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Average Customer Review
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Trials & Tribulations of Rock & Roll Bands, September 3, 2004
Wow! That pulsating, gyrating infectious 45 of Richard and the Young Lions "Open up your door" that I bought as a kid in the summer of 1966, and that had HIT written all over the Philips record label, now has a DVD story behind the song and the band?
Okay, well learning something, anything, about this band from my home state, that recorded one of my all time favorite records that shoulda been a #1 national hit, was enough incentive for me to have to get the Richard & the Young Lions documentary.
I wondered though, why would there be a documentary on a group that never had a top 40 national hit? Who would even care?
Well truth be told that the documentary not only told the story of Richard and the Young Lions, their incredible 45's, and why Richard & the Young Lions got robbed out of a top 10 hit, but the story should also be mandatory viewing for all aspiring bands.
The story of Richard & the Young Lions is probably the story of so many groups that never realized their commercial appeal due to label mismanagement, or simply poor management.
"Out of Our Dens" has done a fantastic job of researching and gathering photos, surveys, posters, along with presenting interviews of current and former band members.
The story is factual but yet funny. You can laugh, and you can cry. When it's all over, you will know so much more about those cool 45's released by Richard and the Young Lions. You will know what it's like to be in a rock & roll band!
Dave Rave-XM Radio
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Lion Hearted, August 24, 2004
If you were fortunate enough, as I was, to see Richard & the Young Lions perform before Richard (Howard) Tepp passed away this past June, then you know what a powerful rock & roll show these guys could put on. Few bands I've seen--and I've seen a lot--could conjure up as much enthusiasm and sheer joy in an audience as RYL. If you haven't had the opportunity to see them play live, but you've heard them on the Nuggets Box Set or are a fan of "authentic" rock & roll, then I urge you to pick up this DVD. You'll get a sense of what they sounded like live, although it doesn't compare to actually being there, and you'll be told an interesting story as well.
At the risk of sounding too sentimental -- these guys have heart, and it comes through in the music.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
A powerful story, well told, August 25, 2004
I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary. It is a powerful story, well told. The point -- that this music that RYL made together was strong enough, even after 30 years(!) to pull them back together and to get the ailing Richard Tepp out of bed in the morning, to keep him going and to make him willing to drive long distances just to play -- is very evident.
Director James Hannon's own love for the music and respect for RYL is also palpable in the way the story is told.
I love all the interviews; Hannon seems particularly adept at pulling vivid memories and sparkling stories from his subjects. Lenny Kaye, in particular, is so ON when interviewed for "Out Of Our Dens"! Kaye's insightful comments lend the movie a degree of oomph, clout and credibility.
Richard Tepp's untimely death just after completion of this film adds poignancy to the scenes of the reunited band joyfully resuming their 30-year-interrupted musical conversation.
For a real story of underdogs who get bad breaks left and right but simply refuse to give up, you just can't beat "Out Of Our Dens." An impressive directorial debut for James Hannon!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
NJ Filmmaker Documents Richard & The Young Lions, August 23, 2004
This documentary is about a New Jersey band, Richard & The Young Lions. Heard of them? They had a huge hit in 1967 called Open Up Your Door, and it's featured on the Nuggets CD box set.
The DVD includes interviews with Steve Van Zandt and Lenny Kaye, producer of the Nuggets collection--and you _must_ see the "interrupted" interview with Little Steven that's included as an extra on the DVD!
It is quite bittersweet that Howard "Richard" Tepp passed away on June 17, 2004, just before the release of the movie. He's in it, too, along with all of the other members of the band.
There are seven remaining members of the band and they have a new CD coming out. These guys are real MUSICIANS. They had some misfortunes in the music business, got on with their lives, then came back 35 years later to play again in front of audiences--and they have a loyal following.
This is the main appeal of the film: Rock'n'Roll never dies!
I did a search and came up with the band's official site:
http://www.richardandtheyounglions.com
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Better Than Spinal Tap, April 18, 2006
Man, what a little gem of a movie. Just like Spinal Tap, with the added bonus of being true!
No, really. This is a serious documentary about an unjustly forgotten band, Richard and the Young Lions. Those who remember the Lions from back in the day will need to see this movie, of course, but anyone who has ever bashed away in a garage band should see it also. The real truth that those people learn is that there are a thousand times more great bands than great famous bands. You have to be hardworking, talented, cute, AND lucky to be famous, and RYL could only manage three of those four.
James Hannon did a fine job on this movie. Rather than resort to camera tricks and put an egotistical directorial stamp, Hannon underplays like a pro, letting the musicians themselves tell the story with a minimum of fuss. However, his skillful weaving of hard-to-find video and audio history into the interviews enhances both, and makes the whole thing flow like buttah.
Anyone who knows that the real joy of rock and roll is in the playing of it should see this movie.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Intriguing!, March 4, 2006
Recommended to me by a friend and found this totally intriguing! The story behind the band is fascinating, and makes you want to look deeper and find out all you can. The interviews are uncensored and in depth, and the music takes you on a wild ride! It's funny and sad, and what I like best is that it's REAL! This is a Superb video that I would tell everyone to run and buy it now!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
NJ Garage Band Makes it Big..., July 4, 2005
Not quite. Not because they weren't talented but because they were misrepresented & mismanaged. RYL could play very nicely with all of the #1 hit music from 1966. Fortunatly the band reunited and played together again, 30 years later. James Hannon has created a tribute to Howard "Richard" Tepp that will ensure RYL does not fall into obscurity.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Lionize It!!!!!, August 24, 2004
Who is Richard and the Young Lions? That's the first thing that popped into my head. I've always been a sucker for movies like "Almost Famous" and such, so, I figured, what the heck.
After watching it I realized that I've heard the "Open Up Your Door" song before at the "Life Is Good Pumpkin Fest" in Portland, ME up where I go to college. I'm sure it wasn't the same guys but that song really gets stuck in your head.
The documentary was awesome, what can I say. I really liked when they talked about Cobo Hall when they were playing and they were one of the top bands--just the Temptations were playing after them. It's the kind of moment you always dream about being in, especially if you're one of those people that has sung in the shower or played the air-guitar. I also like when Louie talks about what got thrown at him...he mentions panties and just the way he says it makes you laugh.
The story gives you hope, even though I found out that Richard has passed away, they're still making it happen. If nothing else it shows how strong the bond of friendship is, as well as, and most importantly: you should have no regrets.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Overdue Documentary of Under-acknowledged Group and Music Genre, January 14, 2007
I grew up in Detroit during the 60s and listened to CKLW from Windsor, Canada, from which I first heard the band Richard and the Young Lions, and got my first exposure to the 'garage band' music genre. I have to say that with so much emphasis that has been given in documentaries to Motown, Rock, Soul/R&B, and all the other West and East Coast styles of popular music, past and present, it was so refreshing to see a historical account of the contribution of at least one great band, RYL, to the garage band music style, what it was like to be a bunch of young, suburban white guys during a climb to fame in entertainment, and what the music scene was like in the Mid-West/East Coast regions! Thanks to the producers of this endearing and entertaining video.
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Quite an achievement for the band and the producer, March 17, 2009
I had never heard of Richard and the Young Lions until a young man named James Hannon joined a website I post on and mentioned that he was making a documentary. For the next several years, I and the others on the site lived with his efforts and his tribulations regarding RYL, as we came to call the project, encouraging him all the way.
Then the documentary came out, and "Richard" died. Very sad and bittersweet.
Then five years passed before I was able to actually watch the DVD, which I had gotten soon after it was available. I am sure James was pissed at me, even though he was too much of a gentleman to say anything. So, this review is long overdue. I hope James will see this and forgive me for tardiness.
Because this is a very good documentary, both from a film standpoint and from a musical standpoint. I enjoyed watching it and I learned from it, a sure hallmark of a good thing in my book. I only wish Howard Tepp could have lived to go on, but life is what happens, etc.. All of the interviews are well done and the sensitive handling of the subject matter is impressive.
I understand that James Hannon is working on another documentary. I hope to see that one when it comes out. I am sure that it will be excellent, given how good this maiden effort is.
Well done!
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