“MrZerr0’s Favorite 80s Music”
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #161 July 2024
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0
So having been playing in bands for the last 12 years here in the Twin Cities area it has astounded me that most music fans in this area are firmly stuck in 1988 MTV land. And with the current YouTube generation (unfortunately) including my son, if a song does not have a “Music Video” for the song itself, no one seems to know it. It would seem if there is only an image people tend to not listen to the song, they tend to only watch the ones with an actual video.
I am a little perplexed by this, as music is sound for the ears, not a visual to watch with some background sound, I always thought that was called a film… one thing I grew to dislike about “Music Videos” someone else I did not know was creating a meaning for a song that I liked and as a by product changed what I felt the song was about, usually with something that had absolutely Nothing to do with the lyrics, Another thing I find curious is “The 80s” is mostly remembered for Just “Hair Bands” and people seemed to push aside a lot of other types of music and bands.
Another curious thing I found out in the very first few months when I started in “The Music Biz” way back in 1985, was that people wrongly assume that you are into the very same music they are into. One more thing that has to be addressed 1983 to 1991 was absolutely and undeniably the Cassette Era, no one was really buying vinyl back then and though CDs were introduced in Japan in 1982 CDs did not reach the USA until Late 1985, how do I know, well I was there, if we sold a title guaranteed it was 8 Cassettes and maybe 1 on vinyl and 1 CD, sorry folks that’s just the way it was, whether you like it or not.
I feel I should address something else, I have been writing this “Music Column” for 13 long years (April 2011) playing in bands (again) since Fall 2012, and on WDGY since 2017 and everyday, month after month, year after year, people come up to me and want to talk to me about comic books, sports and video games, somehow totally ignoring the fact that all I am into Music and bands … completely perplexing to me, I do not get it. Anyways here are some of my favorite artists and bands from the 80s, and folks if it’s not on this list … well, quite simply I am not really into that artist. As of yet I have not seen Madonna in concert.
*Prince
Born Prince Rogers Nelson on 7 June 1958 in Minneapolis, MN. passed on 16 April 2016. My 1st real memory of hearing Prince was in English class at West High School the song “I Wanna Be Your Lover” though released in Aug 1979, I am certain I heard it sometime in Spring of 1980. Then in the Fall of 1983 I heard the entire “1999” Cassette while working in Bemidji, MN. and I thought to myself “Wow this is really good even though this is not my usual kind of music” in no particular order some of my favorite songs: “My Name Is Prince” “Bob George” “Dance” “Loose” “17 Days” “The Cross” “When You Were Mine” “Hello” “She’s Always In My Hair” “Anotherloverholenyohead” “Thieves In The Temple” I was able to see Prince twice Dec 1997 in Ames, Iowa and June 2000 in MPLS.
*Madonna
Born on 16 August 1958 in Bay City Michigan. I suppose I found out about Madonna the same way as everybody else on MTV in 1984, however I never cared for those MTV videos, I certainly did not like her look. The 1st song I heard by her that caught my attention was “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” from Nov 1984. I have to say my favorite CDs of her’s are: “True Blue” from June 1986 and “Ray Of Light” from Feb 1998 and then “Bedtime Stories” from Oct 1994.
*Hanoi Rocks
Formed in 1979 in Helsinki Finland. It was my good friend Eric DeW. who turned me onto Hanoi Rocks. I was explaining to him back in 1984, how I was wanting to put together an updated version of New York Dolls, Eric informed me “This already exists, Hanoi Rocks” so I had to check it out. I think I bought “Self Destruction Blues” Aug 1982, “Back To Mystery City” May 1983 and “Two Steps From the Move” Aug 1984, all at the same time. Hands down my 2 favorite CDs are the last two I mentioned. I love this band I have almost everything they’ve ever released including solo material. I saw Michael Monroe and Sam Yaffa in Oct 2011 in St. Paul.
*Skid Row
Formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey. I 1st heard Skid Row’s 1st Cassette in Jan 1989 when it was released at work (RecordShop #67 Valley West Mall) Joe and Rachael played it all the time. I thought it was pretty good though not my kind of music at the time, I did see Skid Row in Ames, Iowa April 1989, and I was blown Away! My favorite CDs by the band are: the 1st release and “Subhuman Race” sorry “Slave To The Grind” June 1991 is last of the original 3. I feel most bands in the early 90s were trying desperately to make their own Metallica “Black Album” And I feel the best song on the CD was left off 1/3 of the releases “Get The F*** Out” I have probably seen Skid Row and Sebastian Bach 7 times or more.
*Faster Pussycat
Formed in 1985 in Los Angeles, CA. again I 1st heard Faster Pussycat at work (RecordShop) the Cassette came in July 1987 and I thought “This looks good” I put it on and loved it! Now I have to say I like the 2nd CD “Wake Me When It’s Over” Aug 1989 the best of the original 3 and “Whipped” Aug 1992, the 2nd best. I have seen Faster Pussycat at least 10 times Starting in June 1990 in Iowa. In fact our RecordShop #66 store in Southridge Mall had an “In Store” with the band. Over 1000 people showed up for this event.
*The Cult
Formed in 1983 in Bradford, England. I was introduced to The Cult by my ex-girlfriend Lisa P. from New York. She was in love with Ian Astbury. Now at the time the “Electric” album was out Apr 1987. Honestly I did not care for this album whatsoever. I hate the production. But then “Sonic Temple” was released in April 1989 and I just love the song “Edie” so I gave the band another listen and it turns out I loved the album “Love” Oct 1985, I even liked “Ceremony” Oct 1991, but still I just could enjoy “Electric”. However in late 2000 I found a bootleg of the “Peace” CD which was the original recordings for “Electric” which sounded closer to the “Love” album, only then could I hear how great the songs really were. Worth mentioning the CD “Beyond Good And Evil” has some great songs too: “Rise” “The Saint” and “American Gothic” back in 2017 the band “Fatal Kaliber” opened for my band “KISSin Time” and they performed “Rise” I was blown away their vocalist Peter H. just nailed it. I have seen The Cult many times, July 2001: MPLS, Oct 2001: MPLS, Nov 200: Maplewood, Aug 201: MPLS and I met Ian Astbury in MPLS in Apr 2004.
*Electric Boys
Formed in 1987 in Stockholm Sweden. Now this band has a unique story for me. I was introduced to the band by a free t-shirt from their record label sometime in 1990. The Label Rep gave me the shirt and I looked at the Logo and thought “Now this is my kind of artwork” so I put on the CD and I was hooked.
*Warrior Soul
Formed in 1987 in New York City. I was turned onto Warrior Soul by a guitar player I used to play with in Des Moines Tim F. he knew of my love for Black Sabbath and he handed me a Cassette “Last Decade Dead Century” April 1990 and said “Check out Lullaby on the 2nd side” Woh, I was blown away, as well as the last song on the Cassette “In Conclusion”
*Saigon Kick
Formed in 1988 in Coral Springs, Florida. I remember their 1st CD Feb 1991 being released, and not thinking very much of it until their 2nd CD was released in June 1992. I heard the song “Freedom” and I was hooked, this band is great. In the mid 2000s I was in touch with Jason Beiler online.
Now of course there are literally hundreds of songs by other artists that I love from the 80s, but usually no more than 1 to 3 by other artists, so I don’t really consider them a favorite, more so just songs that I like by a particular artist or band. I really did cover this in a previous article.
So there you have it folks, MrZerr0’s favorite 80s.
Be sure to catch Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Radi0 Show 2024 on Radi0 WDGY. 8am Sundays. 740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. Since 2017 from St. Paul, MN. You can hear the last 90 Episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com – Podcast. You can Hear Mr. Zer0’s 32 Programs of the “Evolation Show” at www.MixCloud.Com as well as 17 Programs of the “Hits And History Show with Rick Burnette”
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