8 replies to this topic

[Cropper Classic]

I stumbled across this from Entertainment Weekly (9/2/2005):

Checking in with Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd recalls his ''Blues Brothers'' period -- The comedic actor looks back at Elwood and ahead to life as a House of Blues honcho

These days, Elwood Blues takes a hot bath and then binds his hips, knees, and ankles before performing. Having built his concert business, House of Blues, into a 10-venue empire, Dan Aykroyd looks back at the gig that helped make him a TV and movie star, and subsequently, an impresario: The Blues Brothers, now out in a 25th Anniversary Edition. In a three-piece suit, House of Blues cap, and those trademark shades, the former Ghostbuster also riffs on the current state of Saturday Night Live (''The women are strong''), his favorite automobile (a 1932 Pierce-Arrow limo), and the heady days of 1980, when SNL's first class hit the movie jackpot (''We called ourselves living media gods'').

What do you get most these days — ''Hey, Elwood!'' or ''Hey, Bass-O-Matic '76!''?
I don't get much. I have this young female demographic that recognizes me as the father in My Girl and then I've got the older female demographic that's Driving Miss Daisy.

So your latest thing is performing with Jim Belushi and Co.?
It's getting the House of Blues where we're a meaningful brand in the concert business. We're the third biggest in the world now. There's people clamoring for it.

How's your time divided?
I'd say a third concert dates, a third House of Blues-related activity — publicity, board meetings, calls — and a third personal, trying to raise my girls [ages 15, 12, and 7].

Bill Murray and Chevy Chase were starring in Caddyshack when you and John Belushi were in The Blues Brothers. What was the feeling that summer?
We were bratty, ratty little tyrants, of course. We were riding high. But we also had a fear of the future — what's going to happen after this? Thank God that phase of my life's over.

How often do you see Bill and Chevy?
Frequently, a few times a year. Billy, I seek out for little mini-adventures — a visit to his house in upstate New York, a House of Blues music night.

Do you think Blues Brothers is the only SNL film adaptation worth a damn?
Well, I like Coneheads. I thought it was a good family picture.

Any movie or TV plans for you?
Pretty much gotta get these clubs open. We are looking to London, Paris, Berlin. Maybe Moscow. Australia, they're dying for us there. But if Spielberg or Reitman or Peter Weir calls me and says, ''We'd like you to play the U.S. marshal who loses a leg in a train wreck,'' of course. I can always work as an actor.

[Flashcomix]

Ha, I hope they'll open one in Berlin :D

[Jo_Pierce]

Quote

What do you get most these days — ''Hey, Elwood!'' or ''Hey, Bass-O-Matic '76!''?

I don't get much. I have this young female demographic that recognizes me as the father in My Girl and then I've got the older female demographic that's Driving Miss Daisy.

Well... that answers my question...

Dan does NOT visit this site.

Of course that means that I am technically NOT in violation of my restraining order. WHEW!

Darn FCC Stalking Regulations ...

[Vinnie Blues]

You're right, Jo, reading his replies, I thought, well, there's also that other femail demographic thinking about him as Elwood... LOL

Otherwise, an interesting interview. Dan seems to be a humble man, always to laugh about himself first.

[TakkunEG]

Quote

I don't get much. I have this young female demographic that recognizes me as the father in My Girl and then I've got the older female demographic that's Driving Miss Daisy.

My Girl was the first movie I ever saw him in, but that's not the first role that I go to. And as for "older", I don't know how old he means, but my I guess mother could be considered "older" (she's 46) and her first go-to is Elwood or his SNL characters. If by older he means my grandmother's age (75), then I don't know. She had forgotten he was even in Driving Miss Daisy until I mentioned it.

[Steam McQueen]

The guy who did that interview, recently found the entire transcript. It was supposed to be a 10 minute Q&A but turned into a two hour tag along in Manhattan. The interview was April 2005 and he released the transcript October 2008. It's verbatim, lengthy ... and absolutely excellent!

As Little as Possible: The Ghostbusters @ 25 and the lost Dan Aykroyd interview

I wasn't sure about doin' a copy/pasta thing. Kinda long. Also I'm not 100% sure this hasn't been posted already, I don't think so though.

http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum2/public/style_emoticons/default/icon_cool.gif

[Elwood72]

Steam McQueen said:

The guy who did that interview, recently found the entire transcript. It was supposed to be a 10 minute Q&A but turned into a two hour tag along in Manhattan. The interview was April 2005 and he released the transcript October 2008. It's verbatim, lengthy ... and absolutely excellent!

As Little as Possible: The Ghostbusters @ 25 and the lost Dan Aykroyd interview

I wasn't sure about doin' a copy/pasta thing. Kinda long. Also I'm not 100% sure this hasn't been posted already, I don't think so though.

http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum2/public/style_emoticons/default/icon_cool.gif

Great read!!!!!!

Especially this part:

So how much of the stunt driving did you do on Blues Brothers?

Blues Brothers I did...I would say...probably 30 percent of it. You know, some spins and stuff. I didn't do the jumps. But a lot of driving. And just a lot of driving behind the camera car.

That car's not in a museum anywhere, is it?

I think the original one is owned by -- well, the original one where we shot most of the interior scenes like where we're together in the car, which I think would be the one that if you'd want to own the car, it would be the one that John and I spent the most time in -- that one is owned by a police officer in Illinois

Has this been confirmed or refuted?

[3LW00D]

Sweet interview! And a Ghostbusters 3? If they do it right that would be so cool!

[Dean Heuke]

Flashcomix said:

Ha, I hope they'll open one in Berlin :D

me too. I want a House of Blues in Germany:BB: