Rock N Roll Music and the Proof of the Existence of God!

I'm making a rock n roll movie. It's called, "Ghostroads - A Rock N Roll Ghost Story" Here's the trailer: https://vimeo.com/210533272 

The movie stars my favorite Japanese rock band of all time, "The Neatbeats." Rodney Bingenheimer (AKA "Rodney on the Roq" KROQ Los Angeles) is also in the movie. Rodney is one of, if not thee most famous DJ in the world. He's made many great stars famous. As some regular readers might know, I used to be Rodney's assistant (Read: His lowly "Go-fer.")

Rodney Bingenheimer

In Japan, it isn't too cool to "toot one's horn" so to speak, so I tell few people about my past....

One day, during the shooting of the movie, I was at the Neatbeats' studio. There I saw they had a book about Phil Spector (a very famous music producer who did the Beatles, etc.) 

I saw the book and then I opened the book to a random page and, I'll be damned if there wasn't a photo of Rodney and Phil Spector right there. "What a coincidence!" I thought to myself.

I walked back into the studio where we were shooting and said to the Neatbeats members, "Hey! You guys like Phil Spector?" 

They all said, "YES! HE IS GOD!" 

Phil Spector

I answered, "Oh? I've met him two or three times. I even "had lunch" (or was it dinner?) with him and Rodney when he showed up to that restaurant that Rodney 'lives' at in Hollywood named 'Canters.'"

Oh. That was a mistake. I opened my big mouth. Should have shut up and said nothing.

Why?

I could tell by the expressions on their face that they didn't believe me at all. Their jaws dropped open in disappointed disbelief... They looked stupefied.... 

Here, all this time, I was their friend. They thought they could believe me and trust me.... But here I was telling them something that, to them, couldn't possibly be true in a million years...

I said, "No! Really! I have! I have met Phil Spector a few times.....I'm serious." They still looked like they thought I was full of shit....

Flustered and insistent to prove I wasn't lying, I figured I'd offer proof... I added, "Do you guys know who Rodney Bingenheimer is?" 

They all lit up again and said, "Of course! Rodney on the Roq is legendary! He is a DJ god!" 

I paused... hesitated a bit, and then I said, "I was Rodney's assistant from 1980 ~81. He introduced me to many famous people...."

It seemed then like the roof caved in. I was ready for the insane asylum by the expressions on their faces.

I could tell by the way they looked at me that they had lost all respect for me at that very moment. They thought that I was a total useless bullshitter. 

They didn't believe me at all. 

...Not anymore.... 

.....Not about.... 

..........Anything....

I protested, "No! Really! I was! Rodney introduced me to lots of famous people. The Ramones, Phil Spector, etc. etc." 

They still didn't believe me... So, in frustration, I threw my hands in the air, gave up and said, "OK. Fuck it! Whatever!...." 

That was Jan. of 2016. 

A few short months later...

In May 2016, by sheer coincidence, Rodney came to Japan and I was able to be a tour guide for several days for my old friend, Rodney on the Roq! I hadn't seen him in over 25 years.... 

We went to many good restaurants and fun places in Tokyo while he was here with his girlfriend (and fab movie director), Kansas Bowling who made the horror film, "B.C. Butcher." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxsSH4NhXMc)

And, Rodney and Kansas both appeared in my movie too! What timing!!!! 

So, don't tell me, "There's no God!" 

There is. 

I have met him. 

His name is Phil Spector....

...and another legend, a god named Rodney Bingenheimer.

-------------------------------

(I took lots of photos and wrote about sightseeing with Rodney here: http://modernmarketingjapan.blogspot.jp/2016/06/rodney-bingenheimer-in-japan.html) 

With my old friend and legendary radio DJ, Rodney Bingenheimer 

at the Poor Cow in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, Japan May 27, 2016.

The Best Rock N Roll Band in Japan? The Privates?

The Privates are one of, if not thee most respected rock bands in Japan. The Privates are lead by singer, guitarist and song writer, Nobuhara Tatsuji. They formed in 1983. 

The Privates have been famous in Japan for over 30 years. Here's some information. http://www.generasia.com/wiki/THE_PRIVATES

Here's the data:

Nobuhara Tatsuji (延原達治; Guitar and Vocals) 
Tetsuka Minoru (手塚稔; Guitar) 
Takahashi Tatsuya (高橋達哉; Bass) 
Morihara Koji (森原光司; Drums) 
Yoshida Manobu (吉田学; Keyboards)

Anyway, my mates and I made their newest video. Here it is. It fucking rocks.

It is a cover of "The Litter" 1966 garage rock hit, "Action Woman."

I hope you dig it!

A Japanese Rock N Roll Ghost Story Crowdfunding Last 3 Days!

Our Crowdfunding campaign for A Japanese Rock N Roll Ghost Story is now down to our last 3 days. Thanks so much to everyone who has helped so far. There’s still a little bit of time, and we need all the help we can get.


Here is the English information page: https://www.makuake.com/en/project/rock/

いよいよクラウドファンディングも残すところあと3日！

皆様のご協力のお陰で早い段階で目標額は達成しましたが、目標額はあくまでもクラウドファンディングで皆様に送るリターン・アイテムの制作費・郵送費をカバーして赤字にならないという文字どおり最低限の数字。映画製作の為にはまだまだ資金は必要です！

Bobby's Bar - Cool Japanese Psychobilly Rock Band from Tokyo!

I just made the debut video for a Japanese Rock-a-Billy, er, I mean, Psychobilly band from Tokyo named Bobby's Bar. These folks are tight as hell and have an awesome look.

Bobby's Bar

I've mentioned before that I make promotion videos for free for bands to help them (they don't have any money) and I want to pay back to music for the great life it has given me.

Bobby's Bar is a trio with Naoya on guitar, Sharky of stand-up bass and Mira Kuru on drums....

On, and by the way, there is a burlesque dancer in the video too. Her name is Miwa Rock. When we saw her perform we were blown away. It reminded me of the throwback to strip or burlesque dancing from the 1940 or 50s. She says that there is a burlesque boom going on with the young people in Tokyo and it is, in part, due to to the film "Burlesque" featuring Dita Von Teese. Miwa Rock isn't just your average everyday sexy Japanese girl stripper... Er, maybe that didn't come out right... Anyway, Miwa Rock is cool!

Miwa asked Ken and I to make her demo video and we probably will. We might feature Miwa Rock along with making a documentary about youth culture in Japan - we also met an awesome bluegrass banjo player the night of the video shoot too! It's fascinating what the Japanese youth are into these days!)

Here's Bobby's Bar and "Weirdo Jungle".... Enjoy!