14 replies to this topic

[Rudiger]

I thought of this out of the blue: Does anybody know who runs John Belushi's estate now? Is it Judy Belushi-Pisano, a Belushi relative, or whom?

I was just curious, because I have an issue of the newspaper "The Onion" (from the summer of '04) in which Mr. John Landis is interviewed. Now, I haven't read the newspaper for a long time, but I believe it is here that I read him make reference to the fact that in "Blues Brothers 2000," when the band is singing "Ghost Riders in the Sky," they were going to digitally animate (or something) Jake riding on one of the skeleton horses. However, they weren't able to do this because Mr. Belushi's estate wanted too much for the rights to his (Jake's) image.

I was wondering who owns the estate, because from what I know of Mrs. Belushi-Pisano and Mr. Jim Belushi, etc, they seem to really support the Blues Brothers franchise and with Mr. Aykroyd working in the production crew of "BB2000," it seemed to me that they would be more lenient with the rights money. Maybe I'm wrong..?

Just curious.

[bbcentral]

Rudiger, it's a good question.
Judy does own John's estate, which is why she now owns half of the Blues Brothers trademark with Dan Aykroyd. A search on the US Trademark website reveals they have applied for several trademarks using the Blues Brothers, including a copyright on the logo and a trademark on 'Blues Brothers Seeds' (I think it was a product they had planned to release but changed their minds later on, it was about 10 years ago).
I didn't see anything on the Onion about the Ghost Riders, but I did find this VERY interesting bit about the Blues Brothers:

FOR ANYONE WHO HATES BLUES BROTHERS 2000, READ THIS!
O: What about Dan Aykroyd? You worked with him over an even longer time period.

JL: Oh, I love Danny Aykroyd. He's just extraordinary—a remarkable, wonderful, wacky motorhead. [Laughs.:4cba33ce3c] I think he's never really gotten the notice he should. He's played a lot of different parts for me, and I think he's a wonderful actor. And he's an absolutely terrific guy. I enjoy Danny very much. Talk about passion, this guy—I made up that "Mission from God" thing [from The Blues Brothers:4cba33ce3c] to kind of make fun of, and also recognize, his commitment to focusing attention on black American music. When we made The Blues Brothers, it was all Bee Gees and ABBA. Now, I get questions like, "How did you get Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and James Brown to be in the movie?" And I have to tell them, "It's because they were thrilled to get the job." To give you an idea of how different it is now, when we did The Blues Brothers, MCA/Universal refused the soundtrack album, because they said no one but old black people would buy it. Then we went to what was called a "black label," Atlantic, and they refused to put John Lee Hooker on the album! Fifteen years later, John had a platinum album. So The Blues Brothers was successful in its attempt to call attention to these guys. So Danny, I love Danny. It's all about Danny. He's just a wild man.

O: What was the impetus behind Blues Brothers 2000?

JL: We'd always intended for a sequel with John, but of course when he passed away, it was obvious we weren't going to do it. But Danny had been performing with John Goodman and Jimmy Belushi and the band, and he said, "You know, this is great, because this music is recognized now—let's do a movie." I said, "Great, sure, okay," and we wrote what I thought was a terrific script. Then Universal Studios eviscerated it. That was a strange experience, because the first thing they said was that it had to be PG, which meant they couldn't use profanity, which is basically cutting the Blues Brothers' nuts off. The first movie is an R-rated film, but there's no nudity or violence in it. It's just the language. Then they said, "You have to have a child, you have to have..." The bottom line was, the only way that movie was going to get made was to agree with everything they said. You know the difference between a brown-nose and a shithead? Depth perception. That's the only time I never really fought with the studio, because they didn't really want to make it. So we did every single thing they said. By the time we'd done that, the script was kind of homogenized and uninteresting. Danny said, "It's about the music. It's just about the music, John, so don't worry about it. We'll get the best people, and we'll make a great album, and get these people on film. We have to document these people." It's interesting, because, as much as I make fun of Danny, three or four of those guys have passed away since we made that movie. People say, "Okay, you've got Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Cab Calloway, and John Lee Hooker in The Blues Brothers—who's in Blues Brothers 2000?" The answer? Everyone else. The first movie has five musical numbers, and the second movie has 18.

[Rudiger]

Thanks, Chris! That is indeed the article I have with John Landis in the paper. I thought it was in there that I read about the "Ghost Riders," thing, but perhaps it was a different article...I'll try to locate it, if anybody's interested.

Sort of a somewhat relevant side-note: that paper (The Onion) was handed to me for free the first day I took a trip into Chicago - it seemed perfect, getting something related to "The Blues Brothers" in Chicago, haha. (Plus my hotel room had a tourists' pamphlet with a few promotion articles written by Dan Aykroyd in it). The article eased my mind a bit about "BB2000;" when the PG label is explained, you can kind of understand the true motive behind the film - the music.

[Blues_Sister]

Wow, I'd give anything to read the original script without all the changes the studio forced. That was real dumb of them, cos I'm sure the movie would have been a lot more successful without them.

[looneyanil]

wow!Imean"have to have a child"?and john was a ghost rider never payed attention!!!The sequel is very succesful movie for me...As a "movie"!!!I mean,c'mon,It ruined the original movie...But some of us the 1900's and 2000's loved them with the sequel...Even I liked it when I was...just,10!It!s a very good movie...And musical numbers,perfect!!!..........

[looneyanil]

and you're so right,sister!

[JakeandElwood1]

I bet the original script was so much better! I just feel bad because I was blind sighted by my dislike of Buster and that I forgot the true meaning of the Blues Brothers! You have to keep the blues alive. I feel really bad now! Lately I've been putting off buying the Soundtrack to it because it didn't have Jake. Well the minute I get enough money I'm going to get it. The movie isn't that bad but they should have never made it as a PG movie or make them put Buster in. I once again apologize for being so mistaken about the movie! Remember KEEP THE BLUES ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[looneyanil]

I'm so glad you got it.Thanx...And yyou can trust me about da,soundtrack it is amazing...And...ah,ya know if you wanna look at da fine side pal,it is sorry to be a pg but buster is remembering us thatelwood is a poor orphan like elwood!!!He was looking for something and curtis made him...And his brother Blues Brothers!!!So Elwood is kinda Curtis now...

[JakeandElwood1]

To tell you the truth I always saw Buster as keeping the blues alive. See Elwood taught him them and now he is going to keep the legacy alive. I still don't like him just for the simple fact he stole Elwood's harp parts and he didn't even look like he was playing. I'm actually just really jealous of him for getting the chance to dance and sing with Elwood. So not to put anyone down or anything I still don't like him. But I have changed my views on the movie. Which I think is better anyway. Once again sorry if I ever hurt anyone's feelings. I just wanted to say:

"I've seen the light! Yes Yes Jesus H Tap Dancing Christ I've seen the light!!!!!!!!"
Remember keep them alive!!!!!!

[DryWhiteToast]

I have to say after reading that article that I have a new found respect for both Mr. Aykroyd and Mr. Landis. I see now that the studio forced them to put out the watered down product that was BB2K but Dan and John went along with it for the sole purpose of giving exposure to music that really deserved it.

[440RULEZ]

oh boy...

we all should have known it...
Funny thing is those big movie companies always do this stuff to make shure they get their investments back. When will they learn this cant be done on any movie with always the same decisions (like "put a child in the movie", "watch the language").
They saw the 1st movie was successful but in more than 15 years they did not learn why. ...all about the money 24/7/365

I now also see BB2k with different eyes...
Not that I like it though...

Keep on rockin!

440rulez!

[JakeandElwood1]

Yes I was just watching it on my T.V. They were showing and I don't know why. Well while watching it I realized I still can't handle watching it. It just really hurts me to think that Jake/John is gone. I still hate Buster. I can't stand him. I still look at it differently but it is still upsetting. You know how you said that Elwood is like Curtis now... well I have to disagree. Why would they put Curtis's son in the movie if he wasn't suppose to replace him? I don't know I don't want to start anything. We all have our oppinons. KEEP THEM ALIVE!!!!!!!!!

[coolchris]

The house has recently been sold by belushi estate they ment the family and his house was atculay like a large apartment

[looneyanil]

I still behind my words Elwood is kinda Curtis and maybe Buster gonna Keep the Blues Alive...Imagine a movie that all the music we know today as Blues is lost -We hope not- and we see Elwood as really old in his suits and talking to Buster who is All grown up and still keeping the Blues Alive in all techno music he make it...Not that I love Buster...Just...Tryin' to look da nice side!

[looneyanil]

And I still don't know why they put Cab in movie...Maybe the black they need for ya know,finding his future all the painful blue days,Blacks music Blues he understood of Calling to blood or something,they need a black?But it supposed to be a White guys,Raised by a Black...Oh!Maybe Somebody got mad at this ya know,Raised by a black...And keeping the Blacks Music,Blues alive...Whuf!All these stupid thoughts but still makes me wonder...And Still looking the fine side..............Blues...