There is a time lag between when one can spoof a decade and when one must pay homage to the very same decade.  The 1950’s were sport for comedians and artists during the 1960’s (one can argue that many of the fashions and civil unrest were direct reactions to the decade previous) but became a decade to wax nostalgic about by the time George Lucas made “American Graffiti.”

The 1980’s was rife for potshots in the late nineties but the shift from making fun of the decade of Reagan, Madonna, HIV, Ferris Bueller, and Gordon Gecko to looking critically and with seriousness is signaled by Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art with the new exhibit “This Will Have Been: Art, Love, & Politics in the 1980s” open now.

As part of WBEZ’s partnership with the MCA and continuing in the tradition of tailoring unique event experiences for our members with the Off Air series, WBEZ is employing our boys in the band, Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis of Sound Opinions to revisit the eighties when both men wore parachute pants and had Spandau Ballet haircuts.

They will be sitting down to pick the brains of three of Chicago’s living legends: Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Ministry), DJ Frankie Knuckles (The Godfather of House) and Santiago Durango (Naked Raygun, Big Black).  The five men will take us through the decade that spawned musical movements that affected the entire generation of bands and artists that followed.

I was in high school in the early eighties and, even though I was living in the middle of Paper Bag, Kansas, I was a huge fan of Naked Raygun but I was also into Jams and had a mullet, so what do I know, right?  I do, however, know how to dance “The Safety Dance” so don’t judge.

Come on out to the MCA on Tuesday, March 6  - doors open at 5:00pm, event starts at 6:00pm.  It’s all followed by a reception in the Kanter room with food from Wolfgang Puck’s and drinks from Goose Island and Intelligentsia Coffee.  Plus, if you’re piqued, a complimentary tour of the MCA exhibit will be available.

Get your tickets here.