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Live ’80s Kansas City Concert News & History

Follow the Live ’80s Kansas City news and history page featuring ’80s music and movie updates, including specialty concerts and tours, new album and Blu-ray release information and more.

Genesis Album “Invisible Touch” on Store Shelves 30 years Ago

By Live '80s Kansas City on June 9, 2016 News

English rock band Genesis revealed its best-selling album “Invisible Touch” on this day in 1986. After a brief hiatus which saw the members resuming solo careers, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks reconvened to produce their fourth No. 1 record in their native UK. It also reached No. 3 in the United States and even spawned five Top 5 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including the title track, which topped the chart, plus “In Too Deep” [No. 3], “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” [No. 3], “Throwing It All Away” [No. 4] and “Land of Confusion” [No. 4]. No pre-recording material was ever…

Madonna’s “Live to Tell” at No. 1 Today in 1986

By Live '80s Kansas City on June 7, 2016 News

Madonna reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the third time on this day 30 years ago with the pop ballad “Live to Tell” (1986). The hit also topped the Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks and was featured in the motion picture soundtrack of the crime drama film “At Close Range” starring Sean Penn, who at the time was her husband. Its lyrics revolve around trust issues stemming from her childhood and wounds left behind. Check out the music video and you will notice a more subdued appearance compared to what Madonna was generally known. She had previously…

Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All” (1986) Spends Three Weeks at No. 1

By Live '80s Kansas City on May 31, 2016 News

Pop music’s most award-winning female artist of all time Whitney Houston hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 for the third consecutive week on this day in 1986 with “Greatest Love of All” (1985). It was a cover rendition of the previously recorded song “The Greatest Love of All” (1977) by singer and guitarist George Benson, which went to No. 2 on the R&B chart. Houston’s variation was a chart-topper not only in the United States, but also Canada and Australia. It was included on her self-titled debut album by Arista Records, which was released on Valentine’s Day of the…

Photo by Stephanie Pistel/courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

Duran Duran “Paper Gods” Tour Hits Starlight on July 24

By Live '80s Kansas City on May 29, 2016 News

Duran Duran, one of the most dominant and influential forces in English new wave and snythpop music history, graces the stage at Starlight Theatre on July 24. The huge announcement came on the heels of the band’s new album, “Paper Gods” (2015). After performing a few select dates last year around the release of its lead single “Pressure Off,” Birmingham’s sons announced a full-fledged North American tour in support of the record. It reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 in the United Kingdom, and features such artists as Mr. Hudson, Nile Rodgers and Janelle Monáe. Having formed in…

Photo by Mike Hipple/courtesy of Nu Shooz

Nu Shooz Releases First Album in 28 Years

By Live '80s Kansas City on May 23, 2016 News

Beloved freestyle band Nu Shooz released to the world its first album in 28 years. “Bagtown” (2016) comes to us upon the completion of a hugely successful Pledge Music campaign that saw 139% of its goal obtained. Described as a moment of spontaneous combustion, the group dubbed the record as the “Shooz version of the Big Bang.” Its a return to the funk, soul and jazz sounds of the mid-’70s, having set its sights on the dance floor. Fronted by Valerie Day and John Smith, the Seattle-based group gained national and international acclaim with the remix of its 1985 tune “I Can’t Wait.” The…

Year-end No. 1 Film “Top Gun” (1986) in Theaters 30 Years Ago

By Live '80s Kansas City on May 16, 2016 Film, News

On this day in 1986, Paramount Pictures released the action drama film “Top Gun” starring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis alongside Anythony Edwards, Val Kilmer and Tom Skerritt. It opened in 1,028 theaters—showed in a total of 1,531—and was the highest grossing film of the year with $176,781,728. Inspired by a Ehud Yonay article by the same name from a May 1983 issue of California magazine, the film details the life of US Navy fighter pilots and just last year was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry courtesy of the Library of Congress. Its soundtrack spent five weeks at No.…

Image courtesy of Skyline Music

Overland Park Fall Festival feat. The Smithereens on Sept. 24

By Live '80s Kansas City on May 6, 2016 Fests, News

The Overland Park Fall Festival returns on Saturday, September 24 featuring a hometown parade, arts and crafts, a car show, food trucks, live musical performances on three stages and other events—headlining the city’s community-wide event this year is Jersey-based alternative rock band The Smithereens. Known for its captivating ’60s-esque power pop sound and lyrics, the band has created a style all to its own. The group has collaborated with several musicians like The Kinks and Graham Parker and is incredibly well-known for its covers of such artists as The Beatles and The Who. It first came into the limelight when its original song “Blood and…

Photo by Kym DeGenaro/courtesy of Presskit.to

Rick Springfield, Night Ranger & The Romantics in Andover Park on June 18

By Live '80s Kansas City on April 19, 2016 News

The fourth annual Concert in the Park in Andover, KS is set to feature Rick Springfield with Night Ranger and The Romantics on Saturday, June 18. Food vendors will all be on hand plus a closing firework display. The three names exemplify the ’80s and the night is certain to deliver all of the nostalgia. Take a look at some of the decade’s hit singles you will have a good chance of hearing: RICK SPRINGFIELD “Jessie’s Girl,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Love Is Alright Tonight,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “I Get Excited,” “Affair of the Heart” and “Love Somebody” NIGHT…

Photo courtesy of Free State Festival

Public Enemy to Close Out Free State Festival on June 25

By Live '80s Kansas City on April 13, 2016 News

Each summer, the Lawrence Art Center’s Free State Festival celebrates ideas, art, film and music in a week-long celebration downtown. It returns again this year on Monday, June 20 and is proud to announce that legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy featuring Chuck D and Flava Flav will close out the festivities on Saturday, June 25 with a FREE outdoor concert at 9th and New Hampshire. Gates open at 6:30pm. The Long Island-based Hall of Famers arrived on the scene with the group’s very first album “Yo! Bum Rush the Show” (1987) featuring the single “Public Enemy No. 1.” The second album, “It Takes…

Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.com

Guns N’ Roses Summer Stadium Tour Coming to Arrowhead

By Live '80s Kansas City on April 1, 2016 News

In one of the most highly anticipated reunions of the last two decades, hard rock band Guns N’ Roses announced that frontman Axl Rose is rejoining with original lead guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan and storming through North American stadiums this summer in what they have dubbed as the “Not In This Lifetime…” tour. Arrowhead Events delivered news today that the legendary rockers will make a stop at Arrowhead Stadium on Wednesday, June 29—the band’s only scheduled performance in a six-state area. This show will mark only the second time the group has ever played the Chiefs’ illustrious venue, the…

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