Listen to Dan Aykroyd Talk About Finding Out John Belushi Had Died (Exclusive)
Dan Aykroyd tells the full story of one of the most iconic comedy, film, style, and music duos of all time– The Blues Brothers, exclusively for Audible. “Blues Brothers: The Arc of Gratitude,” an Audible Original, debuts today, July 25. To celebrate, we’ve got an exclusive clip to share, featuring Danny discussing his friend and partner John Belushi’s tragic early death, including where Dan was when he first heard the news and what he did immediately after. John died in 1982 at the age of 33, shocking not only the comedy world, who saw John as one of the all time greats, but the world at large.
The Blues Brothers are forever a part of pop culture history. If you are of a certain age, then you fell in love with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as two of the Saturday Night Live original cast members. Soon after, you would have inevitably fallen in love with the Blues Brothers when they brought their characters to television on SNL in 1976 becoming instant pop culture icons for their banter, their style (yes those suits, skinny ties and sunglasses!) and the comedy. What many fans didn’t realize initially, was that these two comedy giants were serious about the music too. The band was no joke, with very serious talented musicians like Steve “The Colonel” Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, “Blue” Lou Marini, Tom “Bones” Malone, and Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin, who helped make the act the most successful blues revival act in history. The Blues Brothers movie that followed in 1980 was a hit, and an instant classic beloved to this day. Wherever you joined in, you were bound to fall in love with Jake and Elwood, aka the Blues Brothers, and once hooked, they got into your heart and soul for life.
It’s been nearly 50 years since we first met them, and despite losing John so early, their legacy endures but still, very few fans know the whole story. So Dan Aykroyd has put together this beautiful audio documentary, to tell the tale behind the Blue Brothers. From late nights at Dan’s speakeasy in Toronto, to opening for Steve Martin, to SNL, the legendary after-parties, and working with blues legends Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Ray Charles on The Blues Brothers movie, through the founding of House of Blues, the Blues Brothers 2000 sequel, and beyond. Blues Brothers: The Arc of Gratitude tells the whole story right from the people who knew it best. Interviews with John’s brother Jim Belushi, and John’s wife, Judy Belushi are a part of this tremendous project plus conversations with Paul Shaffer, Curtis Salgado, John Landis, Steve Jordan, band members, friends, filmmakers, and cohorts. And you’ll hear a previously unheard interview with John Belushi himself.
Produced by Audible, Fresh Produce Media and Nevermind Media; Performed and narrated by Dan Aykroyd, its a story you won’t want to miss.
And if you’ve been following our website, and our year end book awards, you know that we’re huge fans of Audible, and used the platform to hear some of the greatest comedians on the planet narrate their own books.
Check out the clip below, and make sure you check out “Blue Brothers: Arc of Gratitude” now.
