MTV will soon be gone, but 80’s Station will carry on. The singers and core members of the 1980s tribute group, Matt Gucu and Tiffany Fredianelli, recently celebrated 30 years of performing MTV-era hits on Vegas stages, originally as members of another tribute band, Loveshack. I remember their early shows well, standing properly awed as these two local music scene stalwarts—Gucu from Hostage Symphony, The Side Room and 12 Volt Sex, and Fredianelli of Herbody Cinnamon, Automatic Taxi Star and Me and My Sister Rose—absolutely freaking owned hits by Devo and the B-52s.
And they’re still doing it, and doing it well, at the Fremont Street Experience, Red Rock Resort and more venues around the Valley. Gucu and Fredianelli deliver timeworn classics by Depeche Mode, Joan Jett and the Go-Go’s, but infuse them with their own lifeblood. Gucu remains an expressive, powerhouse singer. Fredianelli still invests every word with grace and strutting personality.
The longevity of Gucu and Fredianelli speaks to the lessons they learned while navigating the record industry in the 1990s. Both had contracts in hand at one time, but they chose to maintain full control of their careers by donning Devo hats and Terri Nunn’s dyed tips. And they both still have star presence. When they meet their old friend the Weekly writer for an afternoon coffee, I’m awed, even now.
Last we talked, the music industry was still a thing.
TF:Remember that? It’s amazing that we’re still going and that you’re still going.
Back in 1995, I asked you two, “Why a cover band?” And you said it was just an easier way to support yourselves as working musicians.
TF: That was the main thing, yeah.
MG:And it was a beautiful situation, because we made enough money to where we could concentrate on our original projects all day long. We weren’t stuck in a day job and having to go and sing at night. It was wonderful.
And I’ve always kept the two worlds separate. Some [tribute] bands mix in their originals, but I always kept it very separate. This is my cover band; this is my originals band.
TF: Yeah, this is work.
80's Station
And you landed fully formed. Great stage presence right from the jump. Matt, you had the Devo “energy dome” hat on night one.
MG: [Chuckles.] The internet was in its infancy. I didn’t know that there was a Club Devo where you could order an official energy dome. … I went to a Home Depot and I literally bought three flowerpots of different sizes, cut them down, glued them together, and spraypainted the thing. And in hindsight, it looks ridiculous compared to the real hat. [Fredianelli laughs.] By the time I got a hold of the real hat, the band was like, “That doesn’t look right.”
Last I saw, Tiffany was in a B-52s wig. Who else did I see up there recently, in period dress?
MG: Our bass player is Wickett Pickett. He does a Rick James character. Our guitar player is Jason Walker, and our drummer is Anthony Raya. That’s the current first call cast. There are probably 20 or 30 cast members that we can reach out to when needed, if we ever have a double booking, or we ever need replacements.
You could assemble two different 80’s Stations on the same night?
MG:Probably three, if we had to. A ton of cast members have come in and out of the loop, but Tiffany and I are still holding the OG flags.
What makes you two such a good team?
MG: Tiffany is trustworthy, first and foremost. We’re very direct with each other in our communication—sometimes too direct, especially if we’re angry. I think that level of communication and professionalism has kept us going.
TF:And the OCD. [Laughs.] We’re amazing together. Our voices just blend super well.
What kind of faces do you see in the crowd? Who’s still doing the Safety Dance in the TikTok era?
MG: Occasionally, we’ll see young kids in the audience. I’ll ask, “how old are you?” And they’ll be like, “I just turned 21.” I’m blown away.
I’m always shocked when Gens Z and Alpha recognize us.
MG: It could be an older sibling that played it for them. It could be their parents, maybe even their grandparents, slammin’ some ’80s in the garage.
Is it still fun? Are there nights you just don’t wanna sing Madonna and Devo?
TF: There are times when we’re not feeling it. Then you get back on stage, and you’re just like, “Oh my God.” During a show, I’m so free. … It grabs you. You’re doing your performance, being an entertainer, and your body still loves it.
80’S STATION October 23, November 1, 8 p.m., free, Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience.com. November 15, 9 p.m., free, Rocks Lounge, redrockresort.com.
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