NB: I don’t hear it that much anymore, not like in the '90s. Then, if you were a band that played '80s-style music at all, you were dead. There was a huge backlash against the '80s. That was true even for Duran Duran, for example, who were huge in the '80s. Some of these kinds of artists would say something to the effect of, "I don’t ever remember a decade dying this quickly."
I had some friends who had finally gotten a record deal, a really good band but a hard rock band. They just got signed, got their album out, got their videos out, and then Nirvana hit. They were dead in the water. Johnny (from that band) called me up and said, "Nina, can’t you do something?" and I was like, "What can I do?"
I don’t hear it as much now, except from people who don’t like the '80s anyway. So much '80s music is used in commercials now, so I see a lot of reflection of '80s music today. Franz Ferdinand and other currently successful bands are heavily influenced by the ‘80s.
SP: What do you think about the prevalence of retro tours right now? Some people might say that these bands going back on the road seems a little desperate.
NB: I think it’s great for audiences that they can see the bands, that they didn’t just crawl off and die. And for the musicians, it’s great they’re still working. What’s wrong with any of it, really?
You know, people don’t say that about Tony Bennett. I don’t understand why people would put that desperation spin on it. Let’s say it’s an author who wrote a book in the '80s and then he writes a book today. Is that desperation? What do people expect [these artists] to do, go off and become lobstermen? I mean, Madonna’s latest tour is, from all reports I've heard, one of her best ever.
SP: Some people might also claim that '80s music isn’t all that substantial; how do you respond to that?
NB: I think with any era you have good music and you have disposable music. You have pop music and music that has lasting value. Mellencamp comes to mind, for example. Then you have a band like Kajagoogoo, and you’re not gonna catch me sticking up for them. I mean, there’s some music that’s cringe-worthy and other music that stands up to time.
I’ll tell you, honest to God, I was not a big fan of Madonna when she first came on the scene. I like more rock & roll, and she was more pop. It took me until later that I really began to enjoy her music. But now it's like listening to it with a new set of ears.
SP: Currently you host one '80s-themed show on satellite radio and two syndicated programs on terrestrial radio. What kind of insight regarding the enduring popularity of '80s music do you derive from doing those shows?
NB: The main insight is that people still really enjoy music from that time. The bands themselves think it’s wonderful when an artist from today comes up to them and says, "You were a great influence on us."
