After more than 25 years in the music business, Martin Fry of ABC has dubbed himself "an elder statesman of pop."
It's not a showy boast either. With a slew of hits since the early '80s — including MTV then-favorites Poison Arrow and Look of Love — Fry is royalty in the retro-music revival.
ABC headlines the "Regeneration Tour" on Saturday at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall, leading a lineup of fellow '80s artists including The Romantics, Missing Persons, A Flock of Seagulls and Naked Eyes.
With a lineup that crowded, look for a high-powered, quickly paced night of '80s classics.
"It's like standing beside a human jukebox," says Fry, who recently chatted with the Stuck in the 80s podcast on tampabay.com.
What's different between performing in the '80s and playing live today?
Back in the '80s, everyone hated each other. They'd stand on each side of the TV studio and glare each other, because everyone was chasing that No. 1 spot. As the years roll by, there's a great deal of respect for any musician who's been around for more than 15 minutes.
What's your take on the nostalgia for the era?
A lot of things are at play: big hair, big tunes, big choruses. It was all J.R. Ewing if you think about it -- the '80s pop scene. It was big. There's an element of looking back to an age when life was less complicated.
Your shiny gold suit, though, will probably never fade as a pop culture icon.
I had that made up by a guy on Carnaby Street in London. I have three gold suits, and one of them got stolen. Another one I left in Japan. But I had some more made up in recent years. I usually bring a couple of shiny things over to wear in concert. I've got to carry that flag.
Steve Spears is the host of the Stuck in the '80s blog and podcast. To hear more of the interview, go to blogs.tampabay.com/80s.
Always something there to remind us
The English synth-pop duo Naked Eyes has one of the most instantly familiar tunes of the 1980s with their remake of Always Something There To Remind Me. But despite their success, the band never got a chance to tour the United States during their hey-day. "I think it hurt us a great deal," Naked Eyes frontman Pete Byrne told Stuck in the '80s. "I've been back on the road for three years. Everybody knows my songs, but there are still a lot of people who don't know the name." Naked Eyes is the opening act in Saturday's Regeneration Tour. To hear the complete interview with Byrne, along with clips of the band's music, go to blogs.tampabay.com/80s.
>>If you go
Regeneration Tour
Starring ABC, the Romantics, Missing Persons, A Flock of Seagulls and Naked Eyes. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. Tickets $33, $38 (a special package is also on sale: four for $80). 7 p.m. Saturday. 727-791-7400.
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