John Belushi Hits Back at Blues Brothers Critics in Never-Before-Heard Interview

A never-before-heard interview with John Belushi from 1979 gives some new perception into how the late, nice Saturday Night time Stay star and comedy icon felt about criticisms that had been leveled on the musical comedy The Blues Brothers on the time. Coming as a part of the Audible audio documentary “Blues Brothers: The Arc of Gratitude,” and through EW, the interview was carried out by music critic Steve Bloom three years earlier than Belushi’s loss of life and finds the actor addressing the disapproval over the film capitalizing on a style so carefully tied with African-American tradition and Black artists.

In his response, Belushi largely rejects such criticisms, reasoning that the “folks watching me perceive why I do it, and the band members do.”

“It’s simply bizarre, ? Why would I do these items? The folks watching me perceive why I do it, and the band members do. The opposite folks — there’s a specific amount of jealousy, I feel, concerned…. Why do I do what I do? To begin with, it has nothing to do with ego, it has nothing to do with cash, , or the have to be liked by an viewers. I don’t have any of these emotions.”

Bloom then tries to ask Belushi one other query, however the comic can’t assist however share extra ideas on the accusations, hitting again a lot tougher towards The Blues Brothers critics.

“What the f— do these folks suppose I’m, anyway? I can’t f—in’ perceive why they might assault — see, after they assault me, they assault the band, and I hate after they assault the band, as a result of then it makes them appear to be schmucks for doing what they did for me.”

“That’s not the aim of the Blues Brothers!”

Following this response, Bloom then gives extra context across the criticisms saying, “Properly, to be trustworthy with you, I feel they had been attacking you.” After including that “there’s an extended line of instances the place white musicians play Black music and generate profits whereas the Black musicians don’t make the cash,” Belushi sounds offended by the suggestion and continues to vehemently defend himself and his method to each The Blues Brothers film and his appearances because the characters on Saturday Night time Stay.

“That’s not the aim of the Blues Brothers! I say on the report, ‘Purchase as many blues information as you’ll be able to.’ [I] introduce my band, which is rarely accomplished. I share the stage with every member of the group, which is rarely accomplished. I’ve, Danny Akyroyd, , all of us cut up all the things proper down the center, I give the folks, artists components of the album. I’m placing them in a film, ? No one believes me! I’m not f—in’ improbable, however that’s not the purpose!”

The Blues Brothers follows Jake (John Belushi) and his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) who, in an try to save lots of the orphanage they grew up in, get their outdated band again collectively. The film is now thought-about a cult comedy traditional and has since grow to be a staple of late-night cinema.