MafiaMan

She's Gone...I'll Never Let You Go...Hey, look, Steelheart, the guys from Van Halen just stole your prom dates! Clearly asking Trixter to open up for them...sorry, Goon.

Let's look at one more example of "The Trixter Effect" just to make sure you've got it: The band is Britny Fox. OK, at first glance, I'll admit, it doesn't look good. First of all, the band name: Britny Fox. Hmnnnn...sounds like the girl band Vixen's cousin. Touring with Trixter looks like a done-deal. But, wait. There's a red challenge flag on the field. Let's roll the tape to the 1:38 minute mark of the video. Hmnnnn....our schoolgirls are getting a bit rowdy. 1:53...2:07...2:18...2:41...2:48...OK, I've seen enough evidence that I don't need to go on. It's clear that the boys of Britny Fox (and probably the schoolgirls) would be giving the Trixter guys swirlies in the bathroom every day at recess and stealing their Snack Packs at lunchtime - clearly an '80's hair band. Care to try one on your own and put the theory to the test?

Also in Honeymoon Suite's favor are two things: #1) The band name - Honeymoon Suite. Dang...that's good. #2) My years of study in all things '80's has led me to theorize something that I like to call "The Trixter Effect." It's a rather complicated formula, but in short, pick a 1980's hair band. If you feel the band would invite Trixter along as an opening act, then they cannot label themselves as a true 1980's hair band. For example, let's take an obvious case: Guns 'N Roses. Can you imagine Axl Rose calling up the band that came up with THIS song and asking them to come on tour with Slash and the rest of the gang? Of course you can't! Therefore, Guns 'N Roses is a true 1980's hair band. Now, on the other end of the spectrum, is this: Are you picturing Nelson and Trixter together in concert in about 1991? Seven days a week and twice on Sunday, right? Therefore, Nelson is not a 1980's hair band - just a wanna-be.

I like Mr Big...but don't you feel that they're the Tri-Lambs when compared with Alpha Betas like Motley Crue and Ratt? Same thing goes for Loverboy.

Not a heartbreak in the traditional power ballad...but "Wind of Change" by The Scorpions belongs here too.

One 'good call' on Honeymoon Suite and one 'WTF?'. We have controversy... "Ballad of Jayne" was easily top ten. I was on the fence with respect to Honeymoon Suite but "New Girl Now" and "Feel it Again" were enough for me to include them in the hair-band hard rock music category as a whole - unlike REO Speedwagon and Mr Big.

I don't know if I can tell the '98 story again, Wilbur. I broke out in a cold sweat just seeing Yost Arena on TV tonight!

I gave strong consideration to that song but had to keep the focus on the music, not the video.

UMass scores to tie up BU at 3 with 50 seconds left in the game. UMass also wearing white jerseys with Philadelphia Flyers-style nameplate...that fad can go away now. Michigan...Penn State...UMass...anyone else doing that?

St Lawrence beats #4 Union College 2-1

Western loses at home to UMD 5-2...bracket-buster.

On the bright side, it's Michigan State 2-1 over Minnesota in men's pucks...

Flipping TV channels around tonight and I find that I have NBC Sports Network on Dish all of a sudden when I don't have that level of service and have not had NBCSN in over a year? This is the greatest day of my life.

and doggone-it, Motley Crue does it again..."Home Sweet Home"...when the words "power and "ballad" come out of someone's mouth, the first thought in my head is this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DasvuHUgUHg

#2 - should have probably been on the hair band list with "Gypsy Road" but nothing wrong with being 1st runner-up in the power ballad category...Cinderella and "Don't Know What You Got ('Til It's Gone)...

#3 - Maybe not a true power ballad in the sense of what you normally think of as a power ballad...but damn, it's on my list anyways...Def Leppard's "Hysteria" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaiaaar88EM

#4 - Honeymoon Suite's "What Does It Take?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaELZ5q6Y7M

How about the top five power ballads of that era? The catch is that you have to be a big-hair band so, sorry, R*E*O Speedwagon fans, you don't count... #5 - it's Enuff Z' Nuff's "Fly High Michelle"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyNDJ_cSK3E

The Def Leppard slight is pretty bad...that's a big oversight on my part.

and number 1...Motley Crue and Kickstart My Heart - no further words needed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4aob4zlhIk

#2 - I know "Jump" and "Panama" got more air-time, but this Van Halen song had it all - Eddie's guitar playing at its best and the bombastic David Lee Roth in his hey-day..."Hot for Teacher"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4GZFbCqx18

#3..."Up All Night" by Slaughter...another group hitting the tail-end of the hair band era...ear-piercing guitars and drumsticks flying all over. What's not to like? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Za0gWXJW1w

#4...Some might say "Cum on Feel the Noise" is a better song, but you can't top Quiet Riot's Metal Health. What other song has a whole concept that came about after its release that stands the test of time today? You might not remember the Michael Jackson moon-walk, but you know how to BANG YOUR HEAD! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mel7Ff4d7IM

#5 - No video needed because if you don't know who The Scorpions are and don't know the song "Rock You Like a Hurricane," well, there's just no hope... I'm editing this because this band needs to be here somewhere... it's a tie at #5...Ratt's Round and Round...this song absolutely blew it up in 1984...KFYR in Bismarck played this that summer...I'm not sure they've ever recovered.

#6...every time this song comes up on my iPod while I'm driving, I suddenly find myself doing about 80 mph's and not paying attention because I'm too busy playing the air drums...this was 1992, the end was near for hair metal..."Nonstop to Nowhere" by Faster Pussycat...