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Best of Pop 80s – Review of The Decline of Western Civilisation Part II

Best of Pop 80s – Review of The Decline of Western Civilisation Part II

Posted on March 26, 2012 Categories Words

(Originally posted 14/6/2010)

This is a fantastic docoumentary that was recommended to me by one of my rad Twitter friends, Moose73.

It chronicles the rise of metal in the 80s and it is an absolute riot. Directed by Penelope Spheeris (yep – she of Waynes World!) and featuring such legends as Steve and Joe from Aerosmith, Alice Cooper and Ozzy, it also shows the other side of the story – the bands that haven’t made it yet, and the bands that will never make it.

Penelope Spheeris

The interviews are honest and revealing. I love how open (and intoxicated) most of the guys are – you get a very spot-on idea of what the scene was really like. I have to say Miss Spheeris is a bit annoying as an interviewer in a couple of spots, but she does manage to get some amazing quotes from the bands.

To touch on a seedier side, in researching the doco I read that some of the scenes were faked, such as a scene where Ozzy accidentally spills orange juice all over his table, insinuating that he is so plastered he can’t hold the bottle properly. This reportedly was filmed using someone else’s hand after the fact. There is also a legendary scene with Chris Holmes from W.A.S.P., where he tips a bottle of vodka over his head – apparently the bottle was empty and the production crew filled it with water before filming. This is not cool – and also not necessary. The film is that good, it doesn’t NEED the faked scenes to make it better, it stands well enough on its own and they only serve to take some of the sheen off the whole thing.

 

Chris Holmes of W.A.S.P.

Regardless of this, the film is captivating and buckets of fun to watch, with so many stand out scenes. There’s Chris Holmes talking about how he is a piece of crap while swimming fully clothed in his pool with his mother sitting next to him. The lead singer from Odin talking about how he might as well be dead if the band doesn’t make it (it didn’t). The boys from the Cat Club talking about how they opened the legendary venue as a place to pull girls.

I recommend this as a really good watch, and (even with the faked bits) a very important piece of 80s music history.

 

 

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Best of Pop 80s

Posted on March 23, 2012 Categories Videos, Words

I’ve got something a little different in store for you all in the coming weeks – from Monday I’ll be digging up some of my favorite posts since I started Pop 80s exactly 2 years previous (to the day!). I’ve had so much fun and I’m glad to have such a huge number of awesome readers tuning in every week, especially those who take the time to email me or hit me up on Twitter. You’re all awesome! I hope you’ll join me next week to look back at some of the best days of Pop 80s! Until then, here’s a random video…

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FEAS1014-2

80s Fashion – 80s Shirts

Posted on March 17, 2012 Categories Pictures, Words

Who doesn’t love a rad 80s Shirt? It is my aim to one day be in a position in my life where all I ever have to wear is pajamas and 80s shirts! But until then, I’ll just supplement my wardrobe with them. And you can too! Crazy Dog T-Shirts have a seriously cool range of 80s-inspired designs to choose from (I’m having trouble deciding on one – you’ll likely have the same problem!). Check out some of theme below. And, just as the icing on the cake, they’ve offered a discount for Pop 80s readers! Just enter the codeword SLAINTE at checkout to receive $5 off. Go go go now!

 

 

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49mtkindle

80s Book Review – 49 Mix Tapes by Jeff Tompkins

Posted on March 5, 2012 Categories Words

I don’t know what it is about high school stories, but they always get me – I love them! I love any teen movie, TV show or book. So when I sat down to read 49 Mix Tapes by Jeff Tompkins I already had a feeling that I would enjoy it.

The novel tells the story of main character Will’s high school journey, set against the backdrop of 80s movies, music and ideals. The story joins Will on his first day of high school and follows him as he experiences the highs and lows of friends, girlfriends, school and adolescence in general. Will is also in love with his best friend, Belinda Carlisle look-alike Abby, who is adamant they are just friends and nothing more. Do they end up together in the end? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

Because I am so unashamedly 80s and high school obsessed, I devoured this book and its many period-accurate details. The hair and clothes are right. The music is right. But most importantly, Tompkins has managed to capture the attitude of youth in the 80s. Will is the sort of hero you will naturally root for, the kind of awkward but introspective teen I think a lot of us can relate to (male or female). The lovely Abby is sharp as a tack, but of course completely oblivious to what is right in front of her – if you’re like me you’ll want to reach into the book and shake some sense into her! Will and Abby’s social circle is fun and a good secondary cast to support the main characters.

In general, the whole story should leave you with a case of the warm and fuzzies. This is a fantastic 80s book that I highly recommend, and I hope Jeff Tompkins will choose to revisit the decade in another book soon!

You can pick up a copy at Amazon (Kindle ebook or paperback) and Barnes & Noble (Nook ebook)

And, since it was so great, for my fellow 80s lovers I have a copy of the book to give away! Just sign up for the 80s Time Machine to enter (and to be automatically entered into all future competitions).

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raidersofthelostark

80s Movie Month – Top 5 Biggest Earning Films of the Decade

Posted on March 2, 2012 Categories Videos, Words

Here we are, the final day of 80s Movie Month! I hope you’ve had as much fun as I have revisiting some of the best, worst and weirdest the decade had to offer. To finish our look at 80s movies, today’s Top 5 will be counting down the biggest earning films of the decade. With some serious blockbusters released in the 80s, can you guess what made the Top 5? Read on to find out!

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oscar

80s Movie Month – The Academy Awards

Posted on February 28, 2012 Categories Words

In a strange coincidence which I totally didn’t plan, today was the 2012 Academy Awards – and today’s post is about the Oscars in the 80s! While the stars and the movies might have changed, the Oscars back then still definitely had all the glitz and glamor that you could want.

One thing that I’ll give to the Oscars is that they do give the big awards to relative newcomers, if it is deserved. All of the following names are irrevocably household today, but back then some of them were only just starting out – these are some of the Best Actor and Actress winners from the decade:

Robert De Niro, Henry Fonda, Robert Duvall, William Hurt, Dustin Hoffman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Newman, Michael Douglas, Sissy Spacek, Katherine Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Sally Field, Cher, Jodie Foster.

The directors that took out the big award during the decade are no less impressive – think Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, Richard Attenborough, Sydney Pollack and Oliver Stone (twice).

With such an amazing pool of talent, there were so so many brilliant, successful and critically acclaimed films that came out in the 80s. While we all have different tastes and could debate the best  until the cows come home, there were ten standouts that beat every other film to take out Best Picture during the decade. How many of the winners have you seen?

1981 – Ordinary People
1982 – Chariots of Fire
1983 – Gandhi
1984 – Terms of Endearment
1985 – Amadeus
1986 – Out of Africa
1987 – Platoon
1988 – The Last Emperor
1989 – Rain Man
1990 – Driving Miss Daisy

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