Of the bands that hit in the 1980s, The Fixx managed to carve out a unique sound and chart success that last through the decade. The Fixx should have enjoyed the massive success of U2, R.E.M., The Police or Bon Jovi. Song for song during the decade, The Fixx matched up with U2, they had … More Phantoms (1984): The Fixx
Released in 1989, the original Poco reformed for an album. This configuration of the band had not played together for nearly 20 years. Jim Messina, Randy Meisner, Richie Furay, George Grantham and Rusty Young accept the offer, recorded an album and went on tour. Then the wheels came off. Poco was formed in 1969 by … More Poco: Legacy (1989)
What could go wrong with material from novelist John Steinbeck, hot movie star Nick Nolte and writer/director David S. Ward? Quite a bit actually. Adapting quirky American fiction for the screen is not easy. Steinbeck is one of America’s classic writers, but rarely the stuff for studios looking for a popcorn film for mass audiences. … More Cannery Row (1982)
Writer/Director Alex Cox has created a mixture of punk sci fi and trashy urban pre-apocalyptic wasteland. The film is populated by oddball characters and the punk rock soundtrack fits the film like a glove. Repo Man is a film with a very loose plot, but many different characters who weave in and out, crisscross and … More Repo Man (1984)
Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and Steve Hackett are the lesser known members of the rock group Genesis. Each was a key member of the band, and each has had a respectable career apart from the group. Steve Hackett Of the three, Steve Hackett has done the most to keep the early Genesis music alive … More Genesis: The Three Other Guys
Joe Dante directed two very entertaining films: The ‘Burbs and Matinee. Light-weight comedies, even silly, but very fine efforts. Dante started in low-budget films, working for Roger Corman, like so many other directors, before moving onto a few projects connected to Steven Spielberg. His biggest career film is probably Gremlins. Dante has often chosen material … More The ‘Burbs / Matinee
Absence of Malice is one of the best films about journalism. It is not an in-depth primer on how to develop a story, rather it explores the ethical side of publishing inaccurate information in pursuit of “the public’s right to know.” The premise of the film concerns what happens when misleading and false information is … More Absence of Malice (1981)
Phil Collins had a rather unlikely solo career. Not just a solo career, a monster career apart from Genesis. Taking over the microphone from Peter Gabriel in 1975 started Collins on this journey. It was just a matter of time until he left Genesis, which spelled the end of the band. The two decades Collins … More Phil Collins solo
Can it really be 30 years? Kevin Costner has a full head of hair, so I guess it can. Field of Dreams is one of those films that gives you chills at certain plot points in the story, when the piano music cues kicks in. Something weird just happened, like the story just folded over … More Field of Dreams: 30 Years Later
Formed in 1980, R.E.M. was one of the first indie or alternative rock bands that benefited from college radio. For me, R.E.M. was a high-speed, trippy folk-rock band. Transformative bands bring a unique sound, they up the game. Fifteen albums, six platinum albums, 90 million albums sold, multiple world tours, Grammy Awards, and a Rock … More R.E.M.
