Sunday, September 6, 2009

Periods 1, 2, 5, 6

Ever heard of the Rock Bottom Remainders? Well, by day, they’re authors...really famous authors! But once a year they shed their pen-and-pencil clutching personas and become rock stars, complete with roadies, groupies and a wicked cool tour bus.

Amy Tan (the author of "Two Kinds" and The Joy Luck Club), Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie) and Stephen King (The Green Mile, It, and other thrillers) are just three of the famous authors in this band.

Click HERE to see a performance of RBR (with Mitch Albom singing lead).
Click HERE to see their Good Morning America interview.

For some extra points, give me some feedback on their performance and, more importantly, their interview. Tell me why you believe they made their own band, why they continue to perform, and why they wear costumes in their performances. Please also tell me the name of another author in the band and name one literary piece that person penned.

You will need to post your comment by 11 p.m. on 09/09/09. Enjoy!!!!

14 comments:

Jonathan Muñoz said...

There interview was informative, showcasing some of the authors, as funny, witty musicians and showing them to be more than just authors.I believe that they made there own band because they all wanted to be rockstars. They all want to live out the "rock-star dream". The reason they continue to perform as was stated in the video was that they enjoyed doing it after the first time and also it was a good way to raise money for charity. The reason I beleive that they wear coustumes is to be able to become different people, almost an alter ego.Another author in the band is Dave Barry, author of Escape from the Carnivale

Mabit said...

In truth, their performance was very wacky. But is was good-humered and fun. I unquestionably enjoyed the rythm of the song, it was so jumpy! I loved their interview, it was fun and their was a lot of laughter. Normally when people think of authors, they think of them as boring and quiet people. But this was totally different. They laughed and made jokes which made me warm up to them. I also saw how some of the authors we've been reading about looked, which was really cool. I believe that they made their own band, well of course fo charity. But also for them. At one point in life everyone wants to be a rock star. When they performed for the first time they loved it so much that they decide to continue. I think that they wear costumes to be funny. And to be someone totally different. Its a change for them to be someone else, to be somebody different. And a part of them that one else knows. In their performance you can see how much they love and enjoy it, they loose themselves to the music and forget about if their acting stupid or about waht people might think. And I think that it is awsome. Another author in the band is Stephen King, and one of his literary pieces is called "The Waste Lands."

Unknown said...

Their performance was something I had never seen before. Its wacky and crazy. They made the band because they were asked to perform once. They continued because the loved what they did and they would also help raise money. They wear costumes during their performances to be able to become a different person. Another author in the band is Dave Barry and a novel he wrote was "Big Trouble".

Diana Mattei
Pd. 6

Blanca Roriguez said...

In my opinion their performance was very funny and kept me laughing because I’ve never heard something like that. I think they might be a little crazy, like he says on the song :) But overall it had very eye catching lyrics and their doing it for a good cause. Which not everyone does. They have good writing talents and are using it for many things. Their interview was very nice. They seem like humble people and are so funny, with all those jokes they kept saying. Even though they don’t get paid or go on “tour” they like their band and see the other members like great people to share an experience like this with. There like little kids very sarcastic. I believe that they made their own band because , they were asked to perform once and they liked it. They might have continued to perform because, it’s a way to raise money and help others in need of it. Their costumes that they were it in their performances was different then your average band. Another name of another author in the band is “Amy tan” and one of her literary piece that she wrote is called, “The Opposite of fate.”


Blanca R.
Period # 6

MelissaPP4 said...

i feel that their performance was weird, but very funny. the rock bottom remainders are great authors who use their god-given talent not only in their books but though their music. i believe that they made their own band because they liked the first time they performed together so they continued, this is also a great way to raise money for charity. i think they wear costumes because they do not want listeners to focus on who they are but on their music. another band member would be Matt Groening,who plays the cowbells. one of his literary works is The Big Book of Hell, which is a children's book. you may also know Matt from the Simpsons because he is the creater of that great show. this explains his humor and love for the rock bottom remainders;)

melissa from period 2 & 4

Laysu said...

There performance/interview was very different then most interviews I have seen. It was entertaining because it was very funny. Tell me why you believe they made their own band- They made there own bad because they wanted to try something new. To have a bit more fun. Why they continue to perform- They continue to perform because of charity and not only charity they wanted to have experiment with music ; and just have to play a different role then just writers and after they tried it once they actually had a good time. Why they wear costumes in their performances- They really don’t state it on the video but I believe is because they want to change it bit, since the music industry is more hip-hop they wanted to give it more of a change; like witty and funny costumes. Name of another author in the band- Dave Barry. Name one literary piece- Peter and the sword of mercy.

YannelC6 said...
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YannelC6 said...

After seeing their quite interesting and funny performances, I believe that the Rock Bottom Remainders are a very unique non-profit (as if they really needed more money) band that perform to raise money for literary charities. They continue to perform (not only because of their euphonious music) but simply because they are doing it for a good cause and they have lots of fun. I think that the reason they wear costumes is to not only have fun, but also to let their audience not concentrate on who they are, but what they are doing. One of the authors in this band is Dave Barry and the literary tool he wrote is also the band's motto (and concerns my favorite band). It reads, "We play music as well as Metallica writes novels." This is (a very ironic and hilarious) simile. I have fallen absolutely in love with this "far out" band and I fervently support their causes.

PKevin5 said...

Well, as musicians, they are absolutely horrid. What I very much enjoyed about the interview is that it reflects that they are a comical, down to earth bunch despite their large fortune and success as authors. I believe they formed the band as a way to raise money for charity and do something fun and out of the norm. They probably continue to perform for the same reason they wear costumes on stage and that's because it's a fun wacky thing to do. One of the members of the band, Dave Berry, wrote Peter and the Starcatchers.

Anonymous said...

I really like the idea that so many famous authors like Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, and Steven King come together for fun, but more importantly, to do something for the benefits of others. For a whole week, they extend their time for charity, singing and performing for funds they believe are worth it. I couldn't believe that MAYA ANGELOU was also in the band!! Her most famous work in literature is I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, which is absolutely amazing!

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The band members include Dave Barry, Stephen King, Amy Tan, Maya Angelou, Cynthia Heimel, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Joel Selvin, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount Jr., Barbara Kingsolver, Robert Fulghum, Matt Groening, Tad Bartimus, Greg Iles, as well as ringers Josh Kelly on drums, and Erasmo Paulo on saxophone.

Jame said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jame said...

I think that they sounded pretty good for being authors and not musicians. What I like about them is that they enjoy playing music.I think that's why they made the band and because they could raise money to use it for good causes. This was also a good idea to keep doing the band every year. In the interview I like how they all sound like one big family and they know each other so well.One of the members of the band was Scott Turow and one of the books that he wrote was Personal Injuries.

Jame
P.6

nataliam3 said...

The rock bottom remainders is truly an exceptional Band of best selling authors who just love to perform once a year to raise money to charities and I am amazed that they have been doing these for about 15 years know. They seem as if they are somehow in their own rock and roll heaven and it feels to me like that they truthfully just take pleasure in performing their music. They look like they are having a marvelous time of their life. Whenever there performing their music it is really something. When they were in the interview they tremendously enjoyed the fans attitude towards their performances. The cause for why they made their own band is genuinely for the reason that they were asked to perform and they essentially liked it to a great extent that they were inspired to it again. They just had an excellent time and consequently that was the moment that they decided to just go on to perform mutually, in addition to that they then could raise money for charities. Furthermore I feel that the motive on behalf of them for wearing the costumes is for the explanation that they somewhat wanted to feel as real rock stars felt whenever it was that they got out there on stage and so that they then perhaps wanted to feel similar to another person so that they could behave out of their comfort zone and just go crazy and enjoy what they love to do. I simply just like the bands energy and positive things that they are doing. Another author of the band is Amy tan and she wrote “the kitchen god’s wife”.

Mrs. Rodriguez, the teacher who loves you! said...

Way to go, you guys!!!!!

I am glad so many of you decided to partake in this activity. I hope you enjoyed it. They are not great singers, but I love how they came together to do something they love (kind of like your dancing teachers in the talent show. LOL!)

Love you! Smile!