Clarence Clemons: Who Do I Think I Am? Launched On Indiegogo

  

Joe Amodei, President of Virgil Films, today launched a funding campaign on Indiegogo, the world's largest crowdfunding platform, to complete production of CLARENCE CLEMONS: WHO DO I THINK I AM? The film, which reveals a little-known side of the legendary saxophonist with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, was a personal dream of the late Clemons - a project that fans can now help bring to fruition.

The world knew Clarence Clemons as The Big Man. The Minister of Soul. The Secretary of the Brotherhood. Musician, singer, songwriter and a lifetime member of the E Street Band, his powerful sax became a vital part of Bruce Springsteen's signature sound. But there was also a deeply spiritual side to Clarence that took him to China in 2005. Filmmaker and friend Nick Mead documented what became a spiritual quest and search for meaning that began on the Great Wall and continued until Clemons' death in 2011.

"Clarence, who played alongside Springsteen for 40 years, had something beyond music that he wanted to share with the world. And he had planned to do it through this documentary film, which he was working on up until his death" said Amodei who is also producing the film.

After one of the many highly successful and energized long tour with Bruce and the E Street Band, Clarence wanted to go someplace he had never been, to the other side of the world - China. 

CLARENCE CLEMONS: WHO DO I THINK I AM?  shows the profound effect of a trip to northeast China, a place where no one knew who he was. Clarence explained: "I felt the need to disappear. To lose myself, in hope of finding myself."

This search for his true self took him from rural China to the streets of San Francisco. The film shows us his soulful mission and how it changed him, while it pays tribute to The Big Man, through recollections with his closest friends and family members.

The film is labor of love for director and acclaimed photographer Nick Mead, who spent six years filming with Clarence. Virgil's Joe Amodei came on board as producer after attending an early screening in New Jersey. It was there that he promised Clarence and Nick to help them finish and release the film.

CLARENCE CLEMONS: WHO DO I THINK I AM?  features interviews with President Bill Clinton; current and former E Street Band members Jake Clemons (Clarence's nephew), Nils Lofgren and Vini Lopez; photographer Danny Clinch, rock greats Joe Walsh, Willie Nile, Michael Narada Walden, Norman Selden; and many others, including family and friends who knew Clarence best.

The production team is looking to fans from across the globe to help them make good on a promise to complete the film, which was made to Clarence before his death. Contributions will support funding of post production, additional filming, music clearances and distribution.

Perks for supporters on Indiegogo will have early access to see the film prior to its release, currently anticipated for early October 2017. There are various levels of  perks, depending on amount pledged, including:

• Early film streaming and download

• "Thank you" credit in the film

• Two tickets to the film's premiere and after party in or around Asbury Park, N.J. - birthplace of the E Street Band

• Triptych posters created by director and photographer Nick Mead

Campaign Link: http://igg.me/at/clarenceclemonsfilm

Review: Quiet Riot - Well Now You're Here, There's No Way Back

Fans seeking the definitive Quiet Riot documentary that unveils even the tiniest of details about the band’s history will not find it in Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back. Those fans would be best suited watching the Quiet Riot episode of Behind The Music. However, for fans seeking an entertaining look at what happened to Quiet Riot after Kevin Dubrow’s passing, understanding why Frankie Banali continued on after he said that he never would again, and curious about why there have been several lead singers since Kevin Dubrow, this is the one to watch.

Frankie Banali is a man who understands loss. Over the course of just a few short years, this once on top of the world heavy metal drummer lost his best friend, his band, his wife, and his career. All that was left when the dust finally settled was Banali and his young daughter. Suddenly, one of the prince’s of heavy metal was a single Dad raising a teenage girl.

Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back is a terrific documentary that looks into the world of Quiet Riot---past, present, and future. The film begins by giving a brief but informative background on the start of Quiet Riot. It chronicles the band’s journey on the road to becoming the first heavy metal band to have a number one album. Metal Health launched Quiet Riot into stardom and the band’s career was flung forward at full force. Over a decade later, the music scene had changed, things were tough for metal bands from the 80s, and lead singer extraordinaire, Kevin Dubrow, had passed away. Frankie Banali was left to pick up the pieces and determine what to do. He decided to shut Quiet Riot down for good.

After a few years passed, he changed his mind. This is where Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back gets extremely intriguing. This is the chronicle of the band getting back together, the search for a lead singer, and bassist, Chuck Wright accepting that he is not the well known member of the band that he should be.

The history of the Mark Huff era Quiet Riot is fascinating, especially as it gives Frankie Banali’s view on what happened and why Huff was let go. Huff admits his mistakes as well and understands his firing from the band. There’s a moment in Huff’s interview, where I just shook my head. I can’t understand how the lead singer of Quiet Riot could forget the lyrics to “Cum On Feel The Noize.”

The rotating door of lead singers and how they got the opportunity to sing for Quiet Riot is extremely entertaining. But it is not just lead singers who have rotated in and out of Quiet Riot. My favorite moment of the documentary consists of Chuck Wright and lead guitarist Alex Grossi being asked to name every member of Quiet Riot. While they were unable to get very far, Frankie Banali, gives a white board history of band members that is just fantastic! I don’t think there is a band in the history of rock music that has had more members.

Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back is an exceptional documentary. It is a wonderful look behind the curtain and gives an insider view on what happens to a former number one band when they attempt to overcome tragedy and make a comeback with new members. It shares the doubt, hope, fear, excitement, and joy of a band starting over. If you are a fan of Quiet Riot, or rock music in general, this is a documentary that you are bound to enjoy.

Visit: www.quietriotmovie.com to see the film for yourself.