Music Blog The Dumbing of America recently had a chat with Director James R. Petix.  Here’s a sample:

“…At the turn of this century, Detroit brought us The White Stripes, The Von Bondies, The Dirtbombs and a series of bands that redefined music once again. While their impact on U.S. music was significant, England became obsessed with the Detroit music scene and recognized its genius. Filmmaker James R. Petix recognized the importance of what was happening in Detroit and documented it for the brilliant film, “It Came From Detroit”. The film does an amazing job of portraying the sights, sounds and…smells of what the music scene in Detroit was like during this period. Having grown up smack dab in the middle of the Detroit music scene, this writer can tell you that the music from this period exuded a characteristic that’s rarely scene in music now: Sincerity. The grit, sweat and passion portrayed in, “It Came From Detroit” is a powerful message to the record industry of how “real” music will survive in the harshest of conditions. James took some time to talk about the film, the Detroit music scene and his efforts to bring his message to the masses.”

TDOA: I’m not sure people realize how many great bands came out of Detroit during that period and how much press they were getting from Spin and the British press. Can you enlighten people who haven’t seen the film?

JRP: For a period of time (probably 2001-2004) Detroit was certainly in the spotlight with the foreign music press. Bands like the White Stripes, The Electric Six, The Von Bondies, The Dirtbombs, The Go and The Detroit Cobras all toured around the world and were able to put out some really great records on various labels big and small. But the scene had been going on for (at least) a decade before the press got here and continued after the spotlight died down. People should know that too.

For the entire interview check out: The Dumbing of America!

Here’s what Jami Villers of fellow rock city Austin’s Live Music Capitol had to say about the film:

It Came From Detroit is the ultimate look into the Detroit garage rock scene. From the early days of Motown to the hugely influential band The Gories, from The Dirtbombs and The Hentchmen to the mainstream wunderkinds The White Stripes, this documentary provides an in-depth examination of the music of Detroit Rock City.

James R Petix’s first feature-length film is clearly a work of passion. The film is well-researched and thorough, with interviews that are candid and insightful. The city is depicted as ugly and desolate, a place that boomed 50 years ago and has been in slow decline ever since. As Jason Stollsteimer from the Von Bondies says: “It’s the shell of a great city”. However, from this rubble there is a music community so full of love and support that you find yourself wishing you, too, came from Detroit. The gutted sky scrapers from the city’s long-gone glory days set an appropriately grim backdrop for the hard-hitting garage rock that flourishes in its shadows. Images of anti-gun posters, homeless people, and abandoned buildings are spliced with live footage of some of the best rock bands the town has produced. The juxtaposition is fantastic, giving you a sense of the gritty ugliness of Detroit that inspires this strain of music. Deanne Lovan from the Come-Ons says, “It’s so desolate that there is nothing else to do, other than to create.” Adds Troy Gregory, of The Dirtbombs, “No one is ever gonna give a rat’s ass about Detroit anyways”. Before The White Stripes broke internationally, there was never a sense that something good could come from the Motor City, the bands didn’t expect success, and as such, had nothing to lose. The resulting music was all-or-nothing. The community creates because it has to; the music they make is soul-food and a necessary act of survival.

Read the full story on their website here: http://www.livemusiccapitol.com/2010/02/it-came-from-detroit/

We’re happy to announce that the movie will be screening in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area at the Deep Blues Festival early next year! Get there early and also check out the movie Wayne County Ramblin starring Mick Collins and directed by Dan Rose!

Saturday January 23rd

St Paul Eagles Club 287 Maria Ave St Paul MN

noon - Wayne County Rambling

2pm -  Moments and Truths

3pm -  The Hand Of Fatima

4:30pm - It Came From Detroit

Well, the Los Angeles Premiere of “It Came From Detroit” was an incredible time.  Allison Anders and the rest of the Don’t Knock the Rock team did an amazing job putting together a wonderful night at the Silent Movie Theater.  The show was hosted by Michael ‘Murdoc’ Des Barres who was both hilarious and motivational.  The house was packed and I thought the film played very well.  I’m glad our cynical Detroit style humor translated well over here. 

After the screening we were treated to a great DJ set of garage tunes from Cyril Lords/Outrageous Cherry vet Sean Ellwood who is now also an LA resident.  There were some rock legends in the house like Creation Records founder Joe Foster, Gun Club’s Terry Graham, and the legendary Kim Fowley who said the film had “the best soundtrack since Woodstock!”

 See more photos from the event here!

-James

Here’s what Rock Critic Bill Holdship of the Metro Times had to say about our screening tomorrow at the Silent Movie Theater in Los Angeles:

James R. Petix’s It Came From Detroit documentary film is making its L.A. debut this Thursday, July 23rd, as part of the city’s annual Don’t Knock The Rock festival. The yearly event was launched several years ago by acclaimed film director (and major rock ‘n’ roll fan) Allison Anders (Gas, Food, Lodging; Grace of my Heart; Sugar Town). The great (but since shuttered) MC5 documentary, A True Testimonial, also made its West Coast debut at the same event a few years back. I’ll never forget the audience actually giving the band a standing ovation in the theater, right in the middle of the film, following one magnificent live performance that was fortunately captured on celluloid. Read the rest of this post »