Deeper Digs

The Rock N Roll Archaeologist finds a new band to love! Join Christian as he interviews Josh Kennedy, lead guitarist of The Black Moods. Straight ahead rock n roll that reminds the Archaeologist of the fictional band from Almost Famous, 'Stillwater'!

The Black Moods play raw, amplified rock & roll.

Born in the Arizona desert and reared on stages across North America, the band delivers a modern update of a timeless sound, breathing fresh life into a familiar mix of electric guitars, anthemic hooks, and percussive stomp. The Black Moods' three members — frontman/guitarist Josh Kennedy, drummer Chico Diaz and bassist Jordan Hoffman — aren't looking to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they're piling into a vehicle that's existed for decades, souping up the engine to suit their contemporary needs, and steering those wheels toward their own rock & roll horizon.

The band formed in Tempe, Arizona. Inspired by local heroes like the Gin Blossoms and Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers — both of whom have become champions of the Black Moods, often tapping the group as a high-profile opening act — The Black Moods began building their audience the old-school way: by hitting the road. They toured heavily, promoting albums like their 2012 self-titled debut and 2016's Medicine with gigs across the country. By the time "Bella Donna" hit the radio airwaves during the summer of 2018, The Black Moods' fanbase had grown exponentially. The song became a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, paving the way for the band's biggest shows to date.

Modern-day torchbearers of ageless rock & roll, The Black Moods aren't shy about nodding to their influences. "Bella Donna" was partially inspired by the Doors' slinky strut, while the climatic chorus of "Bad News" points to alt-rock mainstays like the Foo Fighters. With one boot planted in the same ground as their influences and the other pointed toward unexplored territory, The Black Moods blaze their own path while still paying tribute to those who came before them.

Both "Bella Donna" and "Bad News" were recorded with Grammy Award-nominated producer Johnny "K" Karkazis, who flew to Phoenix and set up a makeshift studio in the band's own rehearsal space. There, in the same practice facility once shared by hometown heroes like the Refreshments, the band funneled the spirit and swagger of their live show into their most dynamic recordings to date. That live show — which The Black Moods sharpened with cross-country tours alongside the Doors' Robbie Krieger, Shinedown, Jane's Addiction, Eve 6, Cracker, and numerous other headliners — has always been one of the band's strongest selling points. Now, thanks to singles like "Bella Donna" (which also lends its name to the first wine in The Black Moods' wine series), The Black Moods' fury and fire onstage is matched by their electricity on record.

The band's name is The Black Moods. And these days, those black moods are looking pretty bright

.https://theblackmoods.com/

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This week the Rock N Roll Archaeologist goes Weird!!

Well Christian sits down with Lily Hirsch, author of the new book Weird Al: Seriously.

From his love of accordions and Hawaiian print shirts to his popular puns and trademark dance moves, "Weird Al" Yankovic has made a career out of making us laugh.

Funny music is often dismissed as light and irrelevant, but Yankovic’s fourteen successful studio albums prove there is more going on than comedic music's reputation suggests. In this book, for the first time, the parodies, original compositions, and polka medleys of the Weird Al universe finally receive their due respect. Lily Hirsch weaves together original interviews with the prince of parody himself, creating a fresh take on comedy and music’s complicated romance. She reveals that Yankovic’s jests have always had a deeper meaning, addressing such topics as bullying, celebrity, and racial and gender stereotypes.

Weird Al is undeterred by those who say funny music is nothing but a low-brow pastime. And thank goodness. With his good-guy grace still intact, Yankovic remains unapologetically and unmistakably himself. Reveling in the mischief and wisdom of Yankovic’s forty-year career, this book is an Al-expense-paid tour of a true comedic and musical genius.

Lily E. Hirsch has written four books on topics ranging from Jewish music's history to music in criminal law. One, in 2014, won the American Musicological Society's Ruth A. Solie Award. When not teaching or writing as a visiting scholar at California State University, Bakersfield, Hirsch blogs at insultingmusic.com. She lives in Bakersfield, California.

https://www.amazon.com/Weird-Al-Seriously-Lily-Hirsch/dp/1538124998/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lily+hirsch&qid=1594946271&sr=8-1

https://www.lilyhirsch.com/

THis show is part of Pantheon Podcasts

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Christian sits down with Immediate Family member, bassist Leland Sklar! This is the first in a series of interviews that will highlight all the members of the band (Legends to a man), we will be releasing over the Summer.

Lee Sklar has been a prominent figure among Hollywood session bassists dating back to the 1970s and ever since. Sklar (born Leland Bruce Sklar, May 28, 1947, Milwaukee, WI) has more than 2000 albums to his credit (and still counting), and is considered to be one of the "A" players in the highly selective L.A. rock music community where the competition for recording dates is fierce, and where only the strongest will survive. His very recognizable bass playing style has been heard on hits by Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Hall & Oates, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, and George Strait, to name just a few. And never one to remain idle, Sklar has entered the new millennium with a vengeance, taking on new projects with Willie Nelson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Nils Lofgren, Lisa Loeb, and many more.

The reputation of a fine session player is not held exclusively to the record industry. Television and motion picture musical directors have called upon Sklar for his expertise countless times. He has played on TV shows such as Hill Street Blues, Knight Rider, Simon and Simon, and also on many motion pictures, including Forrest Gump, Ghost, Kindergarten Cop, and My Best Friend's Wedding. The list is virtually endless.

Sklar moved from Wisconsin to Southern California when he was very young and started playing piano at age four. When he entered Birmingham Junior High in Van Nuys he fully intended to continue as a pianist in the school music program but found that there was an overabundance of piano students, but no string bass players. His instructor, Mr. Ted Lynn, asked Sklar if he would consider playing bass and, if so, he would teach him. As Sklar stated it, "...my life changed. Piano took a back seat and bass was it!"

It was toward the end of the '60s and after completing his education at California State University, Northridge, as a music/art major that Sklar met James Taylor and they started doing some gigs. They thought they might be playing together for about a month, but then Taylor's "Fire and Rain" became a huge hit record and Sklar's career began to gain steam. Sklar's first sessions were with Taylor. The buzz surrounding this new bass player didn't take long to spread around Hollywood, and suddenly there was an icon in the making.

Over the years Sklar has worked with nearly all of the top session players in Hollywood, but on the backs of album covers his name seems to pop up more frequently alongside drummer Russ Kunkel, guitarist Dan Kortchmar, and keyboardist Craig Doerge. This quartet would come to be known as the Section and they would record three of their own albums between 1972 and 1977 with the participation of additional select side personnel. Occasionally the Section would give a subtly announced live performance, much to the delight of their esoteric followers who would seek them out and feast on their mastery.

https://www.facebook.com/TheImmedFamily/

https://www.facebook.com/LelandSklarOfficial/

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The Rock N Roll Archaeologist is back in the movies this week for a sit down with director Daniel Roher, where we dig deep into his film Once Were Brothers” Robbie Robertson and the Band.ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND is a confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robertson’s young life and the creation of one of the most enduring groups in the history of popular music, The Band. The film is a moving story of Robertson’s personal journey, overcoming adversity and finding camaraderie alongside the four other men who would become his brothers in music, together making their mark on music history. ONCE WERE BROTHERS blends rare archival footage, photography, iconic songs and interviews with Robertson’s friends and collaborators including Martin Scorsese, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, and more.Inspired by Robbie Robertson’s 2017 bestselling memoir “Testimony,” Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band “deeply dissects The Band’s magic and dysfunction” (Rolling Stone) and arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital on May 26 from Magnolia Home Entertainment. Presenting a backstage view of The Band’s inner workings and offering audiences an unseen look at their impact on the music industry, the documentary chronicles Robbie’s introduction to music and the group’s revolutionary collaboration with Bob Dylan, to their final tour as one of the most influential groups of their era. 2 From director Daniel Roher (Survivors Rowe), Once Were Brothers unravels the compelling story of the popular rock ‘n’ roll band alongside Robbie and those closest to The Band, including Martin Scorsese, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Ronnie Hawkins and more. Told through rarely seen archival footage, images and interviews from The Band’s expansive career, and elevated by hit songs from the group, the documentary “captures something golden, incendiary and wistfully beautiful” (The Washington Post). A tribute that will withstand the ages, Once Were Brothers will captivate audiences and provide a deeper understanding of the group’s influence on popular music today. Once Were Brothers will be available for download on digital via Apple TV, Google Play, Prime Video, FandangoNOW and more, and on DVD and Blu-ray for the suggested retail prices of $26.98 (DVD) and $29.98 (Blu-Ray) on May 26. The documentary is available now for digital rental.https://www.oncewerebrothers.com/ (edited) 

oncewerebrothers.com

ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND | A Magnolia Pictures Film | OWN IT ON DVD, BLU-RAY™ OR DIGITAL HD

ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND and The Band is a confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robertson’s young life and the creation of one of the most enduring groups in the history of popular music, The Band. The film is a moving story of Robertson’s personal journey, overcoming adversity and finding camaraderie alongside the four other men who would become his brothers in music, together making their mark on music history.

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It’s back to the movies for the Rock N Roll Archaeologist! But for the first time the film in question is a fictional narrative dramedy called, The Incoherents and it is directed by Jared Barel and stars Alex Emanuel, who also wrote most of the music. Jared and Alex break down the film and we try our best not to spoil too much, but do consider this a warning!! Maybe watch the film and then listen to the interview?Bruce Flansburgh is a bored, 40-something New York paralegal who hasn’t let go of his dream of rock stardom. While slogging through an increasingly unbearable day to day existence, it dawns on him that the reunions of The Pixies, Soundgarden and other alternative/indie rock bands from the 90’s could inspire his former group, THE INCOHERENTS, to reform. The group Jeff Auer as Bruce the vocalist, Alex Emanuel as Jimmy the Guitarist, Casey Clark as drummer Tyler and Walter Hoffman as bassist Kieth, each mired in some sort of midlife malaise, reunite their 90's indie rock band for one last shot at stardom. Starring Jeff Auer, Alex Emanuel, Walter Hoffman, Casey Clark, Amy Carlson, Annette O’Toole, Kate Arrington, Robert McKay, Margaret Anne Florence, Christine Chang. Directed by Jared Barel.Jared Barel is a filmmaker, illustrator, designer, and graphic novelist. He is the owner and founder, along with his brother, Jordan Barel, of Loaded Barrel Studios, an award winning publisher of comics and graphic novels and the production studio behind Jared's film work. Jared is an accomplished director, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, animator, and producer. He has worked on a plethora of major label and independent music videos, features, short films, trailers, documentaries, and industrials. Alex Emanuel is a professional theatre, film and tv actor, producer, filmmaker and director, as well as a former touring/recording rock musician, writer and visual artist. He was born in the Little Italy area of NYC to artist parents and alternated time growing up between there and Western MA. Alex earned a degree at Skidmore College in Fine Art and trained as an actor in NY and in Chicago. He's a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA, and has worked regionally, on all three coasts, in the UK and in Eastern Europe.Alex's feature film work include roles in The Incoherents, Inside the Rain, When Everything's Gone, The Luring, Stealing Chanel, Orgami, Black Wake, Keep the Change, 39 and 1/2, Juvie, Uncaged, Blowtorch, Trooper, Buster, Together, 2 Wks 1 Yr, Brother 2 among other films.His TV credits include roles on Succession, Public Morals, Bronx SIU, 50 Central, Blue Bloods, House of Cards, Rescue Me, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Hack, Sex and the City, As the World Turns, All My Children, The Other F Word and The Whitest Kids You Know among other shows.Alex has acted in more than his share of short films as well, many of which have garnered awards at festivals, and also appeared in many music videos and commercials.https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.10b87ed7-0270-ff78-36e5-08ab06f280ee?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_pvt_aiv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_pvt_aiv-20 http://www.jaredbarel.com/https://alexemanuel.com/

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This episode we get the immense pleasure talking with Tal Wilkenfeld! Known first as an extraordinary bassist playing on just about everyone’s record for the last decade or so, and now her very own solo artist with a record called, ‘Love Remains’, out now!

Tal Wilkenfeld is an Australian singer, songwriter, bassist and guitarist whose career began performing alongside artists including Jeff Beck, Prince, Eric Clapton, Herbie Hancock and Mick Jagger. In 2008, Wilkenfeld was voted "The Year's Most Exciting New Player" by Bass Player magazine readers' choice poll. In 2013, Wilkenfeld was awarded Bass Player Magazine's "Young Gun Award" by Don Was, where she performed "Chelsea Hotel" by Leonard Cohen.

Wilkenfeld is a bandleader of her own eponymous bands in which she sings, plays bass and guitar. In her earlier work, she was backed by musicians such as Wayne Krantz and Vinnie Colaiuta. She opened for The Who on the North American part of The Who Hits 50! tour in 2016. In 2016, Wilkenfeld released a single entitled "Corner Painter" which features Blake Mills and Benmont Tench. Rolling Stone praised "Wilkenfeld is working on new music that sees her evolving from an instrumental prodigy into a formidable singer-songwriter" 

On 15 March 2019, Wilkenfeld released her vocal debut album Love Remains,which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseeker charts on the first week of its release. Love Remains has been highly praised by the press and featured in Rolling Stone, Relix, Paste, Billboard and Forbes. Rolling Stone described Wilkenfeld's vocal debut as "ten dense, riff-heavy tracks with brazen, introspective lyrics—prove her songwriting abilities." 

Wilkenfeld has also been a guest on popular podcasts including Marc Maron and Bill Burr. Wilkenfeld was featured on the cover of Bass Player magazine's March 2019 issue.

https://talwilkenfeld.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Remains-Tal-Wilkenfeld/dp/B07MXRWQ3T/ref=tmm_msc_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1591917016&sr=8-1

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Christian gets to spend time behind the kit with Creedence Clearwater Revival drummer, Doug “Cosmo” Clifford. They go through his life in music, first with the giants CCR, which between 1966-1973 were one of the most massively successful rock acts to ever hit the charts. Then they talk about the dissolution, the days in Tahoe as environmental activist, losing Tom Fogerty to AIDS, the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame debacle, reforming with CCR bassist Stu Cook that toured as Creedence Clearwater Revisited until retiring last year and most importantly, his new album Magic Window, that was mostly recorded in 1985, but now out for release!

Doug Clifford achieved fame as the drummer of Creedence Clearwater Revival, a band he put together with his friends Stu Cook, John Fogerty and Tom Fogerty. They were in junior high school when they started playing and achieved worldwide success after signing with Fantasy Records in 1967. Although best known as a drummer, Clifford sang harmony vocals and contributed songs to the Creedence catalogue. He’s been singing, writing songs and making music for as long as he can remember. 

After a lifetime on the road – ten years with Creedence Clearwater Revival and its predecessors and 25 years with Creedence Clearwater Revisited – the band he put together with bassist Stu Cook to perform live tunes from the Creedence catalogue – he’s ready to again make his mark as a singer and songwriter. He’ll be releasing Magic Window, a solo album recorded in 1985 and updated in 2020 on April 24, 2020, on CD Baby and all on streaming platforms.

Clifford wrote the Magic Window songs at his piano at his Lake Tahoe, Nevada home. During downtime, he’d gaze out at the lake and mountains and write, sometimes alone, and sometimes with collaborators. “I had an analog studio with a good tape deck, so I could try out ideas without looking at the clock. I’d invite friends in to jam and experiment. I made Magic Window with Russell DaShiell on lead guitar. Russell’s also an engineer and co-produced the sessions with me. I was going to use it to look for a record deal, but I got busy with other projects and touring. I just forgot about it.”  

Some of those projects included producing albums for Doug Sahm of the Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados, playing in Steve Miller’s band and then joining Stu Cook to play Creedence hits with Creedence Clearwater Revisited. They have performed worldwide for 25 years, amassing many fans and crossing multiple generations to bring the wonderful CCR hits to people. They released an RIAA certified platinum live album.  

Last year, while cleaning out his garage, Clifford found the Magic Window masters.

“I’d forgotten about the tapes, but they were in great shape. We were able to transfer the recordings to digital and warm things up a bit. I discovered more than 100 songs.”  “Music’s always been a medicine and a meditation for me. It doesn’t matter if I’m down or up. It works both ways. We’ve seen some trying times in the last few years, and we can all use some love and magic. I put my heart and soul into the positive messages on this album. This is a good time to share them with the world.” 

https://dougcosmoclifford.com/

https://concord.com/concord-albums/doug-cosmo-clifford/

https://open.spotify.com/album/7KOK93bVycTNCpQW4GOrNd

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The Rock n Roll Archaeologist gets to talk extensively with Mick Jones of Foreigner. This is Mick’s first interview since the Covid-19 pandemic took all acts off the road. We talk a little about that, but mostly it is a deep dig into his life as a working musician climbing the ranks until hitting it big with one of the best selling classic rock acts ever.

The architect behind Foreigner’s extraordinary catalogue of smash hits, Mick has crafted some of rock music’s most enduring songs and produced 10 multi-platinum albums. Grammy and Golden Globe nominated songwriter, performer and producer and winner of the prestigious Ivor Novello songwriter award in Britain in 1998, Mick first began playing guitar in his early teens. "I knew early on that I could never hold a regular job. I had to play guitar. I had to somehow make my way into music" he says.

After starting his own Blues/Rock band and opening for the Rolling Stones in pubs across South London, Mick’s first big break came in 1964 when he moved to Paris and was hired to play with French singer Sylvie Vartan and later hired to work as musical director for French rock icon, Johnny Hallyday. Jones returned to his native England in the early 70’s to reform the band Spooky Tooth with Gary Wright. After Spooky Tooth broke up, Mick moved to New York City and, in 1976, formed Foreigner with fellow Brits Ian Mc Donald and Dennis Elliott, and Americans Lou Gramm, Alan Greenwood and Ed Gagliardi.

In his own words:

"My initial musical vision for Foreigner was to combine Blues and R&B with British Rock and make it sound soulful and authentic. I?d grown up in England and had the English influence but I was also inspired by many elements of American music, from Mississippi Blues to Country and Western. Foreigner was the vehicle to get that musical blend across."

"I’m grateful to be surrounded by the talented musicians that make up Foreigner today. Now each night on stage brings Foreigner’s music alive with energy and excitement. Thanks guys for making it all new again!"

Quotes from Mick talking about Foreigner and the new "Feels Like The First Time" 3-Disc Album:

"When doing the ‘Hot Blooded’ solo I did my damnedest to set the amp on fire, which is what originally happened," Mick says laughing, "I turned it up to 11, I kicked it. . . "

"My feeling over the years is that if you can write a song on an acoustic instrument, and it sounds good, you know you have a good song," Mick explains. "The first time we approached these songs this way I was flabbergasted about how well they adapted back to their nucleus. It’s been an eye opener how stripping the songs bare brings fresh meaning and emotion out of them. The reaction has been so strong that it made me rethink the whole thing and put more attention to the unplugged show. People feel the intimacy, I talk about the songs and how they came about."

"It's' been 6 years since the new line-up has been in place. The success, for me, merited giving the public studio recordings of songs by the new band," Mick Jones asserts. "People know the new Foreigner, so the Foreigner they see live is the same Foreigner they can get on record."

https://www.foreigneronline.com/welcome

https://www.amazon.com/Foreigners-Tale-Mick-Jones/dp/1910978167/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=mick+jones&qid=1589822628&sr=8-4 (edited) 

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Christian completes his very special two part dig into the SF Bay area music scene of the late ‘70’s - early ‘90’s with the second documentary being on East Bay Punk. Last week was the origins of Thrash metal.

This week we have Corbett Redford director for the film, Turn it Around : The Story of East Bay Punk.

Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk explores Northern California’s pivotal role in evolution of punk rock - the loud, intense and anti-authoritarian philosophy of music and politics that arose in the late 1970s. Early San Francisco Bay Area punk pioneers like Dead Kennedys, Avengers and Flipper as well as the Maximum Rocknroll fanzine helped take the punk underground global.

As the once-vibrant local scene became wrought with violence, corruption and racism, punks over the bridge in the East Bay responded by creating a fun and inclusive style of punk that also carried on the region’s tradition of radical thought. Banding together around Berkeley’s all- volunteer 924 Gilman Club, this diverse collective of misfits created a do-it-yourself, no-spectators’ petri dish for art & music that changed the Bay Area punk scene… and the world at large.

Today, we know about some of the bands who emerged from this scene, like Green Day and Rancid, but their success is just the tip of the iceberg; the roots of this inspiring story go deep into the underground. Directed and produced by Corbett Redford, narrated by Iggy Pop and executive produced by Green Day, Turn It Around: The Story Of East Bay Punk is told by the people who were there. The story of East Bay punk rock unfolds from its unlikely beginnings, continues through its struggles, and triumphs with its raucous power continuing to be influential today.

Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk features a diverse spectrum of musicians and artists who have all been impacted by or participated in the California San Francisco Bay Area punk music scene of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. During the production of our film, we conducted over 150 interviews around the United States and amassed over 500 hours of interview footage. Those participating in the documentary include past and current members of: 924 Gilman, Maximumrocknroll, Lookout Records, Green Day, Rancid, Neurosis, Operation Ivy, Crimpshrine, Yeastie Girlz, Stikky, Samiam, Jawbreaker, Isocracy, Kamala and the Karnivores, Beatnigs, NOFX, Primus, Metallica, Bikini Kill, Bad Religion, Soup, Sweet Baby, Special Forces, Deadly Reign, Christ On Parade, Corrupted Morals, Mr. T Experience, Victims Family, The Lookouts, Monsula, Cringer, Spitboy, Blatz, Filth, Econochrist, Fifteen, Pinhead Gunpowder, Tilt, Pansy Division, Dead Kennedys, Avengers, Fugazi, Flipper, 7 Seconds, Fang, Angry Samoans, Nuisance, Screeching Weasel, Engage, Dicks, Subhumans, The Tubes, Boo Hss Pfft, Verbal Abuse, The Vagrants, Schlong, The Gr'ups, The Tourettes, Pinhead Gunpowder, Tribe 8, Kwik Way, Social Unrest, White Trash Debutantes, Outpunk, DMR, Psycotic Pineapple, Black Fork, Sawhorse, The Skinflutes, The List, Sacrilege BC, No Dogs, Gag Order and more.

https://eastbaypunk.com/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M862N3M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_fMDICbM75A7DQ?fbclid=IwAR0DtCGsSH-309qN__dAoLPkwhhmFW1qGrj80IPssFsrf0wOSYbw1XOI2nA

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This is part one of a very special two part dig into the Bay Area music scene of the late 70’s - early 90’s. We have two documentaries teed up that discuss the two biggest genres of the times, Thrash Metal and Punk.

First up is a discussion with Adam Dubin, director for Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story! 

In the early 1980’s, a small group of dedicated Bay Area headbangers shunned the hard rock of MTV and Hollywood hairspray bands in favor of a more dangerous brand of metal that became known as thrash! From the tape trading network to the clubs to the record stores and fanzines, director Adam Dubin reveals how the scene nurtured the music and the music spawned a movement.  

Murder In The Front Row is told through powerful first person testimony and stunning animation and photography. The film is a social study of a group of young people defying the odds and building something essential for themselves.

Adam Dubin set out to chronicle the ‘80s Bay Area thrash scene in Murder in the Front Row -- an uncensored and boisterous documentary set for release early in 2019. And Murder is certainly a must-watch for hard rock fans; the film contains over fifty interviews with various metal stalwarts (including Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Testament and Death Angel), telling its tall tales through a mix of first-person interviews, animation and narration by comedian Brian Posehn. 

But first and foremost, “these are just good stories, and they are very human stories,” says Dubin. “And anyone I’ve shown this to, even those who don't really like the music, have really responded to it."

Narratively, MITFR follows the story of a group of young kids in Northern California with a shared passion for heavy rock bands like UFO, Iron Maiden and Motorhead. “All these bands were mainly from England, and they never really toured the West Coast,” says Dubin. “So these young people started creating their own music, starting their own fanzines, booking clubs and trading tapes. These were people who were adamant about music and the bands, but also each other.” 

Dubin, a veteran music and comedy documentarian who got his start co-directing a few classic videos for the Beastie Boys (“Fight For Your Right to Party,” “No Sleep ‘til Brooklyn”), was certainly an ideal match for the film’s subject matter. The New York native and NYU graduate (where he roomed with mega-producer Rick Rubin) has directed a number of documentaries for Metallica over the years, including their multi-platinum “A Year And A Half In The Life Of Metallica Parts 1 & 2,” "Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica Through the Never" and "Freeze 'em All: Metallica in Antarctica," along with the band’s music video for “Nothing Else Matters.” 

On a personal level, Dubin thinks MITFR serves as a natural evolution for him as a filmmaker and storyteller. “If there’s one theme that runs through all my work, from the Beastie Boys to Metallica to Murder in the First Row, it’s all an attempt to reveal a central truth of rock’n’roll.”

 https://mitfr.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JImsHFVztGI

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