Mia Patel
The Blues Brothers is a musical comedy film released in 1980. One of the movie's famous scenes involves the main characters, Jake and Elwood Blues, performing in a bar behind a chicken wire screen. The audience throws bottles at the band, which the chicken wire prevents from hitting them. This scene has sparked discussions about whether such installations were common in bars to protect bands from rowdy audiences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Movie | The Blues Brothers |
| Year | 1980 |
| Plot point | The band plays behind chicken wire in a country bar |
| Purpose of chicken wire | Protection for the performers against thrown objects |
| Objects thrown | Beer bottles, beer, wet paper towels, beer-soaked bread, tofu, raviolis, tomatoes, cabbage, limes, pennies |
| Real-life occurrence | Yes, in bars and joints in the mid-'60s, 70's, and 2002 |
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What You'll Learn
- The chicken wire was to protect the band from objects being thrown at them
- The chicken wire was also to protect the band from violent customers
- The chicken wire was to separate the band from the audience
- The chicken wire was to provide a degree of protection for performers
- The chicken wire was to protect the band's equipment from damage
The chicken wire was to protect the band from objects being thrown at them
The 1980 film The Blues Brothers features a scene where the band plays at a bar behind a screen of chicken wire. In the scene, the crowd throws bottles and other objects at the band. The chicken wire serves as protection for the band, shielding them from the objects being thrown. This depiction of a band playing behind chicken wire in a bar is also seen in the 1980 film Roadhouse.
The scene in The Blues Brothers has become iconic, with fans discussing it online and even a bar in Austin, Beerland, turning it into a monthly show. Some viewers have questioned the accuracy of this portrayal, wondering if bars truly installed chicken wire to protect bands from unruly patrons. While it may be an exaggeration for comedic effect in the film, there are accounts of similar occurrences in real-life bars, indicating that it is not purely Hollywood fabrication.
The chicken wire scene in The Blues Brothers adds a layer of comedy to the film, showcasing the band's determination to perform despite the less-than-enthusiastic response from the crowd. It also provides a visual representation of the band's impact on the audience, whether positive or negative. The use of chicken wire as a protective barrier allows the band to continue performing uninterrupted, creating a dynamic and entertaining scene.
The depiction of chicken wire in The Blues Brothers and similar films has sparked discussions about the reality of such setups in bars. While it may be an exaggeration for comedic or dramatic effect, it captures the essence of rowdy bar environments and the potential dangers bands may face when performing in certain venues. The scene's popularity has endured, with fans recalling it fondly and even replicating the concept in modern times, paying homage to the classic film.
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The chicken wire was also to protect the band from violent customers
In the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, there is a scene where the band plays at a country bar behind chicken wire. The audience throws beer bottles and other objects at them. This depiction of chicken wire in the film is to provide the performers with protection from violent customers.
Chicken wire was often used in bars to protect performers from violent customers. For example, a drummer kept a shotgun in one of his trap cases, and a guitarist recalled how their Telecaster guitar took a hit from a stray flying beer bottle and still held its tune. In another instance, a band walked out on a job because a penny was thrown through the top of a Gibson L-5 guitar.
Chicken wire was also used to protect the audience from objects thrown by the performers. For example, a bar in Austin, Texas, called Beerland, has a monthly show where they put up a chicken wire cage and invite bands to play at the mercy of the crowd. The crowd throws various objects at the bands, such as beer, wet paper towels, beer-soaked bread, tofu, raviolis, tomatoes, cabbage, and limes.
Chicken wire was also used in bars to create a "dive bar" atmosphere. Entertainers just starting out or at the end of their careers would frequent these bars as they had few other options.
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The chicken wire was to separate the band from the audience
The chicken wire in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers was to separate the band from the audience. In the film, the band plays at a country bar behind chicken wire, and the audience throws beer bottles and other objects at them. This was a common occurrence in "dive bars" or "rough" bars, where entertainers at the beginning or end of their careers would perform.
Chicken wire was installed in bars to provide a degree of protection for performers against objects being thrown by the audience. While it didn't protect against everything, it could stop smaller items like pennies, and a well-placed guitar could withstand a hit from a beer bottle. The chicken wire also didn't protect the audience; that was the job of a bouncer.
Chicken wire gigs were common in the 1960s and 1970s, with one bar in Bridgeton, New Jersey, called "The Chicken Coop," known for having chicken wire protection across the stage. These types of bars were often depicted in 1980s movies like The Blues Brothers and Road House, and while they have become rarer, some bars still hold events with chicken wire separating the band from the audience, like Beerland in Austin, Texas.
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The chicken wire was to provide a degree of protection for performers
In the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers, there is a scene in which the band plays at a country bar behind chicken wire. The audience throws beer bottles and other objects at the band, who are protected by the chicken wire screen.
Chicken wire installations were not uncommon in bars and music venues in the past, particularly in "rough" bars or dive bars. These venues were often frequented by entertainers just starting out or at the end of their careers, as they had few other options. The chicken wire served as a degree of protection for these performers in rowdy environments.
One person recounted playing in a bar in the 1960s as a 16-year-old musician and hiding behind the bass when fights broke out among the crowd. Another recalled playing in a similar venue in the 1970s and having to pack up their gear quickly due to an impending fight. These anecdotes demonstrate the necessity of the chicken wire protection in such establishments.
Chicken wire gigs, as they were known, provided an opportunity for bands to earn money and gain experience, even if it meant facing unruly audiences. While the chicken wire offered some protection, it was not always sufficient, and performers still risked injury from objects thrown or hurled during fights.
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The chicken wire was to protect the band's equipment from damage
In the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers, there is a scene in which the band plays at a country bar behind chicken wire. The audience throws beer bottles and other objects at the band because they think they are terrible musicians. The chicken wire serves as protection for the band's equipment, preventing damage from the objects being thrown at them.
Chicken wire was commonly used in bars and music venues to protect performers from rowdy crowds. While it was not intended to protect against attacks, it did provide a degree of safety for musicians by stopping objects like beer bottles from hitting them directly. This practice was particularly common in "dive bars" or "rough" bars, often frequented by entertainers at the beginning or end of their careers.
One person recalled playing in a bar in the 1960s that had chicken wire strung across the stage to protect the band. Fights would break out, and the band members would hide behind their instruments while the chicken wire shielded them from any flying objects. Another individual shared an experience from the 1970s, where they played in a bar with chicken wire and had to abruptly end their performance due to a fight that resulted in a fatality.
Chicken wire gigs were known for being unpredictable, with bands facing the possibility of objects, including bottles, pennies, and even bullets, being thrown at them. While these performances could be dangerous, they were also memorable and provided unique experiences for both the musicians and the audience.
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Frequently asked questions
In the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, the band plays at a country bar behind chicken wire, protecting them from objects being thrown by the crowd.
In the film, the crowd throws beer bottles at the band.
The crowd in the film throws bottles because they think the band is bad.
Yes, chicken wire was used in bars to provide a degree of protection for performers against thrown objects.
Chicken wire installations in bars have become rare, but they do still exist.
