Neighbors (1981)

Neighbors was released on December 18th, 1981. 

Neighbors (1981)

The black comedy is based on the Thomas Berger novel of the same name. Directed by John G. Avildsen (Rocky and Karate Kid) and starring John Belushi in his final movie role. It also stars Dan Ackroyd, Cathy Moriarty and Kathryn Walker. 

Walker, Belushi, Moriarty and Ackroyd

Near the end of pre-production, Belushi and Ackroyd decided to switch roles. Belushi played a mild mannered suburbanite and Ackroyd the garish swinger. The exact opposite of their typical characters. 

Ackroyd and Belushi

Belushi had recently become a die hard fan of the punk band Fear and brought them in to do a song for the credits. He even sang back up vocals on the track. When execs shot the song down, Belushi made it up to the band by pulling some SNL strings to get them on the show as musical guest… 

…. but that’s a whole different train wreck. 

Fear Frightens Saturday Night Live

The song that never was

A dark and strange movie with a troubled production that wasn’t received all too well. Naturally I love it. 

Fear Frightens Saturday Night Live

40 years ago today On October 31st, 1981 the notorious L.A. hardcore band Fear was invited to play the Saturday Night Live Halloween show.  The episode was hosted by Donald Pleasence.

John Belushi had become a fan of the band and pulled the necessary strings required to make this happen. Belushi also planned to bus in 15 to 20 fans from DC for the performance. The bus made some extra stops in Baltimore and Philly and showed up with twice that many. Fear and their fans had a pretty bad reputation of wreaking havoc wherever they went and did not disappoint on this occasion. The set was destroyed and profanities uttered on live television. They got through two songs but were shut down before a third.

This led to Fear joining an elite club of performers to earn a lifetime ban from the show. This was nothing new to the band as they seemed to get banned from everywhere they performed.

Fear performance on SNL (YouTube video)

Elvis Costello performs the Wrong Song on SNL

John had previously collaborated on a song with Fear for his black comedy film Neighbors, also starring Dan Ackroyd. The song was axed by executives (big surprise there) and the SNL performance was Belushi’s way of making it up to the band. 

Also on this date:

Sally Kirkland was born in 1941

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Saturday Night (Live)