This week we are joined by director Ken Kwapis (The Larry Sanders Show, The Office, Freaks & Geeks), who just finished his first documentary, We Are The Shaggs, helping to tell the story of the legendary group of three sisters who made one of the most polarizing albums of all time in the late 60s.
We discuss his iconic work on Freaks & Geeks, helping create The Larry Sanders Show while trying to help find the awkward smile of Rip Torn's character, how everyone seems to remember the very first time they ever heard The Shaggs' music, Ken's long path from discovering this album in 1980 to making this documentary, gaining the trust of The Shaggs' Dot and Betty Wiggin, Ken getting to crack open the lore of the band recording their first iconic record, fans such as Jonathan Richman, Frank Zappa & Patti Smith singing their praises, why do we get to choose between what is good vs bad music, how The Shaggs' music managed to shine brightly while under the duress of their domineering father who managed them, why this documentary was made completely independently of network/studio influence, how the band performed in their local town hall every Saturday night for years while not knowing any of the teens in the audience, why the band NRBQ are the missing link between the band's obscurity and us talking about it now, Prince's long-time engineer Susan Rogers and her thoughts on The Shaggs & gender, how complicated and hard it is to play their music, how the Dot wrote her lyrics and more!
WE ARE THE SHAGGS:
youtube.com/@wearetheshaggs
instagram.com/wearetheshaggs/
REVOLUTIONS PER MOVIE:
Host Chris Slusarenko (Eyelids, Guided By Voices, owner of Clinton Street Video rental store) is joined by actors, musicians, comedians, writers & directors who each week pick out their favorite music documentary, musical, music-themed fiction film, or music videos to discuss. Fun, weird, and insightful, Revolutions Per Movie is your deep dive into our life-long obsessions where music and film collide.
Revolutions Per Movie releases new episodes every Thursday on any podcast app, and additional, exclusive bonus episodes every Sunday on our Patreon (over 125 bonus episodes are available and counting). If you like the show, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing it on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!
PATREON:
The show is also a completely independent affair, so the best way to support it is at patreon.com/revolutionspermovie. By joining, you can get weekly bonus episodes and series such as A Very Opinionated Look At Urgh! A Music War & What Makes The Midnight So Special?, A Devotees Look At New Wave Theater, Exploring The Axis: The Oral History Of Frontier Records With Lisa Fancher, Dips On Chips w/ Jeff McDonald of Redd Kross, physical goods such as a limited edition 7" Flexidisc, and other exclusive goods that I send out to you for supporting the show. It helps the show to keep going and is greatly appreciated!
TIP JAR:
SOCIALS:
@revolutionspermovie
BlueSky: @revpermovie
THEME by Eyelids 'My Caved In Mind'
www.musicofeyelids.bandcamp.com
ARTWORK by Jeff T. Owens
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