When I watched the Blues Brothers last week for about the fortieth time… I wasn’t aware that June 20th would be the 30th Anniversary of the movies release… But here it is, just saw a clipping in the newspaper. Amazing how fresh that movie remains, even today…

Admittedly, I have a special bond with this movie as it landed right at the epicenter of my childhood, the Summer before I entered High School… Its heavy musical themes spoke to my interests as a budding musician, music truly could save the world, or at least the St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud orphanage in downstate Calumet City. Most notably though, it was partially filmed in my hometown of Park Ridge, IL where myself and a friend snuck past police to find a spot behind Piepho’s Pharmacy on Devon and Talcott to watch. We laid on our bellies for half the night between a dumpster and the building and watched them film 4 takes of the blues mobile rolling down the street… BDR 529, I’ll never forget that plate number… or Elwood’s left fist, curled around a cigarette and resting out the drivers side window… 1, 2, 3, 4 times for good measure… So I guess that means that technically, I’m in the Blues Brothers, although masked by darkness in a non-speaking role.

30 years later, the biggest bummer of the aftermath would have to be the premature death of John Belushi. In just his short time in the spotlight he nailed down immortality. The man was a giant… With his Chicago ties, he was always a ’star’ that I felt connected to… I remember playing in a pick-up football game in the snow at Hinkley Field in Park Ridge when I heard of his death… After hearing the news I walked home, confirmed the fact off the TV, then went to sleep at 5 in the afternoon and slept through the night… One of the handful of world events that caused me to cry as a kid as well. Funny how those significant memories stick with you.

The Blues Brothers was a movie of music and mayhem that will always have a special place in my heart. I owned it on laserdisc, two worn out VHS tapes, DVD… and now the Deluxe Edition BluRay… whatever form it lives on as… I’ll most likely pick a copy up. Happy Birthday and welcome to middle ages old friend… you’re aging well as I always knew you would.