Movie TV Film News

By: Daniel Dullum
FARGO, N.D. - DDM Films and Mike Bullock Productions have collaborated on a must-see documentary for everyone who ever danced and partied to their favorite bands at the Crystal Ballroom, the Halstad LRC, the DL Pavilion or Herb Johnson's Barn. From Bobby Vee and Terry Lee to The Phones and The Blenders, "Fargo Rocks" tells the story of Fargo-Moorhead's first four decades of homegrown rock and roll. Telling this remarkable story is the musicians themselves ... Bobby Vee, Bob Becker, Davey Bee, Dave Prentice, Richard Torrance, Ted Larson, Paul Hubbard, Johnny Holm, Ronnie Kerber, Richie Jacobson, Jeff Cerise, Brenda Weiler and many more.

The world premiere for "Fargo Rocks" is scheduled for March 30 through April 2 at the historic Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway, Downtown Fargo. Each night of the premiere, an act featured in the documentary will play following the film. Scheduled for opening night is popular contemporary singer/songwriter Brenda Weiler, and all five original members of The Phones are slated for April 1. Announcements for concerts on the other two nights are forthcoming.

This 90-minute film features the original historic recordings, interwoven with the photographs, anecdotes and tales that effectively bring Fargo-Moorhead's rock and roll history to life, starting with the tragic 1959 plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson and Ritchie Valens en route to a performance at the Moorhead Armory. When the call came out for local bands to fill the concert void, Terry Lee and the Poor Boys - North Dakota's first rock band - stepped forward. So did an unnamed group featuring brothers Bill and Bobby Velline, and a 6-and-a-half-year-old boy named Ronnie Kerber.

The concert didn't necessarily launch Bobby Vee's career, but "Susie Baby," a self-penned single released five months later, did well enough in the Midwest to get the Fargo Central sophomore a contract with Liberty Records. In "Fargo Rocks," Vee speaks fondly of those early days on the Midwest circuit, along with many of his contemporaries.

Throughout the 1960s, other bands took their stab at recording success, like Davey Bee and the Sonics, The Treasures, The Mods, The Unbelievable Uglies, and The Pawnbrokers. All of them were practically unknown to the rest of the nation, but were all you needed for a rockin' good time in and around the Red River Valley. And they all recount the trials and tribulations of making a go of rock and roll as a career choice.

Into the 1970s and 1980s, the story continues with Overland Stage, Johnny Holm, The Phones and Stickman. When the boy band sound swept the music scene in the 1990s, The Blenders were there at the ground level, doing it better than many of their more famous contemporaries. When blues began to enjoy a renaissance in popularity, one of the key players was Jonny Lang and the Big Bang. As Brenda Weiler makes her mark as a singer/songwriter, North To Emerson epitomizes the spirit that keeps the music alive from generation to generation. "Fargo Rocks" features them all.

For nformation, contact the Fargo Theatre at (701) 235-4152;
David Meiers, executive producer of "Fargo Rocks," at (701) 361-1812 or visit www.fargorocksthemovie.com.

Quotes from "Fargo Rocks"...

"We just went to help out. That's what people up here do - they help out when they can." - Bobby Vee, reminiscing about the Winter Dance Party concert at the Moorhead, Minn., Armory on Feb. 3, 1959.

"To a 6-and-a-half year old kid, it was like stepping into a den of inequity." - Ronnie Kerber of The Mods, about filling in at the ill-fated Winter Dance Party concert.

"Doc Shinn said to get rid of him, and when Doc talked we all listened." - Bob Becker of Terry Lee & The Poor Boys, on firing a future folk music icon from his band.

"Whenever Davey Bee and the Sonics were playing, I was there. They really had it going on." - Richard Torrance of The Trade Winds 5, who took guitar lessons from Arch Berdahl, Davey Bee's father.

"The headline in the paper was The Who and The Uglies are banned from ever playing at the Fargo Civic Auditorium." - Dave Prentice of The Unbelievable Uglies.

About the author:
Daniel Dullum, an award-winning newspaper reporter based in Sacramento, Calif., is the creative consultant and narrator of "Fargo Rocks," an independent film produced in Fargo, N.D.