Monday, December 9, 2024

The 1980’s

The Last Official John Lennon Photo Session

John Lennon’s was murdered on the 8th of December 1980, 44 years ago today. On that tragic day, the photographer Annie Leibovitz met Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono at their flat in The Dakota building in New York to shoot a photo for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Five hours after the image was taken, Lennon was killed by Mark David Chapman.

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The actor C. Thomas Howell celebrates 58 today

Howell’s acting career took off with his role as Tyler in Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” in 1982, and he gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Ponyboy Curtis in the 1983 Francis Ford Coppola’s movie “The Outsiders”

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Tom Waits celebrates 75 today

With an immense and respected body of work often blends elements of blues, jazz, and vaudeville, he created a unique sound that has garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base

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The legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads was born on this day in 1956

The Quiet Riot founder and Ozzy Osbourne’s band first guitarist, Randy Rhoads, is regarded as defining heavy metal lead guitar. He played a key role on developing Ozzy’s solo career signature sound and has influenced countless guitar players over the years. Randy passed away in 1982 at 25 but his strong legacy lives on. We recap his life and career

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The influential R.E.M. guitar player Peter Buck was born on this day in 1956

The R.E.M. founder and guitar player Peter Buck it’s one Alternative Rock’s most popular artists. Aside of R.E.M. Buck has collaborated with numerous artists and bands, being as a musician or producer, he was pivotal in the development of the Alternative Rock music and to this day a huge influence among guitar players and songwriters. We recap his life and career

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Roy Orbison passed away 36 years ago today

The influential singer and songwriter Roy Orbison left a more than thirty years legacy of absolute music classics such as “Crying,” “In Dreams,” “Oh Pretty Woman” and “You Got It.” On December 6th, 1988, Orbison passed away suddenly at the age of 52. We recap his life and career

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Remembering Tony Todd

Born on this day in 1954, the horror icon Tony Todd’s breakthrough came in 1990 when he starred as the iconic and terrifying Candyman in the film of the same name. 

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Remembering John Mayall

Often referred to as the “Godfather of British Blues,” his contributions to the genre are immeasurable. Through his work with the Bluesbreakers, he helped bring blues music to a wider audience and played a crucial role in the careers of some of rock and blues’ greatest musicians

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George Harrison: The Quiet Beatle

George Harrison’s life was cut short, but his influence in music can still be heard today, together with John Lennon, Harrison was the most daring of the four Beatles on what concerned experimenting with music. We look back at his life and career 23 years after his passing in 2001

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I am a photograph: The many lives of Amanda Lear in images

She rose to prominence as a fashion icon in the 1960s and served as muse to some of modern history’s most iconic figures, including Salvador Dali, David Bowie, and the Rolling Stones, but her origins remain one of Pop Culture’s most fascinating enigmas. Explore her fascinating life through over 100 photographs

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Kim Wilde turns 64 today

Kim Wilde stands as one of the greatest New Wave and Pop female artists of all time. The British singer scored several Hit singles during the 1980’s including “Kids in America,” “Cambodia,” “You Came” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”

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In 1985 Wham! “Make It Big” twice

In 1985 Wham! were one of the biggest pop bands (or duos) in the world and after a discreet debut with their first album “Fantastic” released in 1982, they went on to release their best selling and worldwide success “Make It Big” that included some of the 1980’s most memorable Pop music

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Remembering Hollywood legend Rock Hudson

He’s still considered to this day one of Hollywood’s biggest sex symbols ever, and one of its first heartthrobs, Rock Hudson, the legendary actor whose career accidentally became a shining example of Hollywood’s classical “star system”-style career promotion and ended in tragedy

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Whoopi Goldberg turns 69 today

The popular and much awarded actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg rose to worldwide stardom in the 1985 drama “The Color Purple” and has since became one of the most popular faces in both the big screen and TV

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Tony Todd 1954-2024

The horror icon Tony Todd’s breakthrough came in 1990 when he starred as the iconic and terrifying Candyman in the film of the same name. He passed away at age 69

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Rolling Stone magazine launches its first number in 1967

Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco, California in 1967, featuring John Lennon on the cover and offering a free roach clip to hold a marijuana joint. Over the years, despite controversy, the magazine has been able to maintain its position as the mother of all pop culture magazines

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Remembering Alain Delon on his birthday

The iconic French actor was throughout his career often regarded as one of the most beautiful men in the world. He rose to fame during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s and 1970s starred in numerous and timeless classics of European cinema that made him a revered figure in the film industry, with a career that spanned over six decades and more than 80 films

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The actress Sally Field celebrates 78 today

With a career spanning over six decades that started in the 1960s TV series Gidget, Sally Field’s film career skyrocketed in the 1980s with performance in the movie “Norma Rae” earning her first Academy Award for Best Actress in her career, followed by a second one for her role in “Places in the Heart”

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Quincy Jones turns 1933-2024

Record producer, actor, conductor, arranger, composer, musician, television producer, film producer, instrumentalist, magazine founder, entertainment company executive, and humanitarian, Quincy Jones was one of the most powerful and acclaimed figures of music and showbiz. He passed away on November 3rd at age 91

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Remembering the Hollywood legend Burt Lancaster

Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s, Lancaster solidified his place in Hollywood with a series of iconic roles including the one in the 1953 classic “From Here to Eternity” where his passionate beachside scene with Deborah Kerr became one of the most memorable moments in film history

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Ben Cooper Halloween Costumes from Yesteryear

During the 1940’s and 1950’s, Halloween costumes weren’t as advanced as ours today. Ben Cooper Inc. primarily manufactured Halloween costumes from the late 1930’s to the late 1980’s, remaining one of the three largest Halloween costume manufacturers ever in the U.S, take a moment and admire these iconic vintage Halloween costumes

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U2’s Larry Mullen Jr. turns 63 today

Larry Mullen Jr. co-founded U2 in 1976 after posting a message on the school’s notice board and became the drummer of the band. Today, U2 are one of the most influential and successful Rock bands over the last 40 plus years

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Julia Roberts Turns 57 Today

The ‘Pretty Woman’ and Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts turns 57 today. Roberts has one of the most illustrious careers in all of Hollywood. Here are 10 of the best performances in her over 30 plus-year career.

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Remembering the actor Bob Hoskins

In 1986, Hoskins achieved international fame with his role as gangster George in Mona Lisa, a performance that won him the BAFTA Award for Best Actor, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award nomination and in 1988 with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”

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Michael Jackson rises to No.1 with “Bad” in 1987

The song is one of the many hits Jackson scored from his album “Bad.” 5 years after “Thriller,” Michael Jackson was able to put out an album with the same amount of hit singles although with a different songwriting formula and edgier than the 1982 groundbreaking album. Find out what was the song about

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Paul Di´Anno 1958-2024

The original vocalist of Iron Maiden passed away at age 66. His raw vocal delivery and rebellious punk attitude and energy injected a sense of urgency and authenticity into the band’s early recordings, including their self-titled debut album

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10 Of the Best Horror Movies of the 1980s & 1990s

The task of compiling so many good Horror movies in a Top 10 it’s not easy, and though is not always about box-office receipts and critical acclaim, we’ve created a list with what we consider to be some of the best horror movies of the 1980’s and 1990’s

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1980’s Pop sensation Sinitta turns 61

During the mid 1980’s Sinitta scored several hit songs, and became a Pop sensation mainly in Europe, produced by the famous hit and pop star makers Stock, Aitken and Waterman. We look back at her life and career

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The British singer Cliff Richard turns 84

With more than 250 million records sold worldwide since the beginning of his career in the 1950’s, the singer was never able to successfully break into the American music market, despite dominating the British music scene pre-Beatles

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“The Red Rocker” Sammy Hagar turns 77 today

He is one of Rock’s most celebrated singers, Sammy Hagar, has had a career filled with success, as a member of Montrose, Van Halen and a solo artist, and reportedly he even played the first Rock concert that another legendary Rocker ever attended. Today Sammy turns 77

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Remembering the actor Chris Penn

The younger brother of actor Sean Penn, he was known for playing tough, often morally complex characters such as the volatile criminal “Nice Guy Eddie” in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 crime classic Reservoir Dogs

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Bon Jovi’s Tico Torres Turns 71

He is one of Rock’s most successful drummers with a career spanning for over 40 years now and one of the 3 founding members of Bon Jovi still playing in the band. Tico Torres turns 71 today

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Top 10 Best Tom Petty Music Videos

Besides being a brilliant singer and songwriter, Tom Petty also was a very visual artist, he produced some of the best and most iconic music videos. We’ve put together 10 of his best music videos to celebrate his life and legacy to music, 7 years after he left us

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Tiffany is not a teenager anymore

If you spent any time in an American mall in the late 1980’s, then you were fully aware of the Teen Pop sensation Tiffany, but even if you were not in America at the time you know her from her worldwide smash hit where “I Think We’re Alone Now” that made her a 1980’s pop references around the globe. Tiffany turns 53 today

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Looking back at Sting ‘s career

Sting has been one of the most successful artists in the world for well over 4 decades now. He became a well-known name back in the late 1970’s as frontman for The Police with whom he recorded 5 hit albums between 1978 and 1983. He released his first solo album in 1985 making a total now of 12 solo albums. Today, Sting turns 73

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Eric Stoltz celebrates 63 today

Stoltz first caught the attention of critics and audiences with his performance in the 1982 teen classic “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” where he played a stoner alongside Sean Penn, but his major breakthrough came in 1985 with his lead role in “Mask”

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Kris Kristofferson 1936-2024

The legendary singer-songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson passed away at age 88. Among countless successful songs, Kristofferson penned the classic “Me and Bobby McGee”, which became his most well-known hit, but for a while, music wasn’t the direction he was following during his early years. We look back at Kristofferson’s life and career.

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Remembering the Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni

Throughout his career, Mastroianni appeared in over 150 films and became closely associated with director Federico Fellini, appearing in several of his most iconic films. In 1960, he gained international fame with his performance in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita”

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Remembering Jim Diamond

In 1984 with “I Should Have Known Better,” his most memorable song, he reached No.1 in the U.K and charts in other countries in Europe and Australia, we remember Diamond on his birthday

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Jennifer Rush turns 64 today

Responsible for one of the biggest hit ballads from the 1980’s, Jennifer Rush rose to fame during the 1980’s with her hit ballad “The Power of Love,” an enduring 80’s classic

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The short life of Punk Icon Darby Crash

Darby Crash still may not be as famous as Sid Vicious, but both Punk Rockers were connected by a dysfunctional and controversial life that was cut too short. We remember the Los Angeles Punk Rock icon born 66 years ago today and look back at his life and career

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Remembering Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer became worldwide famous during the 1980’s with songs such as “Johnny and Mary” and “Addicted to Love” and he made some of the 1980’s most iconic music videos. We remember the singer who died on this day in 2003

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Looking Back at Michael Douglas Career on His 80th Birthday

The son of Hollywood royalty, Michael Douglas built a solid career and name for himself without having to live in the shadow of his parent’s success and over the last 50 years he has starred some of the Cinema’s history most memorable movies and created some of the most memorable and iconic characters

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Remembering the actor and entertainer Mickey Rooney

One of Hollywood’s most enduring stars, Mickey Rooney made his stage debut at just 17 months old, performing alongside his parents who were vaudeville performers, and his big break came in the 1930s with the role of Andy Hardy in the hugely popular Andy Hardy film series

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The Life and Career of The Boss

Bruce Springsteen turns 75 today He is known as The Boss and has been an enduring Rock music force over the last 50 years. A political and social voice and folk poet, Bruce Springsteen has come a long way since the release of his first record in 1973. We look back at his life and career

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Toni Basil is 81 today

She became worldwide famous with the catchy Pop tune “Mickey” in 1982, but after the success of “Mickey,” Basil would go on to direct videos for the Talking Heads, choreograph tours for David Bowie and bring street dance to the public back in the day

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Rock icon Joan Jett turns 66

One of the most influential rockers of all time, she started out as a member of the all-girl band Runaways, and scored her biggest hit in the beginning of her solo career in the 1980’s with “I Love Rock N’ Roll”

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It’s the Hard Rock Legend David Coverdale Birthday

He came to prominence during the 1970’s as a replacement for Ian Gillan on Deep Purple. He formed Whitesnake, the successful Hard Rock band that had a string of hits during the 80’s such as “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love”. David Coverdale turns 73 today

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Lita Ford turns 66 today!

The former Runaways singer and ultimate 80’s Metal chick joined the all-female rock band the Runaways at 16 and had a successful solo career during the 1980’s

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Bill Medley turns 84 today

Bill Medley’s distinctive voice is noted for his bass-baritone voice in songs such as The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Unchained Melody” and the 1980’s classic “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”

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In 1984 “Relax” the controversial debut single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, became the longest running chart hit since 1967

One of the most controversial and most commercially successful records of the decade “Relax” sold a reported 2 million copies in the UK alone, making it the seventh best-selling single in the UK Singles Chart’s history and would be the first song to emphasize the then, shock impact of Frankie members Holly Johnson’s and Paul Rutherford’s open homosexuality

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The Culture Club drummer Jon Moss turns 67

Jon Moss became worldwide famous as the drummer for Culture Club, but the drummer of songs such as “Karma Chameleon” and former Boy George romantic partner actually came from a strong Punk Rock background prior joining the Culture Club that included many famous Punk bands

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James Earl Jones 1931-2024

One of the most iconic and respected actors in history and with a career spanning over seven decades, James Earl Jones passed away on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93

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Top 10 Queen Music Videos

Along with their music and their majestic live concerts, Queen put a lot of effort in making music videos to keep up with the visual imagery of the songs, some even got them in trouble, we look back at 10 of the most memorable

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Larger Than Life

Party animal and animal lover, talented musician and artist, composer and performer, generous friend and passionate lover, Freddie Mercury embodied the Rock N’ Roll mythical excess during his life

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Man On the Prowl

In the mid 80’s Freddie Mercury pursued his solo career while keeping Queen active at the same time. Due to the proximity to Queen’s sound of that era, a lot of his solo songs from that period are often mistaken as being by Queen

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The Top 10 Greatest Queen Live Performances 

Queen always were stage masters, Freddie Mercury unique ability to communicate with massive audiences, was a talent like no other singer showed before him and hardly still have done. No matter what their mood was, on stage Queen gave every bit of themselves to satisfy their large record-breaking audiences around the world

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Actor Richard Gere turns 75 today

One of the most successful actors not only from his generation but from all time, with a career that has spanned over 40 years, Gere remains one of Hollywood’s most respected and enduring actors. His blend of talent, charm, and compassion has made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry and beyond. Look back at his life and career and watch his iconic scene on “American Gigolo” at the beat of Blondie’s “Call Me

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“The Demon” Gene Simmons turns 75

With his signature face paint, flamboyant stage presence, and keen business acumen, Simmons has become one of the most recognizable figures in rock music and popular culture. As a founder and member of KISS, Gene Simmons has composed, played bass and done lead vocals in some of the band’s best-known hits including “Deuce” and “Rock and Roll All Nite”

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The Metal God Rob Halford turns 73

The charismatic lead singer of Judas Priest owns one of the most powerful wide-ranging voices of all time which he has been using very well since the 1970’s in defining Heavy Metal and he has also contributed immensely to the LGBT community and cause after coming out in 1998

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Director Tim Burton turns 66 today

Tim Burton was born in Burbank, California, on August 25, 1958, Burton is known for his dark, gothic, and eccentric horror and fantasy films. To celebrate his birthday, we went back through his entire filmography and ranked his top 10 films.

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Remembering Kenny Rogers

Born on this day in 1938, for more than 6 decades Kenny Rogers charted the impressive number of more than 120 hit singles of various music genres across the world with songs such as “The Gambler” and “Islands in the Stream”

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The Top 10 Clash Songs

Joe Strummer, one of the leading figures of the Punk Rock movement, was born on 21 August 1952. He formed and fronted The Clash between 1976 and 1986, leaving a valuable legacy in Rock music that remains fresh and continues to influence new generations

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The beautiful Kim Catrall turns 68

Kim Catrall is still best known for her role as Samantha Jones on the HBO comedy series “Sex and the City” and for the 1987 blockbuster “Mannequin”, but she owns a career that started back in the 1970’s and starred in several popular TV series and movies

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Remembering Phil Lynott

The Thin Lizzy frontman’s distinctive voice, poetic lyrics, and dynamic stage presence made him one of the most iconic figures in rock music during the 1970s and 1980s. He was born 75 years ago today

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1980’s TV heartthrob John Stamos turns 61

One of the 1980’s TV heartthrobs and with a career spanning several decades, Stamos has become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. The “General Hospital” actor has successfully revived his popularity over the last two decades by appearing in new series and movies and also as an outspoken supporter for the LGBT community

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Top 10 John Deacon Queen songs

The quiet and talented John Deacon was never too much fond of the spotlight, not even when Queen was performing for tens of thousands of people, the bassist and composer was born 74 years ago today in 1951

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Europe’s lead singer Joey Tempest turns 61

The Swedish band Europe frontman Joey Tempest composed and sung one of the most popular songs of all time: “The Final Countdown,” a pastiche of Heavy Metal and Synth Pop with a catchy riff, became one of the most iconic rock anthems of the 1980s and topped the sales chart in 26 countries

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Alain Delon 1935-2024

The iconic French actor was throughout his career often regarded as one of the most beautiful men in the world. He rose to fame during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s and 1970s starred in numerous and timeless classics of European cinema that made him a revered figure in the film industry, with a career that spanned over six decades and more than 80 films

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Top 10 Patrick Swayze Movies

Born on this day in 1952, The beloved Patrick Swayze’s untimely death at age 57 in 2009, left a big void that is yet to be filled, but thankfully we can look back and testify his talent and legacy with the movies he left us

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The actor Sean Penn turns 63 today

Sean Penn owns two academy awards and one of the 1980’s most infamous marriages, when in 1985 he and Madonna started a controversial relationship that even led him to jail. Today he turns 64 and we look back at his life and career

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The Robert De Niro Top 10 Movies

A brilliant and acclaimed actor, Robert De Niro has written several pages in movie history since the 1970’s when he first got noticed with his memorable role of the young Vito Corleone in the 1974 “The Godfather Part II”. We look back at his Top 10 Best Roles today that he turns 81

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Bon Jovi’s Finest Hour “Slippery When Wet”

To be put in perspective, Rock music in the 1980’s suffered a commercial mutation of the industry had got used to during the 60’s and 70’s, the 80’s were a decade where the flashier the better was the trend to follow, and music in general followed that rule.

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The 10 Greatest Madonna Videos of All Time

A key part of Madonna’s wide-ranging career has been her eye-catching, conversation-sparking music videos, which have been as impactful and memorable as the hit songs themselves. A master of reinvention, these videos serve as a reminder of her famous array of looks, always referencing the latest trends while staying true to central themes of sex, religion and female empowerment

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Madonna: The Reinvention Queen – The 1980’s

Madonna has been dictating the fashion industry since the early 1980’s when she first became popular with her unique “Madonna Look” which included crucifixes, lots of bracelets and street wear. We’ve selected some of her best images between 1983 and 1989 on this gallery, get inspired by the absolute Queen of Pop

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Madonna: The Absolute Queen of Pop 66th Birthday

Madonna Louise Ciccone doesn’t need introductions, the living legend who was born on August 16, 1958, turns an amazing 66th birthday today. We pay tribute to the absolute Queen of Pop with several special features on Pop Expresso including photo galleries, lists of her most defining songs, insights on some of her big hits and also Quizzes

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