Pop Goes the ’80s arrives at The Orleans Arena on Sept. 20, and the six bands headlining the concert are A Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung, Naked Eyes, Annabella’s BowWowWow (replacing The Escape Club), When in Rome and Tommy Tutone.
Grammy Award-winning A Flock of Seagulls played a significant role in shaping the music scene of the 1980s. The group, comprised of Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds, achieved success on the charts with hit singles including “I Ran (So Far Away)” and “The More You Live, the More You Love.” Their instrumental track “D.N.A.” also earned them a Grammy Award.
Wang Chung, the London-based duo of Nick Feldman and Jack Hues, has been a prominent new wave group for nearly 40 years. They have created hits such as 1989’s “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” Their music has been featured in films, video games and TV series.
Naked Eyes gained popularity in the early 1980s through the collaboration of Pete Bryne and Rob Fisher. Drawing inspiration from 1960s vocalists, they recorded a rendition of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Always Something There to Remind Me,” which resonated with fans. The duo continued to release music that garnered airplay on U.S. radio stations and secured a frequent spot on MTV.
Formed in the early 1980s, Annabella’s BowWowWow is led by Annabella Lwin. The band is known for a catalog full of classics, including “C30, C60, C90 Go,” “Go Wild in the Country,” “Do You Wanna Hold Me” and “I Want Candy.” Their distinctive sound and style have inspired The Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt and Green Day.
An English synth-pop/new wave band, When in Rome was formed by singers Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann, along with keyboardist Michael Floreale. Their most famous track, “The Promise,” reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. The group has had successful shows in the USA and South America, and they are currently touring and working on new music. Tommy Tutone is a power pop band led by vocalist
Tommy Heath and guitarist Jim Keller. Their debut 1980 single “Angel Say No” made it to the Top 40, but it was their 1981 hit “867-5309/Jenny” that propelled them to stardom, reaching No. 4 and earning a gold certification in 1982. The band released their first studio album in more than 20 years, titled “Beautiful Ending,” in 2019.
More: OrleansArena.com
