’80s Metal Music Throwdown: UK vs US
September 15, 2008
Metal hit its commercial peak in the 1980
’s, with countless bands from around the globe hitting it big. It was mainstream whether we liked it or not. To this day, the ’80s will always be remembered for metal music, most of it (aside from such massive bands as Scorpions and AC/DC) coming out of the United States and United Kingdom.
“Metallica was the Cadillac of Heavy Metal in the 80’s. Everyone else was either doing out of date 70’s shit, or MTV type things with their hair. Def Leppard had one good record, about the same time as Thriller came out, so I equate Def Leppard forever with Braces and Junior High. Judas Priest, bascially did the same tour and album for 20 years, but left their mark by unknowingly being part of the best 80’s Rock-Dock Ever, The infamous: Heavy Metal Parking Lot!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhRCVm-1r2k). Then shit devolved into what you see here, Twisted Sister Vs. Whitesnake. Both bands not really influencing much, (but Dee lives in my town and is cool as hell). But by then Metallica owned true speed metal and Guns N Roses came in and smashed whatever was left. Rock needed GNR to transition between Metal, Hardcore &Rock and Roll to get us into the 90’s where we could go postmodern on all this shit and get to bands like Pantera. Special Shout-out to LEMMY! That MF is the ultimate Metal MF!”
-Screaming Joker (digg)
Popularity: 2% [?]
5 Skateboard Deck Collections from the 80’s
September 11, 2008
Here is an interesting assortment of skateboard deck collections from the 80’s
Popularity: 2% [?]
2010 Chevy Volt Fully Revealed In Transformers 2
September 4, 2008
With the success of the first Transformers movie it only makes sense that there be a sequel. Here is video of a 2010 Chevy Volt that will be in the movie.
As a kid in the ’80s watching one of my favorite cartoons, Transformers, I never imagined that a live action Transformers movie could even exist let alone be incredible. In fact, it wasn’t until I say a commercial with a transforming and breakdancing car that I realized it was not only possible, it would be mind blowing.
These days I realized that there are literally no limits to how far technology will go. One day we’ll be able to participate in a Transformers movie and have actual cars that ARE Transformers.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Jerry Reed Dead
September 3, 2008
Jerry Reed died recently at 71.
As an urban kid, I didn’t get much exposure to the rural, truck driving, country & western, red state types. I don’t know how close Mr. Jerry Reed was to that stereotypical rural white dude, but when I saw him on Smokey & the Bandit I thought we was cool as hell.
From the slick cryptic CB talk to the relaxed laid back style, he was like a diesel cowboy with all the right moves.
I saw Smokey & the Bandit in the 80s so for me it is immortalized. Jerry Reed is immortalized. Just to show my ignorance of the ‘other side of America’ I had NO idea that Jerry Reed was a country music singer before he turned into an actor.
Apparently, Reed starred in the 1998 Adam Sandler film, The Waterboy, as Red Beaulieu, the movie’s chief antagonist and the head coach for the University of Louisiana Cougars football team. I actually really liked that movie Waterboy, but didn’t realize that Reed was in the movie. For me he’ll always be Smokey, the diesel cowboy, running Interference for the Bandit to the title track, “East Bound and Down” (which he sang). Amazingly talented guy.
Popularity: 3% [?]
$40,000 hard drive from 1985
September 1, 2008
Back in 1985, hard drives were gigantic and not to mention insanely expensive (40MB/$40,000) as shown in the above image. That was coincidentally the same year Microsoft released Windows 1.0 which sold for $100 ($177.47 with inflation) a piece.
Popularity: 3% [?]
fashion of the 80s
August 27, 2008
The 80s fashions are some of the most flamboyant of the of any decade in the 20th century, perhaps that is because some of the 70s DISCO fads contaminated it. Fashion in the 80s can definitely claim the biggest hair (comparable only to the “big wigs” of the 18th century).
Popularity: 15% [?]
Events of the 1980s
August 26, 2008
There are a few unforgettable events of the 80s that remains stuck in the top of my mind.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall:
The fall of the Berlin Wall was one of the most memorable moments of the 80s for me. “When the East German government announced on November 9, 1989, after several weeks of civil unrest, that visits in West Germany and West Berlin would be permitted, crowds of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere.” - wiki
It was a celebration that me and the whole world was apart of. Every clamored of getting a piece of that wall.
Thriller
You can’t go on a single 80s page worth a damn and not see several reverences to Micheal Jackson’s Thriller album. Its reign of the 80s was complete.
The Moon Walk
The first time it was done, it stunned the world. Micheal Jackson launched the release the of the Thriller album with a live performance of Billie Jean and a moon walk across the stage that sent chills down the collective backs of humanity.
Reagan has been shot
I remember that when Ronald Regan was shot it was played on the news like a million times, in a million different speeds.
Challenger Explosion
The space shuttle Challenger explosion is a very memorable event for me personally. It was amazing shock for American and whole world.
Iran Contra
Although I have to re-read the details of this Whitehouse level scandal, I will never for get Col. Oliver North dodging questions of the Congress.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Famous People of The 1980s
August 17, 2008
Micheal Jackson
The most famous person of the 1980s was MJ. His 1982 album, Thriller, was released in November 1982. Is sold a million copies a week worldwide. In about a year, it became the best selling album of all time. It has sales now estimated to be between 47 and 108 million copies worldwide. It is the first record to reach #1 in the US and the UK at the same time. All but three of the albums nine songs reached the Billboard top 10. It also won six Grammy Awards at the 1984 Grammys.
His fame was so ridiculous (and still is) that he could not go anywhere without being nearly killed by fans. His fans adoration was sacrilegious and delirious. It was his
Madonna
She was a young pop singer that captured the hearts of 80s youth around the world. She had the same commercial pop appeal as Britney Spears had in the early 2000’s. Her body of work had kind of redefined her earlier work. She’s evolved quite a bit since those early days. She now more famous than she ever was.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan is not merely a famous person of the 1980s, he is an American ICON. Reqardless of what you think about his politics or his presidency, there is no disputing his fame. And it’s no wonder Ronald Reagan is one of the most famous people of the 1980s. He was a successful actor before getting into politics. He was Governor of California (the most populated state in the US) and, of course, the 40th President of the United States. He wasn’t just any president of the Unites States. He was one of the most charismatic and influential in the direction of the United States and the world. He is often attributed with the fall of the USSR, the tearing down of the Berlin wall, and the end of the Cold War. Is a mere coincidence that these things happened during his presidency and not Jimmy Carters (predecessors) or George H. W. Bush (successor).
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev
Like Ronald Reagan Gorbachev is a cultural ICON, something embedded forever in the human psyche not merely “famous person of the 1980s”. He is the great reformer of the USSR and could be said to have single handedly end the Cold War. As great as all this sounds, it was his initiatives to democratize the USSR that brought the world power to its knees economically. Something that may have been inevitable for the countries change.
Eddie Murphy
In the 80s, Eddie Murphy was an unstoppable comedian. Aside from being the funniest guy on Saturday Night Live in the 80s, he had a handful of instant classic movies: 48hrs, Beverly Hills Cop (I & II), Trading Places, The Golden Child, Harlem Nights and Coming to America). His stand up is legend (RAW and Delirious).
1985 Chicago Bears
They made a rap song, create a dance and had a guy named William “Refrigerator” Perry.. oh, yeah, they also won the Super Bowl.
Don Johnson
Don Johnson might have been the coolest human being on Earth when he did Miami Vice in the 80’s.
Popularity: 8% [?]
80s Clothing Trends
August 4, 2008
The early 80s clothing trends are tight fitting remnants of 70’s styles. Although the bell bottoms don’t flare out as much and the afros are much more conservative, 70’s clothes could still pass up into 1983. A good example of the transition from 70’s to 80’s clothing trends is the 80s television show One Day at a Time. Bonnie Franklin can be seen wearing her hip hugger jeans. The show ran from 1975 to 1984. The 1980 movie, 9 to 5, with Burt Reynolds and Dolly Pardon is another good example of early 80’s clothing trends for business offices of the era. Polyester, three piece business suits and pastel chiffon dresses adorn the all-star cast.
By 1984, the 1970s styles died out. 80s clothing trends took on a pseudo futuristic look as seen in Miami Vice.
The clothes worn on Miami Vice had a significant influence on men’s fashion. They popularized, if not invented, the “T-shirt under Armani jacket”-style,[24] and popularized Italian men’s fashion in the United States.[4] Don Johnson’s typical lineup of Italian sport coat, T-shirt, white linen pants, and slip-on sockless loafers became a hit.[4][25] Even Crockett’s perpetually unshaven appearance sparked a minor fashion trend, inspiring men to wear a small amount of beard stubble, also known as a five o’clock shadow (or “designer stubble”) at all times.[24] On an average episode, Crockett and Tubbs wore five to eight different outfits,[1][4] appearing in shades of pink, blue, green, peach, fuchsia and the show’s other “approved” colors.[4] Designers such as Vittorio Ricci, Gianni Versace, and Hugo Boss were consulted in keeping the male leads looking trendy.[1][4] Costume designer Bambi Breakstone, who traveled to Milan, Paris, and London in search of new clothes, testified that, “The concept of the show is to be on top of all the latest fashion trends in Europe”.[4] Jodi Tillen, the costume designer for the first season, along with Michael Mann set the stylistic agenda. The abundance of Pastel colors on the show was reflected in Miami’s Art-deco architecture.[25]
During its five-year run, consumer demand for unconstructed blazers, shiny fabric jackets, and lighter pastels increased.[4][25] After Six formal wear even created a line of Miami Vice dinner jackets, Kenneth Cole introduced Crockett and Tubbs shoes, and Macy’s opened a Miami Vice section in its young men’s department.[4] Crockett also boosted Ray Ban’s popularity by wearing a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer (Model L2052, Mock Tortoise),[26] which increased sales of Ray Ban’s to 720,000 units in 1984.[27] Many of the styles popularized by the TV show, such as the t-shirt under pastel suits, no socks, rolled up sleeves, and Ray-Ban sunglasses, have today become the standard image of 1980s culture.[24][27] The influence of Miami Vice’s fashions continued into the early 1990s, and to some extent still persists today.[28][24]– Wikipedia
80s Avant-Garde Fashion
Music videos marked an explosion of avant-garde 80s clothing styles in the mid and late 80s. Men started wearing make-up women were less restricted with what they could wear to feel accepted. From Bon Jovi to Prince to Poison, long hair was in. You could see male artists wearing lace and frills and female artists with spikes and suits.
Teen Agers
You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing some teenage girl copying Madonna’s laced gloves, teased hair and religious necklaces. Slick back hair dos and mullets were in. Greasy “Jherri curls” and “S-Curls” on black youth were at their peak. Late 80s brought on the plague of gangsta rap whose street style can still be seen today.
Popularity: 26% [?]
Superb Soviet Anti-War animated cartoon from 1983. Really good.
July 29, 2008
Superb Soviet Anti-War animated cartoon from 1983. This little animation is really good and everyone should watch.
Popularity: 4% [?]
