The '80s Are Back, On "The Early Show"

Big hair, power ballads, mascara and tight leather pants are back -- sort of.

The 1980s returned on Monday in all their glory, as the stars of the new Broadway hit, "Rock of Ages," appeared on The Early Show with real-life '80s rock stars Tommy Shaw, of Styx, and Kevin Cronin, of REO Speedwagon.

"American Idol" alum Constantine Maroulis and Broadway veteran Amy Spanger talked with Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez about "Rock of Ages," and its mix of power ballads, hair metal anthems and love.

"It's a pretty awesome '80s rock-and-roll juke box musical, a love story, a huge comedy, told through the amazing songs of that era," said Maroulis.

And the '80s are a definitive music era, according to Joe Levy, editor in chief of Maxim magazine.

"Men were unafraid to wear their hair that high, and that much mascara, and pants that tight," Levy said. "These guys became rock gods doing some very silly things, singing some very silly songs."

And that over-the-top period is remembered in all its extravagance in "Rock of Ages."

"We're celebrating an incredible era of music, the 1980s," Maroulis said of the Broadway musical. "It's set on the Sunset Strip. There's big hair, big guitars, sexy girls."

And the show's atmosphere is just as unorthodox as the music it represents. Maroulis and Spanger laughed when Rodriguez mentioned the unique ability to drink alcohol during the show. "People are into it," Spanger said. "They're really enjoying it. Our houses are incredible."

Some celebrities have even showed up at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre for "Rock of Ages." "High School Musical" star Zac Efron, actors Taye Diggs, James Franco and Neil Patrick Harris, and some of the members of the '80s bands featured in the show, have all been spotted at performances.

Spanger, who has appeared in Broadway productions of "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Chicago," "Sunset Boulevard," said the role is "number one" for her.

"I remember when MTV came on the scene. I wanted to be those artists," said Spanger, who now plays the love interest in the show. "I wanted to be inside my TV. I wanted to be close to those people."

Rodriguez said the role seems tailor-made for Maroulis, who initially surfaced on "American Idol," favoring rock selections.

"I love the theater. I hope to do a lot more of it," Maroulis said. "This is the perfect combination of sort of rock star wanna-be stuff, and you know, getting a great role, as well."

And later on The Early Show, real-life '80s icons, Styx lead singer, Tommy Shaw, and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, sang acoustic versions of the Styx song, "Too Much Time On My Hands," and REO's "I Can't Fight This Feeling."

After the performance, Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith asked Shaw and Cronin what it's like to have fans singing their songs after all these years.

"It's unbelievable," said Shaw. "You write these songs, you're all by yourself. And you never know if anybody's going to like it or hate it so, all these years later, for it to be still living on is an amazing thing."

The collaboration isn't the first for the pair. Styx and REO toured together in 2000, according to Shaw. The two bands will join forces again this summer in their "Can't Stop Rockin" tour.

Later, the "Rock of Ages" stars, Maroulis and Spanger, met the Styx and REO Speedwagon singers. Rodriguez asked what it felt like for them to meet the singers of the songs their show features.

"It's such an honor," Spanger said.

"(It's) a blessing," Maroulis said. "We're huge fans. They're legends of rock.

The "legends" of Styx and REO ended The Early Show with the live debut of their collaborative new song, "Can't Stop Rockin'."

The "Can't Stop Rockin'" tour is slated to start in May.