Stuck in the '80s Podcast

Punk rock was never supposed to grow old. But somehow, Sid and Nancy just turned 40. Released in American theaters on November 7, 1986, director Alex Cox's unforgettable film chronicled the chaotic, drug-fueled relationship between Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. And it introduced many moviegoers to a young actor named Gary Oldman, whose astonishing performance helped launch a career that would eventually include an Academy Award, a knighthood and his brilliant current role in Slow Horses. To celebrate the film's 40th anniversary, we're digging deep into the Stuck in the ’80s archives for Episode 89, originally recorded in 2007. Join Steve Spears and former co-host Cathy Wos as they revisit one of the decade's darkest cult classics. Along the way, Cathy recalls her teenage obsession with the movie and explains why her first car was nicknamed the "Sidmobile." Spearsy remembers his own punk rock adventures playing Sex Pistols songs with his Tampa Bay band, Epic Trash. We also explore the film's incredible soundtrack, debate Gary Oldman's greatest performances, discuss the tragic real-life story behind the movie and reveal which future pop superstar nearly played Nancy Spungen. It's a wonderfully vintage episode of Stuck in the ’80s, complete with some classic segments, listener mail and the kind of irreverent banter that helped get this whole podcast started more than two decades ago. JOIN US ON THE 80s CRUISE! Want to relive the music, memories and magic of our favorite decade? Join Stuck in the ’80s aboard The 80s Cruise in 2027! We'll be back for another incredible voyage featuring legendary performers, themed parties, celebrity experiences and plenty of '80s trivia hosted by yours truly. Get all the details at The80sCruise.com. SUPPORT STUCK IN THE ’80s Help us keep the '80s alive by joining our Patreon family! You'll get access to ad-free episodes, exclusive content and special opportunities to hang out with your favorite podcast hosts. Join us at Patreon.com/Stuckinthe80s. And stay tuned! Spearsy and Brad are working on a brand-new episode that should be coming your way next weekend. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before he was Batman, before he was Beetlejuice, Michael Keaton was one of the funniest guys in Hollywood. This week, we're opening the Stuck in the '80s vault and traveling back 20 years to July 2006, when we devoted an episode to the man who gave us unforgettable performances in Night Shift, Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously and Gung Ho. Of course, Keaton's career took a couple of spectacular turns toward the end of the decade. First came his gloriously unhinged performance in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice in 1988. Then, in 1989, he silenced the skeptics who couldn't imagine a comedy star playing the Dark Knight in Batman. Not bad for a guy who once had to figure out how to operate a washing machine in Mr. Mom. Join us for this classic episode from July 20, 2006, as we revisit the early days of Stuck in the '80s and celebrate one of our favorite actors of the decade. JOIN US ON THE 80s CRUISE! Want to relive the music, memories and magic of our favorite decade? Join Stuck in the '80s aboard The 80s Cruise in 2027, featuring incredible live performances, celebrity experiences, themed parties and plenty of '80s trivia hosted by yours truly. Get all the details at The80sCruise.com. SUPPORT STUCK IN THE '80s Help us keep the '80s alive by joining our Patreon family. You'll get access to exclusive content, ad-free episodes and special opportunities to hang out with your favorite podcast hosts. Join us at Patreon.com/Stuckinthe80s. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Forget Dracula's castle. In 1987, vampires moved to California, traded their capes for leather jackets and apparently spent a considerable amount of time at the hair salon. Welcome back to The Lost Boys. Just in time for Halloween, we're digging into the Stuck in the ’80s archives for a classic episode from 2011, featuring your hosts Steve Spears and Sean Daly. This time, we're revisiting one of the most gloriously ’80s horror movies ever made. Directed by Joel Schumacher, The Lost Boys brought together Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest and a terrific supporting cast for a vampire adventure that was equal parts horror, comedy and teenage rebellion. It also gave us one of the decade's most memorable soundtracks, featuring INXS, Echo & the Bunnymen, Roger Daltrey and Tim Cappello — the shirtless, saxophone-wielding musical legend who made "I Still Believe" an unforgettable part of the movie. In this vintage episode, Steve and Sean revisit the movie's characters, music, memorable moments and enduring appeal. Why has The Lost Boys remained such a beloved piece of ’80s pop culture? And how did a movie about teenage vampires manage to make bloodsucking look so ridiculously cool? So grab your garlic, sharpen those wooden stakes and join us for a trip back to Santa Carla. Just remember: Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. Come Sail Away With Us on The ’80s Cruise! Want to celebrate the greatest decade of pop culture with thousands of fellow ’80s fans? Join the Stuck in the ’80s crew aboard The ’80s Cruise, the ultimate vacation for anyone who still believes the music, movies and memories of our favorite decade deserve one more encore. We'll be there hosting trivia, recording live podcasts, introducing performers and generally behaving like people who probably shouldn't be trusted with a microphone. Visit The80sCruise.com for information about the upcoming voyage, including the lineup, itinerary and cabin availability. Support Stuck in the ’80s Love the podcast? Join our Patreon family for ad-free episodes, exclusive content, special events and more. Your support helps keep our little corner of the ’80s alive and kicking. Visit Patreon.com/Stuckinthe80s to join the fun. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some songs become hits. Others become history. And then there's "Video Killed the Radio Star," a song that practically announced the arrival of the 1980s. This week on Stuck in the '80s, we welcome Bruce Woolley, the songwriter who co-wrote that iconic tune with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes before The Buggles turned it into a worldwide hit. Of course, the song earned an even bigger place in pop culture history when MTV chose it as the first music video to air on the network on Aug. 1, 1981. But there's much more to Woolley's story than one unforgettable song. Bruce takes us back to the early days of "Video Killed the Radio Star," including its creation at his apartment piano, the different approaches he and The Buggles took to recording it, and the unexpected journey from songwriting experiment to new wave immortality. We also explore his time fronting Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club, a band whose lineup included a young Thomas Dolby, years before "She Blinded Me with Science" made him a household name. Along the way, Bruce shares stories about working with Horn and Downes, the arrival of new technology in popular music, and what it was like to help create a song that would become a symbol of an entire musical revolution. It's a fascinating conversation with one of the unsung architects of the '80s — a musician whose work helped shape the sound of a decade before the decade had even begun. The 80s Cruise: Want to relive the decade with us? Join Stuck in the '80s aboard The 80s Cruise! Visit The80sCruise.com and use promo code STUCK when booking to receive a $250 cabin credit. Support the podcast: Join our Patreon community for bonus content, ad-free episodes and more ways to celebrate the decade we refuse to leave behind. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Twenty years ago, Stuck in the ’80s was still the new kid on the podcast block. There were no smartphones recording everything, social media was barely a thing, and somehow people were willing to give three podcasters backstage access. What could possibly go wrong? For this week’s episode, we’re opening the archives and heading back to 2006 for one of our earliest adventures: the “We Are the ’80s” concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida. The lineup was basically an ’80s radio station brought to life: Rick Springfield, Loverboy, Eddie Money, and Patti Smyth with Scandal were among the artists taking the stage that night. And before the music started, Sean Daly, Cathy Wos and Spearsy headed backstage with microphones in hand to interview some of the performers. Listening to it two decades later is a little like finding an old cassette in a box you forgot you had. The sound, the energy and—yes—the hosts are all a bit younger, but the mission of Stuck in the ’80s was already taking shape: celebrate the music and artists we loved, ask the questions fans actually wanted answered, and occasionally act amazed that anyone let us backstage in the first place. So join us for this 20th-anniversary replay from 2006 and a trip back to the very early days of Stuck in the ’80s. Come sail away with us! Stuck in the ’80s will be back aboard The 80s Cruise in 2027 for another week of music, memories and glorious ’80s excess. Use promo code STUCK when booking and receive $250 in onboard credit per cabin. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Few synth-pop songs from the late ’80s have enjoyed a second life quite like When in Rome’s “The Promise.” Released in 1988, the song became the band’s signature hit, but its story didn’t end there. Years later, a memorable appearance at the end of Napoleon Dynamite introduced “The Promise” to a whole new generation and helped turn it into one of those ’80s songs that seems to keep finding new fans. This week on Stuck in the ’80s, Steve talks with Andrew Mann of When in Rome about the band’s beginnings, the creation and lasting appeal of “The Promise,” and the unusual journey that took him from writing poetry in Manchester to fronting a synth-pop band. Andrew also looks back at When in Rome’s self-titled debut album, the band’s connection with American audiences and the twists and turns that followed its original run. And this isn’t just a conversation about the past. When in Rome is once again making new music, including the single “Human Nature,” with a new album, Illumination, on the way. It’s a conversation about one unforgettable song, an unexpected second act and what happens when a band associated with one particular moment in the ’80s discovers the story still isn’t finished. Ready to take your ’80s obsession to sea? Join Stuck in the ’80s aboard The 80s Cruise, packed with live music, celebrity guests, trivia, theme nights and thousands of fellow ’80s fans. Use promo code STUCK when booking to receive $250 in onboard credit per cabin. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some episodes of Stuck in the ’80s are harder to record than others. This week, Steve goes solo to remember Pete Byrne, the unmistakable voice of Naked Eyes, who has passed away at age 74. For millions of music fans, Pete will always be remembered for the synth-pop classics "Always Something There to Remind Me" and "Promises, Promises." But for Steve, Pete was much more than the voice behind two of the decade's most beloved songs. An interview during the early days of Stuck in the ’80s grew into a friendship, one of the unexpected gifts of hosting this podcast for more than two decades. In this special tribute, Steve revisits that original conversation with Pete, celebrating the music, memories and friendship of a man whose voice helped define the sound of the ’80s. Rest easy, Pete. There will always be something there to remind us of you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if you were 16 years old in the summer of 1985, armed with little more than a Sony Walkman, a few cassette tapes and the belief that somehow — some way — you had to make it to Live Aid? That’s the idea at the heart of Live Aid Runaways, the new novel by Shane Robitaille. Shane joins the podcast along with researcher Livi Stanford to take us behind the scenes of a story that mixes fictional characters with one of the most unforgettable real-life events of the decade. The novel follows teenagers Nick Stark and Stacy Rivera as they make their way toward Philadelphia and JFK Stadium, where Live Aid would bring together some of the biggest names in music on July 13, 1985. But getting the details right required more than simply firing up an old Live Aid video. Shane and Livi talk with us about the extensive research behind the book, including conversations with fans, broadcasters, performers and others who helped recreate not only what happened onstage, but what it actually felt like to experience that remarkable day. We also talk about why Live Aid still holds such a powerful place in Gen X memory, the challenge of weaving real history into fiction, the music that helped shape the characters and the strange joy of returning to 1985 — at least for a few hundred pages. Frankly, if someone could turn Live Aid Runaways into an actual time machine, we’d happily pack a Walkman and climb aboard. COME SAIL WITH STUCK IN THE ’80s Want even more ’80s nostalgia — only this time with an ocean view? Join us aboard The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of the decade we refuse to leave behind. Stuck in the ’80s will once again be part of the fun, with live podcasts, trivia and plenty of opportunities to celebrate the music, movies and pop culture that made the decade unforgettable. When you book, use promo code STUCK and receive $250 in onboard credit per cabin. Find out more at The80sCruise.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There really was nobody else quite like Dolly Parton. In this special episode of Stuck in the ’80s, we remember Dolly — the songwriter, singer, actress, entrepreneur and wonderfully funny human being who somehow became a national treasure without ever seeming like she was trying to be one. Joining us is longtime friend of the show Annie Zaleski, music journalist and author of the new book Dolly Parton: The Stories Behind the Songs. Annie takes us inside Dolly’s extraordinary songbook, from the classics everybody knows to the deeper cuts that reveal just how gifted a songwriter she really was. Of course, we spend plenty of time in our favorite decade, when Dolly became a full-fledged pop-culture superstar thanks to 9 to 5, “Islands in the Stream,” The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, “Real Love” and a run of music and movies that made her seemingly impossible to avoid — not that anybody particularly wanted to. But this episode is about more than the hits. It’s about what made Dolly different, why her music connected with so many people, the humor and humanity behind the rhinestones, and the enormous legacy she leaves behind. Join us as we celebrate the life, songs and stories of Dolly Parton. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some ’80s bands sold millions of records. Some filled arenas. Some became so permanently embedded in pop culture that you can’t walk through a grocery store without hearing them over the frozen peas. And then there are the bands that somehow found us anyway. This week on Stuck in the ’80s, we’re celebrating Book of Love and a handful of other synth-pop bands that deserved a little more attention the first time around — and whose music might sound even better today. Our centerpiece is a conversation with Book of Love singer Susan Ottaviano. Book of Love arrived in the mid-’80s with a sound that never fit comfortably into one box. Were they synth-pop? New wave? Alternative? Dance? College rock? Maybe the fact that nobody could quite figure that out is one reason the music has aged so well. Susan talks with Spearsy about the band’s beginnings, the influence of groups such as The Cure and The Slits, the importance of New York’s music and art scene, and what Book of Love learned when they suddenly found themselves touring with Depeche Mode. There’s also a fascinating discussion about what happens to music decades after its original release. Songs get rediscovered. Movies and streaming introduce bands to people who weren’t alive the first time around. Music that once sounded like it belonged to a very specific moment can suddenly sound contemporary again. And then comes our favorite question: the Podcast Time Machine. If Susan could go back and change one moment in Book of Love history, what would she do? Her answer: Get a better lawyer. Ouch. She also considers another tantalizing bit of alternate ’80s history: What might have happened if Book of Love had ended up on Mute Records, the label famously associated with Depeche Mode? Susan also gives us an update on Book of Love’s future. This could be the band’s final full tour, although she says the group still plans to make more music. After the interview, Brad and Spearsy keep the synthesizers plugged in for five more bands from the second half of the ’80s that they wish more people had discovered. There’s Canada’s Kon Kan, whose “I Beg Your Pardon” brilliantly repurposed Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden” for the dance floor. Germany gives us Cetu Javu and Camouflage, two bands that inevitably drew comparisons to Depeche Mode. Australia contributes Boxcar, who had the unenviable task of bringing electronic music into a guitar-heavy pub-rock scene. And finally there’s Red Flag, whose story begins with brothers Chris and Mark Reynolds and takes a much sadder turn in the years that followed. Maybe that’s part of the fun of being Stuck in the ’80s after all these years. There are still bands to rediscover, songs that deserve another spin and stories we somehow missed the first time around. So dust off the synthesizer, apply an unreasonable amount of reverb and join us for Book of Love — and five more synth-pop bands we wish we’d heard more from. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.