Contests
Contest: Live Freaky! Die Freaky!
By Dave Dreher
Feb 16, 2006, 07:38

Haven’t seen much about this project around the net much and since the folks behind it were cool enough to send along some shirts and discs to giveaway, I would shoot it your way and make you all aware of it.

The film is called Live Freaky! Die Freaky! and it sure sounds interesting.  Here are the details:

Wellspring proudly announces the DVD release of LIVE FREAKY!  DIE FREAKY!, the outrageous stop-motion animation musical-comedy retelling of the Manson family crimes directed by John Roecker and voiced by a legion of alternative rock icons, including Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day (the band that recently swept the MTV Video Music Awards) and Rancid/Operation Ivy’s Tim Armstrong.  The film is the first from Tim Armstrong’s production company Hellcat Pictures.   

LIVE FREAKY! DIE FREAKY! gleefully pushes the boundaries of good taste as it tells the story of a young man who discovers a copy of Helter Skelter (the definitive book on the Manson killings) in the year 3069 and decides to interpret it as a biblical tome, with Charles Manson as the Messiah.  The film flashes back to 1969 and presents a hilariously debauched portrayal of Manson and his followers though the trials and tribulations of teaching the world better living through “music, murder, and mayhem.”  It is safe to say that never before has so much sex, violence, and ribald tongue-in-cheek humor appeared in a stop-motion animated production.  Paper Magazine recently called it "the most deliciously tasteless piece of filmmaking since John Waters’ PINK FLAMINGOS.” 

In addition to Billie Joe Armstrong (as the voice of the Charles Manson-inspired lead character), Tim Armstrong and the actress Asia Argento, the film features an all star alternative rock cast including Lunachick's Theo Kogan, AFI's Davey Havoc, X's John Doe, The GoGo's Jane Wiedlin, Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, and other members of Green Day, Rancid and Blink 182.  The soundtrack includes original songs performed by Billie Joe Armstrong and Jane Wiedlin.  Tim Armstrong arranged the score and the songs were written by Roddy Bottum (Faith No More/Imperial Teen).

John Roecker is the director of HEART LIKE A HAND GRENADE, a documentary about the making of Green Day's 2004 album “American Idiot” that will be released next year. He also directed DISEASE IS PUNISHMENT, a concert film about the band The Network that is out on Warner Brothers.  He is also the director of the documentary "FORMING, THE EARLY DAYS OF L.A. PUNK, as well as music videos for Exene Cervenka, Stone Fox and The Network.  Over the years, Roecker has been a constant fixture in the punk world in Los Angeles, having worked as a stylist, designer, writer, publicist, promoter and booker for numerous bands like X, Green Day, Rancid, L7, and the Go-Go’s. 

Remember Team America, well this is in that some vein.

As you can see from the above info, the film features a who’s who of vocal talent and the DVD set also comes with a bonus, the complete film soundtrack.

So, does this sound like something you might want in your DVD collection?  Well, I got 3 copies I need to hand out so send me your name and complete mailing address and I’ll see if I can’t get one in your hands.

Live Freaky! Die Freaky! hit stores on Jan. 31^st so you should be able to pick it up now at your favorite video outlet.