Roxette: Truly a Joyride
Roxette was formed in 1986 as a Swedish pop rock duo, consisting of Marie Fredriksson (vocals and keyboards) and Per Gessle (vocals and guitar). Both artists had very successful solo careers in Sweden but joining forces as a combined unit made them international stars. They first met in 1981, when Fredriksson performed as a background …
Empire Records: A Retro Review
“Empire Records” is one of those quirky 90s films where in a single day, in one music store, every conceivable thing happens to every conceivable character, and at the end of the day, they are all a lot wiser. Or supposedly so. The characters all work at Empire Records, located in a fictional small town …
This is Spinal Tap: A Retro Review
The “mockumentary,” This Is Spinal Tap, is considered to be one of the funniest movies ever made. While it’s about a lot of obscure, abstract things, the main thing is the way the real story is not in the questions or the answers, but what is continuously and hilariously occurring in the background. The movie …
Carole King: Still Making the Earth Move
Carole King is, undeniably, one of the most successful female songwriters of the latter half of the 20th century in the US, having written or co-written 118+ pop songs that have charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, she also wrote 61 hits that charted in the UK, making her the most successful female songwriter …
Fictional Band Movies: Retro Review of Velvet Goldmine and Still Crazy
What do the rock movies Velvet Goldmine and Still Crazy have in common, other than great music? Both are British in nature, both are heavily music oriented, and both are fictional… Or are they? Velvet Goldmine Velvet Goldmine is primarily about androgenous glam rock icon Brian Slade, who sets 1970s London on fire with his …
Julian Lennon: Truly His Own Man
John Charles Julian Lennon, also known as Jules, is so much more than just the eldest son of Beatle, John Lennon, and former first wife, Cynthia Powell. He is also a very accomplished singer, songwriter and musician, and an amazing photographer, among many other things. Named after John’s deceased mother Julia, Julian is also an …
Grease: Retro Movie Review
Grease: Retro Movie Review Grease was the word when this movie came out in 1978, and the word is still alive and well today. Numerous re-releases of the movie, and 70s kids becoming first parents, and now grandparents have ensured that, by indoctrination of the each follow on generation that the movie remains an icon. …
Commodores: Still Sailin’ On
Funk and soul band, Commodores, were first formed in 1968 at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) from two former student music groups, the Mystics and the Jays. The new six-man band featured Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, and William King from the Mystics … Richie later described some members of the Mystics as “jazz buffs;” and …
Poison: Still Nothin’ But A Good Time
Since the 80’s, Poison has given us “nothing but a good time,” and served up some hard driving rock & roll as well. The band, initially named Paris, was formed in 1979, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and consisted of lead vocalist, Bret Michaels, and drummer, Rikki Rockett, who were childhood friends, as well as bassist, Bobby …
That Thing You Do: Retro Review
That Thing You Do is the story of a young band of Beatle-like clones, who stumble upon a hit single. Before long, the wide-eyed Wonders find themselves on the radio, touring state fairs, in a cheesy beach movie and on a popular TV show—all on the strength of one song. But what a song! In …