Watch Danny Says

Danny Says is a 2015 documentary directed by Brendan Toller that chronicles the life and career of Danny Fields, a music manager and publicist who played a crucial role in the rise of several legendary rock bands in the 60s and 70s. The film features interviews with a plethora of musicians and cultural icons, including Mx Justin Vivian Bond, John Cale, Judy Collins, and Iggy Pop.

The film begins with Fields recounting his early years as a Harvard law student who dropped out to pursue work in the arts. Fields eventually found himself in New York City in the midst of the burgeoning underground music scene, working as the editor of the teen magazine Datebook. It was through his work at Datebook that Fields met The Beatles and became their publicist for their U.S. tour in 1966. From there, Fields became involved in the management of The Doors, The Stooges, and MC5, among other seminal acts.

Danny Says offers a fascinating glimpse into the cultural landscape of the 60s and 70s, as Fields recounts anecdotes about the bands he worked with and the countercultural movements that defined the era. We hear about The Doors' infamous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, in which they were instructed to change the lyrics of their hit song "Light My Fire" to avoid offending middle-class sensibilities. We also learn about the ways in which Fields helped nurture the careers of lesser-known bands like The Ramones and The Modern Lovers.

Along the way, we also learn about Fields' personal life, including his struggles with mental illness and coming out as gay in the socially conservative climate of the 60s. Through it all, Fields remains an endlessly fascinating and endearing subject, with a quick wit and encyclopedic knowledge of the music industry that makes him an ideal narrator for this story.

The film features an impressive array of archival footage and photographs, as well as new interviews with several key players in Fields' life, including Iggy Pop, who offers particularly entertaining insights into the wild and unpredictable world of The Stooges. Other interviewees include Alice Cooper, Wayne Kramer of MC5, and Jonathan Richman of The Modern Lovers.

The film also features several musical performances, including footage from The Ramones' historic show at The Roundhouse in London in 1976. The music serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring influence of the artists that Fields worked with, and the ways in which they continue to inspire generations of musicians to this day.

Ultimately, Danny Says is a deeply engaging and entertaining portrait of a true music industry legend. Through his work with some of the greatest rock bands in history, Danny Fields helped shape popular culture in profound ways, and this film does a remarkable job of capturing both the man and the era in which he lived. Whether you're a die-hard music fan or simply curious about the history of American counterculture, this documentary is a must-see.

Danny Says is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 64.