VIA PRESS RELEASE | Swamp Family Productions announced today that Jesse Lauter’s music documentary Learning To Live Together: The Return of Mad Dogs & Englishmen, can be seen on all Delta flights beginning June 1, will begin streaming on Virgin Atlantic flights starting June 24, and will be added to The Criterion Channel starting July 1.
An electrifying documentary jam-packed with music spotlighting the celebrated “Mad Dogs & Englishmen,” Joe Cocker’s short-lived tour featuring a mammoth thirty-piece band, told through the lens of the reunion of 12 remaining band members, 45 years later, to perform with Grammy Award-winning Tedeschi Trucks at the Lockn’ Festival. The film features archival footage alongside current performances and interviews with Leon Russell, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Rita Coolidge, Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), Jim Keltner, Dave Mason, Claudia Lennear, Steve Earle and many more.
Filmmaker Jesse Lauter stated, “It’s the highest honor to have my film featured on The Criterion Channel, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic. When we were talking about release ideas for the movie several years back, Derek, Susan, Wayne Forte [Executive Producer], and I all agreed that since air travel is prominently featured in the film, we really wanted to see the film on the airlines, particularly Delta since that’s our airline of choice and also because the song “Delta Lady” is a staple of the Mad Dogs canon. It’s a filmmaker’s dream to have Criterion’s seal of approval, and we have the utmost respect for Virgin Atlantic, so having these outlets put out our documentary is a dream come true. We had a fantastic theatrical run in the pandemic and now a wider audience can finally see the film. Thanks for your patience.”
Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks said, “Mad Dogs & Englishmen were one of the groups that inspired us from when we first started our band and paying tribute to their work with so many of the original members on hand was a highlight on many levels. This film is a labor of love many years in the making, and we’re so proud to share the music and the stories of the men and women of Mad Dogs & Englishmen.”
In the spring of 1970, Joe Cocker undertook what became the legendary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, immortalized in a live album and concert film. Decades later, first-time filmmaker Jesse Lauter tells the complete story through the lens of the Grammy Award-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band’s reunion of the Mad Dogs. In addition to Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and the entire Tedeschi Trucks Band, this reunion featured 12 of the original Mad Dogs, including Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge and Claudia Lennear, plus guest performers Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) and Dave Mason, among others.
The film showcases inspired performances from the reunion show, along with an exclusive look at the history of the tour and never-before-seen archival materials, commentary from the original members, critic David Fricke, notable fans who attended shows on the original tour and features the last filmed interview with the late Leon Russell.
LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER: THE RETURN OF MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN (USA, 111 Minutes, English). A Swamp Family Productions, LLC Film. In partnership with Good Fast Cheap Productions and Entourage Talent Associates LTD. Directed & Produced by Jesse Lauter. Executive Produced by Wayne Forte, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, John Beug, Thomas Tull, Alba Tull & Bert Ellis. Featuring: Leon Russell, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Rita Coolidge, Chris Robinson, Jim Keltner, Dave Mason, Claudia Lennear, and Tedeschi Trucks Band. With appearances by: Joe Cocker, Steve Earle, Jon Landau, David Fricke, and Larry Campbell. Edited by Drew DeNicola.
