Bang! The Bert Berns Story to Premiere at SXSW

NEW YORK - March 4, 2015 - The documentary Bang! The Bert Berns Storywill have its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on Friday, March 11.

This premiere is just the latest chapter of an incredible renaissance over the last few years for the songwriter, producer and record label chief, who died in 1967 but has left an indelible mark on music history. Berns recently entered Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a 2016 Ahmet Ertegun Award Lifetime Achievement Inductee. His biography Here Comes The Night was released in 2014 to widespread critical acclaim, and that same year the musical Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story had a world premiere Off-Broadway at the Pershing Square Signature Center. The musical is planned to open on Broadway for the 2016-17 season.

Synopsis

Music meets the Mob in this biographical documentary, narrated by Steven Van Zandt, about the life and career of Bert Berns, the most important songwriter and record producer from the sixties that you never heard of. His hits include "Twist and Shout", "Hang On Sloopy", "Here Comes The Night" and "Piece Of My Heart." He helped launch the careers of Van Morrison and Neil Diamond and produced some of the greatest soul music ever made. Filmmaker Brett Berns brings his late father's story to the screen with interviews with those who knew him best and rare performance footage. Included in the film are interviews with Ronald Isley, Ben E. King, Solomon Burke, Van Morrison and Paul McCartney. The film was directed by Brett Berns and Bob Sarles, a documentary filmmaker and Emmy nominated editor.

Showtimes

3/11, 5:30PM Stateside Theatre, 719 Congress Ave

3/15, 7:15PM Topfer Theatre at ZACH, 1510 Toomey Rd

3/18, 11AM Topfer Theatre at ZACH, 1510 Toomey Rd

Find out more about the screening here and learn more about Bert Berns at www.bertberns.com

About Bert Berns

Bert Berns was one of the great originals of the golden age of rhythm and blues. He first flourished under the encouragement of Atlantic Records' Jerry Wexler, but Berns quickly developed into one of the leading record men of his day. He produced historic rhythm and blues records such as "Cry To Me" by Solomon Burke, "Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters and "Twist and Shout" by the Isley Brothers.

Credits

Director: Brett Berns, Bob Sarles

Executive Producer: Sid Ganis

Producer: Michael B Borofsky, Brooks Arthur, Leo Feroleto

Cinematographer: Aaron Medick, Gil Gilbert

Editor: Bob Sarles

Sound Designer: James LeBrecht, Berkeley Sound Artists

Music: Barry Goldberg, Joshua Meltzer

Additional Credits: Narrator: Steven Van Zandt, Narration written by: Joel Selvin, Producer, Story Editor: Christina Keating, Second Unit Director: Craig Spirko, Second Unit Producer: Julee Marguiles Metz, Video Post Production: Jesse Spencer, Graphics and Animation: Steve Ogden, Sound Design: James LeBrecht

Principal Cast: Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Ronald Isley, Solomon Burke, Ben E. King, Jeff Barry, Cissy Houston, Mike Stoller, Carmine "Wassel" DeNoia, Ilene Berns