+ 5 - 6 | § ¶Brokeback To The Future
You've no doubt seen: Back To The Future...
Maybe you've seen this movie too...?
Now's your chance to see...
Ah, I love this one! Brokeback To The Future is just one of the current batch of spoof posters, films and trailers based on the Oscar-winning gay cowboy romance, Brokeback Mountain. There are a few other decent spoofs around too, several of which have a decidedly '80s theme. These include Brokeback Squadron, based on Top Gun and (one of my favourites), The Empire Brokeback. Daft but strangely compelling 
+ 5 - 5 | § ¶Meanwhile Back in '82 - war and Tight Fit
Back in the spring of 1982... On 26th of March, in Cambridge, the first 'test-tube' twins were born; on 29th of March, the British film, Chariots of Fire won the Oscar for the best movie; tensions in the South Atlantic were escalating when Argentinian scrap metal dealers (no, really, this is true) landed on South Georgia, next to the Falkland Islands, thus starting a train of events which would soon lead to full-scale military action during April when the Argentinian army seized the Falklands on April 2nd and the Britain forces fought and repelled them (the Argentinians eventually surrendered on June 14th).
Meanwhile, in the charts we had hits such as Mickey by Toni Basil and Just an Illusion by Imagination. March started out with The Jam at Number One with A Town Called Malice; they were kicked off the top spot by Tight Fit (The Lion Sleeps Tonight); then, towards the end of the month, The Goombay Dance Band took the top spot with Seven Tears. The first new Number One of April was to be My Camera Never Lies by Bucks Fizz...
ah, they don't make songs like that any more 
+ 6 - 3 | § ¶Indiana Jones all set for a comeback!
At the age of 63, Harrison Ford doesn't seem to have his thoughts set on retirement just yet! It is now confirmed that he will star in a fourth Indiana Jones movie which, once again, will be directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas. The three previous films were amongst the biggest box office hits of the '80s, starting with Raiders Of the Lost Ark in 1982, then Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom in '84 and culminating in the third installment, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in 1989. The script for the new film was approved this week, shooting is expected to start soon and the movie is scheduled to appear in cinemas in May 2007.
+ 7 - 3 | § ¶Roxy Music - back together again!
The last album they released was Avalon in 1982. Now the 'classic' lineup of Roxy Music are back together at long last. Bryan Ferry, Andy MacKay, Phil Manzanera, Paul Thompson - and even Brian Eno (who left the band after making only two albums with them back in the early '70s) are all getting back into the studio to record a new album followed by a European tour. If you've never seen them live before, don't miss this. You may have to wait another 24 years for your next chance....
+ 5 - 5 | § ¶Sex and Obscenity 1982-style
On this day (18th March) in 1982, Mrs Mary Whitehouse decided to withdraw from the legal proceedings which she had initiated against the National Theatre in London. Bizarrely, she claimed that this eminent theatre company was engaging in acts of gross indecency live on stage in a play called The Romans In Britain. Mrs Whitehouse objected to a scene in which a Roman solider attempts to have anal intercourse with a Celt. Thanks to the BBC for reminding me of this strange episode in British theatrical history...
+ 4 - 5 | § ¶Green Door – What’s That Secret You’re Keeping?
Have you ever wondered what was really behind that Green Door in the Shakin’ Stevens Number One hit in the summer of ’81? It turns out the answer is rather interesting…
The Green Door was more than just an invented song lyric – the door really did exist. The song is an extended tease, constantly asking what is behind it but never quite answering the question:
“Midnight, one more night without sleepin'
Watchin' till the mornin' comes creepin'
Green door, what's that secret you're keepin'”
The song tells us there’s a piano playing behind the door and people laughing; but knock as much as he might, they just won’t let ol’ Shaky join the fun…
“Saw an eyeball peepin'
Through a smoky cloud behind the green door
When I said Joe sent me
Someone laughed out loud behind the green door
All I want to do is join the happy crowd behind the green door
Wish they'd let me in
So I could find out what's behind the green door”
It’s really not surprising that they laughed when he said Joe sent him. Joe Meek was the record producer who worked on the original recording of Green Door which was first a hit (Number 2 in the charts) for Frankie Vaughan way back in November of 1956. Joe is best known for his 1962 hit, Telstar (under the name, The Tornados). I’m not certain if the Joe in the song was meant to refer to Joe Meek. If it was then it was done with a certain irony as Joe was gay. Which brings me back to that Green Door…
In real life, the door belonged to The Gateways Club in the Kings Road, Chelsea. This, it turns out, was one of the most famous lesbian meeting places in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. I don’t think either Frankie Vaughan or Shaky would quite have blended in, somehow. The club itself featured in the 1968 film, The Killing Of Sister George, which was one of the first British mainstream films to feature lesbian characters in central roles. The Gateways finally shut its Green Door in 1985. And thus closed a little slice of pop trivia history…
There is even a book all about the club :: From the Closet to the Screen
Is that the actually Green Door I see on the cover?
+ 8 - 3 | § ¶'What a Feeling' new UK tour
'WHAT A FEELING' RETURNS TO THE U.K. STAGE
'What A Feeling' is returning for a major national UK tour for the first time in four years celebrating the very best rock and pop movies and musicals of the 70's, 80's and 90's. The cast includes SINITTA, NOEL SULLIVAN and ZOE BIRKETT who are supported by a full company of dancers and musicians
One of the most memorable female recording artists of the 80's, with a string of catchy hits, SINITTA comes to 'What A Feeling' fresh from a sell-out tour of Japan and is also preparing to release a new album in 2006. We have most recently seen her in ITV1's hit show 'The X-Factor', where she is Simon Cowell's right-hand woman. It's not only the cast of 'What A Feeling' who have a terrific pedigree - the show is being directed by top West End director Gary Lloyd and associate-director, Kim Gavin who have choreographed numerous West End shows and Royal Variety Shows.
'What A Feeling' UK tour runs from 24th March until 1st July, and includes the London Palladium.
+ 7 - 7 | § ¶John Travolta is the new JR Ewing!
...well, maybe?
Is John Travolta going to be wearing JR's white hat?
Keep up to date on the Official Dallas Site.
Hot on the heels of the news that Travolta will be donning big hair and high heels to play the part made famous by cross-dressing Divine in the new movie version of the '80s film, Hairspray, there are now strong rumours that Travolta may soon be donning big hats and high heels (of the macho, cowboy boot variety) to play the part made famous by Larry Hagman in the long-running (1978 to 1991) TV soap, Dallas.
The forthcoming movie of Dallas will bring the story of the scheming oil tycoon Ewing family to the Big Screen. Catherine Zeta Jones has been rumoured to be lined up to play the role of Pam Ewing, Brad Pitt is thought to be a possibility for the part of Ray Krebbs (Pitt actually acted in the TV series, playing 'Randy' - now why was he called that? 
) back in 1988.
We await developments with baited breath...
+ 7 - 4 | § ¶Boy George - from Arrest to Bucharest
Following his recent court case in New York, Boy George got off relatively lightly. At one time there were fears that he may be banged up for a few years inside an American prison after (for reasons which are far from clear) he called police to his luxury Manhattan apartment in the middle of the night where they discovered 13 bags of cocaine! In the event, George was let off with a fine and a metaphorical wrap over the knuckles; the judge sternly warned him not to waste the New York police force's time in the future.
So what, you may wonder, is the Boy planning to do next? Well, dearhearts, it seems he's zipping off to Bucharest to do a show in the Kristal Glam Club (we are grateful to that fountain of Boy George trivia, The Bucharest Times, for this news). We only hope he doesn't make the mistake of waking up any Bucharest policemen in the middle of the night.
+ 8 - 3 | § ¶Twisted Sister UK (and beyond) Summer Tour
Hard rock glam band, Twisted Sister, are taking their show to several venues in Britain, Europe and North America in June and July - from Las Vegas to Manchester, Glasgow, Nottingham, London and beyond... Full details on the Twisted Sister site. Be sure to take some earplugs!
+ 8 - 3 | § ¶OMD Reunion Tour
Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys have confirmed that OMD is getting back together again. One of the UK's top electronic bands in the late '70s and '80s, OMD had a string of hits such Electricity, Messages, Enola Gay, Souvenir and Joan of Arc. Humpreys left the band in 1989 and McCluskey continued alone for a while. The newly reformed OMD will release a new album plus an album of old but previously unreleased tracks. They will record a live TV show in German on March 8th 2006 and will tour the UK in 2007 (dates as yet unconfirmed). Keep up to date with the latest news on the official OMD web site.
+ 3 - 8 | § ¶Depeche Mode to Headline UK Wireless Festival
Depeche Mode have been confirmed as the headline act in London's UK Wireless Festival on Saturday 25th June. Goldfrapp and Bauhaus will also be playing that day. For more information see the Wireless Festival web site.
+ 3 - 7 | § ¶When Vienna was Number 2,What was Number 1?
This very week, back in 1981, Ultravox's epic single, Vienna, was stuck at the number two position in the UK charts. "Wow!" (you are probably thinking to yourself) "If a gem of a song like Vienna was at Number Two, the Number One record must have been a work of superhuman genius...!"
Yes, you are right. The song that kept Ultravox off the top was none other than Joe Dolce's timeless classic: Shaddup You Face!
ah,they don't write 'em like that any more (one hopes :) )
