Hey, gang. Our local newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published a story today about much awaited reunions of broken up 80's and 90's bands. It seems that the writer believes that The Police reunited rank somewhere below Uncle Tupelo and Pavement. Go figure. I have included the text below. Here is the link to the website. http://www.startribune.com/stories/389/5512785.html Gary Gen-X dinosaurs: The 10 most in-demand '80s-'90s reunions July 24, 2005 POP0724 The Pixies were a big deal. Dinosaur Jr., on the other hand ... Whether or not you made it to the band's concert last night in Minneapolis -- featuring the heyday Dinosaur Jr. lineup that hasn't played together in 15 years -- there was at least one reason to get excited about the gig. It's another sign that broken-up bands from the 1980s and '90s no longer think they're too cool to reunite. The success of last year's Pixies reunion proved there's a growing market for '80s-'90s nostalgia, even among hip rock fans. With that in mind, here's a list of the 10 groups from that era who would probably have the best reunion outings. Chris Riemenschneider 1. Soundgarden Why the demand: They quit at their peak, continue to get regular airplay on rock radio and are still active in other bands (Audioslave, Pearl Jam). Rules of re-engagement: Chris Cornell has to show at least some signs of aging. Probability: 85 percent. 2. The Smiths Why: The brooding Brits still have ultra-rabid fans, most of whom never got to see them before their breakup in 1987. Rules: The two guys who aren't Morrissey or Johnny Marr have to be the original bandmates, even if we don't know the difference. Probability: 55 percent. 3. Smashing Pumpkins Why: To make Billy Corgan happy for a change. (This summer, Corgan took out ads in the Chicago papers on the eve of his first solo CD asking his ex-bandmates to get back together.) Rules: Play more of the hippie rock, less of the goth metal. Probability: 98 percent. 4. Rage Against the Machine Why: Easy. Their live shows were better than any other '90s rock band's except maybe Pearl Jam's (and, yes, I saw Nirvana). Rules: Zach de la Rocha first has to tell us what he has been up to for the past five years. Probability: 33 percent. 5. N.W.A. Why: Produced two of hip-hop's biggest stars, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, and one landmark album, "Straight Outta Compton." Eazy-E's 1995 death was tragic, but his contributions wouldn't be all that missed. Rules: No cross-promotion for Cube's next movie. Probability: 15 percent. 6. (Original) Guns N' Roses Why: Most fans are fed up with Axl Rose (hence this No. 6 ranking), but many would show up just to see any prospective onstage brawls. Rules: Discounts for fans who suffered one of the many GNR cancellations, and even deeper cuts for the few who actually did see the 2002 tour with the revamped lineup. Probability: 10 percent. 7. Uncle Tupelo Why: They broke up before the alt-country boom, and then co-leaders Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy went on to greater fame in Son Volt and Wilco, respectively. Neither plays the old songs much anymore. Rules: Farrar at least has to act as if he's having fun. Probability: 30 percent. 8. Hole Why: Like cars need steering wheels, Courtney Love needs her ex-bandmates to reel her in. More importantly, radio programmers and label heads sorely need to be reminded that women can rock. Rules: Love's mike must be turned off between songs. Probability: 60 percent. 9. Pavement Why: Much like the Pixies, they helped define alt-rock with the influential albums "Slanted & Enchanted" and "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain." Also like the Pixies, nobody likes the frontman's solo stuff. Rules: No longer believe you're so clever you don't have to rehearse. Probability: 80 percent. 10. The Replacements Why: Whatever playful jabs Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson take at each other in the press, their affection for the ol' band still shows. Many fans forget that the latter-day lineup with Slim Dunlap was pretty great (and certainly more consistent) on stage. Rules: Drummer Chris Mars has to be talked back in. Limit of seven sloppy cover songs per night. Probability: 55 percent. More that would do well: 10,000 Maniacs, the Pogues, Blur, Black Flag, Stone Temple Pilots, Stone Roses, Minor Threat, Afghan Whigs, XTC, Hüsker Dü, Babes in Toyland. Ones you might not know are still together: Public Enemy, Tool, Depeche Mode, the Cure, New Order, Wu Tang Clan, De La Soul, Oasis, Go-Go's.