Wendy Vincent's Blog

Posted by Wendy Vincent

From Do They Know It's Christmas, which I've already written about at length, to Last Christmas, who's original singer I've written about at length - I believe Canuck R&B princess to be Keisha Chante recorded a cover last year, to Bowie and Bing Crosby, our beloved 80s pop stars, national and international, made sure they get regular replay at this time of year.

Retro favourites include Cindy Lauper's Santa Baby, to Run DMC's classic Christmas in Hollis, and our dear Bryan Adam's Christmas Time. I'm going to slip in two Beatles debatable tracks here - let me know your thoughts.

Because it's release coincided with the timing of his fatal shooting in New York City, I thought of Imagine by John Lennon. I find that the song resurfaces at this time of year, as much to commemorate the loss as to mark the holiday season. Not as popular as Lennon and Yoko Ono's , Happy Christmas/War Is Over, but still easily remembered.Speaking of former Beatles members, how about Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmas Time. It was released as a solo track during his Wings days in 1979 but in holiday fashion, I'm sneaking it in as it's debut happened at the time of the holiday which of course includes New Year's.

Posted by Wendy Vincent

At the end of October, a silent, heavy breach in 80s pop music infamy occurred when Duran Duran announced that their guitarist, Andy Taylor was leaving the band. Taylor, no relation to the other non-related Taylors in the group, was known to lean heavily on the hard rock side of the musical scale. This news was followed some days later by the announcement that JT, aka Justin Timberlake would be taking on writing and production roles for the bands upcoming album, along with JT's own production wonder, Timbaland

Posted by Wendy Vincent

Last month, "25 Live" hit the road,opening night, in Spain kicked off dates that will be taking place throughout around Europe. This marks Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou's, aka George Michael's first live solo tour and return to the road after a 15 year haitus.

But George is making news for scandal more than his actual music these days. Of course, the world all to familiar with "the incident". In 1998 when Michael was busted for a lewd act in a LA restroom. In true brit grit fashion, Michael hit back with a single and video, "Outside" which allowed him to spin his own version of events that day. Bathroom-gate was an epiphanal, out of the closet public for Michael which has paved the way for his continued brushes with the law and the paparazzi which follow him to his arrest last night in the UK, mid tour, where he was found stoned and slumped over in a car. While he was taken a hospital and released, he had weed on him last night and cautioned for said possession.

This is only a bit troubling since MIchael had a similar incident back in May where he fell asleep at the wheel, this time in the middle of traffic. No police action was required at the time, however, a scary picture of a shocked Michael taken by one of the drivers who woke him up, not to mention his driving over a traffic obstruction when he pulled away. Michael would soon be questioned for smashing several cars on his street. Apparently there was an arrest in February for possession that pre-dates all this drama?

By July, George was back this time busted by the tabloids for cruising at a park in London - he had hooked up with a jobless and potbellied and middle aged stranger for some late night antics.

This is too bad, in North America, we haven't heard from him since "Outside" but he has been recording. By the end of the year, a greatest hits album will be released and he is working on a project with Paul McCartney. Oh, and he is slated to have a civil ceremony with his partner of 10 years, Kenny Goss, who has stood by George throughout these interesting times of his.

Posted by Wendy Vincent

2006 marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Walk this Way by Aerosmith and Run DMC- the comeback song for the rockers which also served to open the floodgates and the music charts for hip hop. 2006 finds Aerosmith currently on tour with the one and only Motley Crue, an 80s original.

Word on the street is that Aerosmith has been eating Motley Cru's dinner for the majority of the current Route of All Evil tour. Without going on about how old Aerosmith's band members are, it is common knowledge that the only other band touring longer than the boys from Boston is the Stones.

In addition to your local rock stadium, as soon as this coming Monday, September 25th, viewers can catch Steve Tyler playing opposite Charlie Sheen on the NBC comedy - Two and a Half Men. This follow's Tyler's appearance in "Be Cool" and lending his voice to 2004's Polar Express. The rest of the band have made numerous cameo's in tv and film from the Simpsons to Wayne's World 2.

Also, after successfully undergoing throat surgery in March, Tyler designed a signature collection of bikes for Harley-Davidson. At the moment, Aerosmith bassist, Tom Hamilton has had to defer the front part of The Route of All Evil while he recouperates from treatment for throat cancer - radiation over, Hamilton is expected to make a full recovery. So far the tour has been a resounding success and reviews point to performances that have left Motley Crue in the dust. Oh and there's a new album just around the corner too. Whew - surgery, tv, movies, recording and kicking 80s hair band butt; rock on Aerosmith, Back in the Saddle indeed, seems like they never left.

Posted by Wendy Vincent

I am a bit obsessed with Whitney Houston. I fuzzily recall the first time I saw her performing and "caught" her sweating profusely; it immediately set off alarm bells in my head.

Strange that.

One of my "interview" pieces to suite101 itself was about Ms. Houston. The written product became so heartfelt and detailed that I had tears in my eyes.

Whitney Houston's career was defined in the 80s and the popular culture at that time by her. I remember seeing and immediately buying the edition of 17 Magazine [WHY? WHY did I throw that out?!] with Whitney on the cover - the first time I'd ever seen a Black girl's face on it, it was a powerful moment in my teens and I immediately worshipped the ground her long modelly legs she walked on. I attended a first ever concert at the Ex, with a dear pal of mine who would eventually succumb to leukemia; Whitney was the headliner and Kenny G. as the opening act.

That virginal, fresh faced, afroed, angel voiced goddess who could do no wrong even strutted across my family's tv screen on Gimme A Break, starring Nell Carter. My hero, I can see why Osama Bin Laden would be obsessed. However, I would wager HEAVILY that Osama didn't even knew about Whitney during these early days. Modelling, singing and acting; dabbling in the Hollywood triple threat before Janet, Raven, Hilary, Lindsay, Britney or most other pop starlet.

But, in 2006 and for the past several years, Houston is a sad, self-proclaimed junkie who can't hold a note, put down the crack pipe, or have unassisted bowel movements.

None of this is of concern for OBL whose ex-mistress/sex slave, Sudanese firebrand and former Days of Our Lives writer, Kola Boof, claims that the Al Quaeda leader referred to Houston as the most beautiful woman in the world. Indeed.

Posted by Wendy Vincent

I found myself divebombing for the remote to change the channel and clicking my mouse with a vengeance last week when I saw the news reports of George O'Dowd, aka Boy George, former lead singer of Culture Club collecting trash in New York City. The toiling was penance for falsely reporting a burglary at his home. The officers who responded found cocaine instead - most tragic.

It was cringe worthy and disturbing to watch O'Dowd, outfitted in city worker gear being photographed by paparazzi while he picked litter off the streets of Gotham City. Trust me, there is no shame in trash collection - I just don't need to see red carpet type photogs snapping 80s music royalty doing it.

Next up, The Parachute Club, who reportedly last performed together in 1988 took to the stage at the Lula Lounge on Friday as part of a benefit concert for their former drummer Billie Bryans who is recouperating from lung cancer surgery. Called Support And Celebrate Billy Bryans, the event brought the 80s Juno Award winners together with some current Toronto hitmakers.

Since The Parachute Club disbanded, Bryans has gone on to become a well known world music promoter and salsa DJ. I honestly can't think of any gigs in town that I've been to recently where I haven't seen Billy's face in the crowd. I see that Billy has been furiously updating his blog at length re: all the happenings in Tdot and around the world. Speedy recovery Billy!