forum box office and through Ticketmaster at outlets; www.ticketmaster.com; and (813) 287-8844 and (727) 898-2100.

Also, Michael will release a 2-disc CD set called "Twenty-Five" on April 1. The set features 29 songs; a DVD will have 40 videos.

Trying to decide if this tour is worth the money? Here's the set list for his recent tour stops in Europe:

• Waiting Intro
• Flawless
• Fast Love
• Father Figure
• Star People
• First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
• Praying for Time
• Too Funky
• You Have Been Loved
• Everything She Wants
• My Mother Had a Brother
• Shoot the Dog
• 20 Minute Intermission
• Faith
• Spinning the Wheel
• Jesus to a Child
• An Easier Affair
• A Different Corner
• Amazing
• Too Funky (reprise)
• I'm Your Man
• Outside
• Careless Whisper
• Freedom 90

[AP photo]

Still they ride: Journey has a new album

The retooled and reformed version of Journey is planning its next departure to a Wal-Mart near you. The band announced this week that it will release "Revelation," a three-disc CD and DVD, on June 3.

The first CD will have 11 re-recorded classics, featuring new vocalist Arnel Pineda. The second CD has 11 new tunes, also with Arnel, guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Deen Castronovo. The last disc is a live, in-concert DVD.

The new release will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart in North America.

Journey plans to tour the United States beginning in July to support Revelation. Expect the exact dates and locations to be announced in the next couple weeks.

The band also redesigned its official website. Click here to check it out.

He'll speak of the pompatus of love

The Steve Miller Band is the latest retro-act to announce a new album and tour for the summer.

Miller's 32-city tour starts tour begins in Florida in late May, including a stop on May 25 at Tampa's Ford Amphitheatre. It's part of a 32-city tour to support their 2008 album "The Truth About the Lies." (Click here for full list of dates.)

Joe Cocker will be the opening act, according to the band's official website.

Steve Miller -- some people call him Maurice -- had a few shining moments in the '80s, including his Abracadabra album from 1982, which had hit title song. In all, he had four studio albums and one live album in the 80s. But I think it's safe to say the '80s nation will embrace them as a guilty pleasure.

[Photo from stevemillerband.com]

Can they recover from the 'Massacre'?

Duran Duran's "Red Carpet Massacre" tour is finally rolling into North America. The band today announced a 20-city leg of their current world tour.

Beginning on April 29 in Vancouver, the tour hits most of the usual big-city stops -- including Orlando and Boca Raton here in Florida (no Tampa Bay dates). It wraps up May 30-31 in New York, where they're scheduled to play in Central Park.

Tickets for all shows will go on sale to the public on March 15 at 10 a.m. Pre-sale and VIP packages -- available to members of Duran Duran's fan community -- go on sale March 12.

"These are going to be extremely exciting shows for us – taking a very different format to the last world tour we did in 2006," Simon LeBon said on the band's official website. "We have been working on completely different arrangements for some of the older material and will be integrating a lot of our latest record into the performances. We need to keep things fresh – not only for ourselves, but also for our audiences."

The "Red Carpet Massacre" album could use the promotional help. After a decent first week of sales in November, it fell quickly to the bottom and then out of the charts in both Britain and the United States. The album met with mixed reviews from critics, and the new material -- heavily modernized and reliant more on computers than instruments -- chased guitarist Andy Taylor from the band.

[AP photo]

A newbie guide to They Might Be Giants

Admit it. Some of you 80s fanatics out there who probably still don't really know (and to know is to love) the music of They Might Be Giants.

The "Two Johns" hit St. Petersburg tonight for a show at Jannus Landing. Stuck in the 80s guest host Stephanie Hayes and I interviewed John Linnell for our TMBG podcast and wrote up a story for today's newspaper. Both the podcast and story make for a good beginner's guide to the band. (Click here to read the story.)

Now that you're hooked on their quirky personality, you'd probably like some music. But where to start?

Thanks to the brilliant minds of those behind the incredibly useful fan website This Might Be A Wiki, here's a list of the tunes rated highest by members of the site. So if you're just getting to know this band, start with these:

FIVE TMBG SONGS FOR NEW FANS:

1. Birdhouse in your Soul: Their highest-charting song, it's a tune about a child's night light.

2. Ana Ng: Their first big hit in 1988, written after picking out a popular name from the New York phone book.

3. Don't Let's Start: Lyrics were chosen solely because they fit the correct number of syllables for the melody.

4. Doctor Worm: About a worm - not a doctor - learning to play drums. A staple for most live performances.

5. They'll Need a Crane: Performed on Late Night with David Letterman in 1989 during the band's TV debut.

[Publicity photo]

Van Halen postpones more shows

The medical tests continue on guitarist Eddie Van Halen, so his band has postponed another 17 shows on their reunion tour.

According to Pollstar.com, the cities affected are: Charlottesville, Va., East Rutherford, N.J., New York, N.Y., Duluth, Ga., Pittsburgh, Providence, R.I., Uncasville, Conn., Atlantic City, N.J., St. Louis, Columbus, Ohio, Rosemont, Ill., Grand Rapids, Mich., Milwaukee, Manchester, N.H., Hershey, Penn., Raleigh, N.C., and Baltimore.

Van Halen's official website has offered up no further clues on Eddie's condition, saying only that he is "under doctors' care" and will "continue medical tests to define a course of treatment. The tour will resume on April 19th."

Is George finally ready for the U.S.?

George Michael has been selling out arenas, stadiums, maybe even entire ZIP codes during his current European tour. But fans here in the United States have been teased for two years now: Is he or is he not coming to perform here?

It looks like it's finally a done deal. According to sources, George has booked the TD Banknorth Garden Arena in Boston on July 27. And a date soon after at New York's Madison Square Garden will be filmed for a live concert DVD.

In the meantime, George continues to make guest appearances on TV's "Eli Stone." He's scheduled to perform (and possibly act) on the March 13 episode.

Don't you ... forget about them

Admit, you have forgotten about Simple Minds. That's OK. They only cranked out one of the '80s most signature anthems. But the good news is that they're back.

The Scottish group, still fronted by charismatic Jim Kerr, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a new album and tour.

"Thirty years in music is a big deal after all, or is it not so!" Kerr writes on the band's official website. "Don't tell me you don't agree with me on this unless your name happens to be Dylan, Bowie, Lou Reed, and Jagger etc. If so then yes, you're right."

Right now, the tour just has U.K. and European dates on it. But the interesting news is that Simple Minds also announced they'll perform their 1982 album "New Gold Dream" in its entirety on this tour. That record includes staples such as "Promised You a Miracle," "Glittering Prize" and "Someone, Somewhere In Summertime." Other hits from later years will comprise the show's second half.

The six-date tour begins in April, and there is no plan to extend the tour into the United States.

According to the band's publicist, the new studio album is planned for a 2009 release.

I like the trend of bands playing the entirety of classic albums. But if I could pick a Simple Minds that I want to hear in full, I have another one in mind.

FOUR GREAT SIMPLE MINDS ALBUMS:

4. Street Fighting Years (1989): "Belfast Child" and "Soul Crying Out."

3. Sparkle in the Rain (1984): Features "Up on the Catwalk" and "Waterfront."

2. New Gold Dream (1982): "Promised You a Miracle." "Glittering Prize," and "Someone, Somewhere In Summertime."

1. Once Upon A Time (1985): "Alive and Kicking," "Ghost Dancing," "Sanctify Yourself" and the title track.

[Photo from Bob Thacker]

Has Huey's career gone to the dogs?

Huey Lewis and the News are back in town for an April 6 gig at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Yeah, the dog track.

In all fairness, Derby Lane announced in January that it was looking for ways to compete with other gambling attractions -- and a way to fill seats on Sundays, when there is no live dog racing.

Last time Huey was in town, he played Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall while hitting a local golf tourney. (Click here to listen to our Stuck in the 80s interview with him, including his infamous fight with pop music critic Sean Daly.)

Will Huey customize some of his long-time hits with gambling themes for the Derby Lane show? Doubtful, but we can dream:

DO YOU BELIEVE IN LUCK: "Oh you can bet I believe it too"

STUCK WITH NO. 2: "Yes we've had our ups and downs"

HIP TO BET SQUARE: "You might think I'm crazy, but I don't even care"

TROUBLE WITH PAIR OF DICE: "He's scared and he's paying the price"

I WANT A NEW DOG: "One that makes me feel like I feel when I'm with you"

Cyndi Lauper pairs up with B-52s

The True Colors tour is ramping up for 2008, and the lineup looks great. Cyndi Lauper and the B-52s will headline the show, with a handful of other acts jumping in on a rotating basis. Rosie O'Donnell is also listed as a headliner.

Among the 80s artists committed to the rotation include Joan Armatrading along with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, according to Pollstar.com.

The 24-city tour, which includes a stop at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall on June 18, hopes to raise political awareness in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in advance of this fall's presidential election. (Click here for the tour's official website and lineup information.)

"The tour is a nonstop, 5-hour music party with a message," Lauper said in the official announcement today.

"True Colors is a good way to get out the vote," the B-52s' Fred Schneider added, "and get out of the house and party!"

Tickets for the Clearwater show range from $85 to $145 and go on sale March 14.

The B-52s join the True Color tour just as as they finish a short club tour to promote their new disc Funplex, which hits stores March 25. (Click here for our review of this must-own CD.)

[Getty Images]

They Might Be Giants class photo ... circa 2008

They might wear glasses. They might be wearing the same clothes they wore to a Mac users group meeting today. And they might dress up as a tree stump and wolverine in a leisure suit for album covers.

But don't make the mistake of thinking They Might Be Giants might also be geeks.

"We never really identified with that characterization. We don't feel [like geeks]. I don't even know what that is exactly," Giants co-founder John Linnell said. "I feel like culture has changed a lot since we started. It seems really mainstream now to know something about technology."

Linnell -- the wolverine in that photo, I'm guessing? -- is this week's guest on our Stuck in the 80s podcast as the band slowly heads south for their March 11 show at St. Petersburg's Jannus Landing. Here are some highlights from our interview.

On the public's reaction when they first started playing live: "Originally when we started out, we were playing in the safety of the Lower East Side in New York. We started out playing for friends of ours. Mostly we were performing in clubs and rooms that hosted performance art so we were often the most normal thing that was happening. We fit right in."

On why they rework their classics during live shows: "I think we just forget how they go. We try to make it interesting each time, but we're really just trying to do a good show. We're not really making a statement about rejecting an old arrangement."

On their move into children's music: "We just felt it'd be fun. It seemed like a break from stuff that was more high pressure. What we didn't expect was that the kid's record was going to be a big seller. Suddenly, it seemed like it was a career move. We weren't thinking rock critics were ever going to hear it or talk about it. So maybe that was part of what was good about it."

On winning a Grammy in 2001 for the theme song to Malcolm in the Middle: "It was very weird. I think we felt like we were imposters. We'd always made fun of the Grammys. The whole thing was very dream-like. And we pretty much stopped making fun of the Grammys after that, I'm embarrased to say. It kind of shut us up, which was maybe the point. They give you one so you'll stop mocking them."

Click here to listen to this week's show. Or just click here to download all our shows for free on iTunes.

Is the Van Halen reunion self-destructing?

Admit it: You're surprised they've stayed together on this tour as long as they have. Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth are about a healthy a combination as Viagra and nitroglycerin.

So when Eddie and the boys declared their troubled past was all water under the bridge last year and outlined their plans for a Van Halen reunion tour, the safe money was that the rekindled romance wouldn't last 'til opening night. It turned out to be a sucker bet and the band is on the second leg of this U.S. tour, including a stop last month here in Tampa Bay.

But get ready to say "uh-oh."

Billboard.com reports that the Van Halen tour could be in jeopardy -- but defused reports that it's downright canceled. Four shows in March have been rescheduled for April after Eddie suddenly had to undergo "a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures," reports Billboard, quoting management.

No further details were available, but Eddie has a well-documented history of fighting cancer and substance abuse.

Meanwhile, the former Mrs. Van Halen -- Valerie Bertinelli -- is adding another layer of drama. On her own tour to promote her autobiography "Losing It," Bertinelli has scheduled an appearance in Cincinnati for this Wednesday, the same day the band is set to play there, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

No word on whether Eddie, Valerie and son/bassist Wolfgang will get together for family reunion that day.

'It's hard to bargle nawdle zouss'

Ah yes, just the antidote we all need to fight off the uber-tours from the likes of Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. Weird Al Yankovic has just announced plans for a summer tour of the U.S.

It's been two years since Weird Al's last album -- "Straight Outta Lynwood." These days, he's more likely to spend his time on short tours and directing music videos for other acts. (The Presidents of the United States of America recently enlisted Weird Al's help shooting and directing their video for "Mixed Up SOB.")

For this summer tour, the gigs start June 27 in Henderson, Nev., and run until late August. No dates are scheduled for Florida this time around, so I guess I'm have to wait longer to catch Weird Al live. In the meantime...

TOP FIVE WEIRD AL VIDEOS:

5. MONEY FOR NOTHING/BEVERLY HILLBILLIES: Originally a dream scene in Weird Al's movie "UHF." [Watch]

4. LIKE A SURGEON: My anti-Madonna psyche just can't get enough of this one. [Watch]

3. FAT: Disturbing on so many levels. (Also reminds of me "Dune." Don't ask why.) [Watch]

2. SMELLS LIKE NIRVANA: Best line - "A garage band, from Seattle, well it sure beats, raising cattle"  or, OR ... "It's hard to bargle nawdle zouss, with all these marbles in my mouth."  [Watch]

1. EAT IT: So good, you can never tell if it's "Eat It" or "Beat It" until you find out if the guy at the lunch counter spits out his drink in the beginning. [Watch]

[Photo from weirdal.com]

Rod Stewart finds a touring buddy

Here's an unlikely pairing: Rod Stewart has announced a summer U.S. and Canada tour -- and he's bringing Bryan Adams along for at least seven of the shows.

Pollstar.com reports that Stewart's 18-date tour will wrap up here in Tampa on Aug. 28 with a gig at the Ford Amphitheatre. (Adams is not listed as a performer at that show - at least not yet.)

Truth be told, I'd much rather spend my hard-earned clams to hear Adams as the headliner. I've heard enough of Stewart to last two lifetimes. And his "Great American Songbook" series of CDs won't find its way into my personal collection anytime soon.

Adams, though, seems content to concentrate his touring efforts in Europe lately. (They just love "Summer of '69" over there, I guess). His road itinerary on his official website is full of stops in place such as Portugal, Germany, Belgium and Austria.

Still, if he joins Stewart for the Tampa gig in August, I may feel moved to catch at least the first half of that night's billing.

[AP, Getty Image photos]

Top 5 Van Halen videos

The nearly original lineup of Van Halen hits Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum on Monday, Feb. 18. Have your tickets already? (It's not sold out, strangely enough.)

If you're still sitting on the fence about whether to catch them live, maybe you need a little refresher course in the power of Diamond Dave and the VH boys.

Van Halen isn't a threat to win a video pioneer award during the annual MTV awards, but they had some memorable feats.

TOP 5 VIDEOS FROM VAN HALEN:

5. JUMP: Love the leopard-print jacket, Eddie. Between that and your beloved keyboard, you look like a lounge act. I'm just bitter because this video inspired me to take keyboard lessons (back then, we called them "organ lessons.") Too bad I only learned to play the theme to "Oklahoma!" (Watch it)

4. RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL: Just a straight-forward, lip-synced "stage" performance. But Dave's got his hips swaying wider than three Elvises, and it's always cheesy fun to watch Michael Anthony pick the bass line with his teeth. (Watch it)

3. PANAMA: The band in all its "1984" glory. Eddie with the sleeveless "dice" shirt, Michael with his Jack Daniels bass. Dave's goof-ball stage persona is really starting to show. "Yeah, we're running a little bit hot tonight..." (Watch it)

2. HOT FOR THE TEACHER: Early MTV at its finest. Kid versions of each band member and teachers throwing off clothing - classic. Basically a porn video for those of us in our formative years. "Sweet, sweet Waldo." I'd like to think Waldo grew up to be an 80s blogger. (Watch it)

1. RIGHT NOW: The only Van Hagar video on the list, but it's the best one. Right now, someone is agreeing with every word I'm writing. Right now, someone is deleting the "Stuck in the 80s" bookmark from their web browser. (Watch it)

Public Enemy pumps the lyrical

Public Enemy will perform its entire 1988 album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" during three shows in the U.K. this spring.

NME.com says Public Enemy will hit London, Manchester and Glasgow in late May. According to Paste Magazine, the gigs are part of the "Don't Look Back" concert series, which has organized similar gigs for Sonic Youth in the United States and Australia.

Paste says nearly the entire original lineup of Public Enemy will perform: Flavor Flav, Chuck D, Professor Griff, DJ Lord, Brother Mike, James Bomb and Pop Diesel (the original DJ Terminator X, has since retired).

The band's "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" was ranked 48th on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest albums of all time.

TOP 5 SONGS FROM "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back":

5. REBEL WITHOUT A PAUSE: "Soul, rock and roll comin' like a rhino."

4. BLACK STEEL IN THE HOUR OF CHAOS: "53 brothers on the run, and we are gone."

3. NIGHT OF THE LIVING BASEHEADS: "Where they rocked to a different kind of...BASS"

2. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE: "The minute they see me, fear me."

1. BRING THE NOISE: "Make a miracle. D, pump the lyrical"

The triumphant return of a-ha ... not really

Everyone's favorite two-hit wonder -- a-ha -- is set to perform at London's Royal Albert Hall on May 24.

(A little insider joke there between me and the 10-million a-ha fans out there who were ready to kill me last year when I called them a one-hit wonder.)

To make matters more confusing, the event isn't being billed as an "a-ha concert." Rather, it's formally called "An Evening With Morten Harket, Savoy & Magne F." And yes, for those keeping score, those are the only three members of the band.

"We cannot promise that these three artists will join forces, as they have been known to do on other festive occasions around the world," the band's official website says. "But there is widespread speculation within the organization of some sort of special appearance."

Instead, fans can expect performances for their individual solo careers. But beyond that? "If you expect to see a regular show by the musical group known as a-ha," the website continues, "we kindly ask you to wait for the next scheduled performance convenient to your location."

So all three members are there, at the same time, at the same venue. And the band is still technically together. But don't expect any a-ha songs? Are you kidding me?

They're not too shy-shy about reuniting

Here's a reunion nobody saw coming: Kajagoogoo has patched up differences with its original frontman -- the follicle-enhanced Limahl -- and will perform with the original lineup for the first time in 25 years this summer in Scotland.

"The history of the Kajagoogoo divorce has been quite unpleasant," Limahl told the Scottish Daily Record. "We did talk about a reunion five years ago, but it got unpleasant again. ... It's always been over money, not about the personalities, but people do get a bit bitchy so I put it at the back of my mind."

Band members told the Record that the final papers haven't been signed yet, but they're not expecting any more hurdles. Kajagoogoo's biggest year in the '80s was 1983 when songs like "Too Shy," "Ooh to Be Ah" and "Hang On Now" were chart-climbers. "Too Shy" hit No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 5 in the United States.

In 2007, the band relaunched its official website and released the single "Rocket Boy"  -- their first new song in 22 years.

Kajagoogoo is set to play Scotland's RetroFest on Aug. 30-31. Other bands scheduled to play include The Bangles, Kim Wilde, Boy George, Nik Kershaw, Paul Young, Howard Jones and the Blow Monkeys.

[Publicity photo from limahl.com]

The beat goes on for the Go-Go's

God bless the Go-Go's (from left): Gina Schock, Jane Wiedlin, Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine. [Publicity photo]

It has been more than 25 years since their all-female California power-pop sound first buzzed through the charts, but the Go-Go's are still proving that beauty and the beat can be eternal.

Jane Wiedlin, who co-founded the band with singer Belinda Carlisle in the late '70s,  says that these days, tours are less rowdy, but the "girls" -- her word -- still wanna have fun. (The Go-Go's play St. Petersburg's Jannus Landing on Thursday, Feb. 7.)

"In the early '80s we once toured for nearly two years straight, and now we never do more than about two weeks," Wiedlin said in a recent interview with Stuck in the 80s. "And since most of the girls have put their partying days behind them, it's a lot more sedate in the dressing room. We still manage to have a good time though!"

Between 1981 and 1984, the Go-Go's were one the hottest bands on radio and MTV, with hits like "Our Lips Are Sealed," "We Got The Beat" and "Vacation" winning over legions of fans.

But Wiedlin left the band in '84 for solo career in music and acting (she was "Joan of Arc" in 1989's "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure."), and the band dissolved in '85. But 15 years later, the girls were together again and hit the recording studio in 2001, producing the disc "God Bless the Go-Go's."

In our e-mail conversation, Wiedlin revisited the band's history, her foray into acting and the future of the "girls."

Back in the early 80s, did you have a problem with male groupies? What do your fans look like today?

"To be honest, we didn't get a lot of groupies in the old days, and we certainly don't get a lot of groupies these days!"

"We get a real kick when our longtime fans bring their kids to our concerts. I think Radio Disney plays us a lot, so there is a whole new generation of music lovers that are discovering our music. It's nice to show young girls that chicks can rock! And PLAY INSTRUMENTS!"

You co-wrote "Our Lips Are Sealed" with Terry Hall -- a great tune where we get to hear you softly sing "Hush my darling..." during that one memorable verse. What can you tell me about the creation of that song?

"In 1980, the Specials (Terry's band before Fun Boy Three) came to see us play in Hollywood and invited us to tour with them in England, where I embarked upon a short but dramatic romance with Terry. Later he sent me some lyrics inspired by our relationship, and 'Our Lips Are Sealed' came out of that. So many people have done versions of that song. Of course I am very proud and pleased to have written it. All of our hits are a blast to play live because the crowd always goes crazy for them!"

You were the first Go-Go to leave the band for a solo career. Any regrets?

"It was fun but scary to make music without the band. In retrospect, I'm not so thrilled with a lot of what I did, but I was on my own for the first time and it was a big change for me. I don't have many regrets.  Certainly I love my life where it is right now, and so i don't think I'd change the past, because it might affect the present."

I didn't realize until recently that you had a bit role in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and played "Joan of Arc" in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." How did those roles come about?

"I decided to pursue acting when I went solo and my new manager helped me procure an agent and a few parts. It turned out to be much harder than it looks, and as much as I enjoyed those experiences (being a Trekhead, I was THRILLED to meet Leonard Nimoy!), I don't think I'm very good at it."

" 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' becoming a hit was a HUGE surprise for me, and -- I think -- for everyone that worked on it.  It just seemed like this small silly movie, and in fact sat on a shelf for several years before being released."

What's next for the Go-Go's and for you?

"We have no set plans at the moment, and every year it seems to get a little more complicated trying to get together to do stuff. We are now living in FIVE different places, which makes it a real challenge to get together. Still, we love to make music, so anything could happen."

-- The Go-Go's, 8 p.m., Jannus Landing, Thursday (Feb. 7), show starts at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $27.50 in advance; $31 day of show.