164 replies to this topic

[HumanBiped]

I ran into a web page a long time ago talking about a Blues Brothers convention being planned, where people could bring their Bluesmobiles to show off, there was going to be an Elwood dancing contest, and all sorts of stuff, but someone contacted him claiming to represent Aykroyd and Belushi-Pisano and told him it violated copyright and all that crap and to stop plans. So it never happened. Has anyone heard about this?

[FABULOUS]

Hi My name is Geoff and i sing in a Blues Brothers Tribute called
THE FABULOUS BLUES BROTHERS
Someone asked about a convention !
Well why dont we organise one of our own, if all the people on the
Blues Brothers Central site were to pay a certain amount we could have our own convention in the uk and get the Blues Brothers Band to come over and play next year on the 25th Anniversary.
It could be a once in a lifetime Occasion !
Please reply and lets see how much interest we can get and perhaps make the dream come true !
Make enough dosh and we might even get Dan over.
Geoff

[Elwood_Stantz]

Well nothing against you and your band but why not have the convention in the heart of the Blues Brothers which is Chicago. Its like having a Ghostbusters convention(lets say if there was one) in Las Vegas it doesnt work that way; Ghostbusters convention needs to be in NYC. With it in Chicago we all can hop in a bus or something and visit famous BB landmarks, and a lot more. Thats just my opinion i could be wrong and i would love to see Dan there at a BB convention i dont see why not he wont go.

[bbcentral]

I was thinking that to celebrate the 25th anniversary there should be a big Blues Brothers concert/convention in either Chicago or the Hollywood Palladium.
How about:

Elwood, Mack and Zee, the Blues Brothers

with

The Blues Brothers Band

featuring performances by

Rob Paparozzi
Eddie Floyd
Aretha Franklin
James Brown
BB King & The Louisiana Gator Boys
Blues Traveler
Curtis Salgado

with musical tributes to

John Belushi
Cab Calloway
Ray Charles
John Lee Hooker
John Candy
Kathleen Freeman

special performance by the cast of

Blues Brothers Revival

and special guests

Henry Gibson
Carrie Fisher
Steven Williams
Frank Oz
John Landis
Jeff Morris
Steve Lawrence
Charles Napier



I would have to agree that a 25th anniversary celebration should be in either Chicago or the Hollywood Palladium, not in the UK.
However you could always raise the money and book the band, but I think it would be easier if all the fans flew over to the US instead of flying the whole band over to the UK (think of the accomodation costs, the flights, and all the other expenses).
It would be better if it was organised as an official event.
They could have local music stores selling blues albums, and collectables stores selling Blues Brothers merchandise, and then autographs of the cast. Maybe they could even have a parade through Chicago, complete with an original Bluesmobile and plenty of Chicago cops following behind.
I might actually send this post to Judy Belushi and see what she thinks. She said they WILL be doing something to celebrate the 25th anniversary.
If there is a special concert, hopefully they will also release it on DVD.

[_Elwood_]

anythin thats a tribute to the bb sounds good
great idea, ill prbly be in, and chicago sounds great since i live in indianapolis. lol.

[Flashcomix]

They could give all the money from the event to poor little children.

[20elwood02]

if something like this happens next year i really would think about flying to the us..

[jakeelwood]

OH MY GOD! That would be so cool, If you guys could do that. But, I don't think I'd be able to come. I live in New York State, and, my parents don't really have the money for us to go to Chicago. I can barely do it now, just to see the BB Locations. I wish I could, If you guys do this.

[HumanBiped]

well, not too long ago there was a guy planning a huge BB convention with "BLuesmobile" car show, Elwood dancing contest, and all sorts of stuff when he was hit with a huge e-mail that he was to cancel it at once or the lawyers of Judy Belushi and Dan Aykroyd would sue him.... so I don't know if they would jump at indorsing something like this as cool as it sounds

[20elwood02]

judy belushi and aykroyd are really behind all these trademarks violators. i heard a story that judy sued someone for using the blues brothers logo (!!!) and a german tribute band had to change their name and pay a fee. i mean come on! how many times i've heard aykroyd say that it's important that the fans do thei thing?

[Flashcomix]

I once read an interview with aykroyd in wich he said that if his "have love will travel"-cd had come out on a big lable like universal he would tell everybody to download the album for free. so i really don't understand him.

[bbcentral]

OK Just to keep everyone updated on this, I emailed Judy Belushi with the idea I had (as above). Here is her response:

Hi Christopher,

I will be going away tomorrow for a week, and will be contacting Universal in Sept. about this very subject. I like your suggestions...it would be great to have a convention with all the various angles brought together. It will take some delicate work to get some of these "fractions" together, but I am thinking carefully on what will be best.

I am currently working on a new compilation (book/DVD) on John., which I must complete before I turn to the BB issue. It will include the feature articles from Rolling Stone Mag, Cosmopolitan, Village Voice, etc (including things from high school), photos, memorabilia, and reminiscences from friends and colleagues.

As far as the question about the site...I will talk with my husband Victor
about that. Probably won't get back to you until I return. Thanks for the interest and respect you pay the Blues Brothers.
Judy


Dan and Judy don't like people making money off their trademark unless they get something out of it too. The people who started their own convention should have cleared it with Dan and Judy. It's common sense.
This way, we could all have a great time, and Dan and Judy would make some money out of it too (possibly might encourage a new album or some new merchandise!!).

[FABULOUS]

Hi
Geoff again from the Fabulous Blues Brothers
Its fantastic that my comments about a convention have created
a lot of interest from Blues Brothers fans, perhaps i was being selfish
about wanting a convention in the uk but this is probably the best chance anyone will have of seeing the Blues Brothers Band as they
are all getting on in years.
I can understand everyone thinking it should be in Chicago, myself
included but why not more than one convention it is the 25th Annivesary after all and the more happening the more Judy and Dan will make from it.
Perhaps Christopher you could contact Dan and see what could be in the pipeline
Jeffo Jake Blues
THE FABULOUS BLUES BROTHERS

[bbcentral]

I sent a letter to Dan a few months ago, but I haven't got a reply yet.
I would send it to his next gig, but they aren't playing anytime soon.
It's a pity he hasn't contacted me by email, like Judy Belushi did.

[HumanBiped]

The luck I had with contacting Dan was while him and Jim Belushi performed on New Years Eve last year. I sent some CD covers to their gig and they signed them! Great guys!

[jake_lee_blues]

I Sent a letter to dan and Jim to the house of blues LA in June but never got a reply but hopefully soon

[jakeelwood]

hey bbcentral, you said you were contacted by Judy Belushi?! Man, that'd be awesome If I could talk to her. I'm a big fan of John Belushi, and I think It'd be really cool, and an honor, to speak with her. You're pretty lucky, dude!

[chicagoblues]

Here in Chicago, we are planning 2 events for 2005. In Joliet and Chicago, there will be commemorative concerts. My band will be there with our Bluesmobile.

www.sonofjake.com is our site. We are also working on a film about our band.

thanks,

Bob

[clareblues]

Hi,

I was kinda involved with that BB Convention that tried to get going a few years ago, in so much that I was 'volunteered' to dress up as a Nun! Don't ask!

But an event in Chicago would make much more sense. Perhaps it could be held at the HoB or HoB Hotel?

Keep us up to date on any further developments.

On side note I'm planning on making a small pilgrimage to Chicago in Feb of 2005. Going with a few friends who do their own BB show. (www.jakeandelwood.co.uk) We're hoping to see some of the BB filming locations and take in a show at the HoB.

Ciao,

C.

[dixiesquare]

the house of blues here in chicago only holds 1500 people tops , so having any type of convention there would not be accomadating to the many ,many, many, many thousands of loyal blues brothers fans that would be attending if any such convention where to take place. snoop around the many differnt forums here to see what spots are left , and where they may be. a few spots like the mall which is still standing, closed and decaying around it self, is still there but not for long .parts are being sold off for a new senior housind development. go to www.dailysouthtown.com go to search tab hit it, type in dixie square and it will pull up a link to the latest news story on the mall .