MusicCon 2017

One of the biggest pop cultural phonemes in our lifetime has been the Comic Con conventions (which, if you can imagine, actually began in 1970!). And tickets for the main San Diego Comic Con reportedly sell out in record time.

While Comic Con is geared primarily toward movie, comic book, and graphic novel fans - Starlight Productions in Massachusetts conjured up the idea of a music related event; and so MusicCon 2017 was created, which took place on the 7weekend of May 20 and 21, 2017 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center in Massachusetts, which is approximately an hour from Boston. The coolest part of the convention was its "80's theme" - dubbed "Back to the 80s" - and some of the biggest icons of the decade were snagged for the event - who were more than happy to pose for selfies and sign all sorts of memorabilia. While most of the performers got their start over 30 years ago, they most certainly have been very active over the years and are not just relying on past glories alone.

The attraction with the biggest buzz was actor/singer Corey Feldman (most know for "Stand By Me" (1986) "The Lost Boys" (1987), and a slew of flicks with now deceased partner Corey Haim). Feldman's currently focusing on music and said he is in the midst of a "44 date tour" in support of his 2016 release, “Angelic 2 the Core."

Chip Z’Nuff, from the rock band Enuff Z’Nuff, was also very excited to share that his band (in its original lineup) has been touring this past year with Don Dokken (Dokken was also present at the event). Z’Nuff also spoke quite proudly about the bands 2016 release “Clowns Lounge.”

In the midst of a well publicized power struggle in the camp of the band RATT, Stephen Percy was in great spirits and was most positive about the groups (currently featuring original members Percy, Warren DeMartini, and Juan Croucier) future. While RATT has not put out any new material since 2010, Percy said new music music will be forth coming, and that the group are about to be hitting up some marquee festivals, including the Rocklahoma Festival this month, and playing both Rockfest Kansas City and the Sweden Rock Festival in June.

MusicCon was not just focused on "rock bands", as singer/model Samantha Fox made her first local appearance in eons. While she keeps a lower profile now than she did in her heyday, Fox talked enthusiastically about her forthcoming autobiography (to be title "Forever" - which she said she would be undertaking a book tour in support of) and a presently unnamed new disc of songs "based her her life experiences."

Also present was Tawny Kitean; actress and the most successful video vixen of all time (with her appearances in the iconic 80's Whitesnake videos, as well as gracing the cover of RATT's 1984 breakout “Out of the Cellar” record). Kitean, whose has barely changed since the days when she dominated the MTV airwaves, is hard at work as the executive producer of the show, “Moms Anonymous,” which she said should be "available for streaming in July."

While music was the main focus of the event, Samantha Newark, who was the original voice for the very popular 80's cartoon “Jem,” was certainly a coup for MusicCon. Newark reminisced most positively about her time voicing the shows main character, and how quickly her life changed due to its popularity. Ironically, Newark, who has also been a singer for years, only did the speaking voice for Jem, while the characters singing was handled by singer/actress Britta Phillips (who is know for being one of the stars of the 1988 girl-band flick "Satisfaction").

While meeting and getting selfies/signatures was the main attraction for the attendees, an added bonus was that some of the acts performed - karaoke style - at a post show event on Saturday night.

MusicCon was a great nostalgic filled time. Hopefully the convention will return in 2018, as it would great to expand and possibly have musicians from the 70s, 90's. and even some possibly some post millennial acts.