Living In The Eighties News.

NEW ORDER are to release a compilation DVD later this year. The DVD will contain the promo videos for all their singles plus a number of extra tracks including their performance of "Regret" on the set of TV's Baywatch, alternative videos for "Round & Round" and "Crystal," and a live version of "Temptation."

HEAVEN 17 will release their new album Before/After in August via the excellent Ninthwave label.

PUBLIC ENEMY will release a new album in August. The groundbreaking rap act will release Rebirth Of A Nation, their first album for three years, via the Guerilla Funk label on August 28th.

SIMPLE MINDS will release their long awaited new album in September on the Sanctuary label. The album Black & White 050505 is currently scheduled for a September 12th release and will be preceded by a single "Home" on September 5th.

All material courtesy of: remembertheeighties.com

Give It Up For Portland!

Portland Oregon has been named one of the top 18 New American Dream Towns by Outside Magazine.

Judging was based on "commitment to open space, smart solutions to sprawl and gridlock, can-do community spirit, green-thinking mayors, healthy job markets, and an active embrace of adventurous life."

Other cities making the cut included Salt Lake City, Charleston, South Carolina, Fort Collins, Colorado, Madison, Wisconson, Davis, California, Littleton, New Hampshire, Chicago, Illinois, and Pasadena California.

It's another accolade for Portland, Oregon. Recently, Portland was voted among the top U.S. cities in terms of quality of life and "wired" internet connectivity.

Photo and material courtesy: katu.com

Happy Birthday Colin Hay.

Born in Scotland in 1953, Colin moved to Australia in 1967 and formed Men At Work.

In 1982 Men At Work released their debut album Business as Usual and quickly became MTV favorites with the songs "Down Under" and "Who Can It Be Now?" In 1983 they released Cargo and in 1985 Two Hearts.

The success of Business as Usual, which went to #1 in the U.S. and broke the record for the "most weeks a debut spent at the top of the charts," (icebergradio.com) was never matched and the band split up. Hay has been a solo artist since 1987.

I Guess You've Got To Be Smarter Than What You Are Working With...

Waist High would like to give a hearty welcome to new FULL TIME READER Jed!

You see, Jed is a full time reader and didn't even know it. Let me explain...

JED is a (content removed by author). Generally, he seems to have made a hobby out of commenting at Waist High. But what he has not considered is that to be so active on my site, to come to the site sometimes SEVERAL TIMES A DAY means, that in Blogger parlance, he is a FULL TIME READER!

Welcome Jed! Oh crap, I almost forgot. Feel free to e-mail Jed at (e-mail address removed by author).

He is smart, but not really. Let me explain. The (content removed by author). Here is what this (content removed by author).

Happy Birthday Terri Nunn.

Happy Birthday Mick Jones.

Of London SS, The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite, and Carbon/Silicon.

Happy Birthday Andrew McCluskey.

Founding member, vocalist: Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark.

Thank you to Gustav of KNRK for playing OMD's debut single "Electricity" today. "'Electricity' perfectly captures OMD's infectious blend of melody and melancholia. 'Electricity', with it's frenetic dance rhythm, rapidly became OMD's theme song."

Quote: omd.uk.com

Happy Birthday Curt Smith.

Of the 1970s ska revival band Graduate, Tears For Fears, and solo work.

Tears For Fears landed a record contract with Polygram in 1982. The following year, the band released it's debut, The Hurting, which became a major hit in Britain, generating no less than three Top Five hit singles. Two years later, the group released Songs From The Big Chair, which demonstrated a more streamlined and soul influenced sound. Songs From The Big Chair became a huge hit in America, rocketing to the top of the charts on the strength of the singles "Everybody Wants To Rule the World," and "Shout," which both hit number one, and the number three "Head Over Heels."

Songs From The Big Chair was followed by The Seeds of Love in 1989. In and around 1992, Smith and Roland Orzabal began to quarrel heavily, and Smith left the group. Orzabal went on to release, without Smith, Elemental and Raoul And The Kings Of Spain.

Much to the pleasure of this writer, Smith and Orzabal reunited in 2004 and came to the fair city of Portland for this writer to see in concert.

Material: icebergradio.com

Living In The Eighties News.

HOWARD JONES will be playing a handful of U.S. dates with THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS at the end of July. Meanwhile there will be a new HJ compilation released in the U.K. on July 4th featuring all the usual tracks but with the addition of the videos for "What Is Love" and the U.S. video for "Like To Get To Know You Well."

ABC have announced a couple of U.S. dates, their first for many years, in August. The band are expected to play two House Of Blues shows with more U.S. appearances in the pipeline.

PAUL WELLER has announced some highly anticipated U.S. dates and a Canadian show. The former frontman for THE JAM and THE STYLE COUNCIL has announced six shows, starting in Los Angeles on September 16th.

ERASURE's ANDY BELL has announced that the first single from his forthcoming solo album will be called "Crazy" and will feature a mix from VINCE CLARKE.

DEPECHE MODE will be the first act to play at the new Wembley Arena in London with a show on April 3rd next year, the final date in a planned 39 date European tour which starts in January following a six week U.S. tour between October and December.

TEARS FOR FEARS are planning an anthology of their work for later this year. The project was originally going to be a collection of previously released material put out by the band's former label, but the duo themselves have got involved to upgrade the release to a double album which will also feature a new track "Floating Down The River," as well as solo material and live tracks. The band are also considering recording one of their forthcoming U.S. concerts to be released as a live video.

It has been nearly 20 years since their last concert on American soil...
A-HA have announced that they will play their first U.S. concert since 1986 when they play New York's Irving Plaza in September. Their new studio album is now in the mixing process. The band is in London to mix the album with the renowned producer and engineer Flood.

All material and gig information can be found at: remembertheeighties.com

Happy 5th Birthday EMP.

For my pals from across the continent visiting Seattle next month: It was 5 years ago today that the Experience Music Project was unveiled by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft.

The museum houses over 80,000 American popular music items, and contains the largest collection of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia in the world (including his smashed guitar from the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival).

Jed: If You Were Really Clever, You Would Have Called Me "Wasting Away" High...

From the kabc.com article "How Long Will You Be Fertile?" the quote that 37 year old Waist High loved the most was, "For most women, fertility gradually declines until age 37, and after that it usually plummets."

Happy Birthday Jimmy Somerville.

 

"Jimmy Somerville first shot to fame back in 1984 with groundbreaking band Bronski Beat. 'Smalltown Boy,' their debut single" from The Age Of Consent, went to #3 in the U.K. and "introduced the world to Jimmy's unusual 'falsetto squeal' as he once described it." 

Bronski Beat "went on to have several lively pop dance hits in 1984 and 1985, including a cover of former gay icon Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love,' on which they joined forces with Marc Almond." After leaving Bronksi Beat, Somerville formed The Communards with friend Richard Cole. They released Communards and Red, both which this writer listens to regularly. Jimmy has been a solo artist since in 1988. 

All material quoted directly from: jimmysomerville.co.uk

"Siouxsie Finds Her MOJO."

On June 16, "the singer who put the feminine in punk was named MOJO's Icon Of The Year" at the MOJO Honours List 2005 held in London.

The MOJO awards was launched last year to recognise the elder statesmen and women of the music industry. Voted for by MOJO readers, Siouxsie's award celebrated a career that has spanned nearly three decades. Inspired by the Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees played for the first time at a punk festival organised by Malcom McLaren at the 100 Club in London in September 1976.

Also honored was Paul Weller for Songwriter Of The Year and Madness, who finally received recognition with the Mojo Hall Of Fame award. "They are one of the most under-rated acts of the last 30 years," the magazine's editor said.

The complete Winners List.

All material: MOJO & independent.co.uk
Photo: news.bbc.co.uk

Happy 45th Birthday John Taylor.

Duran Duran bassist and co-founder.
Hottie for more than 2 decades.

Happy Birthday Alison Moyet.

Born Genevieve Alison Jane Moyet in 1961.

Formed Yazoo in 1981 (Yaz in the U.S.) with Vince Clarke, founding member of Depeche Mode. "Their innovative sound redefined dance music, blending cutting edge electronica with vocals drenched in soul." (extraordinarygirl.com)

Their biggest hits included "Only You," "Don't Go," "Situation," and "Nobody's Diary." The band split in 1983 and Alison went on to have a very successful solo career, selling over 20 million records.

Her debut solo album, Alf, reached number one in the U.K. and "spawned three hit singles, 'Love Resurrection,' 'All Cried Out,' and 'Invisible.'" (extraordinarygirl.com) Alf won her a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist in 1985.

Alison has continued to record, releasing Hometime in 2002.

"What's That Dirty Under There?"

As a sibling of a long time friend of this writer prepares to move to the beautiful city of Portland Oregon, the staff at Waist High would like to proudly share the news that just came across the wire:

Portland tops Reader's Digest list of cleanest cities in America. (katu.com)

And the "illiterate, Bud-stained, Marlboro stinking lot" are still being encouraged to STAY AWAY. That means you racing fans! (Bakersfield Californian via Bake Town)

Fast Facts about the city for whom former governor Neil Goldschmidt literally moved a downtown highway to make way for a greenway along the Willamette River:

Portland sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. It is 78 miles west to the Pacific Ocean and 65 miles east to the nearest glacier on Mount Hood. Summer temperatures hover around a sunny 78 F. The rest of the year it is usually a seasonless gray 50 F, with some 36 inches of rain misting from October through May.

If you are a reader: Portland has the largest independent bookstore in the world. (powells.com)

If you like movies and food: Portland has the most movie theaters (many of which serve beer) and restaurants per capita in the U.S.

If you like open air markets: Portland has the largest continuously operating open air craft market in the U.S. (Saturday Market)

If you like beer: Portland has more microbreweries than any other city in the nation! (oregonbeer.com)

If you like parks, Portland has over 200 of them, including the largest forested municipal park in the nation (Forest Park, 5,000 acres) and the world's smallest park (Mills End, 452 square inches).

If you like to pay sales tax: you are out of luck because Oregon does not have such a thing.

If you like to pump your own gas: forget about it because SELF SERVE GAS DOES NOT EXIST in Oregon.

If you like to pay the better part of a week's salary to register your vehicle: you might be disappointed because it is $54.00 to register your car FOR TWO YEARS. Waist High's piece of shit Taurus? That Lake Oswego housewife's new Mercedes S350 Sedan? Same fee.

The Reader's Digest list is here.

Photo: Allow Me, J. Seward Johnson, can be found in Pioneer Courthouse Square
All material: nationalgeographic.com/traveler & pdx.edu
Title quote courtesy: John Garone

This "Imposed Amnesia" Thing Is Sweet.

"The reason it has been so successful with me is because my colleague imposed amnesia when I was in hypnosis, and no other therapy, to my knowledge, can do this. I forgot about it completely. I never feel the urge to pick up a pack of cigarettes."
Geoffrey Knight

Waist High would like to thank Portland hypnotherapist Geoffrey Knight for helping her to bring to an end a filthy 21 year habit. It has been 14 days since Waist High paid a visit to Mr. Knight, and she is happy to report that the above imposed amnesia thing is true. My memory of the pleasure of smoking is gone.

You, my fine readers, have been present for two of my approximately 7 failed "attempts" at smoking cessation, and it was during this last failed "attempt" that I finally realized that my desire to smoke was greater than my desire to quit. Enter Geoffrey Knight.

Please read Portland Mercury reporter John Dooley's tale of his visit to Mr. Knight. His story manages to make a 60 cigarette a day habit seem funny.

Photo: The Waist High Collection

Representing. Vol. 4.

Yes, you can scan a t-shirt.

Waist High is thrilled to announce that hometown favorite X will be honored tonight at the LA Weekly Music Awards. They will be receiving a well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.

This, coming a perfectly timed one month after the release of the DVD X: Live in Los Angeles, "which celebrates a quarter-century of grit and burn." (laweekly.com)

Happy Birthday George O'Dowd.

Solo artist, Author: Take It Like A Man (1995), Straight (2005), lead singer Culture Club 1982-1986 (Reunited 1998), DJ, musician, one of the most soulful voices that ever was.

Do yourself a favor this summer and pick up a copy of the two disc set Culture Club: VH1 Storytellers/Greatest Hits.

Waist High Is Headquartered In Oregon. Maybe We Should Start Blogging About It.

As of this writing, it is 44 days, 22 hours, 55 minutes, and 9 seconds until the Oregon Brewers Festival. Thanks to my contact on the OTHER SIDE OF THE CONTINENT for bringing this to my attention.

Happy Birthday Nick Rhodes.

Born Nicholas James Bates in 1962. You better know who Nick Rhodes is.

Owns the rights to the "Duran Duran" name. Discovered Kajagoogoo in 1983. Kajagoogoo's song "Too Shy" bumped Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf" out of #1 on the UK charts.

Happy Birthday Mick Hucknall.

Of The Frantic Elevators and Simply Red.

"Simply Red were signed to Elektra UK in 1984, after what was alleged to be a fierce bidding war between the record companies," (redweb.zen.co.uk) and released Picture Book in October 1985.

Picture Book featured "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)," a cover of a 1982 R&B chart single by the Valentine Brothers, and "Holding Back The Years," a Hucknall original that topped the U.S. charts.

Simpy Red's fourth album, Stars, spawned the U.S. top 40 hits "Something Got Me Started," and "Stars."

Simply Red will release a new album, Simplified, on Oct. 17.

Material: sing365.com

A Friendly Reminder From The C.H.P. Kids...

MEDFORD, Ore. - All Interstate 5 traffic on the Oregon-California border stopped for 2 1/2 hours Monday while police investigated a suspicious box placed under the "Welcome to California" sign.

After an investigation by a bomb technician from the Oregon State Police, the box was found to contain apparent cremated remains.

"We can't say for sure, but that's what it looks like," California Highway Patrol Sgt. Jerry Gillespie told The Mail Tribune of Medford.

Southbound traffic was closed at milepost 11 in Ashland at about 6:20 p.m., minutes after northbound traffic was halted near Hilt, according to the CHP. Hundreds of cars were left backed up in both directions.

Traffic was reopened shortly after 9 p.m., said Gillespie, who added that it is ILLEGAL TO IMPROPERLY DISPOSE OF ASHES IN THIS FASHION.

Material: katu.com

Happy Birthday Gordon Gano.

Violent Femmes' principal songwriter, lead vocalist, guitar (acoustic and electric), banjo, and fiddle. Gordon's early musical influences include The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Robert Johnson and Louis Armstrong.

Material courtesy: violentfemmes.net

Living In The Eighties News.

THE CREATURES are working on new material and will also be releasing a limited edition live album of one of their shows from the early 90's very soon.

KILLING JOKE will reissue four of their catalogue albums on July 11th. The albums Killing Joke, What's This For...!, Revelations, and Ha! will each be remastered and will feature a number of bonus tracks including alternative versions, remixes and previously unreleased tracks.

MADNESS guitarist and original member Chris "Chrissie Boy" Foreman has left the band citing being "sick of the petty time consuming b******s that goes on in the band" as the reason for his departure. Foreman has recorded guitar parts for the forthcoming Madness album of cover versions which will be released on July 18th preceded by a single, a version of Prince Buster's "Shame & Scandal" on July 4th.

THE ALARM's MIKE PETERS has announced details of his third "Alarmstock" event. "Alarmstock 3" will feature shows at London's Abbey Road Studios and New York City's Electric Lady Studios on August 6th and 13th respectively. Each day will feature 4 separate acoustic performances by Mike Peters covering the entire span of his songwriting career with a selection of rare and unseen films in between. Meanwhile The Alarm's best known song "68 Guns" has been picked up for use in a commercial by the Heineken brewery.

All material courtesy of: remembertheeighties.com

Happy Birthday Richard Butler.

Psychedelic Furs vocalist and chief songwriter, member of Love Spit Love, painter, and solo artist.

Here Are Your Chances Of Dying. Sweet Dreams. Good Night.

Heart Disease 1 in 5
Cancer 1 in 7
Stroke 1 in 23
Accidental Injury 1 in 36
Motor Vehicle Accident 1 in 100
Intentional Self-harm (suicide) 1 in 121
Falling Down 1 in 246
Assault by Firearm 1 in 325
Fire or Smoke 1 in 1,116
Natural Forces (heat, cold, storms, quakes, etc.) 1 in 3,357
Electrocution 1 in 5,000
Drowning 1 in 8,942
Air Travel Accident 1 in 20,000
Flood (included also in Natural Forces above) 1 in 30,000
Legal Execution 1 in 58,618
Tornado (included also in Natural Forces above) 1 in 60,000
Lightning Strike (included also in Natural Forces above) 1 in 83,930
Snake, Bee or other Venomous Bite or Sting 1 in 100,000
Earthquake (included also in Natural Forces above) 1 in 131,890
Dog Attack 1 in 147,717
Asteroid Impact 1 in 200,000
Tsunami 1 in 500,000
Fireworks Discharge 1 in 615,488

Material stolen from Tim Riley: courtesy of livescience.com

Happy 45th Birthday Tony Hadley.

Founded, along with the brothers Kemp, Steve Norman, and John Keeble, Spandau Ballet in 1979. The only other new romantic band to enjoy greater commercial success was Duran Duran.

"I think most people would also agree that a major part of that Spandau Ballet sound undoubtedly came from the unique vocal style of Tony Hadley's voice."
-- Kurt Dillinger

Quote: tonyhadley.com