Odds & Ends: Bob Dylan, Alan Jackson, and ‘Golden Gods’

A Brazilian outfit has snagged the rights to turn one of Bob Dylan’s albums into a film; a small Virginia town aimed big and won an Alan Jackson concert; and the Grammy Museum plans to rock you with its tribute to heavy metal.

Tangled Up In Film

When Bob Dylan’s 1975 album Blood On the Tracks was released, there was plenty of Hollywood chatter depicting various companies looking to create a film based on the disc. But in a town fueled by talk, the idea of basing a flick on songs like “Tangled Up In Blue,” “Shelter From The Storm” and “Idiot Wind” never moved past the gossip stage.

However, a Brazilian company isn’t just talking about creating a film based on Blood On The Tracks, but has actually taken the first step to turn the concept into a reality. RT Features has acquired the rights to Dylan’s work that Rolling Stone rated as the 16th greatest album of all time, Variety reports.

“As longtime admirers of one of the greatest albums in the history of music, we feel privileged to be making this film,”” RT Features’ Rodrigo Teixeira said. “Our goal is to work with a filmmaker who can create a classic drama with characters and an environment that capture the feelings that the album inspires in all fans.”

Photo: AP Photo
17th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, Calif.

Currently moving into English-speaking films, RT Features’ credits include Portuguese-language flicks “Romeo and Juliet Get Married,” “Drained” and “The Silver Cliff.”

Small Town, Big Goals

Evidently no town is too small to host an Alan Jackson concert. Just ask the folks in Mineral, Va., population 490.

Although the total number of folks living in Mineral probably wouldn’t fill up most of the venues Jackson usually plays, the town received more than 31,000 votes in a national campaign to decide which community would win a concert by the country star.

Why Mineral? The town was hit hard last August by a rare eastern U.S. earthquake that heavily damaged three of the six schools in the country and collapsed the roof on Mineral’s town hall. Jackson’s concert, scheduled for May 20 in the parking lot of the Louisa County High School will raise money for the Louisa Education Foundation’s efforts to rebuild the Louisa County High School.

Tickets are currently on sale. Click here for more information.

Grammy Museum Bows Down To ‘Golden Gods’

Grammy’s relationship with heavy metal has been sort of hit-and-miss over the years. In 1989 the very first Grammy for best hard rock/metal performance went to the very non-metal Jethro Tull for the group’s 1987 effort Crest Of A Knave, beating out Metallica, AC/DC, Jane’s Addiction and Iggy Pop for the honor.

In an alliance with Revolver magazine, the Grammy Museum’s “Golden Gods: The History Of Heavy Metal” begins April 11, the same day Revolver’s annual Golden Gods awards show takes place next door at Club Nokia at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

What can you expect from the Grammy Museum’s take on metal? Exhibits include handwritten lyrics and sketches by Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister; wardrobe pieces from bands such as Black Sabbath and Gwar; and stage props plus several guitars, concert posters, tour books and memorabilia.

Photo: David Conger / DavidConger.com
ShoWare Center, Kent, Wash.

Then will also be an interactive “scream booth” which the Grammy Museum describes as “designed to introduce metal vocal technique.”

“Golden Gods: The History Of Heavy Metal” runs at the Grammy Museum from April 11 through Feb. 13, 2013. Click here for more information.