Old fashioned Rock’n’roll soothes the ’80s soul!
The ’80s Night at the Log Cabin bar in Sheepshead Bay on Sept. 20 was a head-banger’s heaven. The gnarly night was all about the totally awesome tunes — the DJs played vintage Van Halen, Madonna, Twisted Sister, and other top acts of the era.
But for one ’80s fan, it wasn’t just the guitar licks, but the rockers’ long, luscious locks.
“It was bands, rock and guitar driven — and they all had gorgeous, long hair,” said Lori Birnbaum, a photographer who photographed KISS in their heyday.
She said her favorite part of the concert scene in the ’80s was getting up close to the “hair metal” bands and hoping for a chance to touch their tresses.
“It is nice to run my fingers through a guy’s long hair,” Birnbaum said.
Some attendees came in classice ’80s attire,like denim, bandanas, and graphic T-shirts with sayings like “I love the 1980s.” But one local’s wardrobe was a bit more retro than the others.
“I’m representing Elvis if he would have lived in the ’80s,” said Cary Weiner, an Elvis impersonator who wore a black button-up shirt and dark denim jeans.
Even though the Elvis died in 1977, Weiner said the ’80s was an important time for his most devoted fans. People believed Elvis was still alive — and Weiner said people started snapping pictures of him, genuinely thinking he was the King.
“The ’80s started the Elvis sightings — ‘I saw Elvis in Burger King. I saw Elvis in the bank. I saw Elvis there. I saw Elvis here,’ ” said Weiner, recalling how he was mistaken for Elvis at a restaurant. “This woman and her husband starting taking pictures of me — ‘It’s him!’ ”
Birnbaum said the ’80s extravaganza was a time for locals of a certain age to remember their glory days — and rock out to old memories while creating more.
“Us older people — we’re reliving our youth,” she said.
For another attendee, reliving the glorious days of his ’80s youth was actually quite literal.
“I was in India, going with all the European girls, dancing in India like a psychedelic god,” said Bobby Rappaport, who added that he is still living the dream. “I just flew in a gorgeous girl from Hawaii. She is 58 but from behind, 16!”
