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June 30, 2025

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Four MTV icons from the '80s made a stop at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater as a part of the I Want My 80s Tour. 

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Rick Springfield was the headliner and did not disappoint.  Also known as Dr. Noah Drake from General Hospital, the '80s heartthrob is still in tremendous shape.  Towards the end of his set, he appeared shirtless to show off his ripped 75 year old body. 

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Springfield and his great backing band plowed through the hits with ease.  During "Affair of the Heart" and "I've Done Everything For You," Springfield grabbed roses that were placed in front of his monitors and strummed the bouquet across his strings causing the petals to disperse across the stage and into the crowd.

 

He then played a medley of hits including snippets of "Living in Oz," "Bop 'Til You Drop," "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Rock of Life."

 

"Don't Talk To Strangers," "Human Touch" and of course, the set closing "Jessie's Girl" brought back a ton of memories for those in attendance. 

 

John Waite, former lead singer of The Babys and Bad English is still in great voice and put on a very entertaining show. Playing hits from his solo career, "Change" and "Missing You," as well as the Bad English power ballad "When I See You Smile."  However, Waite got the biggest reaction when he played the hits from The Babys like "Midnight Rendezvous," "Head First" and "Back On My Feet Again."  He closed his set with a great cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love."

 

Wang Chung opened up their very fun set with an interesting choice of songs.  Instead of playing their usual "To Live and Die in LA," they chose another song from that soundtrack, "Wait" to open the show.

 

Things got rolling by the third song, "Let's Go" which segued into "Dance Hall Days."

 

The band then launched into a cover of The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" but by the end they changed the lyrics to "Should I Wang or Should I Chung" which made it very fun.

 

Speaking of fun, they closed their set with the appropriate "Everybody Have Fun Tonight."

 

Paul Young opened the show with a very brief four song set.  The last two songs "Come Back and Stay" and "Everytime You Go Away" got people on their feet and singing along.

 

It was a great evening of '80s music at a fantastic venue in downtown Youngstown.

 

 

Review and photos by Greg Drugan 

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