As a product of the 80’s, I am far too familiar with the fashions of yesteryear. 25 years later, however, it took a village trying to recreate that look for a music video. I never realized that 80’s bad taste (and big hair) would require so much effort.

Because my job often entails me to shoot bizarre, quirky things, I was undaunted by this latest endeavor.  The idea was to spoof a well-known hair band. You know ’em.  You love ’em.  Yes, Twisted Sister.

After watching the video for what seemed like the ten billionth time, I was adequately prepared to mock it. Unfortunately, everyone cast in the video was trapped in their twenties and had little appreciation for hair metal.  (Stupid 20-somethings and their stupid grunge rock, I swear. Kurt Cobain ruined it for everyone.)

The making of this video was a collaborative effort between me and another director, Caleb, who, coincidentally, LOOKS like Kurt Cobain and is in his twenties.  I desperately tried NOT to hold that against him.  His zeal and enthusiasm was palpable.

Together Caleb and I weaved a tapestry of story telling alongside a lot of Lycra, spandex, crimped hair and eyeliner. If the ozone layer wasn’t completely depleted, it is now. I think we went though fourteen cans of hairspray. Make-up ran the gamut from garish to whorish.  It felt like high school all over again—and life was good.

The 80’s were a tacky decade filled with excess, gluttony and far, FAR too much neon, mesh and lace. It was quite the challenge to recreate for this music video, but I think we achieved it. Dare I say, it was gnarly and/or tubular?

Totally.