1978: One of Hollywood’s most legendary bombs opens on this day. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, loosely based on the most famous Beatles album of all time, is Robert Stigwood’s attempt to follow-up the smash success of his previous musical film, Grease.
The movie is so bad, it damages the reputations of nearly everyone involved, including the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton. Only Aerosmith, with their version of “Come Together,” emerges unscathed.
1987: 9 years later to the day, La Bamba opens and goes on to considerable success. The movie is a fictionalized account of the life and career of Richie Valens, America’s first Hispanic rock star.
Valens is played by Lou Diamond Phillips with Marshall Crenshaw appearing as Buddy Holly and Brian Setzer as Eddie Cochran.
The film’s popularity also makes the song “La Bamba” a huge hit all over again. The film’s version was performed by Los Lobos.
