Blood, Sweat & Tears venture behind the Iron Curtain in the wild new trailer for the upcoming documentary, “What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?”
As the clip establishes early on, Blood, Sweat, & Tears were briefly the biggest band in America — Grammy winners with massive hits like “Spinning Wheel.” But in 1970, at the height of their powers and the Vietnam War, the U.S. State Department enlisted the group for a tour of three Soviet-linked countries: Poland, Romania, and the former Yugoslavia. Looking like U.S. government pawns didn’t exactly endear Blood, Sweat & Tears to the counterculture that previously embraced them, and their popular standing never recovered (the tour landed at Number 7 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “Worst Decisions in Music History”).
However, the reason they agreed to the tour, guitarist-singer Steve Katz claims in the trailer, was because they were blackmailed. While the new trailer doesn’t offer any more details on that part of the story, it does tease the band’s tumultuous, surreal adventures behind the Iron Curtain — a striking mix of excited young fans and violent authoritarian crackdowns.
2021 INTERVIEWS WITH FRED
1. July 27, 2021 - Fred on Spinning Wheel
2. June 18, 2021 - Fred on You've Made Me So Very Happy
by Sid Holmes, Song Surgery
Listen to the two interviews above by Sid Holmes speaking with Fred who was the horn arranger and sax player for the multi-Grammy award winning band Blood, Sweat & Tears... the first horn-based rock/jazz band.
Sid says, “Many people don’t know that BS&T’s 1968, self-titled second album produced a trio of Billboard Top 40 hits, and won Album of the Year Grammy honors in 1969 - beating The Beatles’ Abbey Road in the process.”
"This interview was outstanding. I was probably most influenced by this band and Fred’s arrangements than any other. I know I borrow the concepts he mentions in this about certain arranging components (subconsciously). He is a true hero, to me. Huge influence. Thanks for sharing this post and interview. Great stuff." —Brad Wilcox, Trumpet/Arranger
"Man, thank you so much for sending this. It was a thrill to hear the breakdown of the arrangement, from the man himself! I really loved hearing it and I really loved hearing from you." —Will Lee, Bassist
"Excellent program. Every young or wannabe arranger should listen to this interview. It’s so inspiring. Thank you so much for sending it. I totally enjoyed it. Keep up the good work," —Artie Kaplan, Sax/Songwriter
"This interview was outstanding. I was probably most influenced by this band and Fred’s arrangements than any other. I know I borrow the concepts he mentions in this about certain arranging components (subconsciously). He is a true hero, to me. Huge influence. Thanks for sharing this post and interview. Great stuff." —Brad Wilcox, Trumpet/Arranger
"Man, thank you so much for sending this. It was a thrill to hear the breakdown of the arrangement, from the man himself! I really loved hearing it and I really loved hearing from you." —Will Lee, Bassist
"Excellent program. Every young or wannabe arranger should listen to this interview. It’s so inspiring. Thank you so much for sending it. I totally enjoyed it. Keep up the good work," —Artie Kaplan, Sax/Songwriter
ThIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ROCK DOCUMENTARIES EVER MADE!
NEW YORK TIMES
LOS ANGELES TIMES
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Fred was interviewed for the film in June 2021. See the official movie website at bstdoc.com. Watch the Trailer below: What the Hell Happened To Blood, Sweat & Tears?
BS&T MOVIE NOW PLAYING ACROSS THE USA
In June 1970, hot off their spectacular Grammy® win for Album of the Year (besting The Beatles’ “Abbey Road”), Blood, Sweat & Tears becomes the first American rock band to perform behind the Iron Curtain, doing concerts in Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland on a tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
Like much of the youth in America, band members have been outspoken and critical of the Nixon administration and the Vietnam War. The Iron Curtain Tour seems to be a curious decision by the band, which was at the very height of their popularity.
Upon their return, the band becomes a victim of the significant societal upheaval and culture wars in a polarized America, divided as much then as it is now. Political criticism typically comes from one side or the other. But in 1970, Blood, Sweat & Tears find themselves in the crossfire from both the Right AND the Left and the group suffers greatly as a result. Suddenly, they are no longer hip and cool and lose support from fans, the media, concert bookers and the recording industry.
In short, the Right is outraged by the U.S. government footing the bill for an anti-war/anti-Nixon rock band to tour overseas and refer to Blood, Sweat & Tears members as “Communists”. The Left is critical of the band for appearing to be an instrument of the U.S. government and/or the CIA.
Through documentary footage shot during the Iron Curtain tour (and thought to be lost) and present-day interviews with band members and historians, as well as the unsealing of government records, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS? unravels the details of this extraordinary year in the life of the band.
Their future was limitless. And then it all went wrong.
Fred was interviewed for the April 18, 2023 Edition of the BOSTON GLOBE: THE UNDOING OF BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS, AND THE SAX PLAYER WHO SAW IT ALL FROM THE HORN SECTION.
Fred held a Question & Answer Session after the movie Premiere at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, MA on March 28th, 29th, and 30th.
TUESDAY Q & A, March 28th
WEDNESDAY Q & A, March 29th
THURSDAY Q & A, March 30th
Additional screenings are on April 26 at The Cabot in Beverly, May 18 at Warwick Cinemas in Marblehead, and June 8 at The JPT Film + Event Center in Newport, R.I. Fred will be performing with his jazz group before the Marblehead and Newport screenings.
Below is Fred playing a solo on "Body and Soul" at the Premiere on March 28th.
Additional screenings are on April 26 at The Cabot in Beverly, May 18 at Warwick Cinemas in Marblehead, and June 8 at The JPT Film + Event Center in Newport, R.I. Fred will be performing with his jazz group before the Marblehead and Newport screenings.
Below is Fred playing a solo on "Body and Soul" at the Premiere on March 28th.
