Staples concerts. He brought in Sly and the Family Stone and the Doors (Jim Morrison wore his trademark leather pants). Even Eric Clapton made it onto the Staples
THERE, IN TOWN HALL, A SOLD-OUT CROWD REVELED IN A 30-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY THAT TOLD THE REMARKABLE, TRUE AND NON-HALLUCINATORY TALE OF HOW SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN ROCK HISTORY CAME TO PERFORM AT ONE SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL.
stage. In the spring of 1968 he performed with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce in the rst of the super-groups, Cream. No band charged more than $2,500. e worst thing that happened was a couple of broken seats. By the end of the 1960s, bands were playing colleges and arenas. en came Woodstock, and big bucks for big shows. No high school – not even Staples – could a ord a rock concert. A special era was over. It lived on, of course, in the memories of everyone who had been to those shows. And even in one Westporter who had not. Fred Cantor was a member of Staples’ Class of 1971. He never attended a concert. (“They were on school nights. My parents didn’t let me go,” was his excuse.) But he is a huge
rock ‘n’ roll fan, with a particular passion for the Remains. Guitarist/vocalist Barry Tashian and keyboardist Bill Briggs grew up in Westport. The Remains opened for the Beatles on their 1966 tour. They appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, and some critics believed they’d be the next great rock ‘n’ roll band. Though they broke up shortly thereafter, they’re still cult heroes. Cantor chronicled their story by producing both an off-Broadway play (“All Good Things”) and documentary film (“America’s Lost Band”). Of course, The Remains also played one of those legendary Staples concerts. Cantor made amends for missing all those shows by producing the “School at Rocked!” documentary. Interspersing interviews and photos with background material on America’s mid-60s musical, political and social scenes, it o ers proof to decades of doubters that all those concerts
really did happen. It’s currently on the lm show circuit, wowing viewers far from Westport. Cantor also co-curated the concurrent Westport Historical Society exhibit that included vintage photos, actual ticket stubs, and a stack of 45s that played on an actual record player. In July, following the Westport Cinema Initiative screening, Sandhaus and Cantor sat for a talkback. ey ampli ed one of the most intriguing nuggets from the lm: the story of how a young Steve Tallerico’s band, e Chain Reaction, opened for several of the Staples acts. Later, Tallerico change his name to Steve Tyler. And years a er that, Aerosmith’s vocalist spoke about how important those high school shows were to his own career. His speech now plays in an endless loop at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. eWestport Cinema Initiative audience
WESTONMAGAZINEGROUP.COM 87
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog