Tag Archives: the 80s

ABC News reports: Irene Cara, the Oscar-winning singer of the title tracks to “Fame” and “Flashdance,” has died at age 63, her publicist announced late Friday. Cara died in her Florida home of an undisclosed cause. Cara was trained in music, dance and acting as a child and appeared on stage and on television, including appearances on PBS and on …

Salon reports: “Growing Pains” star Kirk Cameron is making it clear that he’s not a fan of America’s public schools, echoing many far-right talking points when it comes to the dangers of teaching about equality, spinning it as dangerous indoctrination. “The problem is that public school systems have become so bad. It’s sad to say they’re doing more for grooming, …

CBS News reports: John Hinckley Jr., the man who shot and nearly killed President Ronald Reagan in 1981, is set to be unconditionally released from court-ordered psychiatric supervision on June 15, after federal prosecutors, mental health professionals and Hinckley’s legal team told a judge on Wednesday that they have no concerns about his mental state. Hinckley, now 67, shot at …

The Guardian reports: Andrew Fletcher, keyboardist and founding member of British electronic band Depeche Mode, has died aged 60.  Formed in Basildon in the late 1970s, the band has had 14 top ten studio albums in the UK, and international chart success with songs including Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus and Just Can’t Get Enough. In the late 1970s he …

Pitchfork reports: Talking Heads’ Tina Weymouth is currently recovering from injuries she sustained during a car accident, as her husband and bandmate Chris Frantz revealed in a Facebook post today (March 27). According to the post, Frantz was driving his vehicle on Post Road, U.S. Route 1 when it was “struck head on by a drunk driver who was driving …

CBS News reports: Actor and comedian Bob Saget died from head trauma, his family said Wednesday. Saget was 65 when he died last month. In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, the “Full House” star’s family said he “accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep.” Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved. …

Yahoo Entertainment reports: Bob Saget, who played Full House dad Danny Tanner, has died. He was 65. “We are devastated to confirm that our beloved Bob passed away today,” the Saget family said in a statement obtained by Yahoo Entertainment on Sunday. At just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, Orange County, Fla., Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to the Ritz-Carlton …

The BBC reports: Steve Bronski, co-founder and keyboard player in 1980s pop group Bronski Beat, has died at the age of 61. Bronski, from Glasgow, was born Steve Forrest and formed the group in 1983 with singer Jimmy Somerville and fellow-musician Larry Steinbachek. They enjoyed UK top 10 hits with the gay anthem Smalltown Boy, Why? and a cover of …

The BBC reports: Abba singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad has said “don’t be too sure” that their comeback album Voyage is their last, in her first interview about the reunion. The Swedish superstars released the LP, their first for 40 years, on Friday. It is on course to be the fastest-selling album of the year so far and outsold the rest of …

Yahoo Entertainment reports: John Davis, one of the true vocal talents behind the legendary band Milli Vanilli, died on May 24 from COVID-19. He was 66. Davis’ daughter Jasmin confirmed the news with a post on her dad’s official Facebook on May 24, sharing a video of one of his personal performances. The German-French band, created by music producer Frank …

TMZ reports: Dustin Diamond — best known for playing the lovable Samuel “Screech” Powers on the hit NBC sitcom, “Saved by the Bell” — has died, TMZ has learned. A rep for Dustin tells us he died Monday morning. His condition had greatly declined since last week, and he was taken off of breathing machines in an attempt to get …

From Glenn Beck’s The Blaze: Antonio Sabato Jr. — an American actor who was blacklisted by Hollywood over his support for President Trump — is teaming up with other conservative entertainment figures to launch a pro-America film studio and make movies that “support our country.” The 48-year-old actor detailed the launch of ConFlix Studios, saying that conservatives in America have …

The Independent reports: Over 2,300 people have pledged to show up to an “egg-throwing contest” on the same day as the unveiling of a statue of Margaret Thatcher in her hometown of Grantham. The £300,000 bronze statue of the controversial former prime minister will be placed on a 10ft-high plinth due to fears about vandalism, making the entire sculpture over …

From the Hollywood Reporter: Diahann Carroll, the captivating singer and actress who came from the Bronx to win a Tony Award, receive an Oscar nomination and make television history with her turns on Julia and Dynasty, died Friday. She was 84. Carroll died at her home in Los Angeles after a long bout with cancer, her daughter, producer-journalist Suzanne Kay, …

The Associated Press reports: Ric Ocasek, The Cars frontman whose deadpan vocal delivery and lanky, sunglassed look defined a rock era with chart-topping hits like “Just What I Needed,” was discovered dead Sunday afternoon in his Manhattan apartment. The New York Police Department said that officers found the 75-year-old Ocasek at about 4 p.m. after responding to a 911 call. …

The Wrap reports: Musician Eddie Money died Friday following a battle with Stage 4 esophageal cancer, TheWrap has learned. He was 70. His family said in a statement: “The Money Family regrets to announce that Eddie passed away peacefully early this morning. It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving husband and father. We cannot imagine …

USA Today reports: You don’t need bells and whistles when you have a voice like Freddie Mercury’s. That’s what singer/producer Dave Clark realized in 1985, when he met the larger-than-life Queen front man at London’s Abbey Road Studios to record “Time,” the title track from his sci-fi rock musical. Mercury sang a version of the song for the show’s concept …

The Guardian reports: Three Michael Jackson fan groups are suing his alleged victims in France for “sullying his memory” by taking part in the Leaving Neverland documentary, the fans’ lawyer told Agence France-Presse on Friday. The Michael Jackson Community – which claims to be the “official fan club forum” – and the MJ Street and On The Line groups accuse …

Variety reports: Jan-Michael Vincent, best known for playing the lead role in the 1980s CBS series “Airwolf,” died on Feb. 10 after suffering cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by several outlets. His death, first reported by TMZ, has only now come to light. He was 73. His image as a baby-faced blonde heartthrob was at odds with …

The New York Daily News reports: Grammy-winning singer and songwriter James Ingram, who topped the charts with hits like “Baby, Come to Me” and “Somewhere Out There,” has died, according to his close friend, actress Debbie Allen. The musician was 66. TMZ reports Ingram died after a battle with brain cancer. Ingram was nominated for a whopping 14 Grammys and …