"The Crow" (1994) Episode #2 | Joy Division, Nine Inch Nails, James O'Barr

"The Crow" (1994) Episode #2 | Joy Division, Nine Inch Nails, James O'Barr

Author: Jay R Smith April 7, 2023 Duration: 4:17:46
A History of Rock n' Roll in Film and Rock n' Roll
MusicFilmHistoryTvTV & Film

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This episode is dense and detailed as all hell. I say that every few months about a new episode, it's true. But this really ranks up there with my Janis Joplin, Chris Cornell, AC/DC and Doors episodes in the amount of research (see the many references below) and interstitial music edits involved. So thank you in advance for your indulgence. This one covers: 

  • An expanded history of James O'Barr's journey from the USMC to optioning The Crow for a development deal
  • Joy Division's early gigs, record deals, recording experiences, and Ian Curtis's death
  • Trent Reznor's trials putting together the "Pretty Hate Machine" era Nine Inch Nails lineup, touring as an opening act, 1990s ascension as the eternal outsider, generally underreported backstage raucousness and the eventual shift into "Downward Spiral"
  • The many steps between "The Crow" as a comic book released independently out of Detroit to nationwide distribution to screenplay revisions to script revisions and securing a serious-ass movie deal for real. Featuring accounts of Jeff Most and John Shirley who made it happen
  • Clashes and controversies behind the scenes between writers, producers and director of the film, extending all the way to what DVD features we've still been denied due to legal squabbling that took place even years after the film's release



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https://afsp.org/

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https://www.rainn.org/resources

https://www.filmstories.co.uk/features/the-crow-chronicle-the-dvd-extra-feature-that-got-pulled-late-in-the-day/

https://sewermutant.com/the-crow-creator-james-obarr-s-early-years-2b0b6e0ee8d3

https://archive.org/details/Mondo.2000.Issue.05.1991/page/n65/mode/2up?q=Reznor

https://archive.org/details/electroshock00greg/page/38/mode/2up?q=Reznor interview 1994

Deborah Curtis's book: https://archive.org/details/touchingfromdist00debo/page/134/mode/2up

BROKEN: https://archive.org/details/NineInchNails-Broken/Nine+Inch+Nails+-+Broken.mkv

Bootleg library: https://archive.org/details/NIN_starterpack

Crow book: https://archive.org/details/makingofcrow0000bais + 
Official Making of The Crow book

https://archive.org/details/synthgods0000unse/page/106/mode/2up?q=Reznor

Self Destruct Book: https://archive.org/details/nineinchnailssel00huxl/page/n5/mode/2up?q=Reznor

SPIN MAGS:

https://books.google.com/books?id=td2yO_T3DPEC&printsec=frontcover&rview=1&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=xbtTqjWx8FsC&pg=PA70&dq=Trent+Reznor&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijvPyPqJ39AhVYFjQIHZ19AgUQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=Trent%20Reznor&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=3_7wN22l43MC&pg=PT44&dq=Trent+Reznor&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwicodapqJ39AhXTLH0KHS9xABY4FBDoAXoECAsQAg#v=onepage&q=Trent%20Reznor&f=false



 


Hosted by Jay R Smith, A History of Rock n' Roll in Film and Rock n' Roll explores the deep and often surprising connections between the silver screen and the amplifier. This isn't just a series of movie reviews; it's a cultural excavation. Each episode uses films-from major biopics and concert documentaries to obscure B-movies and tangential appearances-as a starting point to unpack a much larger story. You'll hear about the artists whose lives were dramatized, the business deals negotiated in studio lots, and the technological innovations, like new sound recording methods, that were pioneered for these projects and went on to shape music itself. The podcast argues that rock's history isn't just in the grooves of a record, but also in the flickering light of a projector, examining how cinematic portrayals have influenced our perception of the genre's legends and myths. By looking at these cinematographic products, Jay traces the evolution of what he calls that "glorious cultural mutant," revealing how film hasn't just documented rock n' roll, but has actively participated in its creation and legacy. The conversation is as much about the music as it is about the movies that tried to capture its chaotic, revolutionary spirit.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 87

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A History of Rock n' Roll in Film and Rock n' Roll
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