Not Fade Away, David Chase’s deeply felt love letter to the music of the Sixties, is a film about dreams that come true — and the ones that never do.

Not Fade Away – The Movie

For Chase, “It’s about anybody who has ever had a dream and about what it takes to actually realize that dream. Rock & roll is at the heart of the movie because for some of the characters, rock music is the gateway to transcendence, but it doesn’t end there.” Traditionally, most rock & roll movies have focused on the agony and ecstasy of “making it” on a grand scale, usually with thousands of fans screaming in the background. As a rule, we witness some band of brothers’ rise and fall, then their crash and burn, and perhaps the eventual resurrection. As one might expect from a man best known as the creator of the groundbreaking television series The Sopranos, Not Fade Away is not your average rock & roll movie. Instead, this is an intimate, powerful, alternately painful and funny drama about coming of age and the sort of indelible memories — musical and otherwise — that end up making us who we are. Here is the official trailer:

Ballad Of An Unknown Gun: The Story Of Caleb Quaye is a portrait of “The World’s Greatest Guitarist” who you’ve NEVER heard of..And his impact on popular music history during the 1960′s and 70′s.

Caleb Quaye was influential and pivitol in all aspects of the music industry from his early days managing sessions at DICK JAMES to his studio and touring work with Elton John as his original guitarist and Hall & Oates. Caleb’s guitar genius can be heard on countless albums ranging from Joan Baez to Lou Reed.

In fact, it is documented that Caleb Quaye facilitated Elton John’s break into the industry and helped guide his career along with one Bernard Taupin.

THIS DOCUMENTARY NEEDS TO BE SEEN. It is a story of rags to riches to rags to redemption. It’s a story of hope that can encourage our dreaming youth and inspire the young at heart reminding them of their trip to the corner record store to buy their first vinyl.

Turn It UP! is a feature-length documentary, celebrating the Electric Guitar.

TURN IT UP! explores the electric guitar, and the unique place it holds in global pop culture, as well as the hearts of those who are dedicated players.

Hosted by Kevin Bacon, the cast includes B.B. King, Slash, Les Paul, Robby Krieger, Paul Stanley, Nancy Wilson, Steve Lukather, Skunk Baxter, Jerry Cantrell, Albert Lee, Carl Verheyen, Rick Vito & many other great guitar players.

Filmmakers Robert Radler and Doug Forbes have been working on this project over the last five years. The film is almost ready!

The final steps are:

• Licensing of the clips and music used in the film. (These licenses have been negotiated, and are simply awaiting payment for execution). 
• Final color-correction and preparation of the master. 
• The final audio mix.

They are offering an amazing array of perks & rewards at every level of contribution. Want a guitar session with Robby Krieger of The Doors? How about Skunk Baxter’s personal guitar? Or an early release copy of the film? Need some pickups, strings or picks, or just want to support a cool project?

Get the full story at Indiegogo: www.indiegogo.com/turnitup

It’s important that they achieve 50 backers on Day 1 of their launch to increase the chances of making the front page of Indiegogo – be one of those 50!!

Please reach out to your friends via Facebook, Twitter and email so that they can get the momentum going!

If they don’t meet their goal, Turn It UP! may never be seen!

Visit their website here: http://loudandlouder.com/

Satchurated by Joe Satriani

A 3D Satch concert is in the works! There are a few snippets floating around the web about this – but very little concrete information. Please post a comment if you know more about it…

Here is the scoop:

“We’re in the final stages of completing “Satchurated”.

This is a concert film featuring Joe Satrinani. We filmed it live at the Metropolis in Montreal in mid-December 2010. Although this was our second 3D production, it will be the first one to be released.

Like “The Orchestrion Project” featuring Pat Metheny, “Satchurated” will be released in cinemas first, followed by home video and broadcast.

There will also be a 2D version of this film. The 3D version was edited by Yves Dion and the 2D version was edited by Martin Julien. Both were mixed by Mike Fraser. Departement Camera provided the 3D rigs.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available…

Turn It Up - The Movie

I received a tweet from Carl Verheyen today about a new movie he will be in soon.

The movie is titled: “Turn It Up!” and is a feature-length celebration of the electric guitar.

Hosted by Kevin Bacon, the film explores mankind’s passion for the electric guitar, and its effect on artists, everyday players, pop culture, history, and even politics.

Turn it Up! is THE STORY of the electric guitar, from the invention in the 1930s to its golden years, right through the phenomenon of the Guitar Hero video-game and the digital guitars of the future. But, it’s also a series of GUITAR STORIES, where we’ll meet all kinds of people from rock stars, to congressmen, CEOs, and teenage virtuosos, to try to understand their emotional connection to their guitars.

CHECK OUT THE TALENT LIST:

• Kevin Bacon (Host)
• Slash
• Les Paul
• B.B. King
• Paul Stanley (Kiss)
• Robby Krieger (The Doors)
• John 5 (Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie)
• Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan/Doobie Bros)
• Nancy Wilson (Heart)
• Albert Lee
• Mike Bloomfield
• Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
• Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers)
• Ana Popovic (Serbian Blues Guitarist)
• Steve Lukather (Toto – Studio Musician)
• Dave Mason (Rock Hall of Fame & Traffic)
• Carl Verheyen (Supertramp, Studio Guitarist)
• Mark Slaughter (Slaughter)
• Johnny A
• Sean Costello
• Bruce Kulick (Kiss)
• Duane Betts (Puddle of Mudd)
• Rick Vito (Fleetwood Mac/Bob Seger)
• Spencer Davis (Spencer Davis Group)
• Kristen Capolino (16-year-old Virtuoso)
• Russell Ali (Rock star from Bangladesh)
• Buddy Whittington (Guitarist, John Mayall Band)
• Gibson Custom Shop
• Fender Custom Shop
• Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp
• George Fullerton (Fender Pioneer)
• Mike Eldred (Fender Custom Shop)
• Henry Juszkiewicz  (CEO Gibson Guitars)
• Richard Smith (Curator, Fullerton Museum)
• The Burst Brothers (Vintage Experts, Guitar Center)
• John Mameli
• Trevor Lukather
• Paul Hodes (congressman)
• John Zambetti (Malibooz)
• Johnny Z (Shwayze, Whitestarr)
• Tim May (Jazz Guitarist & Top Session Player)
• Gary Kelly (CEO Southwest Airlines/Blues guitarist)
• NAMM Show
• Line 6 (Digital Guitars and Amps)
• Walter Carter (Guitar Expert/Author)
• George Gruhn (Guitar Expert/Author)
• Kai Huang (Co-Founder, Guitar Hero)
• Robb Lawrence (Guitar Expert/author)
• Randy Johnston – Texas Lawyer/guitarist
• Perry Margouleff (Record Producer/collector)
• John Shanks (Multi Grammy-Winning producer)
• Andras Simonyi (Hungarian Ambassador/Guitarist)
• Brian Fischer (Firebird Farm, 2,000+ guitars & amps)
• David Brass of Fretted Americana (Guitar Expert/Collector)

You MUST SEE the trailer for this film!  Watch it by CLICKING HERE.

Visit the official site of the movie by CLICKING HERE:

Holidays bring a welcome slowing-effect to my typically hectic business day.

Jimi Hendrix

Good Friday. I trust all of you will take a moment to reflect on what this day means to you and your spiritual life…(and then relax and spend the rest of your day playing your guitar!)

I have been spending a lot of time on the SnagFilms web site. This morning I watched the :52 minute documentary of Jimi Hendrix.

Highly recommended.

The music career of Jimi Hendrix is well documented by films such as JIMI PLAYS BERKELEY, LIVE IN MONTEREY, and LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT amongst many others.

This film takes a different tact, and explores the life behind the musical genius.

Taking in his early days in Seattle, as well as his infamous stint in London, this is a comprehensive guide to Jimi’s life, that is fully endorsed by his family and many close friends.

CLICK HERE to watch the video.

I am not a big fan of country music (sorry… it reminds me of my ex-wife) but I am a HUGE fan of Jeff Bridges. Some of that comes from being a childhood fan of his father Lloyd (remember Sea Hunt?) and the rest comes from simply liking Jeff as an actor.

In Crazy Heart, Jeff plays the role of Bad Blake who is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times.

View the official trailer by [CLICKING HERE].

THE GUITAR
STARRING: Saffron Burrows
DIRECTOR: Amy Redford
STUDIO: Lightning Media
RATING: R (nudity, language)

A doomed woman discovers her creative spirit during a final fling with life in this independent drama.

Melody Wilder (Saffron Burrows) is already having a bad day when she visits her doctor about a troubling lump in her throat — her boyfriend has left her, and she’s lost her job. However, this news pales in comparison to what her doctor has to say: the lump is an inoperable cancer, and Melody has only a short time to live.

Throwing caution to the wind, Melody rents a huge, luxurious apartment and furnishes it in high style, putting her purchases on a handful of credit cards she won’t be around to pay off. Melody also permits herself affairs with a few of the deliverymen who have become regular visitors to her loft, but she spends most her days alone, enjoying the trappings of wealth as she ponders what little future she has left.

One day, Melody makes an impulse purchase, a red electric guitar that looks like one she wanted as a girl. While Melody isn’t schooled on the instrument, she begins teaching herself to work out chord patterns and melody lines, and in the last chapter of her life discovers a way to give voice to the pain and confusion she’s buried within her.

Written by Amos Poe, and based on a real story, this beautifully realized parable, “The Guitar,” speaks volumes about living.

[CLICK HERE] to view the movie trailer.

All too often it takes a life-altering event to spur us to act on our dreams. The Guitar is a very moving story about living life and living it to the fullest. This movie was both inspirational and motivational and I recommend it highly to all (adult) guitarists. -GuitarDaddy

There’s a really cool project underway that when complete, will result in a guitar music (and player) documentary film.

The project involves a global search for six guitar players who have a story to tell about themselves, their guitar, their music, or better yet… all of those subjects combined.

James Smith, the Director & Writer of “Six Strings” says this:

“I am a film director and writer based in London, UK and am making a documentary film called SIX STRINGS about one of my passions: guitar music. My aim is to deliver a superb film and with the help of my production team, market it to film festivals around the world.

James Smith, Director and Writer

[CLICK HERE] to be re-directed to the official web site.

This week, on October 28th, “THIS IS IT” will open in theaters across America.

The movie will offer Michael Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London’s O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show.

Back on September 8th, I wrote a post about Orianthi Panagaris, the talented guitarist who was scheduled to play with Michael Jackson on his upcoming tour. If you missed that post, you can read it by CLICKING HERE.

CNN recently posted this video of Orianthi sharing her thoughts about the upcoming movie, and the late, great “King of Pop”.