Bob Seger got cut out for Bruce. - Mask (1985) Discussion

[–] MuchToBeGratefulFor 8 years ago

Actually the director's intention was to have Springsteen music in the film, because the real Rocky was a huge Bruce fan. While he was on vacation the studio swapped out the music to put in Seger, just to save money. Rocky didn't know who Bob Seger was, according to his mother. So it was Bruce who got cut out for Bob. In the director's cut you can see the movie the way it was intended, with Springsteen's music.

You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi

reply

[–] blackknight273 8 years ago

I dont have the dvd or blu, so Im watching it online and the Springsteen music has been restored to the movie in the version I am watching.

Personally I don't like it. Seger fit perfectly and his music fits the biker culture better than Springsteen ever could. Just my opinion, I understand if people feel differently.

reply

[–] myndchanger 8 years ago

Bruce Springsteen's management wanted too much money. If memory serves Bruce was in litigation at the time. To come in on budget they substituted Bob Seger.

reply

[–] steelhammer 8 years ago

That's just plain wrong to cut out Bob Seger.

reply

[–] myndchanger 8 years ago

Agreed.

reply

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 8 years ago

I realize the director's cut is the purest vision of the film and truest to the story but I don't care - the Seger songs simply work better.

reply

[–] myndchanger 8 years ago

Especially the last song, Roll Me Away.

reply

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 8 years ago

I realize the director's cut is the purest vision of the film and truest to the story but I don't care - the Seger songs simply work better.

Especially the last song, Roll Me Away.

Indeed. I cry every time.

reply

[–] myndchanger 8 years ago

Stood alone on a mountain top,
starin' out at the Great Divide
I could go east, I could go west,
it was all up to me to decide
Just then I saw a young hawk flyin'
and my soul began to rise
And pretty soon
My heart was singin'

reply

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 8 years ago

Stood alone on a mountain top,
starin' out at the Great Divide
I could go east, I could go west,
it was all up to me to decide
Just then I saw a young hawk flyin'
and my soul began to rise
And pretty soon
My heart was singin'

I'm a lifelong Seger fan anyway but this song definitely tops my list of favorites. The line that really gets me is "And we rolled... and we rolled clean out of sight." Interestingly, Roll Me Away also closes 1984's Reckless, one of the best - and, seemingly, least known - teen films to emerge from the decade.

reply

[–] myndchanger 8 years ago

This song has been in my top 10 for years, probably from the first time I heard it. That verse was so perfect for the end of the movie.

reply

[–] ccr1633 8 years ago

I agree. The Seger songs work better. For years I had been wanting to see Mask with the intended Springsteen songs, and I was disappointed when I did. I particularly missed Katmandu (studio version) and Roll Me Away.

By the way, where the hell is the blu ray? I would love to see a collector's edition with both soundtracks.

reply

[–] myndchanger 8 years ago

Rocky Dennis was a Springsteen fan. He never knew Bob. Springsteen wanted too much money for the songs and got replaced by Bob Seger. Segers songs worked better

reply

[–] ccr1633 7 years ago

I know the story. I nonetheless think the Seger songs are better for this film.

reply

[–] myndchanger 7 years ago

Very much agree.

reply

[–] ccr1633 7 years ago

Very much agree.

Thanks.

Even more controversial for me to admit, perhaps, is that I prefer Bob Seger to Bruce Springsteen anyway. I think "Born To Run" is the greatest artistic triumph between the two, but so far as working man's rock n' roll goes I return to Seger's catalog much more often. Bruce's New Jersey provincialism, particularly in the early days, is admirable but tiresome, and something I don't relate to at all.

reply