DOCUMENTARY 90:00 VIDEO 2005 CHICAGO PREMIERE

“Like an angel from D. Boon fell from a tree in San Pedro’s Peck Park landing him squarely on Mike Watt. The two thirteen year olds lives would never be the same. Sharing an obsession with history, their adopted hometown of San Pedro and 60s and 70s arena rock bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Blue Oyster Cult, the two friends grew up to form a deep personal and musical bond. This bond formed the foundation of one of the most revered, intriguing and groundbreaking bands of the early 80s.

Steeped in the mentality that creating music was for unreachable rock stars performing in arenas, Boon and Watt were completely taken aback by the late 70s punk rock scene in Hollywood. Energized by punk’s do –it-yourself attitude the two friends started and stopped the Bright Orange Band and The Reactionaries searching for their creative voice.

Taking inspiration from English bands Wire and The Pop Group, Watt and Boon formed The Minutemen in 1979. After original drummer Frank Tonche quit the band after one gig, the duo enlisted original Reactionaries drummer George Hurly to take over playing drums. The trio was cemented and the Minutemen never looked back.

In a whirlwind of five years the Minutemen released eleven records ranging from 7” singles to the epic double album Double Niclkes On The Dime, an output totaling over 150 songs! They crisscrossed the country opening for bands ranging from Black Flag to R.E.M. as well as on their own headlining tours. Their video for “This Ain’t No Picnic” was even being shown on MTV between videos from Michael Jackson and Cyndi Lauper.

Tragically, at the very peak of their creative force The Minutemen were brought to a halt when D. Boon was killed in a van accident just three days before Christmas 1985.

The Minutemen may have ended that day twenty years ago, but their convictions and ethos still remain strong and can be heard and felt in the spirit and sound of new bands just starting out in their garages to mega selling artists playing arenas.

Told by those who were there, WE JAM ECONO weaves in footage from over fifty newly shot interviews with archival interviews and live performances to capture the dynamic energy and do-it-yourself spirit of these punk rock pioneers.” – Tim Irwin and Keith Schieron

PURCHASE TICKET – SAT AUG 20 8:00 PM