Interview by Paul Salfen
DON’T TURN YOUR BACK ON FRIDAY NIGHT is on all TVOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon, and YouTube.
In this interview, legendary Executive Producer Tom Morello compares Ike Reilly to It’s a Wonderful Life‘s George Bailey, but also says he once told Ike “you are one part Leonard Cohen and one part Otis the town drunk – we are just as likely to see you at Carnegie Hall as we are to see you on an episode of Cops.”
DON’T TURN YOUR BACK ON FRIDAY was co-written and co-directed by Michael O’Brien (“ American Greed,” “The First 48: Missing Persons”), and Mike Schmiedeler (“Parole Diaries,”“Collector’s Call,”), and is a non-linear affair that goes beyond the land of typical rock documentaries. The film was five years in the making with an impressionistic approach – it melds visual media, audio, and studio recordings to subtly take the viewer to a more profound and poignant place.
“Don’t Turn Your Back On Friday Night” ingeniously explores the life and career of Ike Reilly by culling over 40 years of footage and masterfully weaving in Reilly’s songs and stories to reveal a complicated and formidable artist. From his critically acclaimed major label debut album “Salesmen And Racists” to the celebrated “Born On Fire” album whose title track was featured in Ike’s friend Chris Farley’s biopic along with interviews from Ike himself. The film includes electrifying live performances, intimate personal moments and interviews with critics, fans, family, and legendary artists including David Lowery and Johnny Hickman of the band Cracker and Rock & Roll Hall Fame inductee Tom Morello. Morello, who also serves as Executive Producer says, “Ike Reilly is kind of like a real-life version of Jimmy Stewart’s character in It’s A Wonderful Life. Ike’s path as an incredibly talented yet underappreciated heartland troubadour has taken many unexpected, hilarious, rocky, and ultimately redemptive twists and turns that are all beautifully captured in this great film.”
About IKE REILLY
From EP Tom Morello – meet former gravedigger and doorman Ike Reilly. At 40 years old he landed a major label recording contract and in true rock & roll fashion he bought his family a dream home. He took his band out on the road where they became what The New York Times called “one of the best live bands in America.” Despite 9 albums, a cult following and immense critical acclaim Reilly has not yet found widespread commercial success. Academy Award winning director James Marsh says, “Ike’s stuff sounds like it should be enormously successful and it just isn’t and I have no idea why.” Exploring Ike’s career, the film culls over 40 years of footage masterfully weaving in songs that reveal a complicated and formidable artist with an incredibly charismatic family. Struggling with booze and in the face of financial calamity, Ike finds redemption in music, art & family as his 3 sons begin performing with his band.
