Pause a Moment: Barbie and the Rockers

Remember Barbie and the Rockers? They were Mattel's answer to Jem and the Holograms. By the way, Jem rocked harder, in my opinion (technically the Misfits rocked the hardest). Anyway, I owned Dee Dee and Ken. Dee Dee moved her arms up and down when you rocked her waist. And Ken had REAL hair. Of course, by '92 most of his hair had fallen out. He was referred to, from then on as 'Old Ken.'

There was also a TV special created by DIC and Saban called Out of This World. It's like a mix of Jem (a lot like Jem) and Pink (not the artist) and Sailor Moon/Voltron sound effects and a Rocket (?).




To offset the visual overload, there were books.
One particular book was Barbie and the Rockers: The Fan by Teddy Slater and illustrated by Tom Tierney. You may not recognize the illustrator's name, but you may know his work. He illustrated tons of paper doll books; as well as several children's books. Including illustrations for *ahem* Jem books. Great pieces like this this this and this (Images were found at Stormer Fansite Perfect Blue).

Here are some images from The Fan.

Only a $1.25 back in '87.


Honestly, I'd wear Dee Dee's yellow short sleeve shirt and Barbie's white boots right now (I probably couldn't walk in the boots, though).

Ken and Derek's outfits, however....



Diva and Barbie w/ badass hair...



...but, Dee Dee's hair is the foxiest.
Apparently, Derek thinks so, too. Notice how he tries to mack to Dee Dee.

You're Rocking, Barbie! (and Ken and Derek and Diva and Delia and definitely Dee Dee)