Heavy Metal Picnic

Heavy Metal Picnic Directed by Jeff Krulik (2010).

First came the sexual revolution then the drug, now this is the first I've ever heard of the psychotic revolution--who shall lead them? Billy Gordon and the Bluerockers! Just like all of Jeff Krulik's movies, here we get yet another documentation of a lost time period and odd music scene that can only be captured brilliantly in this way by one film maker. It all took place at a similar drug fueled gathering in 1985 (one year before the famed Priest parking lot fiasco happened). The Full Moon Jamboree was the place to be in Potomac MD. You get all sorts of loveable goofballs, bikers, stoners and even punks. It’s all very fascinating and there’s all kinds of memorable characters like the guy in the band Pentagram who looks at the camera and says everybody eat all the bloody pussy you can! I'm guessing he didn't feel like being on camera and just wanted to gross people out!

The HM picnic was all about the hardly mentioned Maryland scene which includes two well known doom bands Pentagram (who have their own doc) and The Obsessed who have a really fun tour film that features Wino's high school chums Henry Rollins and Ian McKaye. We catch up with Asylum (who I was unfamiliar with) and it's band members. Unlike the other parking lot ventures, we get immediate updates on what most of the people are up to and it's still a lot of fun to watch.

The Pentagram guy wishes he were a Tampax, uptight white and outta sight.

I'm really grateful that I went to the Nashville Rock and Pod Expo, which held the Heavy Metal parking lot reunion with my pal Ryan Brush and talked to Jeff Krulik. Two cast members from the parking lot were there and graciously autographed my copy, the DC 101 guy and The Graham of Dope dude. It was a pretty epic weekend and Mr. Krulik handed me a free copy of PICNIC in order to spread the word about this rare flick to the masses that read this blog. 

You gonna get Southern style Booglar-ized.

 Billy Gordon has that classic 70’s Satanist look (sadly it’s not mentioned if he’s ever delved into incantations or witchcraft). He seems to hang out with Gene Simmons a lot lately (which is pretty uncool at least to me). It’s all about bugging the squares though and they definitely achieved that, many suburbanites were pissed. The Krulik style, which is infectious, endearing and reaches a fine line of artistic clumsiness and intentionally funny really resonates with me. Lately however, it's unfair that his films have such a difficult time getting out beyond the film festival circuit because they deserve mass appeal and global attention. Come on Netflix or Amazon Prime, What's the deal?

I hope I ordered enough Dominoes for the incantation.

The film makers illustrate the disconnection between the youth and the moronic tyranny of Reagan. One concert goer talks about how Ronnie is a “Fucking Nazi”! His goof up in Germany where he referred to the SS as victims like the exterminated jews, pissed off every sane person at the time, especially Joey Ramone who wrote the famous Bonzo Goes to Bitburg about it. The CBS logo clipped to the mic that's passed around during the Jamboree was ganked from The Gipper's inauguration apparently. It's even more disturbing how the current morons running the country into the toilet are outwardly pro-white power and arrogant racists using rhetoric to ensure billionaires run the nation like a McDonalds. 

well at least things are running like a brainless dictatorship again only worse!

Sadly, the housing developers eventually mowed down the partiers, destroying yet another fun sub culture. The public access Blue Rock TV appearance on “Monty’s The Rock Shop” where they introduce the band in wacky outfits is insanely hilarious and was the highlight for me! Plus you get the unedited cut as a bonus on the DVD.

I approve of this message.

The best thing about Billy Gordon is that he never retired from the party biz, he just got smarter and more careful about it and now works with motorcycles (here's the link to his site). Jim Powell reached out to the different bands through his zine Grinder which he screams at anyone who’ll listen to “subscribe”—he looks blitzed out of his mind! There’s tons of shirtless fights and people “stoned to the bone” to quote one dude. I want to thank the director again for giving me a copy of his film and just like Led Zepplin Played Here, I loved it, another instant classic. Found Footage Festival offers a copy for sale along with other wacky looking titles. Here's the official link as well.

OFFICIAL SITE

BUY HERE

Led Zepplin Played Here

Led Zepplin Played Here. Directed By Jeff Krulik (2014). 

Every so often we like to branch out and take a break from the usual gore and cat 3 flicks that we celebrate here over at the TOG headquarters. This is a very special case because I received a copy of this film after inquiring about buying a DVD (when does that ever happen)? The director graciously hooked me up so I figured why not mention it here, who cares if it's non horror, it's worth your time. 

I love the films of Jeff Krulik, there's nothing like them. They capture all kinds of snippets of brilliant weirdness lurking in the dark corners of any town U.S.A. The most legendary example that made him world famous is Heavy Metal Parking Lot of course. I ordered that VHS directly from the director long ago, bought a copy for my brother-in-law and tried to convince anyone that would listen to check out his short films because I think they're brilliant!

Some of my favorites besides HMPL are I Created Lancelot Link, Meet Fan Boy with Rock Savage hanging out at a vintage Spencer's Gifts, Neil Diamond Parking Lot and an episode of Joe Franklin where he presented himself as a theatre critic to get interviewed on the show. Most of these films are on his Youtube channel or Vimeo.  

Krulik's style is just a nostalgic hodgepodge of irresistible psychosis that totally resonates with me. His latest film is Led Zepplin Played Here. And if you're like me, a "meh, I don't get em type Zepplin fan", there's still tons of mind candy to gnaw on. I just never appreciated the band and think of them as car commercial fodder but what do I know?

The commitment in interviewing every rocknroll personality connected to an unassuming high school gymnasium where tons of legendary bands played along with the mudshark lunatics (aka Page,Plant, Bonzo and Jones) is astounding. No one really believed it happened because it just seems too ridiculous that a ginormous band would play for gas money in a tiny gym at the Wheaton Youth Center in Maryland and that's the premise. 

Nixon in-hog-ural protestors 

There's tons of interesting rock and roll collectors that showcase their obsessive memorabilia and it's fun to check out all the rarities. Lots of eyewitness's illustrate the time period like Skipp Groff, who helped start off Dischord Records and Mario Medious who was a promo guy for Atlantic Records. I liked how Sharon Ward Ellis, the manager of the Wheaton Youth Center during the early 70's talked about how horrible and idiotic Iggy & The Stooges were. She mentions how he smashed a jar of peanut butter down his pants and seemed really high (of course he was)!

 

The Zepplin show coincided with the epitome of square-ness, the inauguration of Richard Nixon. Krulik does a good job showing the juxtaposition of establishment verses the counter culture youth and the power that classic rock music had (and hopefully continues to have over the rebellious spirit). He really travels all over to gain different perspectives on the story and finally lands in front of the band themselves to confirm the mystery at The Kennedy Center. Unlike Nick Broomfield or Michael Moore it's not an ambush or an embarrassing display staged for a cheap stunt, he engages with Jimmy Page and the famous guitarist actually seems overjoyed to talk about the past. It's funny but I've never actually heard Jimmy Page's voice, its very high! All I can think of is how silly he must sound talking about how rad Aleister Crowley or Tolken are. I highly recommend the film it's a blast even if you're not "a get the led out" type music fan. There's an issue with the music rights (these songs are super expensive) but hopefully this film will be available soon.    

The director getting closer to solving the mystery

I'd like to thank Mr. Krulik for sending me this screener and if this film comes to your town certainly check it out. If you're a fan of solid, highly entertaining rock history make sure to catch it when it plays at a film fest near your town.

FILM SITE LINK