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Live ’80s Kansas City Concert News & History

Follow the Live ’80s Kansas City news and history page featuring ’80s music and movie updates, including specialty concerts and tours, new album and Blu-ray release information and more.

Iconic hard rock band Kix performs select dates throughout the rest of the year and is set to hit the stage at Kansas City’s The Scene K.C. Rock Bar on Saturday, October 22. Founded in Hagerstown, Maryland in 1977, Kix (originally known as The Shooze and then The Generators) was considered one of the foremost cover bands in its home state. In 1981, the group signed with Atlantic Records and released its self-titled debut album defining its distinct popmetal style, which combines bubblegum pop and the new wave sound with hard rock. The band’s slightly more commercialized follow-up album “Cool Kids” was…

Lionsgate Home Entertainment made a thrilling announcement on August 1 about the return of Vestron Video, the pioneering home video company active between 1981 and 1992. During that time, it owned the Time-Life Video movies, released B movies and films on VHS from the Cannon Films library and distributed other titles as The Movie Store, plus managed the US distribution, marketing and sales of films from VidAmerica. Today, Lionsgate Home Entertainment possesses most of the Vestron Video holdings. With the news came a list of upcoming, out-of-print films set for re-release with a ton of extra features as a part of…

Bob Saget is set to perform live in stand-up at Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland on the Sunday evening of September 18. The Grammy Award-nominated comedian first rose to fame when he graced home audiences via network television. After a brief period with the CBS news show “My Morning Program” in 1987, Saget was cast as father Danny Tanner in the highly-acclaimed family-friendly sitcom “Full House” (1987–1995). Two years later, he landed the spot as host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (1989–1997), which he worked simultaneously. Continuing in his fortuitous career, Saget imparts a wide array of talents from…

Welsh musician Mike Peters along with his band The Alarm has embarked on a thrilling North American tour with both one-man and full-band shows and is scheduled to make a stop at Knuckleheads Saloon in the east bottoms of Kansas City for a solo acoustic performance on September 27. The alternative rock and new wave band originally formed in 1981 and had its biggest hit in Britain with “Sixty Eight Guns” (1983) [No. 17]. That tune was included on the record “Declaration” (1984), which helped take it all the way to No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart. In the…

Join the thrill of the Rhythm ‘N Balloons festival at Hodge Park in Kansas City, Missouri on August 26–28 featuring the magic of hot air balloons along with live performances from regional and national musical artists. A total of 14 bands will perform throughout the 3-day event, including Eddie Money as the headlining act of the opening night along with his son, Dez Money. Catch all of the classic hits like “Baby Hold On,” “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Walk on Water.” Visit the festival website for a full schedule of events and show lineups. Tickets available online for…

Peter Cetera topped the pop chart on this day 30 years ago with the single “Glory of Love” (1986). It was originally recorded to serve as the end title track for “Rocky IV” (1985), but United Artists passed on the song and it became the theme for the martial arts drama film “The Karate Kid, Part II” (1986) starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. Check out the music video featuring clips from the cult classic. It was Cetera’s first hit following his departure from the band Chicago of which he was an original member. Although he pitched working on his solo career…

Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City announced that legendary rocker Bret Michaels is set to bring his “The Party Starts Now” tour to the Star Pavilion on Saturday, October 29. Michaels gained his initial success as the frontman of the glam metal band Poison. The group went multi-platinum with its first three albums. “Look What the Cat Dragged In” (1986) reached No. 3 on the albums chart while “Open Up and Say… Ahh!” (1988) and “Flesh & Blood” (1990) both reached No. 2. The band’s first album spawned its first Top 10 hit, “Talk Dirty to Me.” The follow-up album created another Top 10…

Prepare to be Vixen-ized as the only all-female platinum-selling rock band of the 1980s performs live at Kansas City’s The Scene K.C. Rock Bar on Saturday, August 13 featuring Jan Gardner (vocals), Roxy Petrucci (drums), Share Pedersen (bass) and Gina Stile (guitar). Founded in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1973 by guitarist Jan Kuehnemund, Vixen went on to gain notoriety playing the Sunset Strip. An early roster appeared in the comedy film “Hardbodies” (1984), leading to a cross-country move to Los Angeles in 1985 to further the band’s career. After some initial changes in crew, Kuehnemund formed the classic lineup with Gardner,…

Original members of London’s profoundly influential new wave band Culture Club have reunited and embarked on a world tour, which is set to hit the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City on Wednesday, July 27. Fronted by the flamboyant Boy George, the group formed in 1981 and was an instant international success upon the release of its debut album, “Kissing to Be Clever” (1982). The record reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and featured three hit singles on the pop chart—”Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” [No. 2], “Time (Clock of the Heart)” [No. 2] and “l’ll Tumble…

John Hughes’ cult classic film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” opened in theaters today in 1986. Released by Paramount Pictures, it was the 10th highest-grossing film that year with $70.1+ million in domestic sales. In the movie, Matthew Broderick stars as Ferris, a senior high school student who fakes sickness and ditches class, meanwhile entertaining himself around downtown Chicago as the institution’s dean attempts to catch him in the act. Mia Sara and Alan Ruck star alongside Broderick as his girlfriend Sloane Peterson and best friend Cameron Frye. This city is where Hughes lived from age 13 and where he received…

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