Every Halloween, Robert George Pickett rises from the grave. (Figuratively.)
The song that made Pickett famous (three times over), “Monster Mash,” spikes to 40 times its regular view and search volume on YouTube every Halloween, and with good reason. It is a uniquely ripe piece of American cheese, a novelty hit that stands among the best of a decade packed with them, and Pickett’s life — and dogged attempts to keep grabbing the brass ring he glimpsed with the song — represent a uniquely American story.
Pickett was in born in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1938, right in the middle of Universal Studios’ reign atop the horror movie industry.
The song that made Pickett famous (three times over), “Monster Mash,” spikes to 40 times its regular view and search volume on YouTube every Halloween, and with good reason. It is a uniquely ripe piece of American cheese, a novelty hit that stands among the best of a decade packed with them, and Pickett’s life — and dogged attempts to keep grabbing the brass ring he glimpsed with the song — represent a uniquely American story.
Pickett was in born in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1938, right in the middle of Universal Studios’ reign atop the horror movie industry.
- 10/27/2016
- by alexheigl
- PEOPLE.com
R.L. Burnside first recorded at age 40, remained obscure until 65, and was a legend at 75. Born on November 23, 1926 in Oxford, Mississippi, he spent most of his life in his rural native area, where he worked as a sharecropper as late as 1979, though he lived in Chicago and Memphis for short periods. His appearance in the Robert Mugge/Robert Palmer 1992 documentary movie and soundtrack album Deep Blues and his acclaimed 1994 Fat Possum album Too Bad Jim seemed to come out of nowhere to catch the attention of not only blues fans but also the underground rock crowd. But R.L. (pronounced "Rule" by his friends) had been on an Arhoolie compilation LP in 1967, and as his fame rose, several pre-Deep Blues albums reappeared with wider distribution.
Where did Burnside's striking style come from? The decline of the Mississippi sharecropping system and the region's subsequent economic slump led to many railroad lines being discontinued.
Where did Burnside's striking style come from? The decline of the Mississippi sharecropping system and the region's subsequent economic slump led to many railroad lines being discontinued.
- 11/22/2011
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
Dave Allocca Marshall Chess
Call it the “Capote” syndrome. Just as two Truman Capote biopics were released a year apart, the story of Chess Records has now been told in two feature films. First came the star-driven “Cadillac Records” in 2008, featuring Beyonce Knowles as Etta James and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters. “Who Do You Love,” an indie starring musicians Keb’ Mo’ and Robert Randolph as Jimmy Rogers and Bo Diddley, respectively, was released in New York on Friday, and will open in Los Angeles and Chicago in the coming weeks.
Marshall Chess, son of Leonard Chess, who founded the legendary Chicago blues label with his brother Phil, cooperated with both films in granting music rights. But he had no input on the scripts and felt chagrined by both projects’ handling of the facts. (“Cadillac Records” omitted his uncle and depicted his dad, played by Adrien Brody, in an affair...
Call it the “Capote” syndrome. Just as two Truman Capote biopics were released a year apart, the story of Chess Records has now been told in two feature films. First came the star-driven “Cadillac Records” in 2008, featuring Beyonce Knowles as Etta James and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters. “Who Do You Love,” an indie starring musicians Keb’ Mo’ and Robert Randolph as Jimmy Rogers and Bo Diddley, respectively, was released in New York on Friday, and will open in Los Angeles and Chicago in the coming weeks.
Marshall Chess, son of Leonard Chess, who founded the legendary Chicago blues label with his brother Phil, cooperated with both films in granting music rights. But he had no input on the scripts and felt chagrined by both projects’ handling of the facts. (“Cadillac Records” omitted his uncle and depicted his dad, played by Adrien Brody, in an affair...
- 4/14/2010
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Reclusive director of 'Breakfast Club,' 'Sixteen Candles' gave rare interview.
By Gil Kaufman
John Hughes
Photo: MTV (File)
When I read that director/screen writer John Hughes died on Thursday, I thought of a lot of things: his seminal 1980s movies "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"; how those movies taught me about love and not worrying about fitting in; and how he didn't worry about fitting in on the Hollywood scene and basically retreated from the public eye and the persona he never wanted to live up to.
But mostly I thought about the time in 1997 when I somehow managed to get the rarely interviewed, publicity-shy director on the phone to talk about a little-known indie movie he wrote called "Reach the Rock."
The ostensible reason I finagled the talk was because I was a fan of a label run by his son,...
By Gil Kaufman
John Hughes
Photo: MTV (File)
When I read that director/screen writer John Hughes died on Thursday, I thought of a lot of things: his seminal 1980s movies "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"; how those movies taught me about love and not worrying about fitting in; and how he didn't worry about fitting in on the Hollywood scene and basically retreated from the public eye and the persona he never wanted to live up to.
But mostly I thought about the time in 1997 when I somehow managed to get the rarely interviewed, publicity-shy director on the phone to talk about a little-known indie movie he wrote called "Reach the Rock."
The ostensible reason I finagled the talk was because I was a fan of a label run by his son,...
- 8/7/2009
- MTV Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.