A History of Rock n' Roll in Film and Rock n' Roll

Jay R Smith

I review cinematographic products related directly as well as tangentially to rock history and tell the stories of the artists, businesses, and technologies that fueled the development of this glorious cultural mutant known as Rock n' Roll. read less
MusicMusic

Episodes

Van Halen #6 | "Better Off Dead" (1985)
1w ago
Van Halen #6 | "Better Off Dead" (1985)
Hello and get ready for so much Van Halen once again! And Better Off Dead! So much good stuff that could have only happened in the 1980s converging in one place. Along with more 70s Van Halen history too, of course. We'll cover stuff like: Savage Steve Holland's real life experiences that went into his script, and later work in children's cartoonsMichael Anthony's first meetup with Sammy HagarEddie's challenges in early life as a shy kid would couldn't speak english in AmericaHis challenges shaking off the controlling influence of David Lee Roth and Ted Templeman making "1984" the way HE and Alex and Donn Landee wanted toJohn Cusack's initial hatred of "Better Off Dead" and his eventual backpedalThe Van Halen family's journey from The Netherlands to Pasadena by boat and by trainMy shock at finding out Alex's drums on certain songs were actually an electric kitAl, Mike, and Sammy's soundcheck routines and gear specs on the 1993 tour The AC/DC songs Eddie says inspired "Panama" and "Drop Dead Legs"The making of Van Halen 2 and how it was intentionally different from the debut albumHow "Fair Warning" influenced what happened on "Diver Down" which in turn influenced "1984"Eddie's on-the-road-all-night-every-night initial fling with Valerie Bertinelli that morphed straight into their marriageWhat happens when a couple of lucky young dudes from Pennsylvania get to party with Van Halen and MTV doesn't know how to keep up with it all  AND SO MUCH MORE. Including lots of my musical interludes and suprise voices from throughout time and space! Even more than usual.  Please remember that Rock n' Roll is the best, and so are you! Monthly exclusive Rock History bonus feed here https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources   https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eddie-van-halen-tribute-1081034/ https://youtu.be/7qviaKsnb5Q?si=SAqlSYo-TY3PQ0Ng https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75810/13-better-facts-about-better-dead  https://www.insidehook.com/film/director-steve-holland-cult-classic-better-off-dead-john-cusack  https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/eddie-van-halen-looks-back-van-halen-1984-album-5150-studios
Van Halen #5 | "The Wild Life" (1984)
04-03-2024
Van Halen #5 | "The Wild Life" (1984)
Next episode will feature a deep dive on "Better Off Dead" and conclude the Van Halen saga. But until then, please enjoy:  A very well-rounded view of VH history by Eddie Van Halen in 1990 Sammy Hagar's arguably sketchy claims about Van Halen's numbers before and after he joined Eddie producing and promoting a band called "Private Life" who obviously did not go on to amazing things (but hey, even if you or I never heard their songs, they still accomplished more than most of us, eh?)  Eve Clarke interviewing me about my "Perfect 10" VH tunes of the David Lee Roth era Sammy's tale of meeting Eddie for the first time and joining Van Halen  The final installments of my real-time (and space-time) reactions to the Art Linson/Cameron Crowe teen epic that had a lot going for it even if it didn't come out fully cooked - "The Wild Life," starring Nice Guy Eddie, Marty McFly's mom, Vincent Vega's heroin dealer, Clark Griswold's cousin Eddie, and the "Wanna take a bath?" gal from Pink Floyd's Wall film adaptation.    Monthly exclusive Rock History bonus feed here https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources
Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Michelangelo Antonioni #2 | "Zabriskie Point" (1970)
15-02-2024
Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Michelangelo Antonioni #2 | "Zabriskie Point" (1970)
Well, this was ill-advised, I now think to myself... and now you've got a big ol' buffet to keep going back to for as many trips as you'd like, and I don't know how many of you were expecting Jell-O as well as sushi after your fried green beans. But, whether you listen to it all in sequence or segments, I hope it's valuable to you! Here's a few things you will hear about during the ride:  Contraptions used to make Pink Floyd songs like "One of These Days" happen and how they were calibratedThe definition of scenery gorn and other tropes found in the filmThe Bear's emotional relationship with the Wall of Sound, which becomes everyone's relationship with it as well, because The Dead could not perform the same way on everyone else's rinky dink P.A. systems after experiencing the clarity they were used toPink Floyd's year-long scheme to move from Capitol to CBS in AmericaHendrix blowing off the Dead on the night he promised to jam, and their low key "revenge"Antonioni's opinions on filmmaking in America vs Italy. What it was like to film Z.P. through the eyes of an American member of the crew who actually did admire his workRichard Wright not showing up very much, getting bootedJerry Garcia records his Zabriskie Point soundtrack music in much less time than he wanted to. And has his payment stolen by Mickey Hart's dad. Who also steals car parts and speakers from BearFloyd does more regrouping, post-breakup with Roger. Roger gets cranky. Clapton gets a cheeseburger. Roger is still cranky today that the band he walked away from and then sued when they didn't die without him will not promote his albums on their social mediaThe Grateful Dead play for the largest outdoor rock audience of all time in upstate New York. And perform long soundcheck concerts for free on top of thatPink Floyd's 1975 SoCal shows being ruined by LAPD for 4 daysPhil Lesh drinks Canadian Whisky with mystery capsules in it and Jerry Garcia crawls around on the floor like a caterpillar who can't leave the room on his ownKurt Loder gives a mean-spirited review of a mean-spirited album.  Monthly exclusive Rock History bonus feed here https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com  https://antonioni9.wordpress.com/2021/06/25/michelangelo-and-the-leviathan-the-making-of-zabriskie-point-1992/  https://antonioni9.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/lets-talk-about-zabriskie-point-august-1970/ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-the-inside-story-104505/ https://archive.org/details/guitarworldprese0000unse/page/26/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/saucerfulofsecre00scha/page/n7/mode/2up https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jim+ladd+innerview+pink+floyd
The Airing of Grievances episode!
07-01-2024
The Airing of Grievances episode!
It's time to get cranky! I read internet exchanges with a psycho on Reverb.com and a former child star on Instagram as well as quotes from Steve Albini and a section of the recent Megadeth book featuring Dave Mustaine's racist-ass wife. Throughout it all, you will also hear some delightful children's poems to offset the awfulness.  Please check the links below for a few things I'm proud of taking part in: A new interview of me on “DiabloCast” by Glenn Cannon from Diablo Guitars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV1kCtoujII “The Necroboard” comedy horror radio drama by Bronson Swagger ent. Starring me as “Corey Baylor” https://bronsonswaggerentertainment.bandcamp.com/track/the-necroboard  My new “Running Man” review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7n7PU8Omkk “First Love” short by James Akita https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQtUHbcfYGY   Monthly exclusive Rock History bonus feed here https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources
"Zabriskie Point" (1970) | Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead
20-12-2023
"Zabriskie Point" (1970) | Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead
Phil Lesh is the best music writer. Richard Wright may or may not have been incredibly smart for not legally being a member of Pink Floyd from 1980 onward. I agree with Roger Ebert for once. Bear knows a thing or two about sound reenforcement after going mostly deaf in one ear. EMI helps create the first internet conspiracy theories in rock. The Dead ditch the jug band thing after seeing "Hard Day's Night." Star of the film dies in the middle of bench press. Douglas Adams makes an appearance in the name of "The fundamental interconnectedness of all things" and $5,000 of Floyd's money. Stuff blows up in slow motion. Weir and Garcia have a pointed back-and-forth with their front-of-house feedback. Roger Waters does his best Italian accent and makes sure all the 1970 soundtrack tapes are reused in future song demos.    All this and more, in today's educational whirlwind of sound and flerp. Flerp means words, I guess.    Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Monthly exclusive Rock History bonus feed here https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock (currently paused until end of this month) Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources
"White Zombie" (1932) & WHITE ZOMBIE | Bela Lugosi, Sean Yseult, Rob Zombie, Jay Yuenger, Ivan DePrume
20-10-2023
"White Zombie" (1932) & WHITE ZOMBIE | Bela Lugosi, Sean Yseult, Rob Zombie, Jay Yuenger, Ivan DePrume
Damn right, I'm doing my "White Zombie" episode just before Halloween! I never had too much of a plan for when I was going to produce this one, because I knew it would be another massive undertaking as well as another "way more history of the band than the movie" situation. If this is your first episode of the show, WELCOME! I want you to know this is probably the coolest band that ever existed for me. I've been bonkers over them since my best friend Eli let me borrow his cassette of "La Sexorcisto" back in 1992. I genuinely did not understand why everyone in the universe did not love this band as much as I did from 92-98. Here's what we'll cover today:  Sean’s early years in ballet and art classes, as well as an amazing summary of her WZ career after the fact (more on her musical influence on the band next episode) The beginning and ending of Sean’s relationship with Rob Rob’s early entertainment influences and work on “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” Jay’s tales of the NYC recording of La Sexorcisto, how he managed to not starve, and Ivan De Prume getting paid fifty bucks to do a drum roll for Savatage Bela Lugosi’s emigration from Hungary to New Orleans and up northward to Broadway, and westard to Hollywood The horrific violence after WW1 that forced Bela out of his home country - The Red Terror vs The White Terror, 1917-1919 The many themes and tropes of the “White Zombie” film that resonated with American audiences in 1932 A 1990 interview with Rob from a black & white zine Sean’s relationship with Al Jourgensen, and his supposed, alleged, confrontation with Rob that maybe totally might have partially happened A 1994 guitar extravaganza featuring Jay Yuenger and John Christ of Danzig featuring my very professional voice acting And WAY MORE of course, because you can see the running time of this thing is bloated and engorged like any decent Soul Crushing Psycho-Head Blowout in Pig Heaven should be!  And this, my friends, is only part ONE. UNO. EIN. UNE. WAHID. UNA. IKA. BIR. Get Sean's book and other stuff here My source for J's narrative, his old blog. Picture links currently broken as all hell 1990 Propaganda profile featuring White Zombie, Danzig, Soundgarden, Faith No More Fun extra videos for Zombie fans!  https://archive.org/details/CnGWhiteZombieProngPrimus/CnG1.iso https://archive.org/details/1994.08.09-mtv-headbangers-ball-hosted-by-riki-rachtman-movie-premier-of-airhead Monthly exclusive Rock History bonus feed here https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources
Van Halen #3 | "The Wild Life" (1984)
26-08-2023
Van Halen #3 | "The Wild Life" (1984)
The Van Halen Summer continues! One more after this, I think. Maybe. Maybe just one more.  In this one we gots: Perspective on the Roth reuinion and Gary Cherone era from manager Ray Danniels A Hit Parader feature from 1984More thoughts from bassist Michael AnthonyA Musician Magazine feature from 1984 on Eddie and DaveAn excerpt from David Lee Roth's "Crazy From The Heat" bookSome UK road stories from manager Noel Monk involving cheeseburgers, groupies, and having to take Dave's clothes off for him multiple times a nightSome tech talk about Eddie's endorsement history and the creation of the EVH guitars at Fender Musical Instrument CoMore chatting with my pal Eve Clarke about the 1st three Van Halen recordsMy real time reactions to Cameron Crowe's "The Wild Life" slowed down to unreal time so I sound as pilled-up as a Champion sweater after one wash n' dry cycle New monthly bonus feed here! https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock   Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal tips: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources
"Little Richard" (2000) Made For TV biopic by Robert Townshend
13-08-2023
"Little Richard" (2000) Made For TV biopic by Robert Townshend
This is one I started more than a year ago, and just didn't want to get anything wrong by rushing to publication too soon. But now I'm ok with the amount of research packed into this episode and can move on to creating #2. Here are a few things you have to look forward to: Richard’s scat-centric pranks on family and neighbors as a childEarly abuse at the hands of strange white men from out of townThe many influences that shaped his stagecraft and personaHis father’s murder at the hands of just some dude that was drunk and in a bad moodHis journey from local bandleader to touring dynamoA few of his early attempts at hit making that did not go over with the record buying publicThe key differences between him and R&B or Blues artists of his eraA Rik Mayall quote from the time he met RichardLife in The Upsetters on the roadA history lesson on "conking" Recording "Tutti Frutti" with all the butt sex language taken outGetting arrested for public sex stuff https://archive.org/details/little-richard-movie Monthly bonus feed here! https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal tips: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources
Van Halen #2 | "The Wild Life (1984)
24-07-2023
Van Halen #2 | "The Wild Life (1984)
The second part of maybe three? Maybe four?  Besides me talking through the mid-phase of the DLR era with my friend Eve, and my real time reactions to Cameron Crowe and Art Linson's "The Wild Life", there's alla this action right hyeah:   A “death of hard rock” review from 1978The band hosts Wet T-shirt night at Mitty’sStories about the making of some legendary VH songsAnother review of “The Wild Life” (not great!)VH Vying for Gene Simmons’ stewardship on the same night as not-quite-DokkenDavid Lee Roth on his suspicions that Gene was secretly just after EddieEddie’s Ibanez Destroyer and the Chris Holmes connectionVan Halen plays with Journey, Sabbath, and The Rolling StonesThe time Eddie chopped a piece off of his Gibson SG during a recording sessionSome nice thoughts from Steve Lukather    New monthly bonus feed here! https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal tips: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources
Guns n' Roses | The Dead Pool (1988) #3
07-07-2023
Guns n' Roses | The Dead Pool (1988) #3
Enjoy me tripping over my own research on Dirty Harry at the beginning of this one, folks! Then you can also enjoy the following:  Duff decides it's time to bring in Slash and Steven so they can tour the west coastAxl threatens to whip Michael Hutchence's onstage ass while GnR are backstage in 1988More TV tropes about "The Dead Pool" including me finding SLASH's whole page of personal tropes!!!Izzy bottoms out and gets sober after pissing into something that's not the toilet on a plane.Manager Alan Niven discusses the Vince Neil incident at the MTV Music Video awards in fall of 1989"Mick Wall at kErRaNg!" takes us through his account of the "Get In The Ring" saga and I actually side with him for once. Ok for twice, at least. I'm not a man who wants ta live in a world of absolutes, fer crissakes. My friends and I do a live table read of the inFAMOUS (meaning less than famous) 1986 Karen Burch interview from "Music Connection" magazine, followed by my narration of the fallout on both sides.  Thank you so much for caring about Rock n' roll. It's the best, and so are you.  New monthly bonus feed here! https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal tips: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RockFilmRock Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources The 86 Music Connection interview: https://www.a-4-d.com/t2868-1986-04-dd-music-connection and https://www.a-4-d.com/t2891-1986-08-04-music-connection-guns-n-roses-vs-music-connection-the-sequel https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/time-guns-n-roses-jim-carrey-and-clint-eastwood-converged HUGE article, 1988 https://archive.org/details/rockmusician00sche/page/192/mode/2up?q=Guns+N%27+Roses
Van Halen | "The Wild Life" (1984) #1
14-06-2023
Van Halen | "The Wild Life" (1984) #1
Hello friends and welcome to Van Halen time! This episode features 3 intertwining sections: My narration of some hand-picked moments in VH history, my real-time reactions to Cameron Crowe's follow up to "Fast Times..." and a super fun interview conducted by my friend and fellow rocker, Eve Clarke, for an as-yet-unreleased series of videos she's cookin' up with other opinionated guitar enthusiasts in our local orbit. Eve's music can be found here: https://tripthewire.com/ Part two of my Van Halen series will probably be out next month, but right now it's anyone's guess if the 2nd Guns n' Roses episode gets finished first. We'll just have to see. In the meantime, please be excellent to each other and PARTY ON, DUDES!    New monthly bonus feed here (an extra 4 hrs of rock n' roll history for $3) https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal tips: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Up7xGgjioEC07bjwu4mQ Follow on Twitter(while I can still stand it): https://twitter.com/RockFilmRock Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justtheworstever/ Send me an email with show suggestions: Justtheworstever@gmail.com Suicide Prevention, Text/Call: 988 https://afsp.org/ National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 https://www.rainn.org/resources