Stuck in the '80s Podcast

Steve Spears
  • 4.6 (307)
  • Music History
  • Updated Biweekly

The longest-running ’80s podcast—featuring interviews with music legends, movie stars, and MTV icons. Deep dives, debates, and Gen X nostalgia every week. Hosted by Steve Spears and Brad Williams, the show blends sharp takes with insider stories from the people who lived it. From ’80s music and movies to MTV culture and pop culture history, each episode goes deeper than nostalgia to uncover what made the decade unforgettable.

  1. 6d ago

    Bruce Woolley: The Man Who Helped Kill the Radio Star

    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.

    Bruce Woolley: The Man Who Helped Kill the Radio Star

  2. Oct 15

    Classic Episode: Backstage at “We Are the ’80s” — 20 Years Later

    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.

    Classic Episode: Backstage at “We Are the ’80s” — 20 Years Later

  3. Oct 3

    When in Rome’s Andrew Mann on “The Promise,” “Human Nature” and What Comes Next

    Few synth-pop songs from the late ’80s have enjoyed a second life quite like When in Rome’s “The Promise.” Released in 1988, the song became the band’s signature hit, but its story didn’t end there. Years later, a memorable appearance at the end of Napoleon Dynamite introduced “The Promise” to a whole new generation and helped turn it into one of those ’80s songs that seems to keep finding new fans. This week on Stuck in the ’80s, Steve talks with Andrew Mann of When in Rome about the band’s beginnings, the creation and lasting appeal of “The Promise,” and the unusual journey that took him from writing poetry in Manchester to fronting a synth-pop band. Andrew also looks back at When in Rome’s self-titled debut album, the band’s connection with American audiences and the twists and turns that followed its original run. And this isn’t just a conversation about the past. When in Rome is once again making new music, including the single “Human Nature,” with a new album, Illumination, on the way. It’s a conversation about one unforgettable song, an unexpected second act and what happens when a band associated with one particular moment in the ’80s discovers the story still isn’t finished. Ready to take your ’80s obsession to sea? Join Stuck in the ’80s aboard The 80s Cruise, packed with live music, celebrity guests, trivia, theme nights and thousands of fellow ’80s fans. Use promo code STUCK when booking to 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.

    When in Rome’s Andrew Mann on “The Promise,” “Human Nature” and What Comes Next

  4. Sep 26

    Always Something There to Remind Me: Remembering Pete Byrne of Naked Eyes

    Some episodes of Stuck in the ’80s are harder to record than others. This week, Steve goes solo to remember Pete Byrne, the unmistakable voice of Naked Eyes, who has passed away at age 74. For millions of music fans, Pete will always be remembered for the synth-pop classics "Always Something There to Remind Me" and "Promises, Promises." But for Steve, Pete was much more than the voice behind two of the decade's most beloved songs. An interview during the early days of Stuck in the ’80s grew into a friendship, one of the unexpected gifts of hosting this podcast for more than two decades. In this special tribute, Steve revisits that original conversation with Pete, celebrating the music, memories and friendship of a man whose voice helped define the sound of the ’80s. Rest easy, Pete. There will always be something there to remind us of you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Always Something There to Remind Me: Remembering Pete Byrne of Naked Eyes

  5. Sep 17

    Live Aid Runaways: Chasing a Dream to the Biggest Concert of the ’80s

    What if you were 16 years old in the summer of 1985, armed with little more than a Sony Walkman, a few cassette tapes and the belief that somehow — some way — you had to make it to Live Aid? That’s the idea at the heart of Live Aid Runaways, the new novel by Shane Robitaille. Shane joins the podcast along with researcher Livi Stanford to take us behind the scenes of a story that mixes fictional characters with one of the most unforgettable real-life events of the decade. The novel follows teenagers Nick Stark and Stacy Rivera as they make their way toward Philadelphia and JFK Stadium, where Live Aid would bring together some of the biggest names in music on July 13, 1985. But getting the details right required more than simply firing up an old Live Aid video. Shane and Livi talk with us about the extensive research behind the book, including conversations with fans, broadcasters, performers and others who helped recreate not only what happened onstage, but what it actually felt like to experience that remarkable day. We also talk about why Live Aid still holds such a powerful place in Gen X memory, the challenge of weaving real history into fiction, the music that helped shape the characters and the strange joy of returning to 1985 — at least for a few hundred pages. Frankly, if someone could turn Live Aid Runaways into an actual time machine, we’d happily pack a Walkman and climb aboard. COME SAIL WITH STUCK IN THE ’80s Want even more ’80s nostalgia — only this time with an ocean view? Join us aboard The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of the decade we refuse to leave behind. Stuck in the ’80s will once again be part of the fun, with live podcasts, trivia and plenty of opportunities to celebrate the music, movies and pop culture that made the decade unforgettable. When you book, use promo code STUCK and receive $250 in onboard credit per cabin. Find out more at The80sCruise.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Live Aid Runaways: Chasing a Dream to the Biggest Concert of the ’80s

  6. Sep 10

    Remembering Dolly Parton: The Songs, Stories and Legacy of an American Icon

    There really was nobody else quite like Dolly Parton. In this special episode of Stuck in the ’80s, we remember Dolly — the songwriter, singer, actress, entrepreneur and wonderfully funny human being who somehow became a national treasure without ever seeming like she was trying to be one. Joining us is longtime friend of the show Annie Zaleski, music journalist and author of the new book Dolly Parton: The Stories Behind the Songs. Annie takes us inside Dolly’s extraordinary songbook, from the classics everybody knows to the deeper cuts that reveal just how gifted a songwriter she really was. Of course, we spend plenty of time in our favorite decade, when Dolly became a full-fledged pop-culture superstar thanks to 9 to 5, “Islands in the Stream,” The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, “Real Love” and a run of music and movies that made her seemingly impossible to avoid — not that anybody particularly wanted to. But this episode is about more than the hits. It’s about what made Dolly different, why her music connected with so many people, the humor and humanity behind the rhinestones, and the enormous legacy she leaves behind. Join us as we celebrate the life, songs and stories of Dolly Parton. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Remembering Dolly Parton: The Songs, Stories and Legacy of an American Icon

  7. Sep 3

    Book of Love and the Synth-Pop Bands We Wish We’d Heard More From

    Some ’80s bands sold millions of records. Some filled arenas. Some became so permanently embedded in pop culture that you can’t walk through a grocery store without hearing them over the frozen peas. And then there are the bands that somehow found us anyway. This week on Stuck in the ’80s, we’re celebrating Book of Love and a handful of other synth-pop bands that deserved a little more attention the first time around — and whose music might sound even better today. Our centerpiece is a conversation with Book of Love singer Susan Ottaviano. Book of Love arrived in the mid-’80s with a sound that never fit comfortably into one box. Were they synth-pop? New wave? Alternative? Dance? College rock? Maybe the fact that nobody could quite figure that out is one reason the music has aged so well. Susan talks with Spearsy about the band’s beginnings, the influence of groups such as The Cure and The Slits, the importance of New York’s music and art scene, and what Book of Love learned when they suddenly found themselves touring with Depeche Mode. There’s also a fascinating discussion about what happens to music decades after its original release. Songs get rediscovered. Movies and streaming introduce bands to people who weren’t alive the first time around. Music that once sounded like it belonged to a very specific moment can suddenly sound contemporary again. And then comes our favorite question: the Podcast Time Machine. If Susan could go back and change one moment in Book of Love history, what would she do? Her answer: Get a better lawyer. Ouch. She also considers another tantalizing bit of alternate ’80s history: What might have happened if Book of Love had ended up on Mute Records, the label famously associated with Depeche Mode? Susan also gives us an update on Book of Love’s future. This could be the band’s final full tour, although she says the group still plans to make more music. After the interview, Brad and Spearsy keep the synthesizers plugged in for five more bands from the second half of the ’80s that they wish more people had discovered. There’s Canada’s Kon Kan, whose “I Beg Your Pardon” brilliantly repurposed Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden” for the dance floor. Germany gives us Cetu Javu and Camouflage, two bands that inevitably drew comparisons to Depeche Mode. Australia contributes Boxcar, who had the unenviable task of bringing electronic music into a guitar-heavy pub-rock scene. And finally there’s Red Flag, whose story begins with brothers Chris and Mark Reynolds and takes a much sadder turn in the years that followed. Maybe that’s part of the fun of being Stuck in the ’80s after all these years. There are still bands to rediscover, songs that deserve another spin and stories we somehow missed the first time around. So dust off the synthesizer, apply an unreasonable amount of reverb and join us for Book of Love — and five more synth-pop bands we wish we’d heard more from. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Book of Love and the Synth-Pop Bands We Wish We’d Heard More From

  8. Aug 31

    Streets of Fire: Revisiting Our Tribute 15 Years Later

    We all have that one movie from the ’80s. Maybe yours is Back to the Future. Maybe it’s The Breakfast Club, The Goonies or Say Anything. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the greatest movie ever made. It just has to be the movie that found you at exactly the right time and somehow never let go. For Steve, that movie has always been Streets of Fire. Walter Hill’s 1984 “rock & roll fable” gave us a strange and wonderful world of neon streets, roaring motorcycles, pounding music, Michael Paré, Diane Lane, Amy Madigan and a very young Willem Dafoe in one of the more memorable pairs of overalls in cinematic history. It wasn’t a box-office hit. It never became the franchise its creators once envisioned. But Streets of Fire found its audience over the years, becoming a cult favorite with a visual style and soundtrack that remain unmistakable more than four decades later. This week, we’re opening the Stuck in the ’80s archives and traveling back 15 years to revisit our original tribute to Streets of Fire, first released in 2011. And after you've taken that trip back with us, maybe ask yourself: What was your special movie of the ’80s? THE ’80s CRUISE Ready to stop merely talking about the ’80s and actually live them for a week? Join Stuck in the ’80s aboard The ’80s Cruise in 2027 for seven days of music, memories, trivia, questionable dancing and thousands of people who understand why the ’80s still matter this much to us. Use promo code STUCK when booking to receive $250 in onboard credit per cabin. Come sail with us. Because apparently spending 20-plus years talking about the ’80s still wasn't enough. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Streets of Fire: Revisiting Our Tribute 15 Years Later
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The longest-running ’80s podcast—featuring interviews with music legends, movie stars, and MTV icons. Deep dives, debates, and Gen X nostalgia every week. Hosted by Steve Spears and Brad Williams, the show blends sharp takes with insider stories from the people who lived it. From ’80s music and movies to MTV culture and pop culture history, each episode goes deeper than nostalgia to uncover what made the decade unforgettable.

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