Tag Archives: the 80s

Prince protege Vanity, whose bawdy chart-topping 1982 single Nasty Girl dissed any lover who didn’t have “seven inches or more,” has died at the age of 57. Vanity (real name Denise Matthews) had long battled kidney ailments stemming from her descent into crack cocaine addiction in the early 90s. Following a successful stint in rehab, she became a born again …

And yet another one. Rolling Stone reports: Earth, Wind and Fire vocalist and co-founder Maurice White died in his sleep in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening. A rep for the band confirmed his passing to Rolling Stone. He was 74. The singer had been battling Parkinson’s disease since 1992, according to TMZ. His health had reportedly deteriorated in recent months. …

Via Flavorwire: The corner of Read and Tyson Streets in Baltimore will forever bear the glorious ghost of an iconically filthy moment: Divine (aka Harris Glenn Milstead), as Babs Johnson in John Waters’ Pink Flamingos, asserting her status as the “Filthiest Person Alive” by watching as a dog poops, approaching the poop, and then eating the poop.Soon — Kickstarter gods …

According to just declassified British documents, Margaret Thatcher opposed an early HIV awareness campaign because people would learn that anal sex is a thing. Via the Independent: Documents released by the National Archives show that the then health secretary Norman Fowler proposed in February 1986 to publish full-page adverts in national newspapers explaining that unprotected anal intercourse carried one of …

ABC News reports: Mark your calendars, because Netflix’s “Fuller House” finally has a release date. Netflix released the first teaser trailer for the “Full House” reboot as well as details about the show’s storyline. According to a Netflix press release out today, “Fuller House” will star Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, and Andrea Barber, who are all reviving their roles …

Yes. Squeeze. Via Pop Matters: Legendary English pop band Squeeze released a new album, Cradle to the Grave, on November 27th and it’s their highest charting UK release to date, entering the charts at #12. Just goes to show that pop masters’ talents never dim and the record displays the band’s patented combination of memorable melodies and clever lyrics. “Cradle …

NBC is reviving the glitzy 80s detective show Hart To Hart but with a gay couple as its leads. Deadline has more: Written by Christopher Fife (Revenge, Private Practice), based on the Sidney Sheldon-created original, the new Hart To Hart is described as a modern and sexy retelling of the classic series that focuses on “by the book” attorney Jonathan …

Two weeks ago we got the audio clip and today we get the production video. The Guardian reviews: Directed by Spanish filmmakers NYSU, whose past credits include work with Wild Beasts and Philip Selway of Radiohead, the video centres on a 21st-century revamp of the legend of Excalibur. The ancient tale’s sword remains, but its medieval theme is threaded through …

TMZ reports: Wrestling legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper has died at the age of 61 … TMZ Sports has learned. Piper — born Roderick George Toombs — died from cardiac arrest in his sleep at his home in Hollywood on Thursday night. He was discovered on Friday. Piper was a wrestling icon — one of the biggest stars in the WWE …

Veteran music journalist Barry Walters has penned a fascinating look back at Manhattan’s much-storied Saint nightclub. It begins: From September 1980 to May 1988, The Saint defined gay nightlife in New York during its most tumultuous and literally plagued decade. Conceived by off-Broadway impresario Mailman, who had just scored a runaway success with The New St. Marks Baths, The Saint …

Rolling Stone reports: New Order will release their first album in 10 years when the dance icons return with their new LP Music Complete on September 25th. The band’s 10th studio album, their first since 2005’s Waiting for the Sirens’ Call, will also mark New Order’s first full-length release without longtime bassist Peter Hook, who left the group in 2007. …

Killers frontman Brandon Flowers is probably the most famous Mormon in pop music and he and his family are featured in a video on the LDS website. While he’s known to be gay-friendly, Flowers said little during the Prop 8 fracas. It will be interesting to hear his take on what is arguably the most famous gay anthem of all …

Via the Los Angeles Times: More than 20 years after Chic’s last album, the titans of disco and forefathers of today’s dance music have a brand new single. Billed as Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, the new song “Ill Be There” is a revival of an old sound while still sounding completely contemporary. It’s based on tracks Rodgers originally recorded with …

Stereogum recaps: Mark Mothersbaugh was born legally blind. It wasn’t until he was in second grade that he was finally diagnosed with myopia and got his first pair of glasses. In a new animated video made for Google Play, the DEVO member narrates how his discovery of the world led him to want to become an artist. Then, he recounts …

Jimmy Somerville’s disco tribute album Homage will be released on Tuesday and today we get the first production video. I interviewed Somerville back in November and you can check out a great fan video from album’s glorious first single, Travesty.

Via BBC News: Steve Strange, lead singer of 1980s pop band Visage, has died aged 55 following a heart attack, his record label says. The Welsh New Romantic icon – best known for the hit Fade To Grey – died in hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Record label boss Marc Green said his “family, band members and friends are all …

Quite the odd turn at the end. Naughty language!

Motown legend Jimmy Ruffin, whose 1980 smash Hold On To My Love helped usher out an era of gay nightlife, has died at the age of 78. Via the Detroit Free Press: Ruffin, whose poignant “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” is regarded by many as one of Motown’s greatest works, died Monday afternoon in a Las Vegas hospital. A Mississippi …

From Visage frontman Steve Strange: Founding fathers of the New Romantics and pioneers of the 80s sound Visage, return with a new album “Orchestral” in Winter 2014. In March 2014 Visage were asked to perform at the closing ceremony of the World Ski Jumping Championships in Prague. Sensing an opportunity for grandeur, Steve Strange – the illustrious leader of Visage …