When the Stuck in the '80s squad of Steve Spears and Sean Daly announced they were interviewing Air Supply's Russell Hitchcock for a podcast, initial response from readers was mockery, laughter.

But a funny thing happened on the way to full emasculation: In the dark recesses of blogs and Facebook, people whispered that they actually adored such heart-sleeved ballads as Lost in Love and Every Woman in the World.

Yes, it takes a real music fan to appreciate the weepy, well-coiffed Aussie duo, which plays the Ritz Ybor in Tampa on Friday.

Air Supply plays at 8 p.m. Friday at the Ritz Ybor, 1503 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City, (813) 247-2555. Buy-one, get-one tickets are $27.50, $37.50 and $67.50. Top-price tickets include a meet-and-greet with the band.

Click here to read the full interview with Hitchcock. And click here to listen to an audio interview on the Stuck in the '80s podcast.