Jonathan Demme: 1944 - 2017

Musician Neil Young and Director Jonathan Demme - 2012
Photo by Victoria Will/AP
(Click photo to enlarge)
Film Director Jonathan Demme has passed away at age 73.

Jonathan Demme and Neil Young have had a long and highly productive relationship over the years.



Both Bruce Springsteen and Young were nominated for Academy Award nomination in 1994 for Best Song in a film for Jonathan Demme's "Philadelphia". Bruce's nominated song was the film opening "Streets of Philadelphia" and Neil's was the closing title track "Philadelphia".

Bruce Springsteen won the Oscar award for his song "Streets of Philadelphia". In his acceptance speech, Springsteen acknowledged Young and said that the award really deserved to be shared by the other nominee's song.

Demme directed Neil Young and Crazy Horse's Complex Sessions which masterfully captures the group in all their power and beauty.

Recorded at the Complex Studios in Los Angeles, where Neil Young and Crazy Horse had recorded Sleeps With Angels, director Jonathan Demme filmed them performing four songs from the album. Shot over two nights on Oct. 3-4, 1994, the 30-minute video contains "My Heart," "Prime Of Life," "Change Your Mind," and "Piece Of Crap."

Jonathan Demme Talks Neil Young



Some new info on Jonathan Demme's upcoming film "Neil Young Journey".

Looks like there will be a soundtrack CD with new songs and the holdup with the "Trunk Show" release seems to be Warners.

From TIFF: Jonathan Demme Talks Neil Young - Thompson on Hollywood by Anne Thompson:

But the director [Demme] wanted to shoot more than a concert doc, so he took Young on the road in his 1956 Ford Crown Victoria from his home town of Omemee, Ontario to Toronto. “He makes me think of what wandering troubadors must have been like,” says Demme. “Like a Shakespeare company going around with new material by the same author. He has an amazing team of people who make it possible.

He’s an authentic creator, confident performing; he doesn’t censor himself.”

The WB CD for Neil Young Journeys with three new songs should be out before the end of the year. Eight songs are from the Daniel Lanois-produced Le Noise album, and six are reworkings of classic songs.

[Regarding Trunk Show release] Warners has yet to release the DVD. “It’s frustrating,” Demme says.

Jonathan Demme on "Prairie Wind"


Jonathan Demme and Neil Young
Director Jonathan Demme's film on Neil Young "Heart of Gold" premieres at Sundance Film Festival.



Trunk Show by Jonathan Demme to Premiere at SxSW

Jonathan Demme interview on Neil Young Trunk Show film at Toronto Film Festival in September, 2009. The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival announced that Jonathan Demme will premiere his new Neil Young performance film, Neil Young Trunk Show, on Saturday, March 21, at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas. Neil Young Trunk Show was filmed over two nights at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia, PA in December 2007 which we had the privilege of attending. More on the Trunk Show concerts in Philadelphia. More on Jonathan Demme and Neil Young: - Unscripted Interview: Demme & Young - Director Jonathan Demme on "Prairie Wind"/Heart of Gold film - "Heart of Gold" Premieres at Sundance Film Festival - The Complex Sessions: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Directed by Jonathan Demme - Jonathan Demme and Neil Young (Search) More Jonathan Demme and Neil Young, Sleeps With Angels reviews, and "Change Your Mind" lyrics analysis. More on Jonathan Demme and Neil Young collaborations. The New Yorker Demme & Young Interview: "Hating the Audience" Developing....

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