It’s rather common knowledge that Tawny Kitaen is the sultry redhead writhing on top of car hoods in the video for Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again.” But who’s the gyrating blonde with the broken stereo in Billy Idol’s “Cradle Of Love”? Or the mysterious high-diver in Bryan Adams’ “Cuts Like A Knife”? And what about the moody co-ed who feels left behind by her wild pals and their shenanigans in Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian”?
The stories behind these ladies shall be revealed in the coming weeks thanks to Marc Tyler Nobleman and his current obsession: tracking down and interviewing ‘80s video vixens for a series he’s dubbed “The Girl In The Video.” Part one of this series, which ran last summer, featured conversations with women in some of the decade’s biggest videos—from Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” to Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love.” This year, meanwhile, promises chats with the main squeezes from Prince’s “Kiss,” “Don Henley’s “The Boys Of Summer” and Huey Lewis And The News’ “Stuck With You,” among others.
Nobleman’s efforts could easily turn cheap or exploitative, if he wasn’t so respectful of his subjects (a new profile of Vicky Granucci from John Cougar’s “Jack & Diane” barely mentions that she’s his ex-wife, for example) and such a thoughtful interviewer. This approach has led to some rather moving Q&As–for proof, just go read a conversation with Karen Morton, the Playboy model and focus of Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309/Jenny.”