Showtime Documentary Films announced on Tuesday that renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese will be directing a new feature on David Johansen, frontman of the New York Dolls.
Co-directed with David Tedeschi — known for his work on other Scorsese documentaries such as No Direction Home and Shine a Light — the film will take an intimate biographical look at Johansen, beginning with his upbringing on Staten Island and his arrival in New York’s East Village in the late Sixties as a teenager.
Buster Poindexter
The doc not only explores Johansen’s time as the lead singer for the New York Dolls but also his stints as the Eighties swing revival alter-ego Buster Poindexter and his Nineties output with the Harry Smiths.
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“I’ve known David Johansen for decades, and his music has been a touchstone ever since I listened to the Dolls when I was making Mean Streets,” Scorsese said. “Then and now, David’s music captures the energy and excitement of New York City.
I often see him perform, and over the years I’ve gotten to know the depth of his musical inspirations. After seeing his show last year at the Café Carlyle, I knew I had to film it because it was so extraordinary to see the evolution of his life and his musical talent in such an intimate setting. For me, the show captured the true emotional potential of a live musical experience.”
Los Angeles, CA – Cleopatra Entertainment has set a release date for their production ROOM 37 – THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF JOHNNY THUNDERS, a supernatural horror-thriller written and directed by the Cordero Brothers – Vicente Cordero and Fernando Cordero Caballero.
The film features Leo Ramsey, Devin McGregor Ketko, Timothy Lee-Priest, and Jason Lasater, and includes the infamous Johnny Thunders song "Born to Lose,” along with a vocal appearance by legendary New York Dolls member Sylvain Sylvain.
Produced by Shanti Whitney, the film was executive produced by Brian Perera, Yvonne Perera, and co-produced by Tim Yasui. The film is also set for its UK premiere on March 24th at the second annual Sound Screen Music & Film Festival at the Regent Street Cinema in London, England, which runs from March 22nd thru March 27th.
The premier occurs just weeks before the 28th Anniversary of Thunder’s mysterious death (April 23rd, 1991) and tickets for the premier can be purchased directly from the Theater HERE.
Cleopatra will debut the film on Tuesday, May 21st worldwide on all VOD platforms.
In the film, famed rock and roll guitarist Johnny Thunders arrives in New Orleans to begin a new chapter of his life by following a new musical sound and staying clean from drugs in order to see his kids again.
After he settles into the St. Peter’s Guest House Hotel, things go awry. His room is robbed which contained the last of his money and his only methadone supply. Johnny’s journey to recovery quickly turns dark when he takes desperate measures to get better, all which propel Johnny deeper in the chaos that ultimately leads to his unexplained mysterious final hours.
ROOM 37 – THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF JOHNNY THUNDERS CLUB will also be released in a limited-edition BLU RAY/DVD/CD Soundtrack format packaged in a gorgeous, six-panel Digipak on May 24th, 2019. The soundtrack includes performances by the real Johnny Thunders as well as his former bandmates Walter Lure and Sylvain Sylvain.
We have Bert Berns to thank for some of the greatest soul music ever made.
Bert Berns was an amazingly unknown (to the mainstream) soul/pop songwriter/producer during the early 1960s from the Bronx. He literally wrote the soundtrack of my life to be sure!! Here is a short list of his music legacy, click on each one to hear the song, you'll be glad you did!
Whew!! What a list of music!! I loved him all my life and never knew his name until last week! So folks if you love Bert's music like I do, please buy the DVD and share this story with your friends..
Bert Berns and Van Morrison
Some of my friends on Facebook were chatting about the Wrecking Crew Documentary and how great it was. One of the guys popped in and said, "Hey if you want the real deal you have to watch BANG: The Bert Berns Story."
I found Bert's son Brett on FB and begged him to send me the DVD..which he graciously did!! We are on the third viewing of Bang today..
There is such love and humor for Bert in this film.. It focuses on his MUSIC not skeletons in his closet. There is too much of that whiney narrative going on these days don't you think?
The rating I would give Bang:The Bert Berns Story is one snap up and olé! 5 stars to us normal folk... I highly reccomend the children of the 1960s go get this film and show it to your kids! They will love it! Thank you Brett and GOOD JOB!! xoK
Music meets the Mob in this biographical documentary, narrated by Stevie Van Zandt, about the life and career of Bert Berns, the most important songwriter and record producer from the sixties that you never heard of. His hits include “Twist and Shout”, “Hang On Sloopy”, “Here Comes The Night” and “Piece Of My Heart.”
Here are some of the musicians that were interviewed for the film: Ronald Isley, Ben E. King, Solomon Burke, Van Morrison,Cissy Houston, Keith Richards and Paul McCartney. Narrated by Stevie Van Zandt
Bert helped launch the careers of Van Morrison, Neil Diamond and produced some of the greatest soul music ever made. Filmmaker Brett Berns brings his late father's story to the screen through interviews with those who knew him best and rare performance footage. Directors Brett Berns and Bob Sarles
On this day in 2003, a major outage knocked out power across the eastern United States and parts of Canada. Beginning at 4:10 p.m. ET, 21 power plants shut down in just three minutes. Fifty million people were affected, including residents of New York, Cleveland and Detroit, as well as Toronto and Ottawa, Canada.
Although power companies were able to resume some service in as little as two hours, power remained off in other places for more than a day. The outage stopped trains and elevators, and disrupted everything from cellular telephone service to operations at hospitals to traffic at airports. In New York City, it took more than two hours for passengers to be evacuated from stalled subway trains.
Small business owners were affected when they lost expensive refrigerated stock. The loss of use of electric water pumps interrupted water service in many areas. There were even some reports of people being stranded mid-ride on amusement park roller coasters. At the New York Stock Exchange and bond market, though, trading was able to continue thanks to backup generators.
Authorities soon calmed the fears of jittery Americans that terrorists may have been responsible for the blackout, but they were initially unable to determine the cause of the massive outage. American and Canadian representatives pointed figures at each other, while politicians took the opportunity to point out major flaws in the region’s outdated power grid.
Finally, an investigation by a joint U.S.-Canada task force traced the problem back to an Ohio company, FirstEnergy Corporation. When the company’s EastLake plant shut down unexpectedly after overgrown trees came into contact with a power line, it triggered a series of problems that led to a chain reaction of outages. FirstEnergy was criticized for poor line maintenance, and more importantly, for failing to notice and address the problem in a timely manner–before it affected other areas. Read More Here
Title: GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI
Genre:Documentary
Rating: Unrated
Directed by: Sophie Fiennes
GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI, a new documentary that takes audiences on an electrifying journey through the public and private worlds of pop culture mega-icon Grace Jones.
A larger-than-life entertainer, an androgynous glam-pop diva, an unpredictable media presence––Grace Jones is all these things and more. Sophie Fiennes’s documentary goes beyond the traditional music biography, offering a portrait as stylish and unconventional as its subject.
Taking us home to Jamaica, the studio with long-time collaborators Sly & Robbie, and behind-the-scenes at shows all around the world, the film reveals Jones as lover, daughter, mother, and businesswoman. But the stage is the fixed point to which the film returns, with eye-popping performances of "Slave to the Rhythm," “Pull Up to the Bumper,” "Love is the Drug," and more.
GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and will open April 13 in New York and April 20 in Los Angeles with a theatrical national rollout to follow. GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI is a Kino Lorber release.
Former Colombo crime family underboss John “Sonny” Franzese is back on the streets after being released from prison on Friday. The longtime wiseguy was welcomed home with open arms by his family at his daughter’s place in Brooklyn, New York.
John "Sonny" Franzese center
At 100 years old, Franzese was the oldest inmate in the federal prison system in the United States. He now will be looking to enjoy his last days in freedom surrounded by his loving family.
Newsday reports John "Sonny" Franzese left the Federal Medical Center in Devens, Massachusetts, in a wheelchair just before noon Friday. He was serving a 50-year sentence for bank robbery.
He was around when Joe Profaci was the boss. He was a capo in the mid-1950s and by 1964 he had been promoted to underboss. In the mid-1960s, he was convicted of masterminding several bank robberies. John "Sonny" Franzese, Michael Franzese's father, 100 years old, came out of prison on June 23, 2017. If he ever decide to write a book about his life in the Colombo family, it COSA NOSTRA FACEBOOK PAGE
His son, Michael, says the elder Franzese is planning to live with a daughter in Brooklyn. Franzese was accused of being involved in loan sharking and extortion. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirms he was the oldest prisoner until his release. He was paroled at least six times since his 1967 conviction, but each time ended back in prison.
Chick Corea first laid eyes on New York’s Greenwich Village in 1959, fresh from high school, with a head full of music that only he could have imagined. With this new release The Musician, recorded in the epicenter of Chick’s original NYC haunts and more than 50 years later, Corea finally brings all that music together at once.
The new live 3-CD and Blu-ray set captures Corea’s 70th birthday celebration at the famed Blue Note Jazz Club in 2011, where he assembled a staggering lineup of musical friends and fellow-travelers – among them Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, John McLaughlin and Stanley Clarke – for a month-long residency featuring 10 different bands, including triumphal sets by his own Chick Corea Elektric Band and Return to Forever.
All of it is captured brilliantly in the first feature-length documentary on Corea’s life, music and genius musical partners. The film takes you inside the heads and “hangs” of some of the greatest artists of our time – backstage and personal – and the CDs capture almost four hours of live recordings of every band.
The deluxe hardcover edition, including the film on Blu-ray, in addition to the 3 CDs, an essay by Robin D. G. Kelley and exclusive photos, will be available from Concord Jazz on April 21, 2017, as well as a 3-CD edition. A 3-LP edition on 180-gram vinyl is planned for June 2.
The CDs capture the music with Corea’s characteristic thrilling live sound, and the documentary goes even further: with total access to Chick’s creative process, the film features live footage, but also rehearsals, backstage hangs and candid interviews with the musicians.
Everything that goes into making music at this level – the hours of practice, rehearsals, gear moving in and out – is in full view.
The Musician shows Corea welcoming his 70th year with friends and thousands of fans. Now, five years later, he shows no sign of slowing down. He continues to look forward to more tours, more gigs, and more sessions.
Looking back on the month-long celebration that is now remembered on The Musician, Corea calls it motivation “to keep on experimenting and researching and putting new bands together and playing music. It’s that simple.”
The real Big Paulie was certainly had a less attractive appearance than actor Paul Sorvino who played his role in the classic film Goodfellas...
Paul Sorvino as Big Paulie
American Mafia History: Paul “Big Paulie” Vario was born on July 9, 1914 and lived in Brooklyn New York. He had four brothers, Vito, Salvatore, Thomas, and Leonard. As a youngster, Vario was in trouble with law enforcement often. In 1925 at the age of 12 he was sent away for seven months for truancy. He had several more convictions through his lifetime.
As a young man Vario joined the Lucchese crime family and worked his way up the ranks taking part in violent crimes such as extortion, hijacking, bookmaking, and numbers games to name a few. He and his brothers also owned several legitimate businesses including a flower shop, cab stand (Euclid Avenue Cab Co) and restaurant (Presto Pizzeria). Vario’s brother, Vito “Tuddy” Vario ran the pizzeria and the cab stand where most their business was conducted.
Paul Vario was born in New York City, where he later became a member of the Lucchese crime family. In 1925, at age eleven, Vario was sentenced to seven months in juvenile detention for truancy.
Nicknamed "Paulie," Vario stood six foot three and weighed 250 pounds. He was deceptively strong despite his girth, and would intimidate underlings and enemies just by his sheer size. During his adult years, Vario was arrested for loan-sharking, burglary, tax evasion, bribery, bookmaking, contempt of court and assault.[2]
Vario allegedly had a very violent temper. One night Vario took his wife, Phyllis, out to dinner. While they were sitting at the table, the maitre d' accidentally poured wine on Phyllis' dress, then tried to dry it with a dirty rag. An enraged Vario hit the maitre d' twice and chased him to the kitchen. The maitre d' and several waiters with knives and heavy pans blocked the door. Later that evening, Vario sent two carloads of men armed with baseball bats and pipes to assault the waiters after the restaurant closed.[citation needed]
Vario's associate Henry Hill claimed that Vario severely beat a female bar server at her apartment with a baseball bat. The woman had allegedly informed Phyllis that she and Vario were having an affair.
In the early 1970s, Vario was "membership director" for Colombo crime family boss Joe Colombo's Italian-American Civil Rights League. However, he rescinded his membership and withdrew all support when it became apparent that the relentless accusations Colombo was making against the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. government about racism and anti-Italian discrimination were attracting attention, which could easily divert from Colombo and his supporters' politics and into their criminal behavior. READ MORE ABOUT THE MOB ON RETRO KIMMER
Nile Rodgers & CHIC Performing with Chaka Khan HOSTED BY Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly HONORING...
Caryl M. Stern MATTIE J.T STEPANEK PEACEMAKER AWARD
Bill McDermott VISIONARY AWARD
Chaka Khan HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Host Committee
*Megan Delaney* Tommy Hilfiger* Matthew Hunt* Jauretsi* Kelly Florio Kasouf* Sade Lythcott* Nicole Mellon*Crystal Moselle* Spencer Sweeney* Inez + Vinoodh*
On Thursday, April 23, 2015, the We Are Family Foundation® (WAFF), a not-for-profit organization founded by legendary GRAMMY® Award winning musician, Nile Rodgers, will honor U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s President & CEO, Caryl M. Stern, SAP’s CEO, Bill McDermott and multiple GRAMMY® Award winning music icon Chaka Khan, at Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
The evening will be hosted by Fox 5 News anchors Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly, and will include a concert featuring Nile Rodgers & CHIC, performing with Chaka Khan for the first time on stage together. This year’s host committee includes Megan Delaney, Tommy Hilfiger, Matthew Hunt, Jauretsi, Kelly Florio Kasouf, Sade Lythcott, Nicole Mellon, Crystal Moselle, Spencer Sweeney and Inez + Vinoodh
The highly-anticipated event will celebrate three extraordinary global citizens: President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Caryl M. Stern will receive the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award which honors the person who has made a significant contribution toward promoting a peaceful society.
Since joining the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in 2006, Stern has traveled to more than 30 countries in support of UNICEF’s work to save and protect the world’s most vulnerable children, and spearheaded the organization’s efforts to aid children affected by disasters. Previous recipients of this award include, Dr. Maya Angelou, Paul Simon, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Quincy Jones, Dr. Jeni Stepanek and Deepak Chopra.
Bill McDermott, Chief Executive Officer of SAP, the world’s business software market leader, will receive the Visionary Award, which recognizes a corporation or a person in the corporate world whose philanthropic efforts have made a meaningful difference in our world. McDermott leads SAP’s 74,400 employees and a two million person plus ecosystem in executing SAP’s vision and strategy to help the world run better and improve people’s lives. Previous recipients of this award include, Susan and David Rockefeller, Jr., Tommy Hilfiger and Nicole and Matthew Mellon.
International music icon and ten-time GRAMMY® Award winner, Chaka Khan, will receive the Humanitarian Award, which honors a person in the public eye who has made tremendous efforts and inroads into making the human condition better throughout the world. Since she burst onto the music scene in the 1970s as the 18-year-lead singer of the multiracial band Rufus,
Chaka Khan has since released 22 albums, racked up ten #1 Billboard Magazine charted songs, developed a vast international fan base and performed on six continents, during an illustrious career spanning 40 years to date. In 1999, she established the Chaka Khan Foundation, a project of Community Partners, which includes a variety of programs and initiatives that assist women and children at risk. Previous recipients of the Humanitarian Award have included Sting & Trudie Styler, Sir Elton John, Steven Van Zandt, Nile Rodgers and Jackson Browne.
“We are inspired by each of our 2015 honorees who show passion to their individual mission and continuous dedication to solving some of the biggest global issues facing our world,” says Nile Rodgers, Founder & Chairman of the We Are Family Foundation. “My song, ‘We Are Family,’ embodies the spirit of our honorees and the We Are Family Foundation, which brings people together to celebrate our differences and share important ideas across borders to make a difference and inspire peace.”
The funds raised will support WAFF’s mission and programs including WAFF’s signature program, Three Dot Dash, which identifies, supports and mentors Global Teen Leaders actively working on programs that address basic human needs and promoting a more peaceful world; and TEDxTeen, a global educational platform for extraordinary teenagers to share their stories and inspire millions.
To purchase tickets, or to make a contribution to the We Are Family Foundation, please visit wearefamilyfoundation.org. Contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
I am really looking forward to seeing this new documentary on the History of the Ford Mustang. I love the Mustang and owned two of them. I had a 1965 convertible and a 1988 Red GT. Just adored them...The history is a great story...Heard the film was great by some friends of mine who were at Tribeca on 4-18.
Masterfully crafted with gorgeous cinematography throughout, A Faster Horse wonders aloud how an American icon can be adapted for changing times. Director David Gelb cuts in a rigorous, high-energy look at the history of Ford and the emotional connection many have to the definitive muscle car—a chassis cool enough for Steve McQueen—moving the film beyond a car lover’s documentary to a resonant examination of American ingenuity, workmanship, and resilience.
The man who stood up to mobster Dutch Schultz. The man who financed breadlines during the Depression. The man who some say introduced heroin to Harlem. The man not to be messed with.
``I guess Bumpy would be called a gangster, but I rather hate to use that label to describe him,'' says historian and author John Henrik Clarke, recalling the Harlem legend who died in 1968 at age 62.
``Bumpy was a gangster with a social conscience. He may have taken from the [black] community, but he also gave back,'' says Clarke, 82, professor emeritus of African world history at Hunter College in New York City and a Harlem resident who knew Johnson well. ``You don't find these so-called gangsters nowadays doing any such thing.'' READ MORE ABOUT BUMPY HERE
The Left Banke & Ian Lloyd's Stories Present:the TRIBUTE Show w/ Special Guest Alan Merrill (of The Arrows), and more!!!
The
Left Banke, featuring founding and original member George Cameron, and I
= Ian Lloyd's Stories will perform songs penned by MB.Come join in celebrating our fallen comrade's life.
Friday April 24, 2015 6pm Le Poisson Rouge 158 Bleecker St NYC 10012
Carmine John Persico, Jr. (born August 8, 1933 in Brooklyn) also known as "Junior", "The Snake" and "Immortal", has been the Boss of the Colombo crime family since 1973. Persico has overseen gang wars, murders, and major rackets, most of the time from prison. He has been serving a sentence of 139 years in prison since 1987
In 1957, Persico allegedly participated in the murder of Albert Anastasia, the former leader of Murder Inc. and the boss of what was then the Anastasia crime family. Anastasia's underboss Carlo Gambino wanted control of the family and conspired with his allies, Genovese crime family boss Vito Genovese and Profaci boss Joseph Profaci to kill Anastasia. Profaci allegedly gave the job to Persico and the Gallo brothers.
In early 1963, the Gallos bombed Persico's car, but he escaped with minor injuries. On May 19, 1963, Gallo gunmen ambushed Persico in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn. A panel truck pulled alongside Persico's car and two men shot Persico in the face, hand, and shoulder. Persico reportedly spat out the bullet that had entered his face. (OMG!!!)
Soon after the May attempt on his life, Persico was imprisoned on extortion charges. By the fall of 1963, with Joey Gallo in prison also, the shooting war had ended with Magliocco the winner.
In late 1963, after an unsuccessful attempt to take over the Mafia Commission, Magliocco was forced out of the family. He was replaced by Joseph Colombo, who had alerted the Commission to Magliocco's plot. The Profaci crime family was now the Colombo crime family. In turn, Colombo rewarded the imprisoned Persico by naming him a capo....read full story on WIKI
Well well! I can finally get into watching theTonight Show again...I was a die hard David Letterman fan and I wanted him to get the show....boo...nothing against Jay Leno but I never found him funny..except when he dressed up as Madea...but with the tonight show back in NYC and with Jimmy Fallon a seriously talented guy on all fronts...we are back...
The Tonight Show has aired on NBC since 1954. The Tonight Show is the longest currently running, regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States and the third-longest-running show on NBC after Meet the Press and Today.
Our pal, Arthur Nash, a consultant for the Museum, has just launched his first app for iPhone and iPad – “The New York City Gangland Tour.” With 300+ destinations city-wide, nearly 4,000 rare images and insider stories spanning 150 years, New York City Gangland is a go-to guide for researchers, day-trippers and organized crime aficionados.
The Mob bosses may be gone, but the back alleys and haunts that fed their folklore still stand intact and are now at your fingertips -- most for the very first time.
TESTORS AND DEADBOYS – Akron , Ohio, 1980, fanzine -page
This is a one page (two sided) fanzine that came out of Akron, Ohio. Sonny found this recently in his archives and decided to share it. In addition to a cool DIY design and info reflecting the times, there is a featured part announcing the 2 dates we played in Akron with the Dead Boys.
This is the 1-hour version of a documentary 9/11: Explosive Evidence -- Experts Speak Out which is available for purchase as a DVD in our online store or as a download or video-on-demand at http://www.911ExpertsSpeakOut.org .
Public Broadcasting Station, Colorado Public Television (cpt12.org), have courageously thrust themselves at the forefront of our nation's public service media network. CPT12 recently aired this powerful and controversial film as a featured premium during their Summer fundraising campaign. The PBS national website then posted the re-broadcast which quickly became one of their "Most Watched" as well as "Most Shared" programs on PBS. We are approaching the 11th year since that fateful day in September and more and more people are becoming aware that they haven't gotten the whole story on 9/11.
