30 Years Ago Today

Parallel Man · 04-22-2008, 12:48 PM

30 years ago on April 22, 1978, Jake and Elwood Blues made their debut on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

Nothing would ever again be the same.

In the middle of the punk mayhem and disco nonsense, these two guys and a band that was nothing less than Hell On Earth were the most incredible breath of fresh air imaginable. Two years later when the movie came out it only cemented their place in American culture.

"We're on a mission from God," and "it's 106 miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses - hit it," rank right up there with "here's look at you, kid," and "frankly, Scarlett, I don't give a damn," for most quotable movie lines of all time.

Stinkfist · 04-22-2008, 01:44 PM

Dang, 30 years?

I feel old.

But yeah, legendary. I still can't put on Wayfarers without remembering them.

Nice find!

Mile_High_Mark · 04-22-2008, 01:54 PM

Belushi would also make history by getting FEAR booked on SNL. The band's performance would get them banned from the show permanently.

Fear on SNL 1981.avi (on virb.com)

Momona Boe · 04-23-2008, 06:36 AM

I still play Shake Your Tailfeathers almost every weekend

GoGreenLongboarding · 04-23-2008, 07:21 AM

####

What?

Rollers

No

Yes

####

mangels · 04-23-2008, 07:52 AM

I remember seeing it on SNL. I kept waiting for it to turn in to something funny. It wasn't until it was almost over that I realized it wasn't funny ... IT WAS AWESOME!!!!

I bought Briefcase Full of Blues on vinyl, because there were no CD's back then. And furthermore, I bought it on 8-track because I had an 8-track player in my pickup truck. I am such an old fart!

Now I have it on CD ... but even CD's are passe now! ipods and thumb drives are the media of choice for all the young rippers out there.