Nothing takes me back to high school like a good old hairband song. I saw 'em all back in the day... Cinderella, Bon Jovi, Skid Row, Winger, Slaughter, Firehouse, Great White, the Bullet Boys. The ones I never got to check off my bucket list will always bug me. Seeing them now just wouldn't be the same. But I kick myself for never seeing Guns N' Roses, Metallica, or AC/DC in their prime.
This past weekend in Key West, a bunch of those '80s arena Rock Gods got together for the RokIsland Fest. Heavy metal was back for 4 wild nights.
I hit up a bunch of my old high school friends from Maine to see if they wanted to fly down for a class reunion that would've blown away the 30th reunion our class threw last year. But unfortunately tickets were way overpriced and finding a decent place to stay in Key West requires taking out a second mortgage. So we'll have to live vicariously through all of those who posted to social media.
Twisted Sister's Dee Snider
"We're Not Gonna Take It"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CY0dzXcA-Pn/
Slaughter
Remember their big hits "Up All Night" and "Fly To The Angels?"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYz5pR3Mhnd/
Warrant
Jani Lane is missed, but here's the current lineup performing "Cherry Pie"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYxZh6GrkAU/
Cheap Trick
Not the first ones I think of when I think '80s hairbands, but Cheap Trick packed 'em in.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYxtKZnM3c5/
Jackyl
Wonder if they brought the chainsaws.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CY2yHsBsUj3/
Jack Russell's Great White
Like many 80s acts, there have been lineup changes... but for me, Great White is all about Jack's vocals.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CY2tWoesK6f/
Bret Michaels from Poison
You have another chance to see his solo show in Clearwater at Ruth Eckerd Hall before he joins Poison for this summer's Stadium Tour.
Night Ranger
"Sister Christian" is still one of our most-requested songs on Q105 to this day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYwkH7qryqv/
Lita Ford
She looks great! I got to see her in Pinellas Park a few years ago and she still sounded great too. Kiss Me Deadly Lita!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CY25rkzLexg/
Firehouse
Remember their big hits "Love of a Lifetime" and "Don't Treat Me Bad?"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYvQy71s647/
Skid Row
The new lead singer is no Sebastian Bach, but not bad! Performing "Youth Gone Wild."
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYxlqx1IBIm/
Winger
Got to see these guys in Pinellas Park too a few years back. Kip's vocals are still solid. And she's no longer 17. By now she'd be in her 50s.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYu09PTsqdz/
Steelheart
Man he can still hit those notes in "Never Let You Go!"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYw3QPkOlwe/
