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Ready to get a ‘Fixx’ of the ’80s again?

One of the best live performance bands of the decade is on the road again.
 
Published June 24, 2018|Updated June 24, 2018

When you hear the words "The Fixx," what jumps to mind first? The tunes from the early 80s? The amazing videos that played regularly on MTV?

For me and my co-host, Brad, it's September 2, 2011, at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in the hills of Los Angeles. That night, The Fixx was part of an impressive lineup of New Wave bands from the 1980s, joining Berlin, the B-52s and The Human League at the historic venue.

A capacity crowd packed the joint on that cool Southern California evening. Terri Nunn not only performed with Berlin but also served as the night's emcee. When it was The Fixx's turn to take the stage, Terri teased the crowd, mentioning that Fixx frontman Cy Curnin owned a cozy bed-and-breakfast spot in the south of France. (Reservations probably doubled in the following days.)

Cy and the boys got things off quickly, opening with "Red Skies." God, I love it when bands open with one of their signature hits. At the time of its release back in 1982, the song was meant as a warning to a coming nuclear holocaust. But that September night — with the sunset leaving red streaks across the sky — it took on an anthemic feel, catapulting everyone out of their seats to sing along. No longer a warning, "Red Skies" was a celebration. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.

The Fixx could have played for hours that night and we still wouldn't have sat down. "Are We Ourselves." "One Thing Leads to Another." "Stand or Fall." "Saved by Zero." Classics all. And each of the tunes just left us with chills running up and down our bodies — our brains lightheaded from the magic we were witnessing. We were all teenagers again in the 80s. And it was wonderful.

I've been dying to see them again ever since.

Sure enough, when I heard The Fixx was coming on the 2019 voyage of The 80s Cruise, the chills returned. It's going to be epic. I like to close my eyes and imagine every fan on the ship out of their seats, arms raised. I hear them singing the words again – like a hymn, like the words are burned right into our memory plates.

"Red skies at night … Red skies at night … Red skies at night."

(Join Steve and Brad on The '80s Cruise in 2019. Go to www.the80scruise.com for details. Use the promo code STUCK to save hundreds off advertised rates. The Fixx is also performing Aug. 24 at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall and again on Aug. 25 at Clearwater's Capitol Theatre.)