Someone who saw my “Me & 80s bands” video compilation thingy on youtube wrote me an enigmatic email, saying, “You have quite advanced technicial skills, and I think you know what I mean. Unfortunately you gave yourself away in a couple of the shots near the end of your clip.” With a the help of a couple friends, I realized she was...

When: September 13, 1986 Where: Greek Theatre, Berkeley And: I met up with the lads in UB40 for the second time at the entrance to the backstage area at the gorgeous Greek Theatre in the Oakland/Berkeley hills. They were all sweet and great once again. My only complaint: illegible handwriting. Besides Ali’s, I have no idea now whose autographs have been sitting...

When: Around February of 1985 Where: San Francisco – their hotel and the Warfield Theater And: Ahhh… the very first band I met, on their Geffery Morgan… tour. Guess you could say I was never the same after that “Cherry Oh Baby” (it’s a song UB40 covered on Labour of Love, guys) was popped, huh? My friends (four or five of us) met...

A silly, pointless — that is, typically 80s — video from 1984 for the track that was the current single around the time I first met them. Features some cute interplay between the brothers Campbell. And for more from...