Seriously. It's not like a lot of black folk went to see that movie anyway. It was white audiences he was introducing black artists to, and most of those black artists were right there in the movie. Did it again in BB2000. Is there a single other white guy who brought black artists directly to the forefront like him?
@@richard84738 BB2000 wasn't great, but the ending scene with the Louisiana Gator Boys performance was phenomenal. It was a true lover's kiss to the blues.
These guys were cut from a different piece of cloth than most, I believe. They brought back blues to the masses. R.I.P. John Belushi, you were one of a kind!
Dan Aykroyd is a class act! I really appreciate how he awarded the musicians. I still remember seeing Soul Man back on SNL back in 1978! The Best Memories.
I think it is important to point out also that many of these performers were fading away, and they brought them back and put them right in the public eye… not just for blues enthusiasts, but for everyone.
I watched it with my teenage daughter about 10 years ago. When I asked her if she liked it she said it was the funniest movie she'd ever seen, and she's seen a lot of movies. 😊
@@jtknapp3261 Has she seen Animal House? Blues Brothers is better, but Animal House is hilarious too. And I would advise against watching Blues Brothers 2000. John Goodman is very talented, but he can't touch Belushi, and the whole movie is more dumb than funny.
Dan Akroyd always speaks genuinely and intelligently. The "Blues Brothers" seamlessly combines two of my favorite things: comedy and music. It's truly a classic.
@@clivep3515 ...so it's not just me....VHS. Cassette, DVD. MP4. RU-vid....Over 4 decades of entertainment from a duo and a band that toured for a few years, and made a movie around 1980.
@@BAKER22-l4uhe’s just an actor? Did your bitter cynicism blind you to his talents as a musician? No one has ever heard of you but that’s no reason to show such poor character.
The Blues Brothers band was an open love letter to the Blues. Look at all the artists that made appearances in the film. The Blues is still deeply rooted in some of today’s music, 100+ years down the road.
The reason they got such great artists is because of the gap he described. Quite simply, they weren't getting gigs and were readily available. The movie put them back in the spotlight and most of them got popular again, especially Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin.
@@HariSeldon913 Let's not forget introducing Cab Calloway to kids whose grandparents had been fans. Callaway's biggest success was in the 1930s (he was arguably bigger than Ray Charles or Aretha Franklin, but in an earlier era), Blues Brothers came out in 1980.
The Blues Brothers were absolutely filling a void in the music industry at that time. I still recall being stunned to hear about Belushi’s death. Not only were the Blues Brothers popular but John Belushi was just coming into his own as a comic actor genius.
Yes, very tragic and ended way too soon. I think we got a great echo-resonance of John Belushi with Chris Farley. But Chris Farley passed away too early, too.
Actually Belushi’s acting career was in decline when he died. With a series of box office flops. I am a fan and always will be. But the truth is the truth. Dyed in wool Chicagoan here and remember when they were filming The Blues Brothers. Our neighbor was CPD back then and did security on the set.
@@OakLawnSpeedShop I suspect high drug use may have been the felon before his downfall. But I wouldn't emphasize it. I do suspect a lot of people in Hollywood struggle with drug use. And I do believe he was headed for better things once he kicked the addiction. I'd prefer to remember John in a better light.
@@dalelerette206while it’s noble to remember him in a better light, it’s important to be truthful about why he died. As Robin Williams said, cocaine is God’s way of telling you you’ve got too much money. Hopefully these many tragic deaths of talented performers may serve as something of a warning to subsequent generations.
I don't care how old it is, a good movie is a good movie. The Blues Brothers 1980 movie was epic! It's a bonafide classic. I can watch over and over as I have over 43 years and still laugh my head off.
@@ACD1994Dan was in the funniest skit ever on SNL. He portrayed Julia Childs on her cooking show where he accidentally cuts himself and bloods spurting everywhere and he eventually collapses!!
he looks horrible, you would think these greedy evil spoiled 1%er multimillionaires would look better. this scum is worth over 250 million, it is obscene these 1%ers hoard wealth like this. Nobody should be allowed to have more than a few million at most.
We saw the Blues Brothers in Dallas... the biggest giggle we ever had! What a trip... walked out there on air. These guys delivered, high energy, great showmanship... Belushi "handstanding" his way down the aisle to the stage... 2 hours of "straight ahead" blues with the same band that you saw in the movie.... total pros. The crowd went wild. It's #1 on my greatest concert list... #2 way behind it...
I worked security at their concert at Dallas Memorial Auditorium and was BETWEEN the Front Row and the Stage. It was fantastic with some of the greatest blues musicians in HISTORY on that stage and Dan and John were great performers as well although Belushi was a coked up a-hole to everybody backstage except the band.
"Belushi "handstanding" his way down the aisle to the stage" I dont remember that AT ALL and was between the stage and the front row. Belushi was so effed up I would be surprised he could have pulled that off.
John and Dan gave Blues music the biggest boost it had seen in decades. The consequence that it had was that a LOT of people were exposed to music they'd have NEVER had a chance to hear, and obscure blues artistes got recognized and the ones still living had a chance to finally make some decent money. Those two deservedly should be recognized as significant contributors to American Blues music.
Oh yeah! My old college roommate was an Army brat. His Dad's last assignment was an aviation Det at Glenview NAS. Went to Glenbrook South HS. He basically introduced me to the Blues Brothers movie lines. I was familiar with them from Dr Demento, but had not seen the movie. He used to quote that, and the "...full tank of gas, a half pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." line. One of our "co-conspirators" was a distant cousin of Carrie Fisher. We were like the "Three Stooges" at mealtime.
When the Blues Brother movie was made Blues artists were struggling. All of the Blues artists who appeared in the movie got a nice check for their appearance in the movie as well as all of the additional money the artists made selling records from the movie. The real genius of the movie was combining Chicago and Memphis/Delta Blues musicians into one supergroup. I was a young man, and crazy about the Blues when this movie came out.
The normal procedure is when a artist's career starts failing they find religion and start singing religious songs.. what do you think of that assumption?
@@Paulftate I fail to see how your reply has any relevance to this video, or my comment. I think your contention is just another assumption, without any real basis in reality. I'm sure it has happened, but that would be the exception, not the rule for fading artists. That's what I think of your assumption...not much!
For those of us who've played a rock gig to a country audience, we can relate to the Blues Brothers. "Putting the band back together" and keeping it together is really that difficult. I never get tired of seeing Dan and John crawl out from under that pile of bricks, dust themselves off and just walk away without saying a word, as if it was "just another day." So many great, hilarious, iconic moments. Is it coming on tonight? Hit it!
Oh yeah... I was playing keys in my band and was on the far left side of the stage. Two guys came over and gestured for me to lean in and listen. With a menacing look from both one of them said, "If ya'll don't start playing some country we're gonna kill you!" Our drummer had gotten us that gig, which we had to drive over 100 miles to get to...and we wanted to kill him!
John and Dan brought the blues to a whole new generation in a way that respected and celebrated the roots of the music. Dan is a great artist and a great Canadian we are so proud of up here in the Great White North.
As well known as he is, this guy is IMO criminally underrated...not just for his comedic talent and legacy, but his understanding and appreciation for music in general (and oh btw being such a wonderful person in general...rare in that business). God bless you Mr Aykroyd and I only regret that I never will get to tell you that in person.
Thank you Dan! Yes, the blues are for everyone. It is not cultural appropriation when it is Appreciation. Joe Bonamassa, Bonnie Raitt, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band are all fantastic blues artists. It is disgusting how everything has to be made into skin color topics in this country. If you go to other countries for the most part, race is not a daily discussion.
They're cautious about incidents such as Led Zeppelin stealing Willie Dixon's music,. and Dixon not seeing the profits or even recognition from the music he composed. By the way, Matt "Guitar" Murphy played on Dixon's "Bring It on Home" by Sonny Boy Williamson.
Dan Akroyd wonderful actor musician!!!!! John Belushi wonderful actor musician!!!!!! They were perfect together!!!!! Their music was an art form none will ever be able to replicate. They helped bring the Blue's back to the forefront of music an made people realize what they were depriving themselves of!!!!!! Wish I could have seen them live. RIP JOHN BELUSHI THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! YOU LEFT US TO SOON!!!!!!
Dan "got it" then and still gets it now. The blues is the 1 truly American form of music. It doesn't matter if it's 1930, 50, 80, or 2020. It's a timeless thing. It comes from the soul. It has energy, heart, soul, and love. Dan appreciated it then and brought It to the mainstream. It wasn't about money. It just needed to be shared with all of us. Black, white.
The Blues Brothers is one of my all time favourite movies of all times. I love to watch it over and over again. Thanks Dan, thanks John and thanks to all the other lovely people to make this phenomenal piece of art.❤
One of the all-time great movies. I was born and raised in Chicago, and this was the Chicago I knew - fully alive and exuberant. Thank you so much for making it.
Me too! Every time I want to remember the Chicago from my early childhood I'll watch Blues Brothers and Running Scared with Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal.
That's very cool that they did right by the writers of the music that they covered and performed by making sure they got their royalties. Much respect.
Back then I worked in a seafarers' club by Liverpool docks, the Blues Brothers was on the video every night. The music and fun of that film have brought me great joy and I still watch it regularly. Probably over 500 times by now. And I still spot somethign new most times. Thank you John and Dan and all the crew. You have given us a great gift.
Those two words, “cultural appropriation” are doing some serious harm, imho. What, nobody can wear a kimono, or something based on the style un less they are Japanese living in Japan?!! I feel it is similar to using the word “woke”. Back in the late ‘50s - early ‘60 s, the beat generation (I think it was) started describing things as “cool”, and it wasn’t considered “cultural appropriation”! Hell, people still say “cool”, and the general public do not have their panties in a twist about it. Some humans are just too sensitive, but in all of the wrong ways, in -again- imho.
YES. Condescending, pompous, smug, narcissistic disordered Dan Rather is a prick in this interview, yet again. He started with, and constantly held throughout the interview, his ubiquitous self-centered negativity, this time pointed toward forcing Dan Akroyd to answer up, justify himself, and the Blues Brothers movie. Fits in exactly with the destructive ilk of Trump and his followers - My god, what an absolute (covertly abusive) asshole. Dan Akroyd, always the intelligent and adroit gentleman, so naturally eluded the caustic nature of Dan Rather and didn't bother to get dragged down into, and drowned, at the level presented by the everpresent undercurrent of typically toxic 20/20 self consciousness, and Rather's ingrained punitive selfishness.
This interview made me cry! Dan Aykroyd is probably my only acting and singing hero! He couldn’t describe blues any better!! I’ll always stand behind his Chicago blues! I’m right here with that Kansas City blues! Plus I play the harp lol
It’s funny that Dan Akyroyd is so smart and principled and has balls, but you listen to him talk about UFOs and mystical shit and it’s just to me cool as hell that he indulges that kind of stuff almost like a child. He’s just so f-ing down to earth. You gotta love it.
@@matthewstollar2678 That's BIG BS. The guy even see it himself he said... So pathetic all together. Man, there's life in the univers?, SURE, it has to be, the univers is huge and it would be very unlikely that Earth is the only planet with live. But we are not visited by aliens, and also aliens can figure out to travel light years but can't figure how to land and crash here?? LOL
@@JP-xd6fmwell I recon the independent treasure hunters could very well be the first space travelers to make it here. With all the distance let’s not forget that shit happens. They probably have strict rules about not getting caught by us humans down here, and you know we’ve been just hell bent for leather to blow them out of the sky. Really though the main thing is shit happens!
My son arrived from China age 7. I started introducing him to my favorite movies. When we got to The Blues Brothers he watched it every night for a month. It’s always been at or near the top of my list, but watching his laughter night after night solidified it at the top for me.
Dan, You and John tapped into something that is so raw and pure, I do not see how any naysayer could last more than five minutes in any type of debate. The Blues Brothers Movie is such a time piece and one that I look back with so much nostalgia, that it brings me to tears. You hit a grand slam home run with the Blues Brothers. Thank you for taking the chance on that and..."We're 106 miles from Chicago, its nighttime, and we're wearing sunglasses..." - HIT IT!"
I'm a Gen Z born in 2002. One of my favorite movies growing up was The Blues Brothers and even today as a young adult I actively listen to blues and soul music. To me it hits a certain part of the soul even if you don't think yourself to be a particularly spiritual person. I love it.
I can attest to Dans statement where between Disco and Punk there was a crack, that's where the Blues brothers put a wedge in it and it was perfect timing. I for one, in a million who loved a Brief case full of Blues 1978 feel it even today. Lucky us!
The brothers blue were respectfully celebrating the artists which gave them their names. They were background to the very thing they were riding. All the musicians from Ray C, JC Hooker to Aretha Franklin were always front and centre. IMO this was a celebration of everything blues. Jake and Elwood had to play the role of moving the story forward so we were introduced to these legends
Good to see ya both Nice stories Dan Love them Old Blues They come from a different more connected place The corporate world seems to me like it's Muted out some of Humanity A Colder Place then it was It's a Shame John passed like he did A Super Talented Guy You Folks were very much on the World Pulse There were many we lost like John Unfortunately A Symptom Of Society Thank You Folks For Everything You Gave Us All A Great Part Of Life🤝
Very respectful man when he talks about John Belushi's death and the success of the Blues Brothers Thank you Dan❤ This movie will never age and i agree this movie should be on youtube💕
Great answer and full respect from Dan to the writers and those that came before ......Blues is for anyone who feels the spirit...as a middle class suburban white kid 50+ years ago when I heard songs I wanted to know who are Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters or BB KIng et al....that's true "diversity" ..... I listen to our satellite Blues station all the time here great artists abound for the listening ..
I grew up watching The Blues Brother movie on Beta. Such a great sound track. That’s probably why I love the blues. I now own the movie on 4K disc. Introduced my kid and my nieces and nephews to this movie and they loved it. Thank you Dan for all the work you’ve contributed in your lifetime.
One of the great kings/ masters of comedy, blues and SNL. Love Dan Ackroyd so much, love how he speaks so lovingly about John. Both such talented charismatic gentlemen. Great interview. The Blues Brothers is forever a iconic legendary classic. First watched it with my dad when I was small, and was introduced to the Blues. 👑💎⚜️🏆❤️
What a very articulate man who Paid ultimate respect to the blues moment he did it in such a way that intern the new generations could appreciate the music for a while that was fantastic
Thank you I was with John in NYC at the AM/PM club and Brownies Crows Nest the night before he left for LA and passed that tragic next day. He was a talent and did things to the extreme ..He will always be missed
The Blues Brothers Band were great musicians and generators of smiles. They were supporters of fair compensation and credits to the composers. Speeding joy is never wrong.
One of my all-time favorite movies. This classic could not and should not be replicated because of the spirit each character had perfected by the cast. My wife is much younger and she appreciates the wholeness of the work when introduced it to her even though there were elements I had to explain. I can’t wait to watch it with my boys when they are a bit older!
If it wasn’t for the Blues Brothers I would’ve never heard that type of music. I’m very grateful to be blessed with great taste in music because of watching the movie and listening to their albums.
I have watch the Blues Brothers so many times I KNOW THE SCRIPT! RESPECT to this man and to John I LOVE black music as well Blues was a GIFT TO THE WORLD Thank You to all the writers. RESPECT to you all.
I saw the Blues Brothers open for Steve Martin and I didn’t think they were anything but reverent to the genre. It was great and John Belushi seemed to be his happiest in this almost anonymous performance.
How rare is it too see Dan Rather looking impressed. That's what talking about John Belushi does to those who remember his work. I have to agree with Dan that John's death was a wake up call for all of us. I had to go on the air that night and do a tribute show about John. One of the toughest shows I ever did.
The Blues brothers themselves were perfect for the role and set the stage with actual blues artists with the contrast of their country music moments in a local bar. They were funny but we all still fondly remember Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, et al. The movie opened up our ears to amazing music.
They’re giving him heat for playing black face in trading places and trying to knock him on the blue’s brothers now. What a shame how they try to dig up the past as if it was just yesterday. Leave him alone, he’s a comedy treasure
The current music business, meaning the Corporates, are really not only killing the blues, but most any music of substance. It's more about "this week's flavor" than nurturing an artist's talent and encouraging some longevity. Things are moving too fast in the world for any of this. I was talking to a friend about the old days of record hunting, and bringing a new album home, and opening it and smelling the new record, and then putting it on the turntable, from the beginning and absorbing Side 1 and then flipping it over and doin' the same with Side 2. You experienced the WHOLE album and the statement (if any) the artist was making. Nowadays, it's more about a song or two, than can be downloaded, and then discarded for the next release. Vinyl Records (and later CDs to some extent) were permanent records that stayed in your collection and were pulled out from time to time to enjoy again. Doesn't seem to be the case these days. And if I'm wrong...well, so be it.
I have three words for Dan Aykroyd, and I'm an Eric Clapton fan. The Rolling Stones. They both preceded Eric Clapton/Yardbirds and had a much bigger influence. And since cultural Marxists never credit the people and music which preceded and inspired black blues musicians, I'll do it. Folk music, bluegrass music and country music were major influences. The guitar and piano didn't just gather dust for 400 years waiting for black blues and jazz musicians to come along.
ALL music is derivative. Blues, Gospel, Bluegrass, Country, Rock, R&B, soul, etc. Earlier music precedence proves this unequivocally. As a singular example, Bluegrass definitely precedes Blues and the influences of the one upon the other are undeniable. This detracts absolutely nothing from the talented artists responsible for taking those influences and adding their own unique attributes to them in the process of forming any genre. When appreciation of a particular genre is given by any super successful artists by them recording music in that style, all artists within it are elevated. Included within that benefit is its promotion of the genre and greater exposure for less mainstream artists. Every piece of music ever played pays homage to another that preceded it. The varying influences of different cultures and earlier music combined with the expression of them by each individual artist help to make music what it is. Truly and beautifully universal.
Black Blues & Jazz musicians are guilty of cultural appropriation against Europeans. They did NOT invent the guitar, bass, drums, saxophones, pianos, musical notations, musical scales, etc. The structure & standard of music & songwriting was already invented for a thousand of years in Europe before any african touched an instrument.
That was a COMPLETELY STUPID question from Rather. Anyone can perform whatever they want to perform! There's no law against performing anything. It's that simple. Rather doesn't know a thing about music or rock and roll.
One of the wonders of modern day video is that performing artists can have the best of their craft saved for the enjoyment of generations yet to come. I grew up in the 50's and 60's and to be able to watch some of the best performing blues artists in the world from a number of different generations is a unprecedented joy to the spirit. Earlier generations did not have this privilege and it's a remarkable honor to be able to enjoy the likes of Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker who were legends in my lifetime. These artists are the treasures of humanity and long after the politicians and wealth barons are forgotten generations will smile and be inspired by these same artists. I am turning 70 the week before Xmas this year and I've become a cynic. Efforts such as this film suggest that there still may be hope for humankind.
