Roadie (1980) [w/Commentary]

Down-home Texas boy Travis W. Redfish falls hard for Lola Bouilliabase, a glitter-spangled groupie determined to lose her virginity to Alice Cooper. Hoping to woo her, Travis signs with a traveling rock band and soon finds himself celebrated as the greatest roadie of all time! Between concerts, Travis uses his wits to make sure that the show goes on, no matter where, no matter what. This does not take long for Travis to realize that, compared to the great rock circus, there's no place like home. However, Lola's date with destiny (and Cooper) to become the greatest groupie of all time looms. Can true love survive rock 'n' roll?

I'm probably one of about 5 people in the world who actually saw this in the theatres back in 1980, and I am absolutely thrilled it's now out on DVD/Blu-ray. The film is a bonafide B-movie cult classic. Anyone who has ever lived in Austin, particularly in the pre-90's high-tech boom, will treasure the asthetics of the film. It has all the elements that make Austin the weird, unique town that it is. It totally stereotypes Texans, which makes it all the more funny to this Texan. People who don't understand Austin (or Texas) won't get the film, and probably won't like it.

High points of the film include a Hank Williams Jr./Roy Orbison duet singing "The Eyes of Texas" (the school song of the University of Texas at Austin) to break up a bar brawl; a high-speed chase through downtown Austin involving Austin police, a Lone Star Beer truck, and a limousine; and an outdoor rock concert, the "Rock N Roll Circus", featuring Blondie singing a cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". Notice the racetrack to the above right of the stage, which is supposed to be located somewhere in Idaho. Austinites will recognize it as Manor Downs.

I recommend the film to anyone who enjoys a mindless, entertaining movie. Brain power is not needed to see this film, and is actually discouraged.

Audio Commentary with screenwriters James "Big Boy" Medlin and Michael Ventura