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The life of a TV superstar is pretty much non-stop—14-hour days on the set, 10 and a half months out of the year. But for Kiefer Sutherland, the star of 24, apparently that wasn’t enough. A music lover since he was a kid, Sutherland decided in 2005 to start his own record label—to work with talented artists who weren’t getting signed elsewhere. With him, he brings producer Jude Cole (whose album, I Don’t Know Why I Act This Way, is one of my old favorites—and, incidentally, it features an appearance by Sutherland).
At the ripe old age of 28, Rocco DeLuca was seen by record execs as much too old to sign. No one was willing to take a chance on him—until someone on the 24 crew heard him perform and recommended him to Kiefer. And suddenly Kiefer’s new label had their first band—Rocco DeLuca & The Burden.
In December of 2005, as DeLuca’s album is about to be released—and as 24 is about to finish taping for the holidays—Kiefer decides that it’s the perfect time for the guys to do a 14-day tour of Europe. And he’s going with them, as their tour manager. As Kiefer and the guys travel from England to Ireland to Iceland to Germany, the film documents their successes and failures—as well as their drunken antics (though not as many antics as you might expect—mostly just a lot of searching for Kiefer’s phone). In London, the crowd is unresponsive. In Dublin, Kiefer walks the streets, handing out free tickets just to fill the bar. They get locked out of venues, they get lost, they cop a rock-star attitude, and they learn a few lessons along the way (which they may or may not take to heart in the future).
Though the documentary is supposed to be all about a talented group of musicians heading to Europe for the first time and playing for audiences that will (they hope) become fans, it’s no surprise that Kiefer steals the show. After all, the guy’s a superstar. When he walks down the streets of Dublin (with a camera crew), people pay attention. When he calls a radio station to try to get some press for his band, no one’s going to say no. And, besides that, he’s just plain fun to watch—especially when he’s tackling Christmas trees. Along the way, he also talks a lot—about his childhood, his family, and about all the lessons he’s learning about himself during the experience. And while I wouldn’t mind if the editors had cut down a bit on the Sutherland Monologues, they’re interesting nonetheless.
DVD special features include three Rocco DeLuca & The Burden music videos, as well as another of Kiefer’s press trips—this time, in Japan over Thanksgiving—on which Rocco tagged along.
The mix of good music, Sutherland’s observations, and the behind-the-scenes look at real musicians on the road makes for an entertaining rockumentary. If you’re a fan of Sutherland, you’ll love it—and you might just fall in love with Rocco DeLuca and the guys in the process.
