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Look what the lawyers dragged in; Poison sued for alleged plagiarism Tweet

Members of Poison have been hit with a lawsuit claiming that four of their songs were stolen from another band.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Illinois federal court, isn’t over recently created work, but rather over old hits, including “Talk Dirty To Me,” “I Won’t Forget You,” “Fallen Angel” and “Ride the Wind.”

The plaintiffs in this new case are Billy McCarthy and James Stonich, who were members of a Chicago band known as Kid Rocker. This band was formerly signed to Atlantic Records and is said to have been a favorite on the Hollywood club scene in the early-1980s. During those years, they created a number of songs, including “Hit and Run” and “Wham Bam Slammin’ Romance,” which are said to have later been incorporated by Poison in their own work.

According to the plaintiffs, in 1984, before guitarist C.C. DeVille joined Poison, he auditioned for Kid Rocker. During this time, he allegedly was shown completed and formatted songs and was lent master-recorded studio tapes. Kid Rocker disbanded that year, but McCarthy purportedly presented songs for DeVille’s use as a member of another band, Screamin’ Mimis. Then DeVille joined Poison, and the rest is history. In 2004 McCarthy was asked by Sleaze Roxx how much of a hand he had in writing “Talk Dirty To Me” and replied, “I was the only hand in the arrangement–which Poison karaoke’d off Screamin Mimi’s version. If others differ, I’m waiting to hear or see it.” Poison became one of the stars of the glam era as their debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In, sold approximately 4 million copies.

Now, 25 years later, McCarthy and Stonich are suing members of Poison plus Capitol Records and EMI Music for allegedly infringing the copyright on their songs. The plaintiffs are demanding disgorgement of all profits from the songs in question, statutory damages for willful infringement, and an injunction that prevents Poison and Michaels from performing this allegedly stolen material.

Guns N’ Roses 2011 US Tour Dates Tweet

Guns N’ Roses announced just recently that they’ll be touring the US for the first time in 5 years. Axl and the boys are said to be performing two and a half our shows playing all of GNR’s hits.

The current incarnation of Guns N’ Roses is: Axl Rose, DJ Ashba (guitar), Dizzy Reed (keyboards), Tommy Stinson (bass), Richard Fortus (guitar), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (guitar), Chris Pitman (keyboards) and Frank Ferrer (drums).

Tour Dates:

Friday, 28 October 2011 – Orlando FL – Amway Center

Saturday, 29 October 2011 – Miami FL – American Airlines Arena

Monday, 31 October 2011 – Greenville SC – BI-LO Center

Wednesday, 02 November 2011 – Atlanta GA – Philips Arena

Friday, 04 November 2011 – Houston TX – Toyota Center

Saturday, 05 November 2011 – Dallas TX – Gexa Energy Pavilion

Tuesday, 08 November 2011 – Omaha NE – CenturyLink Center Omaha

Wednesday, 09 November 2011 – Norman OK – Lloyd Noble Center

Saturday, 12 November 2011 – Kansas City MO – Sprint Center

Sunday, 13 November 2011 – Minneapolis MN – Target Center

Tuesday, 15 November 2011 – Rosemont IL – Allstate Arena

Thursday, 17 November 2011 – East Rutherford NJ – Izod Center

Saturday, 19 November 2011 – Hartford CT – Comcast Theater

Sunday, 20 November 2011 Wilkes-Barre PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Wednesday, 23 November 2011 – Albany NY – Times Union Center

Friday, 25 November 2011 – Worcester MA – DCU Center

Saturday, 26 November 2011 – Camden NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center

Thursday, 01 December 2011 – Auburn Hills MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills

Friday, 02 December 2011 – Cincinnati OH – U.S. Bank Arena

Sunday, 04 December 2011 – Nashville TN – Bridgestone Arena

Wednesday, 07 December 2011 – Youngstown OH – Covelli Centre

For more info, check out GunsNRoses.com.

Sesame Street asks back in 1984, “What is a computer?” Tweet

80′s pic of the day: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton Tweet

1981 Fleer #6A Steve Carlton Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Card (Click photo to enlarge)

On September 21, 1981, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton strikes out the 3,118th batter of his career to break Bob Gibson’s National League record for career strikeouts. Even though Carlton had 10 shutout innings and 12 strikeouts, the Phillies lost the marathon game to the Montreal Expos in the 17th inning, 1-0.

Also today in 1981, the Phillies and Expos were engaged in a tight battle for the NL East title in a strike-shortened season. Carlton displayed his usual dominance, faltering only in the third inning when he allowed the Expos to load the bases before striking out Andre Dawson to retire the side. The strikeout was Carlton’s 3,118th, giving him the National League record for most career strikeouts. Carlton went on to strike out 10 more batters on the night, allowing no runs. The game was the longest in the majors that year.

Carlton won his fourth Cy Young Award in 1982, his 17th season in the majors. He retired in 1988 with 4,136 career strikeouts and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994, his first year of eligibility.

Eighties Halloween (or 80′s party) costume ideas Tweet

Women's 80's Groupie Adult Costume

It’s getting close to that time of year again! Time to think about what you (or your kids) are going to be for Halloween or that 80′s party you just invited to. There’s no need to panic — i80s has you hooked up with lots of 80′s costume ideas to choose from!

Some of the eighties styles are actually back again so you can find lots of day glow or fluorescent colored clothes, checkered clothes and shoes, and punk-ish type attire (without being too punk-ish of course) at your local shopping mall. This way you can accessorize your (or your child’s) 80′s costume quite easily.

80′s Costume Ideas

• Smurfs
• Mario Brothers / Super Mario Brothers (kids) (adults)
• Rubik’s Cube (men’s) (women’s)
• Olivia Newton John – Let’s Get Physical costume
• Madonna (Like A Virgin costume)
• Valley Girl
• 80′s Diva
• The Preppy look – Collar up, pastels, sweaters wrapped around shoulders, penny loafers, etc.
• Flashdance
• Pretty In Pink
• 80′s Rocker / Hairband
• Mullet  / Redneck / Billy Ray Cyrus Wig
• Cute 80′s Pop Party costume
• Joan Jett
• Toni Basil (Although some folks might just think you’re a cheerleader)
• Punky Brewster
• M.C. Hammer / 80′s Rapper type costumes
• Karate Kid costume
• Michael Jackson
• Cyndi Lauper
• Twisted Sister (Dee Snyder)
• Devo
• Break dancer – Parachute pants, tight shirt, sneakers and carry a boombox!
• Mr. T
• 80′s Groupie
• Wham! costume (can also be used for just a normal 80′s dude or chick) – White pants, a CHOOSE LIFE or similar large lettered shirt (men’s)(woman’s), white sneakers, and do your hair up in an eighties kind of way (women – teased, sprayed, blown) (men – also blow-dried and/or gelled).
• Miami Vice

For more 80′s Fashion ideas, check out our 80′s Fads & Fashion page or our 80′s Costumes Gallery in our Forums. If you have some ideas of your own that you would like to share, please post them here or send us an email!

Eighties pic of the day: Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco Tweet

Princess Grace of Monaco

Today’s 80′s picture of the day is Princess Grace of Monaco.

On this day in 1982, Princess Grace of Monaco — the American-born former film star Grace Kelly, whose movie credits include The Country Girl and Rear Window — dies at the age of 52 from injuries suffered after her car plunged off a mountain road near Monte Carlo.

During the height of her Hollywood career in the 1950s, Kelly became an international icon of beauty and glamor.

New music releases from artists of the 80′s – 9/13/2011 Tweet

I am excited to report that there are quite a few artists that performed in the 1980′s that have new albums (and some remastered re-releases) out today. All from diverse types of music genres.

With artists like Alice Cooper, Blondie, Queen, George Strait, Beastie Boys (among others), I think you would agree that today is a fantastic new music release day!

	A Dramatic Turn of Events (Special Edition) (CD+DVD): Dream Theater Dream Theater’s A Dramatic Turn of Events is an album born from transition, crafted with studied persistence and possessed by new found freedom and free-flowing invigoration. The album strikes the perfect balance between Dream Theater’s intimate history with all that is heavy, progressive and melodic with each element fully realized. Longtime fans of the band intrigued by the speediness of the notes on display from Dream Theater have much to study on the album…
	Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play The Blues New York City’s premier jazz venue got the blues last April when Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton performed together in Rose Theater at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center for two sold-out shows dedicated to vintage blues. The extraordinary collaboration, billed as Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play the Blues, paired these musical virtuosos with members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra as they brought to life a repertoire of songs selected by Clapton and arranged by Marsalis.
	Anthrax: Worship Music Worship Music, the long awaited new studio album from Anthrax, one of the four original architects of speed and thrash metal, has been confirmed for a September 13 release date, the day before the band’s triumphant return to their native New York to play at Yankee Stadium as part of the Big Four concert extravaganza. Not only is Worship Music Anthrax’s first studio release in eight years, but the album marks the return of vocalist Joey Belladonna…
	Panic of Girls: Blondie Blondie has come a long way from CBGB s and the Bowery, having sold more than 40 million albums globally and repeatedly reaching the top of the charts over a course of four decades with such hits as ‘One Way Or Another’, ‘Heart of Glass’, ‘Rapture and Maria’. In 2006 Blondie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
	Welcome 2 My Nightmare: Alice Cooper Alice Cooper’s widely anticipated new album, Welcome 2 My Nightmare, recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, who produced the original multi-platinum "Welcome To My Nightmare", picks up right where they left off, with Alice trapped in his own warped mind. Musically, the album ranges far and wide, from trashing disco to garage punk, pop balladry to a rocking number, very much in the spirit of the Rolling Stones. Glimpses of themes from the original album are intertwined throughout, each track representing a different aspect of Alice’s nightmare.
	Icon: George Strait With a career stretching more than three decades and one filled with a record-setting lengthy string of No. 1 country chart hits, George Strait is a living legend–and his status in the ranks of country music is assuredly iconic. Strait can fill volumes of hit packages and this ICON collection is no exception and provides a great cross-section of Strait! Typical down-home humor with a twist is evident in the form of "Ocean Front Property" and "All My Ex’s Live in Texas."
	Queen 40 Limited Edition Collector’s Box Set Volume 2 Queen’s 40th anniversary is now upon us, and the band pulls out all the stops to celebrate this historic occasion. Queen’s second collection of studio albums remastered in deluxe reissue editions with rare bonus material all in one collectible box with a 24 panel Poster for the ultimate Queen fan. Albums included in the box: News of the World, Jazz, The Game, Flash Gordon, and Hot Space.
	A Foreign Affair: Spyro Gyra Spyro Gyra started out with the rhythms of the world. From the samba rhythms and Caribbean feel of their early hits to the latest album, they have made it a point to embrace the music of the places they have visited. Their new album, A Foreign Affair, is ready to take you around the world from the Caribbean to South America, and even to South Africa, India and Japan.
	Nine Tonight [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]: Bob Seger Recorded at Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI and Boston Garden, Boston, MA, Bob Seger’s milestone live album is remastered for the first time ever and contains an exclusive never before released bonus track "Brave Strangers". Nine Tonight features the live versions of massive hits such as: "Old Time Rock And Roll," "Hollywood Nights," "Against The Wind," and "Night Moves". This remastered version also features restored artwork and updated packaging.
	Live Bullet [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]: Bob Seger Bob Seger scored several regional hits in Detroit and surrounding Midwest states during the late ’60s–but it seemed he was destined to be a rock footnote when he recorded this live epic at Detroit’s very partisan Cobo Arena in 1976. Seger had already released six Capitol LPs to little national attention at this point, but Live Bullet showcased him at his rockin’ best–kind of like the Motor City’s own Springsteen–and it caught on.
	[Re]Production: Todd Rundgren As producer of some of Rock music s biggest aritsts including Meat Loaf, Badfinger, Grand Funk Railroad, XTC, New York Dolls, Psychedelic Furs, Patti Smith, Hall & Oates, Todd is regarded as one of the most creative record producers of all-time. [re]Pro­duction celbrates Rundgren s credentials as a Producer with a relevant, fresh, and contemporary dance twist.
	From Newport to London Greatest Hits Live & More: Basia Polish vocalist Basia Trzetrzelewska spent several years in the pop band Matt Bianco, an offshoot of Blue Rondo à la Turk, before launching a solo career in 1987. With the musical assistance of Matt Bianco’s Danny White, she developed a subtle cocktail jazz-pop first showcased on her 1987 debut album, Time and Tide. Supported by the singles "New Day for You" and "Time and Tide," the record became a hit in Europe and America, where the album went platinum.
	The Lowdown: Beastie Boys From hardcore punk to rare groove and funk, the Beastie Boys have managed to fuse together numerous types of music to create their own inimitable style and gain worldwide critical acclaim as well as huge chart-busting hits. The Lowdown tells the full story of this extraordinary group and includes interviews with all the Boys, audio biography telling it the way it happened and is completed with booklets, poster and rare photographs to make for a future collector’s item…
	Wonderous Stories-the Best of Yes [Import]: Yes 2011 two CD compilation from the Prog Rockers. Yes are one of British Progressive Rock’s greatest and most enduring bands. This collection is the ideal Yes primer, taking a panoramic sweep from their early days in the late 1960s, through such classics as the rapturous `And You And I’ and on into the late ’70 and early ’80s, when the band scored global hit singles with classics such as `Wonderous Stories’ `Going For The One’ and `Owner Of A Lonely Heart’.

In Memory of Jani Lane – Official Warrant video – Heaven Country Club Tweet

Posted August 12, 2011 on the Official Warrant YouTube page:

“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Jani’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Jani was a very important part of our lives for a long time. We will always be incredibly proud of the music we created together. He was a true talent and will be missed by all of us.”

Former Warrant lead singer Jani Lane found dead Tweet

Jani Lane, the former lead singer of the 1980’s glam metal band Warrant, has been found dead in a Woodland Hills, California hotel. He was 47.

The body of the singer, whose real name was John Kennedy Oswald, was discovered at the Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills Thursday night.

Police say the cause of death has not yet released.

According to the celebrity website TMZ, Lane, 47, had a history of alcohol-related issues including a DUI charge in 2010, which he served 120 days in jail. See also TMZ’s “Remembering Jani Lane” photo montage.

Warrant’s first two albums, “Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich” in 1989 and “Cherry Pie” in 1990, sold more than two million copies each, making them the band’s most successful work.

Lane later left the bad to pursue a solo career and released his first album, appropriately called “Back Down to One,” in 2003.

On the singer’s website, Lane reminds his fans that “everyday above ground is a gift and I’m truly grateful for each and every one of you!!!”

In recent years, he appeared in VH1′s Celebrity Fit Club. The singer is survived by his ex-wife Bobbie Brown and his 19-year-old daughter, Taylor.

Rockers Slash, Nikki Sixx, and Steven Adler (former drummer of Guns N’ Roses) have paid tribute to former Warrant star Jani Lane.

Lane’s rock peers were stunned by the tragic news, and have taken to their Twitter pages to express their grief over his passing.

Bret Michaels (via Twitter) tells fans, “We’d like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Jani Lane regarding their loss.”

Sixx states (via Twitter), “I just heard the sad news about Janie (sic) Lane. So hard to swallow when people have kids. RIP”, while Adler adds, “Jani Lane, you were a great talent. The world will miss you. R.I.P. my brother.”

In a post on his page on the microblogging site, Slash writes, “Just heard about Jani Lane. What a shame. RIP man.”

Feeling Smurfy? New 3D Smurf movie ‘The Smurfs’ opens July 29, 2011 Tweet

They’re blue, they’re cute, they’re cuddly and they are coming to the big screen! Friday, July 29th our little blue cartoon friends we all love from the 80′s make the jump from 2D television cartoon land to the ever-so-popular 3D live-action/CGI. This family film is based on The Smurfs comic book series created by Peyo and the 1980s animated TV series it spawned.

The Smurfs (movie) was directed by Raja Gosnell and stars Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Winters, Hank Azaria, Jayma Mays, and Sofía Vergara. This is the the first CGI/live-action hybrid film in The Smurfs trilogy.

Plot

In the Middle Ages, the evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria) discovers the Smurfs’ village and chases them into a wooded area. The Smurfs get scattered and Clumsy Smurf (voiced by Anton Yelchin) wanders into a “forbidden” grotto and some of the other Smurfs follow. Since it’s also a blue moon, a magical portal within the grotto transports them into present-day Central Park in New York. They take shelter with married couple Patrick and Grace Winslow (Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays) and try to find a way back to their village before Gargamel finds them.

Trailer

Official Smurf Links

The Smurfs’ Official Site
The Smurfs’ Official Movie Site
The Smurfs’ – Official Teaser [HD]
The Smurfs’ – Official Trailer 2 [HD]
The Smurfs’ – Official Trailer 3 [HD]
Smurf Yourself

Smurf DVD’s & Stuff