Stuck in the '80s Podcast

Punk rock was never supposed to grow old. But somehow, Sid and Nancy just turned 40. Released in American theaters on November 7, 1986, director Alex Cox's unforgettable film chronicled the chaotic, drug-fueled relationship between Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. And it introduced many moviegoers to a young actor named Gary Oldman, whose astonishing performance helped launch a career that would eventually include an Academy Award, a knighthood and his brilliant current role in Slow Horses. To celebrate the film's 40th anniversary, we're digging deep into the Stuck in the ’80s archives for Episode 89, originally recorded in 2007. Join Steve Spears and former co-host Cathy Wos as they revisit one of the decade's darkest cult classics. Along the way, Cathy recalls her teenage obsession with the movie and explains why her first car was nicknamed the "Sidmobile." Spearsy remembers his own punk rock adventures playing Sex Pistols songs with his Tampa Bay band, Epic Trash. We also explore the film's incredible soundtrack, debate Gary Oldman's greatest performances, discuss the tragic real-life story behind the movie and reveal which future pop superstar nearly played Nancy Spungen. It's a wonderfully vintage episode of Stuck in the ’80s, complete with some classic segments, listener mail and the kind of irreverent banter that helped get this whole podcast started more than two decades ago. JOIN US ON THE 80s CRUISE! Want to relive the music, memories and magic of our favorite decade? Join Stuck in the ’80s aboard The 80s Cruise in 2027! We'll be back for another incredible voyage featuring legendary performers, themed parties, celebrity experiences and plenty of '80s trivia hosted by yours truly. Get all the details at The80sCruise.com. SUPPORT STUCK IN THE ’80s Help us keep the '80s alive by joining our Patreon family! You'll get access to ad-free episodes, exclusive content and special opportunities to hang out with your favorite podcast hosts. Join us at Patreon.com/Stuckinthe80s. And stay tuned! Spearsy and Brad are working on a brand-new episode that should be coming your way next weekend. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before he was Batman, before he was Beetlejuice, Michael Keaton was one of the funniest guys in Hollywood. This week, we're opening the Stuck in the '80s vault and traveling back 20 years to July 2006, when we devoted an episode to the man who gave us unforgettable performances in Night Shift, Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously and Gung Ho. Of course, Keaton's career took a couple of spectacular turns toward the end of the decade. First came his gloriously unhinged performance in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice in 1988. Then, in 1989, he silenced the skeptics who couldn't imagine a comedy star playing the Dark Knight in Batman. Not bad for a guy who once had to figure out how to operate a washing machine in Mr. Mom. Join us for this classic episode from July 20, 2006, as we revisit the early days of Stuck in the '80s and celebrate one of our favorite actors of the decade. JOIN US ON THE 80s CRUISE! Want to relive the music, memories and magic of our favorite decade? Join Stuck in the '80s aboard The 80s Cruise in 2027, featuring incredible live performances, celebrity experiences, themed parties and plenty of '80s trivia hosted by yours truly. Get all the details at The80sCruise.com. SUPPORT STUCK IN THE '80s Help us keep the '80s alive by joining our Patreon family. You'll get access to exclusive content, ad-free episodes and special opportunities to hang out with your favorite podcast hosts. Join us at Patreon.com/Stuckinthe80s. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Forget Dracula's castle. In 1987, vampires moved to California, traded their capes for leather jackets and apparently spent a considerable amount of time at the hair salon. Welcome back to The Lost Boys. Just in time for Halloween, we're digging into the Stuck in the ’80s archives for a classic episode from 2011, featuring your hosts Steve Spears and Sean Daly. This time, we're revisiting one of the most gloriously ’80s horror movies ever made. Directed by Joel Schumacher, The Lost Boys brought together Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest and a terrific supporting cast for a vampire adventure that was equal parts horror, comedy and teenage rebellion. It also gave us one of the decade's most memorable soundtracks, featuring INXS, Echo & the Bunnymen, Roger Daltrey and Tim Cappello — the shirtless, saxophone-wielding musical legend who made "I Still Believe" an unforgettable part of the movie. In this vintage episode, Steve and Sean revisit the movie's characters, music, memorable moments and enduring appeal. Why has The Lost Boys remained such a beloved piece of ’80s pop culture? And how did a movie about teenage vampires manage to make bloodsucking look so ridiculously cool? So grab your garlic, sharpen those wooden stakes and join us for a trip back to Santa Carla. Just remember: Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. Come Sail Away With Us on The ’80s Cruise! Want to celebrate the greatest decade of pop culture with thousands of fellow ’80s fans? Join the Stuck in the ’80s crew aboard The ’80s Cruise, the ultimate vacation for anyone who still believes the music, movies and memories of our favorite decade deserve one more encore. We'll be there hosting trivia, recording live podcasts, introducing performers and generally behaving like people who probably shouldn't be trusted with a microphone. Visit The80sCruise.com for information about the upcoming voyage, including the lineup, itinerary and cabin availability. Support Stuck in the ’80s Love the podcast? Join our Patreon family for ad-free episodes, exclusive content, special events and more. Your support helps keep our little corner of the ’80s alive and kicking. Visit Patreon.com/Stuckinthe80s to join the fun. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some songs become hits. Others become history. And then there's "Video Killed the Radio Star," a song that practically announced the arrival of the 1980s. This week on Stuck in the '80s, we welcome Bruce Woolley, the songwriter who co-wrote that iconic tune with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes before The Buggles turned it into a worldwide hit. Of course, the song earned an even bigger place in pop culture history when MTV chose it as the first music video to air on the network on Aug. 1, 1981. But there's much more to Woolley's story than one unforgettable song. Bruce takes us back to the early days of "Video Killed the Radio Star," including its creation at his apartment piano, the different approaches he and The Buggles took to recording it, and the unexpected journey from songwriting experiment to new wave immortality. We also explore his time fronting Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club, a band whose lineup included a young Thomas Dolby, years before "She Blinded Me with Science" made him a household name. Along the way, Bruce shares stories about working with Horn and Downes, the arrival of new technology in popular music, and what it was like to help create a song that would become a symbol of an entire musical revolution. It's a fascinating conversation with one of the unsung architects of the '80s — a musician whose work helped shape the sound of a decade before the decade had even begun. The 80s Cruise: Want to relive the decade with us? Join Stuck in the '80s aboard The 80s Cruise! Visit The80sCruise.com and use promo code STUCK when booking to receive a $250 cabin credit. Support the podcast: Join our Patreon community for bonus content, ad-free episodes and more ways to celebrate the decade we refuse to leave behind. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Twenty years ago, Stuck in the ’80s was still the new kid on the podcast block. There were no smartphones recording everything, social media was barely a thing, and somehow people were willing to give three podcasters backstage access. What could possibly go wrong? For this week’s episode, we’re opening the archives and heading back to 2006 for one of our earliest adventures: the “We Are the ’80s” concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida. The lineup was basically an ’80s radio station brought to life: Rick Springfield, Loverboy, Eddie Money, and Patti Smyth with Scandal were among the artists taking the stage that night. And before the music started, Sean Daly, Cathy Wos and Spearsy headed backstage with microphones in hand to interview some of the performers. Listening to it two decades later is a little like finding an old cassette in a box you forgot you had. The sound, the energy and—yes—the hosts are all a bit younger, but the mission of Stuck in the ’80s was already taking shape: celebrate the music and artists we loved, ask the questions fans actually wanted answered, and occasionally act amazed that anyone let us backstage in the first place. So join us for this 20th-anniversary replay from 2006 and a trip back to the very early days of Stuck in the ’80s. Come sail away with us! Stuck in the ’80s will be back aboard The 80s Cruise in 2027 for another week of music, memories and glorious ’80s excess. Use promo code STUCK when booking and receive $250 in onboard credit per cabin. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.