HIRED GUN
THE ULTIMATE FILM ABOUT THE MUSICIANS
BEHIND YOUR FAVORITE ALBUMS!
“I used to watch Behind the Music, and the beauty and appeal of that show was you could peel back a layer and find out what really happens behind the scenes. Thats the essence of a great documentary… its about seeing something for the first time, or hearing stories for the first time that you weren’t supposed to hear when it was happening, and that is the starting point for Hired Gun.”
– Jason Hook (Five Finger Death Punch, Alice Cooper)
We’ve heard them perform at concerts and on countless recordings. They are the “First Call, A-list” musicians, the go-to players standing in the shadows of our favorite stars on stage and backing them up in the studio. They are an indispensable part of every performance but who are they really? What makes them tick? Why do some succeed while others fail? This is the story of the talented musicians who stand next to the spotlight. To tell their story, an Indiegogo campaign has been started – at http://igg.me/at/hiredgun. We hope that music fans everywhere will help us focus the spotlight squarely in their direction.
“I never wanted to be a rockstar, I always said I want to be a session guy…”
– John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Filter, Rob Zombie)
Hired Gun is a compelling film about the dynamic personalities and creative genius of the best session players and back up musicians in the world. Covering artists ranging from Pianist/Harpist Corky Hale who has played with Liberace, Tony Bennet and Frank Sinatra, to heavy metal guitarist John 5 who has played with Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson and David Lee Roth. Collectively, they are a group that possess uncommon musical ability and an uncanny knack for being able to deliver a great performance time and again. Unlike other films that have tried to provide us with a glimpse into the world of musicians, Hired Gun delivers far more. Director Fran Strine has gained unparalleled access into the lives and homes of these artists.
“I didn’t want to side guy anymore, But how do you say no to Bon Jovi?!”
– Phil X (Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne)
The film is the brain child of Multi-platinum guitarist and songwriter Jason Hook (Five Finger Death Punch, Alice Cooper), award winning documentarian,Fran Strine (Dolly Parton: Live in London, Battlefield of the Mind) and decorated music manager/producer Jamie Talbot (Sunset Strip, Radio Caroline) who have joined forces to tell a compelling story of world renown players that are not household names. Hook who has spent his life playing guitar, is actually a living, breathing example of a ‘HIRED GUN” who made it and now stands on his own merits as a partner in one of the world’s biggest heavy metal acts, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH. Before landing in 5FDP he had stints with pop superstars Mandy Moore and Hilary Duff, Motley Crue vocalist Vince Neil, and hall of fame icon Alice Cooper. Director Strine is coming off award winning documentaries on STAIND, DOLLY PARTON and the effects of PTSD on returning soldiers in “BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND.” Producer Talbot was involved with SUNSET STRIP, another award winning doc on the history of the world’s most famous street as well as RADIO CAROLINE due out spring 2015, based on the English Pirate Radio ships of the 60s.