Reminder: ’80s Group ‘Starship’ to Headline Seaside Heights Memorial Day Kickoff Friday

‘Starship’ featuring Mickey Thomas. (Credit: Starship/ Facebook)

Seaside Heights will host its annual Memorial Day weekend kickoff event Friday, May 26 with a performance by Starship, the 1980s pop group, featuring Mickey Thomas, whose voice led the band during one of its most prominent decades.

The event will mark the unofficial start of the summer season, and will begin with a ’70s and ’80s Dance Party with DJ Duane Stasse at 4 p.m.

Thomas, with his soulful and compelling vocals, has established himself as one of rock music’s most recognizable stars. He made his mark in 1976 as lead vocalist on the mega-hit “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” with The Elvin Bishop Band. In 1979, Thomas joined Jefferson Starship as the lead vocalist, after the departure of Grace Slick and Marty Balin, and recorded a string of hits including “Jane,” “No Way Out,” “Find Your Way Back,” “Stranger, and “Layin’ It on the Line.”

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The group was renamed STARSHIP in 1985 and went on to record three number one hit songs including “We Built This City,” “Sara,” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” from the film Mannequin (which also was an Academy Award nominee). Their hit “It’s Not Over Til It’s Over” became Major League Baseball’s theme in 1987.

Thomas’ stellar voice and video charisma on STARSHIP’s video classics such as “We Built This City” and “Sara” became staples on MTV and VH1.

The Seaside Heights boardwalk on a busy night during the summer of 2019. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

“We are so excited to kick off the Memorial Day Weekend with the talented band Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas,” said Mayor Anthony Vaz. “We also want to honor the true meaning and spirit of Memorial Day, which is to remember U.S. servicewomen and servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We look forward to everyone coming out to the Classic American Boardwalk for this free concert and celebration of the beginning of summer.”

Seaside Heights’ Memorial Day Kickoff to Summer is free to attend and will take place on the boardwalk in front of Spicy Cantina beginning at 4 p.m. with the ’70s and ’80s dance party, hosted by DJ Duane Stasse of WJRZ radio.

After the kickoff, the celebration continues at 8:30 p.m. with the music of the White Wing, Radio Stranger and Samantha Spano.

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Editor’s Note: Seaside Heights Kickoff to Summer, is produced by DPM Shore Solutions, LLC, a Shorebeat sponsor. For more information on the event or sponsorship packages visit exit82.com or email Dee Pellegrino at dpmshoresolutions@gmail.com.