UPDATE - GO WEST WILL NOT BE JOINING US

Even though you may be seeing them on the REGENERATION TOUR website, sorry to say but today I learned that GO WEST will not be joining us according to their management as we have not been able to overcome some budgetary issues. I've told our webmaster to remove them from the website. I'm scrambling right now to find and decide on the best possible replacement... I have Katrina (from Katrina and the Waves) on hold as are Men Without Hats and I'm waiting for a callback from Cutting Crew. Another band interested in it and one of my faves is China Crisis but I'm not sure what the recognition is for them out in the American heartland.

Rick

Men Without Hats is my first choice! They would be , in my opinion, the most fun to see on ReGen 2009. Katrina is......cute..but, MWH would be a much better draw, and much more entertaining!

I picked MWH myself, but China Crisis would be just as wonderful (although I don't think most US peeps know who they are). Too bad you couldn't get Bananarama.

I'd like to see Cutting crew most , they have the most hits in my mind .

Gotta have Men Without Hats!

For me it would be:
1) Men Without Hats
2) China Crisis
3) Katrina

Cutting Crew just doesn't cut it! The other 3 are waaaay better and would be better draws.

The U.S. never really caught on to China Crisis. That is unfortunate,but, there was so much going on here back then , some good bands got ignored.
....also..if there is ANYWAY to bring any form of T'Pau on to this tour, that would be the ultimate show for me!!!!

MWH! Pop goes the world!!

I've never been a big fan of Go West, but I do like Men Without Hats, so my vote goes to them! No idea what they did after the first album though-- need to pull it out & get to Googling.

Rick,

That is a shame about Go West. They were remarkably fantastic at Retrofest in '07 and are one of those rare '80s acts today that haven't changed their sound or vocally aged. On the other hand, Men Without Hats would be a fine addition to the Tour. They have credible record sales across the '80s starting way back in 1982 and they also toured with nearly every album release they put out, including a huge US tour in support of Icehouse in 1987. I was at that show and it was brilliant! Like Berlin, it would be an all-out dance fest; No ballads from Ivan his hatless mates.

The Cutting Crew were more popular in the States that in the UK, similar to the parallel success of the Outfield and the Fixx. I've met Nick V. Edee before and he is a nice chap. However, I found him to be a bit too political on stage and it soured the mood of retro memories. As a concert attendee, I don't care to hear political views on stage no more than I want to hear my State representative sing "One for the Mockingbird". Duran Duran are suffering for this behavior as well these days.

Katrina had that one hit and that's it. It is a huge song but no one remembers the band's image or any follow-up LPs or singles to be honest. You know I'm still advocating for Kajagoogoo, especially after seeing them live a few weeks back with Limahl back on the mic.

China Crisis? Fantastic college radio band but not necessarily a great retro pop band like those on the bill already. I'd be thrilled if they were on the ticket, but radio sponsor WSB-B98.5 have never played a track by the Crisis and I fear they would be 'discounted' when the line-up is announced should they get booked for this tour.

For what it's worth, that's just my perspective.

Keep us posted Rick as I know you will.

Jeremy

I would have to go with Men Without Hats (with Cutting Crew as a close second) on this one. Sorry to hear about Go West as they would also have been good to see. For what it's worth I am of the same opinion as Jeremy that Kajagoogoo would be an even better replacement choice though!!! Just a thought!!!

Daryld

I agree, Kajagoogoo would be wonderful as well!

Personally, I think Kaja (googoo) would not be the best choice. They have a bitter history together, and, Men Without Hats are more fun.

Bring back Belinda Carlisle! She was the best!

I think it is a mistake to have ABC headline again. They have played way to often in the past few years and it will be a big factor in many of my friends (and possibly myself) deciding against springing for tickets this year, cause the other bands are kinda weak IMHO. Of the choices for Go West's replacement, the best would be MWH. China Crisis is way too unknown unless you listened to an alternative rock station back in the 80s (even though I love them), Katrina is too much of a one hit wonder for most people, and Cutting Crew just doesn't fit as it is purely a pop band and the others are new wave. You might as well add The Outfield or the Hooters or Tiffany if you wanted to go in that direction. My thought of the Regeneration Tour's concept was mainstream new wave bands in the vein of the Go-Gos, B-52s, Billy Idol, etc.; I imagine many attendees are just casual new wave fans who listened only to pop stations and danced to the big new wave hits but would never say go to a Morrissey or Siouxsie concert. In other words, they are more likely to listen to The Knack or Modern English, and the only Soft Cell song they know is "Tainted Love"... which means Heaven 17 is already too alternative and niche for them, much less adding a band like China Crisis to the bill. Given all that, MWO is clearly the best fit for a band that fits the mainstream new wave theme.

Of the choices, I voted for MWH as first pick, but also interested in Cutting Crew! 'sup with Bananarama??--they have a new CD coming out this year--what better way to get some word out about it in the States!

Men Without Hats would be a wonderful choice, it's Time for them to do this. Their own fan club forum pages have been wanting this for years. ABC/HEAVEN 17/MEN WITHOUT HATS..each play an hour..THAT would knock this out of the ballpark for 2009.

LOOK!

BOOK A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS!

HAVING GONE TO 4 SHOWS LAST YEAR, I CAN TELL YOU THAT NOT ONLY WERE THEY THE SUPERIOR BAND

BUT THEY WERE THE ONLY BAND THAT DID NOT USE PRE-RECORDED MUSIC!

GET IT TOGETHER AND GET A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS!

I really must disagree with the idea of A Flock Of Seagulls for ReGen.2009. Last year, I found them to be very un-entertaining. In a VH-1 interview, Mike ( lead singer) said,"If you are coming to hear 'I Ran',don't come!" Well, on this type of tour, those who are not huge 80's fans, and who are just coming to hear the hits will come to hear 'I Ran'.Not to mention the fact that when they took the stage, Mike looked like a roadie,wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt. Men Without Hats, ( and T'Pau) are much better choices.

Listen, we've been through this argument before on the forum, Belinda and ABC most definitely did not use pre-recorded music, the band played completely live. Naked Eyes as well played their instruments live on stage though many of the keyboard sounds are processed heavily and use sequencers and the such. I can't honestly tell you that none of The Human League's material was stored on the laptop you saw on stage and played back during their performance.... I just really don't know but the majority of the sounds that were being produced on stage were made by the musician playing the instrument whether it was guitar, keyboards or the electronic drum pads... I was there for a number of the soundchecks and know this for a fact. You've made your argument for AFOS before here, it doesn't hold water. It is not backed up by fact. It is totally rubbish! I hate to get this way here but this is really a ridiculous statement you've made today and previously and anyone who thinks that has not a clue about music and musicians.

Of the replacement band choices (Katrina, Men Without Hats, Cutting Crew, & China Crisis), my first pick would be China Crisis and 2nd would be Men Without Hats. I never really followed Katrina & The Waves or Cutting Crew, but would go to the concert regardless (hope there is a SLC date planned-The Depot show last summer was AWESOME!). Looking forward to seeing ABC again and hopefully Berlin will do a SLC show-Terri Nunn is amazing live.

S-A-F-E-T-Y Safety Dance!

I Got The Message
Antarctica
Pop Goes The World

Bring on the hatless men!

Bring China Crisis, please please please. Men without Hats would be great as well - JPW

You may want to consider booking The Blow Monkeys. They are back together after a 17 year hiatus and sounding great with a new album, Devil's Tavern. They are currently touring their homeland.

http://www.theblowmonkeys.com

Scritti Politti would also make a fine choice.

i really like the idea of a ReGen club tour. Smaller venues...easier to book, and bands like T'Pau, Blow Monkeys,and such would be a big hit! There may be no Phoenix date this year...=( =( Please let this tour come to Phoenix again....I dont want to miss this show...