ALMOST FAMOUS
Idea for Music Oriented Reality TV show
By
Rob Crewe
Title pending copy write approval from movie of same name.
Picture:
Ducats, circa 1960's
In the 1960’s my father was in one of the hottest bands in Canada. They were touring a week behind the
Stampeders and drawing significantly larger crowds. They Mingled with
Little Richard, Bill Halley, Johnny and the Hurricanes, and Harry Bellefonte, performed with
Leslie Gore, and actually got signed to the pre-
Motown label,
Smash Records…
Things were about to get Really Big for them.
(Pic right: Ducats with Leslie Gore)
The Stampeders had taken a sabbatical, retiring back to the Prairies, and my dad’s band, the Ducats, were about to be the First Canadian, and ALL Newfoundland Band to be signed to the Motown label.. But, blame it on their youthful ignorance, in short… they got thrown out and the deal never happened, and you’ve likely never heard of them until now.
A short time later Trudeau enacted the Canadian Content Law requiring Canadian Stations to play a certain Minimum of Canadian Bands. With a scarcity of good recorded Canadian Music, the Ducats had missed their Golden opportunity. They split up, moved back to various parts of Newfoundland, started careers and families. Meanwhile, the Stampeders got back together and went on to experience significant success in Canada. I can only image how things “could have been” for my dad’s band had things been different
(Pic Above Left: Ducats' Guitarist, Lew Skinner with Scotty Moore of Elvis fame)
I can't remember all the names of the people involved.... and its not often you'll get my dad to talk about it.. But there were two brothers, Molten and Karl Yakus who believe were producers (I've likely Miss-spelled that) Larry Jaspen i think was an agent ? and Joseph Rensitti I believe was the Big Wig. Rensiti had interviewed the Ducats singer, Claude Caines, at the end.. even flew him from Boston to New Your I think, and he (Joseph) was going to give them a song he'd written to record...
any way... it never happend.... but Most of these other guys are still in the industry... and the Ducats faded to music history's dustbin...
The singer, Claude, later went on to sing in Garrison Hill, which also featured Brian McLeod of Chilliwack fame... the rest have been still in music, but purely on a minor league level..... Nothing would ever come close to where they were in the 60's
I love telling that story. I tell a significantly longer version of it every time I meet a fellow musician or a music fan. I believe that people genuinely love to hear it to, and more often then not, once I’ve finished it, they have a similar story about another band they knew that “Almost” made it… and I love hearing those stories as well.. Many of them are even Cooler then the story of my dad's old group... ..
I guess the point is that I just Love music. Everything about it. I love to play it, listen to it, going to concerts, bugging sales people at music stores, even just talking about it with other musicians and fans. It’s a passion, bordering on addiction. I can’t count how many other musicians I’ve meet who feel the same way and there are even more people who can’t play a note, but still share the same enthusiasm. We love the success stories, but we also love to hear about the “almost” stories, and even the “I knew a guy whose roommate used to be a roadie for Loverboy’s 1986 tour.” We relish in these stories, and can’t wait to repeat them.
I think that’s possibly why most musicians love to hate these new Idol shows…. We’re bitter that these kids have an express ticket to what so many of us tried so hard to achieve and couldn’t. Having said that, however, if you probe a little deeper you’ll find that we really don’t hate these shows… we’re just really jealous. We’d rather hear about the struggles, the underdog, the band who slept in their cars before making it big, and even about the ones who made the sacrifices and didn’t make it. We can relate, sympathize and commiserate.
To get to the point, while there are a lot of established bands that I love, I’ve always believed that some of the world’s best musicians and songs out there, we’ve never heard and likely never will. I really believe that it’s not an industry where the best necessarily rise to the top.. It’s about talent, and hard work, sure, of course.. But those two qualities do not guarantee success. Much of it is about Timing, Luck, and of course, marketing.
So if most of us know and accept that, what if there was a TV show, a “rock-u-mentary”, that celebrated these unsung heroes. Not just my Dads former band, but other bands from across North America that were also “
Almost Famous”.
Each show would start with a brief biography of the featured band by the shows host, complete with pictures from the era, with that particular group’s music providing the background. Then we’d cut to the band members, and interview them about some of the more interesting highlights of their musical journey. For collaboration, we’d also interview bar owners, patrons, fans and industry executives, and/or (for some Star Power) where possible, actual famous musicians and/or actors who may have played with them, heard them, and/or who may have had any contact with them. We could show clips from any available video from the era, especially video of the band in action.
In some cases, band members may have gone on to other bands and are still playing today. Where possible, they could be featured briefly in addition to a short “where are they now” section. Where possible, we’d also reunite the members for an arranged gig, fill the venue with fans and extras, and get the whole thing on film. The Intent would not necessarily be to finally give these guys their break, as in many cases it would likely be too late, or commercially unviable, (although stranger things have happened). Alternatively, the intent would be largely to just pay some respect to these unsung heroes, and, essentially… Give them their 15 minutes in the spotlight..
The second half of the show could then move on to focus on a new underdog. A low to mid level band, struggling with bar owners, and promoters. Maybe they are couch surfing as they’ve no money for actual rent. We could show just how hard it actually is to really make it, and how passionately people pursue these dreams. This feature would focus on a working unsigned act, and/or alternatively, could also spotlight a newly signed act that is still struggling to find an audience.(This could facilitate an Industry Sponsor) In that regard, it could also serve as a means to increase their exposure to the mass public and to help them to earn respect for how hard they are really tying to make it work. We could feature them in their home town, or alternatively, document their experiences of life on the road.
Then, to occasionally add some contrast and drawing power, find established acts willing to be featured on the show, and spend a few days on the road with them, and ask them to talk about their struggles before making it big and how things are different now. If and where it connects, we’d try to tie these stories back to the “Almost Famous” act, but if not, maybe at the very least, facilitate an introduction of that weeks featured underdog, to the established act, get them free T-shirts, back stage passes, etc. We could also, occasionally interview Industry Executives for some behind the scenes secrets revealed of how the industry really works. And not necessarily the Famous promotors... But the silent hero's of the Industry... the Donald Tarltons, the Barry Garbers... and so on...
Initially, I can think of at least four or five acts from Atlantic Canada (Im from there) that would be good candidates but I’m open to global ideas.
Of course my Dads band “
The Ducats”, Then there’s
Pepper-tree, from Nova Scotia in the 70’s, The
Bourbon Tabernacle Choir who I think are from Ontario,
Jon Matheson, from right here in Halifax, and
Wayne Smart from Lachute Quebec to name just a few.
We could set up a website, and invite the public to email us their stories of their favorite “almost famous” stories, and we’d pick the most interesting among them. I think the emails will poor in from both the musicians and fans, and the range of content and music styles will be never ending.
For authenticity, the hosts would have to be musicians themselves. Perhaps a
collection of two or more has-beens or Almost Was’s. You’d have the straight laced suit and tie type, who used to be a rocker (OK, thats a shameless effort to get my self a job on this project see pic right), you'd of course had to add the harder edged long hair hippie who never gave up the dream, despite the lack of any real success in music, and maybe one or two others in the middle of those two extremes. This diversity would be key as while they may bicker, and argue, the Music would always unit them… (I have a few candidates in mind for each role already) It would be light hearted, and fun.
They could travel North America with the film crew on an Authentic 70’s style tour bus, complete with working recording gear, PA and instruments. The bus, crew and hosts would each serve more then one purpose.
First, should any of the featured bands be missing members, one of the crew could, where required, fill in that spot. But it could also lead to the audience growing to like the hosts; the on the bus antics, the camaraderie, the arguments, the bus breaking down, and the impromptu Jamming and/or song writing that would take place between cities. The bus itself could become somewhat of an icon, being ever visible during shooting by the general public, and also could be deliberately placed into multiple scenes during each show. With today’s technology, it could also be a working music/film recording/editing station where the crew could work on the road, without having to rent facilities in each city. In time, when the Bus would roll into a different city, and be parked next to a bar, it would most likely increase the traffic to that particular venue, with fans and musicians looking to be on TV.
I think the shows appeal would be universal to Music fans, regardless of where you are on the music food chain. Most Musicians I’ve ever met are also fans themselves. Bono and Bruce Springsteen were big fans of Roy Oribison, Travis Tritt Idolized Eric Clapton, and so on and so on… And each of them probably had other heroes, on a local level, who may have helped get them started. That being said, while it’s certainly a show I’d watch, and talk about weekly, I think it’s a show that would get talked about around the office water cooler, in addition to the bars and rehearsal halls. I think it could grow in its appeal almost on an underground level without a huge amount of P.R., but with perhaps a little push in the beginning to get it rolling. You could then attempt to license t-shirts, hats, etc, where struggling musicians, and fans alike might want to support the concept.
And last, but not least… It could serve as a podium against illegal downloading of music, as viewers would gain a new appreciation of how hard musicians actually work.
I believe this is a viable project that could have longevity… if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.. Please feel free to contact me. Especially if you work for a TV channel and want to pick this project up!!!
Also... if you want more info on Wayne Smart, the Ducats or Jon Matheson.. check out these links....
Pic: Me and my guitar Mentor, Barry Musseau August of 05
requirement. The air we breathe has 21% oxygen and the air in her incubator is about 22.9% oxygen right now. She started at 62% so things have gotten much better. 
Sara was discharged from the hospital last Friday and had her first night sleeping at home in 16 days! Had a post-op appointment on Saturday morning and all is well. She is feeling much better and looks awesome! She has been busy pumping meals for the baby and has been actively changing diapers and burping the baby! 
when I heard they were playing here..
Well worth it..
A short time later Trudeau enacted the Canadian Content Law requiring Canadian Stations to play a certain Minimum of Canadian Bands. With a scarcity of good recorded Canadian Music, the Ducats had missed their Golden opportunity. They split up, moved back to various parts of Newfoundland, started careers and families. Meanwhile, the Stampeders got back together and went on to experience significant success in Canada. I can only image how things “could have been” for my dad’s band had things been different
Helix, the opening act... well..... I used to love those guys.. and had seen them before.. and to be honest... close your eyes.. and they still sound great... but in contrast to Vinnie's acting his age... these guys were trying a little too hard to "kick it like they used to" but again... Close your eyes.. and man... they sounded great...
over the top... and cheesey... but, to be honest... I loved it...
