Product Details

• Actors: The Knack
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: April 23, 2002
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000639GI
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,252 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Funhouse is the visual companion to the Knack CD of the same name. The track listing is similar, with the exception of "It's Not Me," which replaces the Doors cover. A character named Jimmy Lemonjello (Doug Fieger in disguise)--a cross between Ed Sullivan and disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer--introduces the band. They perform in front of a live studio audience and rip through highlights from their extensive repertoire, drawing mostly from their multiplatinum 1979 debut, Get the Knack, with little interruption (just a few set and costume changes). The effect is somewhat akin to that of a 1960s music show like Shindig or Hullabaloo, and they really don't look or sound much different from how they did in the 1970s (despite a few lineup changes). Wisely, they save the best--"My Sharona"--for next-to-last and wrap things up with an upbeat rocker, "(Havin' a) Rave Up." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Funhouse is a one of a kind retro fantasy. Hosted be the "legendary Jimmy Lemenjello," this unique concert transports you to a live television show somewhere from the past that never existed--but does now. The Knack performs all of their hits as well as songs from their new album, "Normal As the Next Guy." Taped in front of a live audience in Long Beach, California, on August 18th, 2001, this program will set the new standard for live concerts to follow. Thrill to the incredible energy of The Knack's live performances, laughs at the wild hi jinks from Jimmy Lemenjello, and most of all have fun. Songs: Pop Is Dead, Baby Talks Dirty, Oh Tara, Can I Borrow a Kiss, Another Lousy Day in Paradise, Good Girls Don't, One Day at a Time, It's Not Me, Siamese Twins (The Monkey and Me), Harder on You, Sweet Dreams, Seven Days of Heaven, That's What the Little Girls Do, My Sharona, (Havin' a) Rave Up.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Love the Knack, but Not This, June 10, 2002

By	C. Iannone "Rocketman" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was disappointed with this DVD. I could not get past the cheesy production, poor lip-sync and the overall ho hum feeling of this performance. Let me say that I am a big Knack fan from the late 70's and was looking forward to another performance video to add to my collection. I think what the band was trying to do was a send off of the British 60's variety shows such as Ready, Steady Go..and that would explain the bad lip sync. In short, groups used to re-record their songs and then lip to these recordings because of union rules about playing records on television in the 60's in the UK. The problem, is that the modern production takes away from that feeling. Each member playing on a separate ministage limits interaction among the group members. Also, the moderator could have been done away with. Why didn't the band just do a live compliation video of performances? The main problem with the "Fun House" is that there is no fun. The audience looks as if they are on xanax. Comparing this to the Carnegie Hall video...well you really can't so I won't go there.

On the bright side, the song selection is quite good and Doug F's guitars are AMAZING. What is that...a new Epiphone Casino with the Bigsby tailpiece? Yummy. And the Harrison '64 Rick 12 string will jingle jangle you out of your seat, not to mention the (new?) Gretch Tennessean, Yee Haw. How about the Gibson J 160 E, Lennon/Harrison would be proud!

Overall I'd rather have this than not, but I wish that the concept was played out more cleanly and that there were more extras. By the way the discography on the DVD is incomplete, for some reason it omits "Zoom"(!?!).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible live performance!, April 23, 2002

By	Jeffrey L. McGraw (Manchester, MO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

if youve never seen the knack in person here is the next best thing. they are excellent musicians and there songs have incredible hooks! most people only remember "My Sharona", but the knack have dozens of other great songs.....i highly recommend this dvd to all fans and anyone into good power pop music!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Serious Fun music, not for the overly serious, June 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Knack - Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Fun House [VHS] (VHS Tape)

There seem to be a lot of so-called "experts" reviewing this DVD that
A) didn't see the actual DVD, they saw it broadcast on satelite TV, which had extra interviews not on the DVD,
B) don't "GET" the Knack and their attempt at recreating in a hokey way the shindig/hullaboo type TV shows of their childhood ala the beatles on Ed Sullivan COMPLETE with stark lighting and cheesy staging. This is typical, since many so-called 'critics' didn't 'get the knack' in the first place. The 1st album, including "my sharona", was a concept album written from the point of view of a 16 y/o boy.
C) don't play an instrument and appreciate how hard it is to nail it perfectly, especially when singing! If all Doug Fieger needs is 10 seconds of dubbed corrections out of 13 or so songs, that's pretty impressive.

To them, someone needs to say, "It was all done tongue in cheek, you guys! As a 16 y/o when that first knack album came out, I can attest to its accuracy in terms of what was important to and in the mindset of a 16 y/o in 1979.

I did notice the OCCASIONAL synching problem with the vocals only, but from what I read most "live" concert videos do this, going back and fixing weak spots. Actually, on most, they overdub the lead guitar a lot too, and Berton Averre seems to be so good they didn't need to do this, at least not to a noticeable degree. Also, some of the video special effects (split screens, slow motion, etc) required re-snyching the video with the audio, so that might have caused some of the problems.

Anyone who says the Knack can't play or sing or who leaves the impression this was some sort of lip-synched forgery is way off base. Their multi-platinum debut Album, GET THE KNACK, was recorded live in the studio with minor extra tracks for backing vocals and solos, etc, for just $18,000 in a few days. Try getting any modern era act to do that! They made their reputation playing clubs, these guys can play.

I could have done without the awkward and overly brief Jimmy Lemonjello character as well, but it was no big deal. The lack of extra features or interviews was my biggest disappointment in this DVD. The guitar/bass mix was fine. Geez, it's live, not a studio recording. Most live acts are a thump of bass and a badly played guitar scratching in the background. I heard every note lead Guitarist Berton Averre played and could follow the bass line easily. Drummer "Holmes Jones" was fantastic, with a hard hitting, energetic style. I've never seen anyone twirl sticks in between beats and play at the same time like that! He looks like a mad Bethoveen at the piano. Other than a slightly too-fast riff on My Sharona, he was great.

There are a lot of Knack haters out there, but then again there are a lot of pretentious people who see paint splashed on a canvas and call it modern art, so keep that in mind. Sometimes you just want to have fun listening to music. The Knack is all about having fun.