Moment With Mel: It’s All About The 80’s Memories

Yesterday I wrote this long blog about The Stadium Tour. It was my take on how all the bands sound now, and what to expect at the show. I wasn't able to complete the blog before the show because of a long doctor's appointment. After seeing all the videos and pictures from the show on Facebook, I'm glad I didn't post the blog.

My original blog busted Motley Crue a bit. I last saw the band in 2011, and Vince Neil's voice was not good, and he had a hard time running around the stage. Weight gain can do that. I'm not bashing him, I'm way fatter now than I was in the 80's. But truth told, Vince's voice isn't good now. And I realize it doesn't really matter.

The Stadium Tour isn't just about the music. It's about the memories. Folks that went to the show had a great time, despite how the band's sound. As a whole, the bands are still kick-ass live, but most people aren't concerned about that. They went to the show to relive the good times they had in the 80's. Watching videos from the show last night, you could barely hear the bands. What you hear is the huge crowd singing.

One of my friends posted a video of Def Leppard performing their tune "Animal" and in the video you hear thousands of people singing. You see thousands of people just having a good time, reliving their teenage years. When you hear songs that you loved as a teenager, the memories of those years flood your brain. You're reminded of a time in your life when you had fun, had few responsibilities, and were carefree. The music takes you back, and you remember the moments. It's less about the band sounding great, and more about going back in time.

In the 1980's, when you went to a show, everyone was your friend. Rock music was the common denominator and there was this sense of community. I'm not saying there weren't issues or fights at shows, there was. But for the most part, everyone got along. You were part of this group that loved the same music as you, and you respected each other. There was a sense of belonging and unity.

And this unity is seen at 80's rock shows now. The videos of so many people shouting out lyrics is proof. It's difficult to put into words, but if you grew up in the 1980's, you understand. A good example from last night is Def Leppard's tune "Photograph". I can't count the number of times I've played that song while working in radio. (I mostly did rock radio before coming to K 104.7) Despite having played that song so much, I still get happy when I hear it. The song takes me back to the summer of 1983. I was 13 years old. The "Pyromania" album was one of the first cassettes I ever bought.

When I hear "Photograph" I immediately think of Myrtle Beach in 1983, going to the Magic Attic, and lying about my age to boys. LOL! The song takes me back to a happy time in my life, with very few worries. It screams fun to me, and I still love it. You get a thrill seeing the musicians you had posters of on your wall, the ones you saw on MTV. And that's exactly how all of the bands on The Stadium Tour made people feel. The music brings back amazing memories, memories that many of us will have forever.