Revival of the fittest

Something about summertime makes even the most jaded rockers reconsider hibernation and take to the sheds, and a whole slew of musicians who found stardom in the '80s are hitting the road this year to break new material or just play the old hits. From the retro sounds of the Brian Setzer Orchestra to the moody-cool grooves of the Psychedelic Furs, and from the tongue-in-cheek glam metal of Poison to the beatnik beat of the Go-Go's, no less than a dozen Reagan-era tunesmiths are hitting local stages this week.

Go-Go's guitarist and songwriter Jane Wiedlin says she and original bandmates Belinda Carlisle, Kathy Valentine, Charlotte Caffey, and Gina Schock are looking forward to doing it all over again. “There will be three or four new songs,” says Wiedlin, but she insists the hits will be well represented, including her favorite, “Our Lips Are Sealed.” Wiedlin expects performing will be “just like riding a bike” for the friends who began paving the way for future all-girl rock bands in 1978.

The Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler is less worried about the band’s chemistry and more about recreating the dark atmosphere of songs like “Ghost in You” and “Forever Now.” From his home in Cold Springs, New York, he laughs, “We're opening the show in broad daylight, without the benefit of [stage] lighting. And we haven't played live together for nearly 10 years.”

Bret Michaels of Poison, known for his glam metal excess, reports a much cleaner tour this time around. “C.C. and Bobby are completely sober,” he says. “But it's a much better show, with an abundant amount of energy.” Classics like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and new material from Power to the People are part of the set.

While some bands splintered and reformed, Brian Setzer has been steadily focused on vintage rockabilly and swing revival. Setzer, who re-recorded “Rock This Town” for his Grammy-winning Dirty Boogie, has a new album, Vavoom, due out soon. “Now when a song comes out good, I have to write out the big band chart,” he says. “It’s like writing two songs in one.”

Many of the bands had to overcome internal conflict to tour again. Wiedlin credits VH1’s “Behind the Music” with helping the Go-Go’s re-evaluate their dynamics. “We just shouldn't fight any more,” she concludes. Michaels also notes his group never officially broke up, despite drug issues and media scandals.

Butler embraces his band’s English image, noting, “We take American influences and rewrap them and sell them back to the Americans.” Setzer retains his signature look, while Wiedlin pokes fun at the Go-Go's past fashion choices. “I hate looking back and seeing what we were wearing,” she says. “We look pretty damn good.”

All the artists agree that the melodic sensibilities of the '80s still guide their songwriting. Wiedlin sees it as a reaction to overplayed '70s arena rock. Michaels believes Poison succeeded where others failed because “sometimes personality didn’t show up in their music.” Setzer emphasizes that staying ahead of the curve is what keeps him going.

[Editor’s note: This event occurred in the year 2000 and is included here for archival purposes.]

THE GO-GO'S
YOU REMEMBER:
The “Our Lips are Sealed” convertible; skiing in “Vacation”; the Rolling Stone cover; Belinda Carlisle’s trademark dance moves

IN THE MEANTIME
The big catfight/breakup; Belinda’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth” solo career; Jane’s PETA song; VH1’s “Behind the Music”

WHAT'S NEW
The girls will be in the studio this fall recording a new album; new solo release from Wiedlin expected before 2001

ON THE WEB
Official site: www.gogos.com

ON STAGE
Lakewood Amphitheatre, Wednesday, July 19, 2000

THE FURS
YOU REMEMBER:
“Love My Way” in [Valley Girl]; “Pretty in Pink” remade in 1986 for Molly Ringwald; Richard Butler’s MTV spot

IN THE MEANTIME
A break (but no official breakup), two albums from Love Spit Love, including the single “Am I Wrong”

WHAT'S NEW
The original lineup will record loads of Richard Butler classics after the summer tour; greatest hits album (Should God Forget)

ON STAGE
Lakewood Amphitheatre, Wednesday, July 19, 2000

THE B-52s
YOU REMEMBER:
“Rock Lobster”; Ricky Wilson’s death in 1985 from AIDS; the cheesy-FX video for “Legal Tender”; Kate and Cindy’s hairdos

IN THE MEANTIME
Cosmic Thing's “Love Shack” and “Roam”; “Meet the Flintstones” as the BC-52s in 1994; Fred’s solo stuff; tons of gigs

WHAT'S NEW
The band headlined last month’s Pride concert in Piedmont Park and continues its never-ending tour this summer and fall

ON THE WEB
Best fan site: www.b52s.net

ON STAGE
Lakewood Amphitheatre, Wednesday, July 19, 2000

BRIAN SETZER
YOU REMEMBER:
“Stray Cat Strut”; “Sexy + 17”; “Rock This Town”; Setzer’s role as Eddie Cochran in the film La Bamba

IN THE MEANTIME
A re-vamped “Rock This Town” — big-band style; “Jump, Jive and Wail”; the swing dance revolution and GAP commercials

WHAT'S NEW
While 1998’s The Dirty Boogie is still selling well, Setzer’s latest, “Jumping East of Java” from Vavoom is set for release this week

ON THE WEB
Official site: www.briansetzer.com

ON STAGE
Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Wednesday, July 19, 2000

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL
YOU REMEMBER:
1986’s “Desire” playing in the background, as Kevin Bacon dreams up a club scene in [She's Having a Baby]

IN THE MEANTIME
Although the twin brothers (Michael and Jay Aston) parted musical company, a cult following in the goth scene kept the band alive

WHAT'S NEW
Revival tours; The Club '80s Tour

ON THE WEB
Official site: www.genelovesjezebel.net

ON STAGE
The Tabernacle, Saturday, July 15, 2000

WANG CHUNG
YOU REMEMBER:
“Dance Hall Days”; and the '80s anthem and its accompanying video: “Everybody Have Fun Tonight (Everybody Wang Chung Tonight)”

IN THE MEANTIME
1989’s Warmer Side of Cool and a greatest hits package preceded the band’s first breakup in 1990

WHAT'S NEW
Revival tours; The Club '80s Tour

ON THE WEB
Best fan site: www.wangchung.net

ON STAGE
The Tabernacle, Saturday, July 15, 2000

POISON
YOU REMEMBER:
The HAIR; the MAKEUP; “Talk Dirty to Me”; “Look What the Cat Dragged In”; “Nothin’ But a Good Time”; “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”

IN THE MEANTIME
“Something to Believe In”; the Pamela Anderson videotape; C.C. DeVille’s famous rehab session; VH1’s “Behind the Music”; Greatest Hits CD

WHAT'S NEW
New live/studio album Power to the People (2000), featuring all original members and new songs like “I Hate Every Bone in Your Body But Mine”

ON THE WEB
Official sites: www.poisonweb.com, www.bretmichaels.com

ON STAGE
Lakewood Amphitheatre, Tuesday, July 18, 2000

DOKKEN
YOU REMEMBER:
Don Dokken and George Lynch’s head-banging harmonies and manly power ballads; “Dream Warriors” from A Nightmare on Elm Street 3

IN THE MEANTIME
Don Dokken’s solo career and The Lynch Mob from George Lynch; Back in the Streets (1994); Dysfunctional (1995); One Live Night (1996)

WHAT'S NEW
New live album Live From the Sun released in April; the Poison summer tour

ON THE WEB
Official site: www.dokken.net

ON STAGE
Lakewood Amphitheatre, Tuesday, July 18, 2000