Ep. 51: What About The Hooters?

Radio friendly, some heartland authenticity, and a bit of Philly attitude. 

Remember The Hooters?

“I don’t think we really fit into the ‘80s mold,” said lead singer and guitarist Eric Bazilian. “But we sure do show up on a lot of ‘80s playlists. If anything, I think we were a ‘70s band who had survived into the ‘80s.”

And you can hear a little in the first album - their major label release Nervous Night.

In the United States, they had three decent hits off that album. In 1985, the band played at the Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia In Europe, the Hooters had success with singles in Germany, Ireland, UK, Germany, Belgium Netherlands.

But not everyone liked them. Quotes online like “sub-Springsteen pop rock”, “reggae-inflected hokum” or “split the difference between Bruce and U2, wipe clean any trace of personality, and you’ve got The Hooters”.  Ouch.

But hear me out. it was enthusiastic and earnest, and they wanted to rock a bit.  “And We Danced” - that’s their signature sound. But how did The Hooters find success, and what’s up now? 

Well, let’s dive in.

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