Tag Archives: the 80s

The BBC reports: Buzzcocks lead singer Pete Shelley has died at 63 of a suspected heart attack. The punk band are best known for their hit, Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve). Their management told the BBC that Shelley died on Thursday in Estonia where he was living. BBC music correspondent Lizo Mzimba said Buzzcocks, who formed in …

Courtesy of Concord Music, tonight we have a special JMG giveaway of the new classic early disco remix compilation, For Discos Only, now available on Amazon, streaming, and download services. Craft Recordings is excited to announce the release of For Discos Only: Indie Dance Music From Fantasy & Vanguard Records (1976-1981), a comprehensive collection of the music that lit up …

The Las Vegas Journal-Review reports: Robin Leach, a celebrity columnist and television host who famously signed off each episode of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” with his signature catchphrase of “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams,” has died. “Despite the past 10 months, what a beautiful life he had. Our Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle and friend Robin Leach passed away …

Gentle readers, today is Madonna’s 60th birthday. Below is a short story that first appeared on JMG on this day in 2006, a date which, as you’ll see, plays a role in the story. Ricky Loved Madonna Twenty years ago today, August 16th 1986, I was a few months into a new job with AMC Theatres, a position that I …

From the Hollywood Reporter: Twenty-five years after wrapping its seven-season run on CBS, Designing Women is plotting a return to the small screen. Series creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason is behind the revival, which hails from producers Sony Pictures Television Studios. The project has been in the works for months as the indie studio searches for a home for its revival of …

ABC News reports: Charlotte Rae, the character actress best known for her roles in “Diff’rent Strokes” and its spinoff, “The Facts of Life,” has died at age 92. Rae’s representative confirmed the news Sunday, saying she died surrounded by family and friends at her Los Angeles home. The actress’ career spanned six decades. She first charmed audiences as housekeeper Edna …

Deadline Hollywood reports: The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees has voted to rescind two high-profile awards given to Bill Cosby following his conviction last month on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1998 for lifetime achievement in the performing arts. In 2009, he was the 12th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for …

The Associated Press reports: Two days after his conviction, Bill Cosby has already started life as an inmate — though his surroundings are far nicer than they likely will be in a few months. A judge says Cosby will be confined to the same suburban Philadelphia mansion where jurors concluded he drugged and molested a Temple University women’s basketball administrator, …

Buzzfeed News reports: Bill Cosby was convicted Thursday of drugging and raping Andrea Constand at his Pennsylvania home in 2004, marking a new fall from grace for a comedian who built his reputation as America’s Dad. The jury for Cosby’s first rape trial was unable to reach a verdict last year, however, this time, the jury of seven men and …

The New York Daily News reports: Nicole Eggert detailed the first time “Charles in Charge” co-star Scott Baio molested her in his garage — and revealed why she lied about it for so long. The actress, who is 11 years younger than Baio, told Megyn Kelly on Tuesday that the actor digitally penetrated her in his car in his garage …

Rolling Stone reports: After months of speculation, a medical examiner has ruled that Tom Petty died of an accidental overdose, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. The Hall of Fame musician had taken several pain medications, including Fentanyl (including acetylfentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl), oxycodone and generic Xanax. Other medications included generic Restoril (a …

From the Hollywood Reporter: Broadway’s gotta have some “Hot Stuff” next spring. Producers Tommy Mottola and The Dodgers confirmed Tuesday that Summer: The Donna Summer Musical will begin previews March 28 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre ahead of an April 23 opening. The bio-musical tracing the life and career of the singer, who teamed with music producer Giorgio Moroder and Casablanca …

ABOVE: At the 1985 Xmas party described below: Me, Michael, and Barney. Originally posted May 2004. Reposted for World AIDS Day. Michael didn’t look good. We were at his annual Christmas luau party. Tons and tons of people in the house and the backyard. Standing in his kitchen, wearing a grass skirt and a ridiculous Santa hat covered in sequins, …

CBS News reports: Tom Petty, the rocker best known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is dead at 66, CBS News has confirmed. The legendary musician suffered a full cardiac arrest and was found unconscious and not breathing in his Malibu home Sunday night. He was taken to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and put on life support, …

Rolling Stone reports: Grant Hart, drummer and singer of the seminal alternative rock band Hüsker Dü, has died at 56 after being diagnosed with cancer. The news was confirmed by his bandmate Bob Mould in a lengthy Facebook post. The St. Paul, Minnesota-born Hart formed Hüsker Dü – Danish for “Do you remember?” – in the late Seventies along with …

The AV Club reports: The CW has released a trailer for its new “Dynasty” to premiere in fall. Fans of the original campy, soapy, sexy ’80s ABC nighttime drama will not be disappointed. But rather than focus on the angel-vs-bitch, first wife vs the new wife set-up pitting Krystal against Alexis (AKA Linda Evans and Joan Collins), this reboot will …

Billboard Magazine reports: Guitarist J. Geils, born John Warren Geils Jr., has died at age 71. Geils was found dead in his Groton, Massachusetts, home. He had lived in the town for 35 years. Groton police said officers responded to Geils’ home around 4 p.m. ET Tuesday for a well-being check and found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at …

The Washington Post reports: Al Jarreau, a Grammy Award-winning singer whose versatile tenor voice and vibrant stage style blurred the lines between jazz, soul and pop music, died Feb. 12 at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 76. His publicist, Joe Gordon, announced the death, saying the singer had been treated for exhaustion. The cause was not immediately known. Mr. …

The new Depeche single prompted a Twitter follower to point out that Blondie also has a new single this week. And it’s disco. Squee! Via Official Charts: Blondie are back! The new wave legends are to release their new album later this year. Founded by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, Blondie are now into their fifth decade of recording, and …

The BBC reports: Larry Steinbachek [center in photo], former keyboardist with 1980s synthpop group Bronski Beat, has died at the age of 56. Steinbachek formed the group with Jimmy Somerville and Steve Bronski in 1983 and they had chart success with songs including Smalltown Boy and Why?. Their cover of Donna Summer’s I Feel Love with Marc Almond was also …