Thunder Alley

I just finished watching it again. I recorded it from HBO about 15 years ago. The tape is almost shot, but the movie still rocks. I'd love to find it on DVD. It's a classic rock and roll story. Band rises to the top...band member dies of a drug overdose....rest of band overcomes the loss and still rocks the big concert. Anyone who played rock and roll in the 80's will love this movie. Current teens may find the 80's attire and hair humorous.

This movie holds a special place in my heart for several reasons.

1) it's pretty accurate about many things

2) if you have been in a band, the travails of "Magic" may seem familiar

3) it was filmed in Tucson, AZ. when I lived there, and 15 days of extra work paid for my move to Minnesota.

4) I actually get a closeup during the big climax. (fat guy with single tall mohawk)

I love this movie, but I don't claim it's all that good. The soap opera that passes for plot might be accurate, but it's not very well done. Some of the best scenes never made it into the movie, (another song, by another band apparently was totally cut.) It was fun to watch all the groupie chicks lining up outside Leif Garrett's dressing room every day, not to mention his frequent terrible cocaine jokes. When I moved here, it showed up on a local TV station, and the radio ads were hilarious ("They're putting their dreams on the line...for one night... in Thunder Alley")! I denied all involvement for years, but I'm past that now. Notable for a rare performance by Leif Garrett, and the only footage I know of, featuring Phoenix metal stalwarts "Surgical Steel" who manage some actual heavy metal (before the hair-metal glam took over). I can't say that it is all that well done, but Clancy Brown (before "Highlander"! nice guy too) does some nice work as a surprisingly forthright road manager.

--Judex.1--

THUNDER ALLEY Rated PG13 Copyright: 1985 Golan Globus Films Filmed in Arizona

******** The Characters *********

1. Ritchie - Guitar prodigy who joins his friends band as the lead guitarist & songwriter. Reunites with his band mates for one last chance at the big time.

2. Donnie - (IT's Scott McGinnis) Keyboardist of the band Magic & Ritchie's best friend. Gets Ritchie to join Magic. Bites it by drug overdose.

3. Beth - Ritchie's sweet girlfriend. Tries to be supportive of Ritchie even after he cheats on her with Star.

4. Lorraine - Donnie's girlfriend. Works at the local Ice Cream stand and has boobies as big as Nortons!! Takes Donnie's death hard.

5. Wessel - Band road manager that works for the Fatman. Takes Ritchie under his wing to make him a star.

6. Skip - (IT's Leif Garret!)Lead singer of the band Magic. Leaves the band only to reunite with them later at the Rainbow Festival.

7. Wolf - Base player for the band Magic.

8. Butch - Drummer for the band Magic.

9. Fatman - Local music promoter out to screw with Magic. Gets the band to fight within themselves. His car gets trashed by Ritchie.

10. Star - Blond groupie chick that gets Donnie hooked on Drugs. Gets her ass kicked by Ritchie after she tries to get Ritchie to try the drugs. "Big Nudity Scene"

11. Candy - Random Booby shot in the swimming pool.

12. Surgical Steel - Rival local heavy metal band within the Tuson Arizona music scene.

******** What you may learn form watching this film ********

1. Music Promoters are all assholes & out for themselves.

2. Leif Garret can actually perform real music besides bubble gum.

3. Scott McGinnis did get out of the closet after Lt. Uhura locked him in during Star Trek / The Search for Spock.

4. Good girls fathers are all town drunks.

5. Ice Cream makes a girls Boobies grow bigger.

6. Heavy Metal was the choice music in Arizona in the 80's.

7. Golan/Globus made other films besides Missing in Action.

8. Never play at Buffalo Bills night club. He'll try to screw you every time when it comes time to pay you...

******** Personal Commentary ********

Now I know I'm most likely going to be bias to this film. This is my favorite film of all time. During my years as a musician I seen many films that showed the life of a musician but rarely found one that was somewhat accurate about the whole industry.

This film does just that.. It's that damn good... The acting can be better but the story is deep. I really can't trash this film. It has some sentimentality with me.

It defiantly is a keeper & wish to God they would release it on DVD soon... I own it on video and it's an original copy. It makes me feel all fuzzy inside... hehehe...

Anywho.... I give this film..... 10 moooss.... If you can rent it.. watch it... trust me on this one...

That's my story & I'm sticking to it...

Mooby

"For GODs sake, let the Moobster dance!" quote: N. Fisher

I love, love, love this movie! I had forgotten all about it until recently, but am so glad I went on e-bay and purchased it in VHS format, (the guy I bought it from included a burned DVD much to my pleasant surprise!) I was fifteen when I first saw this movie and it takes me back as if it were yesterday. Roger Wilson from Porky's is great, so is Scott McGinnis. But I have to confess that the only reason I saw this movie back in the day was because Leif Garrett was in it. That aside, the story line is great, the music is great, all the guys are great - even Clancy Brown. I get all warm inside when I watch this movie because it's so true to the era. And plus, Leif still looked great at this point in time. This movie won't disappoint if you're a music fan, especially an 80s music fan.

I recently rewatched this on cable and forgot how good it was. I like that for an 80s movie it wasn't glossy or unrealistic. I'm not a musician but this movie shows what I assume are fairly accurate portrayals of the highs and lows of being in a band. It also had alot of really good songs. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who hasn't seen it.