Harry & David Field Adds 80s Flashback Night
April 11, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Medford Rogues News Release
MEDFORD, OR - Harry & David Field is proud to announce a return to the 80s on August 22, 2014. The latest in the venue's "Live at the Ballpark" series brings A Flock of Seagulls, Tommy Tutone and Animotion to Medford for "80s Flashback Night." Show time is 7 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m. The show is presented by Airport Chevrolet, Guitar Center, Fox 26 and The Drive 102.7.
"This one should be a blast," Harry & David Field and Medford Rogues General Manager Chuck Heeman said. "We floated the idea of an 80's flashback night to a lot of people locally and the response has been terrific, so we pulled the trigger and we're looking forward to a great night at the ballpark. For so many of us who grew up with these bands it'll be a chance to reach into the past and have a night of fun."
A Flock of Seagulls are an English new wave band originally formed in Liverpool by brothers Mike Score (keyboards, vocals) and Alister "Ali" James Score (drums), with Francis Lee (Frank) Maudsley (bass), and Paul Reynolds (guitar). Score remains as lead singer and keyboard player.
The group had a string of international hit singles including "I Ran (So Far Away)," "Space Age Love Song," "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" and "The More You Live, the More You Love," and became notable in the 1980s for their video for the song "I Ran (So Far Away)". The band also won a Grammy Award in 1983 for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. "I Ran (So Far Away)," "Space Age Love Song," "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" and "The More You Live, the More You Love,"
Renowned for Score's unique hairstyle - which was intended to resemble a seagull - the legacy of A Flock of Seagulls is as something of a joke band, but they have also been hailed as pioneers.
Tommy Tutone is a power pop band, best known for its 1982 hit "867-5309/Jenny," which peaked at No.ÃÂ 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song became so popular that people still dial this telephone number and ask for Jenny as a prank. Regarding the famous number, "We had people threatening to sue us. It was the Buffalo Chief of Police's daughter's number in New York," said frontman Tommy Heath. Although the band is frequently remembered as a one-hit wonder, it already had another Top-40 hit with "Angel Say No" from 1980.
A common misconception is that Tommy Tutone is the name of the lead singer; it is actually the name of the band. Tommy Heath is the lead singer. The name of the band developed from its original name, Tommy and the Tu-tones, to merely Tommy Tutone.
Animotion is a 1980s American New Wave/synthpop band from Los Angeles, California best known for their songs "Obsession," "Let Him Go," "I Engineer," and "Room to Move". Formed in 1983 from the remnants of a retro science-fiction band called Red Zone, they signed a record deal with Polygram Records in 1984 and made three albums.
Animotion originally had six members, four of whom (lead singer Astrid Plane, keyboardist Paul Antonelli, bassist Charles Ottavio, and drummer David "Frenchy" O'Brien) were in Red Zone. After the demise of that band, the four aforementioned members set about creating a new group. Lead singer/guitarist Bill Wadhams joined soon thereafter to form Animotion. Around this nucleus, lead guitarist Don Kirkpatrick was brought on board, completing the line-up. They released their self-titled debut album in 1984. The following year, a single from this album, "Obsession", became a worldwide success and the band's first Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten single. The follow-up single from this album, "Let Him Go" also cracked the U.S. Top 40.
Animotion toured extensively through the 1980s, appearing alongside such performers as Phil Collins, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, Genesis, Howard Jones, INXS, and Simply Red. In the late 80s Animotion went through many personnel changes and finally broke up in 1989.
Many of the original members reunited for the first of several reformations on February 8, 2001, in response to a request from Alex Hart and 94.7 NRK Radio Station in Portland, Oregon, performing for a sold-out crowd. In the summer of 2005, founding members Wadhams, Plane and Ottavio appeared as "Animotion" in the American version of the TV show "Hit Me Baby One More Time," performing their hit "Obsession" and a cover of Dirty Vegas' "Days Go By." In 2008, Animotion again reunited in a line-up including original members Wadhams, Plane, Ottavio, and Kirkpatrick; veteran keyboardist Greg Smith; and drummer Kevin Rankin for a few touring dates along the West Coast. That lineup continues to tour today.
Tickets for this event are on sale now through www.roguesevents.com.
For more information on the August 22 "80s Flashback Night" call the Medford Rogues at 541-973-2883 or visit www.roguesevents.com.
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